AGA Mid-Am Series

[teejaywhy]

Next Up: Desert Forest June 11

** UPDATE **
See the Desert Forest profile in post #20
-----

The Arizona Golf Association has announced the schedule for this year's summer Mid-Amateur Series.

The Mid-Am series consists of a number of Stableford events held at private courses around the state. Points are accumulated and prizes are distributed after the final event. No handicap minimum is required, points are given for both Gross and Net.

I played in a number of these events last year as an opportunity for me to see and play some courses that I normally wouldn't have access to. The price is reasonable ($75), the only down side is they are 1PM shotgun starts in the heat of the summer. Nonetheless, I got to play Desert Forest, Blackstone, and Troon CC.

This years schedule includes:
(more dates to be added)

05/14 - Southern Dunes
06/11 - Desert Forest
07/09 - Troon CC
07/16 - Quintero
07/30 - Desert Highlands
08/06 - Firerock
08/20 - Superstition Mountain

More Info:
http://www.azgolf.or...namenttypeid=13

[puttnforthe8]

I'm playing these....Should be good fun.

[Jay4]

Hmm...Never played in one, but I may be interested in playing a few events.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

You can pretty much count me in for all the private tracks. Its awesome they are on fridays- fri and sunday just happen to be my days off.
Thanks Tom

[tyler621]

I may have to try and play some of these, also, especially since I have Fridays off starting next week.

[gotj1]

This sounds interesting, I don't have an established hcp. Do you need one?

[puttnforthe8]

[quote name='gotj1' date='14 March 2010 - 07:36 PM' timestamp='1268624205' post='2316355']
This sounds interesting, I don't have an established hcp. Do you need one?
[/quote]
Probably not, But you would have to play in the gross division only.

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='gotj1' date='14 March 2010 - 08:36 PM' timestamp='1268624205' post='2316355']
This sounds interesting, I don't have an established hcp. Do you need one?
[/quote]

From the web site:
"Eligibility: Open to all AGA members 25 and older prior to (the day of the tournament)..."

Sounds like you have to be a member of an AGA sanctioned club.

[puttnforthe8]

[quote name='tjy355' date='15 March 2010 - 05:34 AM' timestamp='1268660088' post='2316765']
[quote name='gotj1' date='14 March 2010 - 08:36 PM' timestamp='1268624205' post='2316355']
This sounds interesting, I don't have an established hcp. Do you need one?
[/quote]

From the web site:
"Eligibility: Open to all AGA members 25 and older prior to (the day of the tournament)..."

Sounds like you have to be a member of an AGA sanctioned club.
[/quote]


25? Whats with that...so if your 24 you can't play? Kinda of odd is it not?

[Pargolfr00]

[quote]25? Whats with that...so if your 24 you can't play? Kinda of odd is it not?[/quote]

No not really, that is why it is called the "Mid-Am" age restrictions that follow the USGA.

[teejaywhy]

FYI - Today is the sign-up deadline for the first event in the Summer Mid-Am Series, May 14 at Southern Dunes.

Anybody registered? Unfortunately, I will not be able to make this one.

[KobeRothlisberger]

1 pm shotguns?? In the summer? Count me out of that one. WOW! Nice scheduling on those huh?

 

I would have loved to play a few of those courses but late afternoon at 100 plus, no thanks!

 

Please tell me you can at least ride in a cart?

[One_Putt_Blunder]

1 pm shotguns?? In the summer? Count me out of that one. WOW! Nice scheduling on those huh?

 

I would have loved to play a few of those courses but late afternoon at 100 plus, no thanks!

 

Please tell me you can at least ride in a cart?

 

 

ahh its not all that bad only when it gets above 110* does it really suck.

 

As I posted earlier I wont make them all but I will be sure to catch the rounds at the CC's that I dont normaly have access to. Ill suck it up for a chance to get out on a track I would normally never have an opportunity to play. IIRC Quinterro still wants $100 plus for a mid morning tee time.

[KobeRothlisberger]

1 pm shotguns?? In the summer? Count me out of that one. WOW! Nice scheduling on those huh?

 

I would have loved to play a few of those courses but late afternoon at 100 plus, no thanks!

 

Please tell me you can at least ride in a cart?

 

 

ahh its not all that bad only when it gets above 110* does it really suck.

 

As I posted earlier I wont make them all but I will be sure to catch the rounds at the CC's that I dont normaly have access to. Ill suck it up for a chance to get out on a track I would normally never have an opportunity to play. IIRC Quinterro still wants $100 plus for a mid morning tee time.

 

I was thinking in playing a couple of the CC's as well. Troon, Quintero, Desert Highlands etc. Do you know if you can ride in a cart or is it walking only like most tournaments? Cause thats a deal breaker for me in the heat.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

I would imagine there is a cart involved these are not truly hardcore tournaments, and a pretty unrealistic expectation to make people walk 18 starting at 1pm in the summer.

I have played desert highlands a handfull of times. Interesting layout, some great views from alot of the holes, but also some very quircky holes and rock solid greens that are tough to play approach shots into. Worth playing since it was the home of the original skins game. Here are a few pics of the first two tee shots then one of the approaches on the back nine heading into pinnacle peak
[attachment=589597:DH1.JPG]
[attachment=589600:DH2.JPG]
[attachment=589601:dh3.JPG]

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='KobeRothlisberger' date='07 May 2010 - 05:11 PM' timestamp='1273277503' post='2427959']
Do you know if you can ride in a cart or is it walking only like most tournaments? Cause thats a deal breaker for me in the heat.
[/quote]

They are shotgun starts so carts = yes.

[KobeRothlisberger]

Do you know if you can ride in a cart or is it walking only like most tournaments? Cause thats a deal breaker for me in the heat.

 

They are shotgun starts so carts = yes.

 

HAHA Duh, I should have realized that with it being a shotgun.

[djdogstar]

I've heard good things about this series. Pool money goes into an end of year pot - so you have to play all or most events to earn your points.

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='djdogstar' date='15 May 2010 - 10:41 PM' timestamp='1273988491' post='2444528']
I've heard good things about this series. Pool money goes into an end of year pot - so you have to play all or most events to earn your points.
[/quote]

I signed up last year mainly just because I wanted to play Desert Forest and Troon. Ended up playing 6 of the 8 events and managed to win $225 in gift cards. (6th place net division, 4th place money because two above me won in the gross division).

I see it more as a great way to see some of the private courses schlubs like me wouldn't normally get to play.

[teejaywhy]

Next Up: Desert Forest Golf Club, Friday June 11, 1PM

 

(signup deadline June 4)

http://www.azgolf.org/tournament/tournamentdetail.asp?tournamentid=691

 

Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree Arizona is the "Granddaddy" of all desert golf courses. Opened in 1962, this Red Lawrence design broke new ground for golf in the greater Phoenix area. Where all of the existing courses in the valley for the most part mimicked traditional parkland layouts, Lawrence embraced the natural terrain and native vegetation creating a layout that fits gracefully into its surroundings. Making superb use of the lay of the land and a minimal amount of earth moving, Desert Forest has a very organic and old-school feel and a core routing that is an enjoyable and easy walk. The club itself is very low key, with modest clubhouse and golf-only facility (no pools or tennis courts).

 

The knock on DF is the width of it's fairways. Indeed, a precise tee shot is needed on most holes, not so much because the fairways are small, but more because the desert surroundings are fairly well vegetated and unforgiving. Much like a course such as Augusta National puts a premium on proper placement on the green, the fairways at DF feature similar values where the natural countours will feed the ball into the proper areas setting up the second shot but a poor shot will put the ball into some difficult spots. Needless to say, accuracy over length is a virtue and if you are spraying the ball off the tee, you will be in for a long day.

 

The greens are the best feature of Desert Forest. The mature bent greens have very gentle contours, but are speedy and true. In addition, the foothill site of the golf course gives the property a slope that create breaks that are not obvious to the inexperienced.

 

Desert Forest appears at #32 in GolfWeeks Top 100 Modern courses, and has been a perennial choice in both Golf Magazine and Golf Digest top 100 lists.

 

Your chance to play this course in the AGA Mid-Am summer series on June 11.