Boards Golf Society - Feedback thread

Keano · 13-10-2014 8:09pm #1

So we are soon to entering our fourth season. We've come a long way but there is always room for improvement.

So let's be hearing you. What did you like? What did you not like? The committee is meeting at the weekend so we will be discussing the upcoming year and any changes we think should be made. Your feedback will help.

scrubber72 · 13-10-2014 8:47pm

It needs a links outing. Maybe post minutes of meetings

Keano · 13-10-2014 9:01pm

We've discussed this scrubber and all of the committee would love it but in general links courses are expensive. If anyone can get a really good deal, we are happy to look into it.

dar_cool · 13-10-2014 9:11pm

Keano A Legend wrote: »

We've discussed this scrubber and all of the committee would love it but in general links courses are expensive. If anyone can get a really good deal, we are happy to look into it.

Arklow is a great links and is cheap to play, around 20 quid

paulos53 · 13-10-2014 9:12pm

Fewer games from the forward tees would be good. Off the top of my head I think we only played off the whites in Carlow & Ballykisteen and I am fairly sure that is because neither of them have society tees.

I can understand playing off the forward tees when the ground is soft and winter rules are in play as it was in Esker Hills and Portumna but not the rest of the year.

Keano · 13-10-2014 9:14pm

Thanks dar but you have to remember we've got people from all over the place. I just done a quick check and it's over 3hrs from Cork to Arklow.

Rikand · 13-10-2014 9:24pm

I vote for more comps off the forward tees!!

Society days are fun days for me playing with the people I post with. Its more about the fun than the challenging course setup.

spacecoyote · 13-10-2014 9:26pm

Was thinking about links myself & how to make it work with people travelling from all over the country.

Maybe captains is the only way to do it, as if it's an overnight job a few hours drive would seem like less of a pain.

Rikand · 13-10-2014 9:31pm

Maybe try and get some sort of deal for the monty ? I know its faux links but it would probably be the best option location wise

Seve OB · 13-10-2014 9:38pm

spacecoyote wrote: »

Was thinking about links myself & how to make it work with people travelling from all over the country.

Maybe captains is the only way to do it, as if it's an overnight job a few hours drive would seem like less of a pain.

Actually probably that was probably my first contribution amongst the committee the other day. I had a lovely venue and all picked out.

Unfortunately as Keano says, links are expensive...... Some ridiculously so! Travel time must also be considered, so even with a stay over, we won't all be staying over, so need to be as considerate as possible to everyone in the society.

Be interested to know if we organized this well ahead of time this year would it encourage more guys to stay over and make a links trip feasible to a large percentage. This year was the first stay over and it really was quite last minute so maybe with more advance planning ........

redzerdrog · 13-10-2014 9:44pm

I have never played a boards outing mainly due to location but I don't think I have seen an outing in the north east at all ( I could be wrong as I haven't really followed it much) but if there was an outing up this direction a few more members may play which in turn could encourage to play in other locations.

There is some fantastic courses such as ConcraWood and Headfort New that would be great options.

FixdePitchmark · 13-10-2014 10:04pm

I'm not ready for another feedback thread.

charlieIRL · 13-10-2014 10:06pm

redzerdrog wrote: »

I have never played a boards outing mainly due to location but I don't think I have seen an outing in the north east at all ( I could be wrong as I haven't really followed it much) but if there was an outing up this direction a few more members may play which in turn could encourage to play in other locations.

There is some fantastic courses such as ConcraWood and Headfort New that would be great options.

We have a good few lads from cork who come to every event with a 2 hour + drive a regular spin unfortunately. We have to stick to courses close to the motorway if possible.

charlieIRL · 13-10-2014 10:12pm

Regarding tee boxes, when a club takes a society booking they automatically think part time golfers and make them play off forward tees. Every event we've been too we've been told what tees to play of.

Maybe when booking next years we'll mention we're all "competent" golfers and play a round or two off the absolute back tees.

FixdePitchmark · 13-10-2014 10:13pm

charlieIRL wrote: »

Regarding tee boxes, when a club takes a society booking they automatically think part time golfers and make them play off forward tees. Every event we've been too we've been told what tees to play of.

Maybe when booking next years we'll mention we're all "competent" golfers and play a round or two off the absolute back tees.

Rikand · 13-10-2014 10:14pm

We have a fella from monaghan who makes most of the events too

spacecoyote · 13-10-2014 10:15pm

Rikand wrote: »

We have a fella from monaghan who makes most of the events too

Yeah Kieran is one of our most well travelled members alright

pistolpetes11 · 13-10-2014 10:18pm

Missed most events this year due to work taking off ! :eek: What recession

After 2 years of making most of them I was fairly disgusted but Il be back for next season

Last year was great having the courses and dates out early , same again this year I would think would see the continuation of the good numbers .

Good spread of courses with a day out down South as A thanks to lads that travel from down that way in Particular the boys who travel from Cork a lot , also I presume there is a good amount of lads from the Dublin region , a course in or around would be good also , other than could not really fault the setup and running of the season gone.

charlieIRL · 13-10-2014 10:18pm

Poor lad had some serious round trips last year alright.

pistolpetes11 · 13-10-2014 10:20pm

Rikand wrote: »

We have a fella from monaghan who makes most of the events too

Lets no forget KAL over in Clare , although he did not make many this year he was one of the vital parts in setting up the show

I mentioned Cork / Dublin in my post above as I would say we have 4/5 maybe more regulars coming from that neck of the woods and the maybe a few more from the Dublin region

charlieIRL · 13-10-2014 10:21pm

Unfortunately when we had an outing in mitchelstown we only had 14 play!

BTW thanks a mill for dropping the Jug up saturday pistol

pistolpetes11 · 13-10-2014 10:24pm

charlieIRL wrote: »

Unfortunately when we had an outing in mitchelstown we only had 14 play!

BTW thanks a mill for dropping the Jug up saturday pistol

I don't think it was given a fair whack , it was a backup at short notice after something else fell through ,

If I knew in November/December that I would be playing a round in the Cork region in June / July I would be there.

That Mitchelstown outing was the season before last was it not ?

No bother about the jug

FixdePitchmark · 13-10-2014 11:10pm

It wouldn't be like me to say nothing.

But I think there is no harm if the society was somewhat less democratic - look for a few ideas - put that to an end - announce venues early - do not change dates. At times was a little too many cooks last year - but that is the unusual nature of this society.

Basically these are some of the things that came into my head over last 2 years - some are rubbish - but some may be worth considering

Overall fair-play forming a society that basically has no practicality to it from a logistical point of view - it is basically 7 to 12 hour days for some lads. So congratulations to the lads - named and unnamed that have done it. I think the members will be transient by nature - so well done the core lads who keep it going.

On that basis - it would be well worth getting somebody on committee - younger with no young family or other half (every year or 2). There are a few. In other words, the lads that have been the core - need to think of their own succession, as it is understandably a hard thing to stay involved in. It is outstanding what ye have done. I know I couldn't have. There may also be older lads with family raised - older lads are a bit more sensible too and stay the course

Definitely could have done with a more solid time sheet at times - at times we were a bit too casual in bar - tee box empty and nobody knowing who is with who or when - I'd no issue with this - but it did mean - lads were finishing over a much longer time - and tee box was empty and people chasing partners. Obviously - hard work for captain - or committee to be waiting around for late comers - not sure this can be solved. But it makes lads turning up for the first time a bit - confused and hard to get started.

After outings - there are lads who should be helping out with cards - particularly if some of the committee are not around - lads like Space - Or Regan or Myself. It is just a reminder to get it done. Too much fell on a few lads.

The geographical debate is probably impossible to resolve. It is more a reality of the society - there are basically 2 options -

Stick to the courses in Midlands - giving everybody travel and the biggest attendances.

Or become more geographically spread - but have more different people involved - but less of a core group. This is going to make life difficult for a committee and a captain to stay the course.

It is a very difficult choice - but I can't see how anybody could argue with an outing being in Dublin or Cork ?
A links - Like Portmarnock Links should be looked at.

On the course issue.

Lads are making a big effort and putting in big time into it. If possible keep the course quality at the high end - "worth travelling for" - ye have done well here . I don't think there is any harm going back to some of the courses that were outstanding. (Above 80 marks in Kevin's hooked is always a good marker)

The social night was class. Do it again. With drinking games :P

It would be great if there was a social at the start of the year - it would get people to know each other from the off and this would help people stick with it more.

On the Jug - if it is decided to spread courses over a larger geographical area - consider reducing qualifying outings to 4 versus 5. Would keep more involved and more that would have a chance to make team towards year end.

Courses to consider
Arklow
Portmarnock Links
Athlone
Concra Wood
Fota Island
Bunclody
Headfort - overnight (2nd social)
Greenore
Tullamore
Royal Curragh
Cork
Carlow
Carton
Palmerstown again
Naas

Maybe Too expensive - but I wouldn't miss any of above.

So it is way too easy to be a hurler on the ditch - well done lads , ye have organised something that from the off looks a bit mental - but most lads just love their golf too much here.

I probably near the end of my own cycle with it - may pick a few handy ones if they come up. I think wives will put up with 1 to 2 years of that

fair play http://www.golfgraffix.com/ - outstanding achievement to get a sponsor on board for the last few years.

It should be considered if additional sponsorship is possible due to the unusual nature of this society (online) - are there not clubs out there that want their course talked about on line ?

But perhaps at that stage you start believing your own bull****.

Thanks a millions lads - loved the last 2 years.

And - I've met genuine friends from it - lads are way sounder in real life

kieran. · 13-10-2014 11:17pm

CharlieIRL and all the committee, thanks for organising all the great outings last year. As some comments previously it would be nice to get a least one outing North of the M4. I've gone though this list of 40 odd players who played last year their locations can be broken down into the geographically spread. (based on home clubs and people i've met)

Dublin 14
Cork 6
Tipperary 4
Kildare 3
Kilkenny 3
Westmeath 3
Offaly 1
Galway 1
Limerick 1
Monaghan 1
Wicklow 1

While there is a quite large body of players from the Cork area. Having an outing in a slightly more northerly location such as North Dublin or even as suggested somewhere like Headford, Kells may widen the net to allow more people to sample the pleasure of boards outing and help grow the group as a whole. Even if we are not successful in attracting new members as a one off event we should have enough people within a a reasonable drive and a few nuts that will go anyway to make it a successful one off event.

FixdePitchmark · 13-10-2014 11:45pm

lol -

Can I just add - did scrubber win the longest drive of the year -

That would be good to work out who won that and how many miles was it. Well I guess it was Charlie - Kieran and scrubber good contest. Or Paulo and Recycled could be in mix (lol)

Our other sponsor should be Continental Tyres,

Also - is there nobody out there - contributor or spy - who could get us out on a great links - a couple of Irish Golf nuts instead of yanks all year

:D

Pat Ruddy is a gent

kiers47 · 14-10-2014 7:59am

I wonder would a team event be out of the question? Like a 2 or 3 ball scramble?? Maybe the first event or something when the conditions aren't as good. Obviously then it wouldn't be a qualifying event for the jug or GOTY. Sometimes they are a bit of craic though.

scrubber72 · 14-10-2014 8:26am

I reckon Paulos, recycled and kiers came from farther away to the outings but due to the fact I got lost 3 times coming back from outings I must of added 300 km to my overall journey. Thank God I Play Golf in the c ompany of others or I probably would be seen 3 fields over the OOB hacking into the distance.

kiers47 · 14-10-2014 8:53am

scrubber72 wrote: »

I reckon Paulos, recycled and kiers came from farther away to the outings but due to the fact I got lost 3 times coming back from outings I must of added 300 km to my overall journey. Thank God I Play Golf in the c ompany of others or I probably would be seen 3 fields over the OOB hacking into the distance.

As much as id like to complain about distance travelled I definitely have it easier than most being just 1 hour from cork and an hour and a half from Dublin. Being close to the motorway has its benefits :-)

charlieIRL · 14-10-2014 9:18am

Christ, I'd hate to imagine the mileage i've clocked up for golf over the last few years!! I'd say its Recycled who has the most up at this stage, he's been to nearly every event.

We used to do a time sheet but 90% of the time lads just went out as we arrived - as we're coming from all directions and time being on our minds we just sent lads out as they came. We can look at doing them again next year.

I'm all on for playing anywhere, north / south / east / west as i'm in the middle of the country so 2.5 hours will nearly bring me everywhere but that's just me - we have to think of everyone. We were chatting Paulos53 & recycled after Tullamore to ask them how far Dublin was for them with the motorway and it was still 2.5 hours, 5 hours driving, 4 hour round & food = too long a day IMHO. All the courses last year were picked with travel times in mind.

I'll love a crack at Concra Wood all the same!!

P.S. Fix - 3 out of the 5 of us that organised the events last year don't have kids and 2 weren't married at the start of the year!!! And we'll never let you go, your here for life!!!

Rikand · 14-10-2014 9:24am

kiers47 wrote: »

I wonder would a team event be out of the question? Like a 2 or 3 ball scramble?? Maybe the first event or something when the conditions aren't as good. Obviously then it wouldn't be a qualifying event for the jug or GOTY. Sometimes they are a bit of craic though.

Team event could be a lot of fun. But I dont know how well it would go over with the uber competitive boardsies who are all our for personal gain!

recycled · 15-10-2014 6:52pm

I've travelled to all the events - 2 1/2 hrs and plus in some cases. Carlow is a great course, but was a very long drive. Makes a very long day , getting home late( & we all know NEVER SAY YOUR TIRED WHEN YOU GET HOME - golden rule)
An overnight, for a course like Wicklow if agreeable to everyone would be manageable - to long to travel up and down the same day. My preference is to play courses that I have not played, but the distance to travel would my overriding priority. Courses that are close to the M8 are more accessible.
Food for thought!

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