From Corwyn & CerinoDevoti:
Some believe WGT's much-requested, and long-awaited, introduction of Uneven Lies is an "epic fail"… We disagree! We think it's just right, changing 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 shot-risk, 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.
So, drum roll… we're delighted to revive a WGT tradition, the 'Starter Clubs and Balls Tournament' with an added degree of difficulty, Uneven Lies. Welcome to the"The Trans-Atlantic Starter Clubs Uneven Open" aka 'The Tough-It-Out Test'. This tourney will be 4 single-play 18-hole rounds at the two British Open courses, and at the toughest two US Open courses, 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. Cerino wants to see how well the top legends can play Unevens with Starters, and I'm interested to build a pool of players interested in playing with Starters regularly.
Also, this is the only way in WGT to have a truly level playing field. We'll all be using the same clubs, balls, green speeds, and lies. So, no advantage for sandbaggers here!
All rounds to last no more than one week (Monday morning to Sunday night): we start right after Ryder Cup week.
If anyone is up for this challenge, please sign up here in this thread, and via this link, and we will collate all the names in this first post. Any questions, please ask and we'll try to answer.
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DETAILS:
Dates for each round:
Round 1 - start Monday 1st October, 2012, finish Sunday 7th October.
Round 2 - start Monday 8th October, finish Sunday 14th October.
Round 3 - start Monday 15th October, finish Sunday 21st October.
Round 4 - start Monday 22nd October, finish Sunday 28th October.
COURSE SETUP for each round:-
All games 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 – Royal St George's: 18 holes, Default hole locations, White (Medium) tees, Fast greens, Moderate wind, Uneven Lies.
Round 2 – Oakmont: 18 holes, Hard hole locations, White (Medium) tees, Very Fast greens, Low wind, Uneven Lies.
Round 3 – St Andrews: 18 holes, Easy hole locations, Yellow (Medium) tees, Standard greens, High wind, Uneven Lies.
Round 4 – Olympic: 18 holes, Default hole locations, Red (Easy) tees, Very Fast greens, Low wind, Uneven Lies.
CLUBS: Starter Clubs only 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, or threesomes (if you have time to play with a third member). When you post your interest, please also indicate your availability window (e.g. weekdays 17:00-20:00 GMT) so that we can all most easily find a playing partner.
We'd love to have players play in pairings just like a real Open, i.e. twosomes or threesomes first 2 rounds, and then 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:
Links for submitting scores are coming soon (still wrestling with GoogleDocs!).
1st Round Posting link here (Royal St. George's)
2nd Round Posting link here (Oakmont)
3rd Round Posting link here (St Andrews)
4th Round Posting link here (Olympic)
Please note: 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 the 18th 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.) [Example screenshots can be found below in the next post]
1 posting error = official warning
2 posting errors = 1 shot penalty
3 posting errors = 2 shot penalty
4 posting errors = DNF (did not finish)
Please do also share your playing experiences in this thread.
PRIZES: Tourney organizers are covering the prizes, which are as follows:
1st place: 1500 credit purchases in the Pro Shop
2nd place: 1000 credit purchases in the Pro Shop
3rd place: 500 credit purchases in the Pro Shop
There will also be special prizes (750 credits for each) for most Greens in Regulation, and Closest Distance to the Pin, so do include that data when you post scores on the form for each round.
Note: in the event of ties for any of the placings, we'll follow the WGT approach to resolving them, essentially, best scores for the last 9 holes etc. (So, for the special prizes, it will be best score for last round, then penultimate round, in the event of a tied placing.) WGT rules in full are here: http://www.wgt.com/help.aspx#ties [Needless to say, organizers decision will be final should one be needed]
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: Sep 30, 2012. ENTRIES NOW CLOSED.
Sign up here
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ENTRANTS:
[all are linked to their profile so that you can most easily WallPost, and Friend if necessary, to schedule your matches.]
1. Corwyn
2. CerinoDevoti
3. CornerPocket30
4. strawbridgemicha
5. billcliff
6. Kurtsbuford
7. cmdking
8. TeeWade
9. franbo
10. malcolm1963
11. Bfghd
12. mraxelrod
13. Dazza501
14. limifer
15. Hanswurst72
16. hyena64
17. TonyTurbo78
18. oneeyedjohn
19. hobbe95
20. andreap
21. woodoworkery
22. Macduff10
23. alosso
24. ColumbusStorm
25. Spino1
26. Undertaker3663
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PAIRINGS:
As half the field are at Legend or Tour Legend tier level, I've tried to pair each of them with lower tiered players, so hopefully we all get to meet new people, and perhaps learn from each other. I'm hoping some lower tier players get to learn from the legends of the game, and in turn perhaps surprise a few of them with their proficiency with the hickory sticks...
I've tried to translate everyone's entries on the submission form for time zone and normal playing time into WGT Time, i.e. San Francisco's PST in order to work out who can play with whom in this global tourney. See this pic [updated again] for 1st 18-hole pairings (and their rationale): green color indicates what I calculated to be each person's playing window. If I got it wrong, please say so now.
1st & 2nd 18-HOLE PAIRINGS:
mraxelrod and TeeWade [1st & 2nd round completed]
Dazza501 and hyena64 [1st & 2nd round completed]
CornerPocket30 and Hanswurst72 [1st & 2nd round completed]
Macduff10 and ColumbusStorm [1st & 2nd round completed]
CerinoDevoti and Spino1 [1st & 2nd round completed]
hobbe95, andreap and TonyTurbo78 [unable to play; disqualified]
Please schedule your 1st Round matches for next week, any time from Mon 10/1 onwards until Sun 10/7.
Let's stick with same playing partners for 2nd Round matches, so feel free to get those rounds arranged anytime between Mon 10/08 onwards until Sun 10/14.
3rd Round partners to come from players within a few shots/places of yourself:
I would like us to try and mix things up for the last 2 rounds. Please look at the LEADERBOARD and see who is within a few places of you (up or down). Then consult the TIME AVAILABILITY CHART and see if any of those players match your available playing time, and connect and play away.
I know there may be hiccups in getting this to work, but I'd like to give it a try this week. And if we need to use volunteer markers that would be fine too.
Let's please use this forum thread as a way of saying when we're available, if you're scheduled successfully, or if you're having particular difficulties arranging your round. And if you really need to, it's OK to play with your same partner as in the last 2 weeks.
Thanks,
Corwyn
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for example: try and hook up with someone in your group if possible
1st group would be: Hanswurst72 // Cmdking // Kurtsbuford // CerinoDevoti
2nd group: Corwyn // Macduff10 // ColumbusStorm // oneeyedjohn // Dazza501 // Franbo
3rd group: CornerPocket30 // strawbridgemicha // alosso // Spino1 // bfghd // Woodoworkery // TeeWade
4th group: limifer // billcliff // Mraxelrod // hyena64
Remaining players to play in 3rd round: (as at Mon 10/22, extended deadline to finish 3rd round, midnight Tue 10/23):
Franbo // CornerPocket30 // bfghd // limifer
4th and Final Round: Olympic:
Player pairings: (based on Leaderboard position):
Hans and Colm (cmdking);
Buffers (Kurtsbuford) and Cerino;
Corwyn and Macduff10;
John (oneeyedjohn) and Russ (ColumbusStorm);
strawbridgemicha and alosso;
TeeWade and Spino1;
Woodoworkery and billcliff;
Mraxelrod and hyena64
plus tba for any of remaining 4 players above still to complete 3rd round
4th Round Posting link here (Olympic)
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[*edit 9/21: course conditions added.]
[*edit 9/27: prizes and posting clarifications added.]
[*edit 9/28: first 18 entrants listed, and their 1st round pairings set]
[*edit 9/29: entrants 19-24 added; will set their partners once all playing time data in]
[*edit 9/30: playing partners set for entrants 19-24]
[*edit 10/1 & 10/2: special prize info added; entry list now final with 2 late additions and one revised pairing]
[*edit 10/6: update of pairings and 1st round progress]
[*edit 10/8: progress update and 2nd round score submission link added]
[*edit 10/13: progress update and Overall leaderboard link added]
[* edit 10/16: added 3rd round playing partner pools, and 3rd Round score submission link]
[*edit 10/22: added 4th round player pairings, and 4th Round score submission link]
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Here are the FINAL STANDINGS for the Tourney:
1st Place: Hanswurst72 276 -6
Tied for 2nd: Corwyn & Kurtsbuford 292 +10
4th Place: CerinoDevoti 293 +11
Greens in Regulation prize: Hanswurst72 70.8%
Closest to the Pin prize: Hanswurst72 21.7 ft
Prizes:
1st: Hanswurst72 (1,500 credits worth)
Tied for 2nd: Corwyn & Kurtsbuford
(they split the 2nd and 3rd prize combined: i.e. 750 credits worth each)
GIR prize: Hanswurst72 (750 credits worth, generously donated by MioKontic)
Ave. Distance to the Pin Prize: Hanswurst72 (750 credits worth, generously donated by MioKontic)