Overall Leaderboard here | Final Wrap-up and Stats Standings here
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From Corwyn & CerinoDevoti:
Back, by popular demand!!!
Tough-It-Out III: The Trans-Atlantic Starter Clubs Uneven Open third edition
Our defending champion, Hans (Hanswurst72, who hopefully can be persuaded out of retirement to defend his title), managed an extraordinary -6 over 4 rounds in Tough-It-Out I in 2012, and an equally impressive -5 over 4 rounds in Tough-It-Out II in early 2013. So far, he's the only player to have broken par over the 72 hole-format. Can anyone match his achievement this time around?
The Tough-It-Out concept is all about trying to mimic the hardest conditions in Major Championship golf, and give us a challenge of trying to tackle the toughest U.S. and British Open courses in a manner similar to that faced by the top pros.
By using Starter Clubs and Balls only, and doing it with Uneven Lies we believe this is the hardest test on WGT, and it's one that's a level playing field (pun intended) for all participants.
For a brief while last week, when the latest update produced the 'Blind Unevens' glitch (where you saw only a black-box flat lie grid for every uneven lie), it looked as if we'd have an even harder test to enjoy, lol, so count your blessings, folks, and jump on in for this fun tourney. Remember, you'll be playing alongside a fellow participant (whose time availability matches yours), and so you can share the pain and challenge together!
Cerino and I firmly believe that Uneven Lies adds greatly to the gameplay on WGT, and that for any of you still waiting to try it out, doing so with Starter Clubs is the best way to learn. After all, Unevens is such a radical change to the gameplay that it demands a fresh start. You simply can't learn it in a handful of rounds.
It transforms the game from one of dart-throwing, to one where you need to plan ahead, aim for flatter parts of fairways, give due consideration to risk/reward, and putt your lights out just to hang in there. And Uneven Lies also forces you to play shots very similar to those facing the pros in the majors. If you get in trouble, often the best (or only!) thing to do is to play out sideways. In short, it's more like the game we see the top pros playing four times a year in the Majors on these very same courses.
By playing it with Starter Clubs and Balls, you change your expectations: making Greens in Regulation becomes the target each hole, and Old Man Par the goal for the round.
This tourney will be 4 single-play 18-hole rounds at Oakmont, Royal St. George's, Olympic, and Merion, with set conditions for each. The challenge we're throwing out there is to see how many of the field can end up under par.
The tourney is open to all tiers and levels. We'll all be using the same clubs, balls, green speeds, and lies. So, no advantage for sandbaggers here! We really do want to encourage newbies to give it a go. One thing this tourney does well is introduce folks with a positive attitude to each other. It's a great chance for new players to learn from some of the best on WGT, and for the experienced player, a chance to revisit the fun of playing the game without the pressure of needing to make a birdie on almost every hole.
All rounds need to be completed within the allotted time frame (from the start of one weekend to the end of the next; note overlapping weekends to give maximum time for rounds to be played, and a couple of extra days at the end to deal with any Columbus Day weekend holidays).
If anyone is up for this challenge, and able to commit to getting your 18-hole round in each week with a playing partner (in other words a 2hr + commitment and with a strong enough internet connection to enable 2-player multiplayer rounds), please sign up here in this thread, and via this link. Any questions, please ask and we'll try to answer.
SIGN-UPs ARE NOW CLOSED.
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DETAILS:
Dates for each Single-Play round:
Round 1 - start Saturday 14th September, 2013, finish Sunday 22nd September.
Round 2 - start Saturday 21st September, 2013, finish Sunday 29th September.
Round 3 - start Saturday 29th September, 2013, finish Sunday 6th October.
Round 4 - start Saturday 5th October, 2013, finish Monday 14th October.
COURSE SETUP for each round:-
All rounds are single-play, and should be set with a 90-second timer, StrokePlay, in Practice Mode, with Uneven Lies. Hole locations, Tees, Green speeds and Wind conditions are as follows:
Round 1 – Oakmont: 18 holes, Easy hole locations, White (Medium) tees, VFast greens, High wind, Uneven Lies.
Here is the 1st Round Score Submission link.
Round 2 – Royal St. George's: 18 holes, Default hole locations, Red (Hard) tees, Fast greens, Low wind, Uneven Lies.
Here is the 2nd Round Score Submission link.
Round 3 – Olympic: 18 holes, Default hole locations, Red (Easy) tees, Tourney greens, Moderate wind, Uneven Lies.
Here is the 3rd Round Score Submission link
Round 4 – Merion: 18 holes, Easy hole locations, White (Medium) tees, Fast greens, Moderate wind, Uneven Lies.
Here is the 4th Round Score Submission link
CLUBS: Starter Clubs only (including the Putter) and Starter Ball only.
The only clubs that can be used are the normal starter set that comes free of charge when you first joined the game. No beginner equipment allowed, including the putter (it is unfair as newer players don't have beginner equipment). Starter Plus clubs will not be allowed either as they are pay-for clubs.
PLAYING PARTNERS:
Rounds must be played in twosomes, single-play. When you post your interest, you MUST fill out the signup form with your availability times so that I can assign playing partners.
If you have already participated in one of our prior tourneys, and your playing times are the same, then please indicate this on the sign-up form. You'll be saving yourself and me quite a bit of time! Thanks! Check the availability grids here: Tough-It-Out II, or Shiner's UEL Tourney.
We'd love to have players play in pairings just like a real Open, ideally with leaders together "on the weekend" but the latter may be ambitious. Do note, though, that we won't have a cut. We want everyone to have the chance to experience the fun of Starters on all of these toughest courses. If you're up for this challenge, you deserve to get the full 4 rounds! (If it's all too much pain, please Withdraw formally via a post in this thread… don't just disappear. Thanks!)
POSTING SCORES:
Please note these requirements for the tourney: As well as final Front 9 & Back 9 scorecard snapshots, you'll need to remember to take full screen shots on your 2nd shot on any of the last five holes, as well as on the Green, to verify Uneven Lies, and other conditions. (It might be prudent to take one on the 1st fairway as well, so you've got one in reserve in case you forget later.) Also, please note, you'll need to include stats tabs screenshots as well in order to be eligible for special prizes. [Example screenshots and full instructions are given below in the post below]
It is also OK to take a greenshot in Chip view mode to verify uneven lies. And a 'bag shot' is ideal.
1 posting error = official warning
2 posting errors = 1 shot penalty
3 posting errors = 2 shot penalty
4 posting errors = DNF (did not finish)
EDIT: please note these guidelines for interrupted rounds:http://www.wgt.com/forums/p/147933/1005395.aspx#1005395
Also, please do share your playing experiences in this thread! It adds immensely to the fun of the tourney if we can share details of our rounds. Thanks!
Score Submission Links will be posted here: R1 :: R2 :: R3 :: R4
Here is the 1st Round Score Submission link. (Oakmont)
Here is the 2nd Round Score Submission link. (Royal St. George's)
Here is the 3rd Round Score Submission link (Olympic)
Here is the 4th Round Score Submission link (Merion)
HERE IS THE OVERALL LEADERBOARD, with tabs for all the special prizes.
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PLAYERS: Open to all tiers, all levels.
We'd like to get as big a field as possible, but most of all we want committed players who will get their games arranged and played each week. So, please spread the word amongst Friends and CC members. Deadline for Entries: September 12, 2013. [Edit: 9/13: Sign-ups are now closed.]
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Edit: 9/13 - 1st round score submission links added
Edit: 9/20 - 2nd round score submission links added
Edit: 9/27 - 3rd round score submission links added
Edit: 10/5 - 4th round score submission links added