36 hole competitions?

aster99

I've never played a 36 hole competition. In fact i've never played 36 holes in a day ever. Maybe around 27 is my max ever.

Last weekend i played the junior scratch in Dromoland. Played in fourballs and the round took 5 hours but great weather so was enjoyable.

On also was the senior scratch cup. These lads were playing 36 holes. It got me thinking how difficult are 36 hole competitions?

Between travel time and playing it took me 8.5 hours. Add on a second 18 holes plus break between rounds and it would be nearly something around 14 hours or so. It would be like leaving the house at 7 in morning and getting back at 9 that night. Thats a big committement to give up a whole day.

Just wondering who here plays 36 hole comps regularly and how do you find it?

Benicetomonty

It is a big commitment as you rightly point out; time is usually the biggest factor in a 36 holer and you are in essence giving up your entire day to play in one. Add on to that the fact that you will be absolutely jaded by the time you're done and the frustration that you regularly encounter with regard to less enthused players going home (generally after horrific 1st rounds) after 18 or 27 holes leaving you in a 2ball on an already slow day and the experience can be a negative one, but for me the positives outweigh the negatives!

First of these is value for money: with scratch cups in general you can get some great courses for seriously discounted prices and playing a second round on such courses in one day can be a real pleasure for bargain hunters. I played Ballybunion this year and got to play the old and the new courses in one day, and despite some truly awful golf, I can't wait to go back next year! The John Lumsden at Royal Dublin was 36 holes (until this year sadly) and for 30 euro, I always thought it was a real treat!

Second for me would be the satisfaction in qualifying for 36 hole comps. Whether it's junior, senior or intermediate level, it represents a reasonable achievement to be able to compete at a specific level and qualifying for these comps is the first step towards perhaps winning one.

Thirdly, having won a 36 hole Junior Scratch cup, I can tell you there's no greater satisfaction than winning a competition over more than the usual sprint 18 holes. You bring in to play so many more facets of the game including endurance, mental toughness and tenacity over 36 holes and I can safely say my win was and remains, thusfar, my proudest golfing moment! It's as close to a pro tournament test as most of us are likely to experience and I think it's a real shame there aren't as many as there used to be.

cackhanded

Benicetomonty wrote: »

....................It's as close to a pro tournament test as most of us are likely to experience ...........

+1 on everything in this post but especially this part - at the Shannon JSC they have all the scores on the big screen in the bar, updated as soon as players come in from each round - really gives it a proper tournament feel.

Can't wait for Naas JSC on Sunday now. €30 for 36 holes and a meal, even if my golf is bad it'll still be a good day out.

Dr_Colossus

Benicetomonty wrote: »

I think it's a real shame there aren't as many as there used to be.

Why is that? I recently qualified to play JSC so the 36 hole experience is new to me, I've never seen a 36 hole Intermediate Scratch Cup. Generally there's not a hugh selection of 36 hole competitions available and ones that were 36 now seem to be 18 (Royal Dublin as mentioned above & Beechpark which was on last week for example)

To date I've only got the chance to play Carlow and Skerries JSC which were the only 36 hole competitions I've played. Carlow was exceptional value at €30 to play a fantastic course in great condition and to really sweeten the deal they provided an excellent lunch. Skerries was very good also at €30 but no lunch provided even though it was in previous years I think.

The Carlow JSC was my first time playing Carlow and a 36 hole competition so quite the initiation. I didn't play particularly well but really enjoyed the experience and despite the weather deteriorating for the second 18 with alot of people withdrawing I found it a good challenge and test of mental toughness to battle it out and try and improve on my first round score. In terms of commitment it is a big ask, I left the house that morning at 06:50 and returned shortly before 19:30 so it's a long day travelling from Dublin.

In addition to what Benicetomonty has said above regarding the advantages of scratch cups, another big one is that you get to play the full course (usually from the back sticks) in strokeplay with tough pin positions so a real test of golf. There's not enough strokeplay competitions played in open days and nothing worse than turning up to play an away course and they're using the forward/society tees.

With the season somewhat coming to a close and the selection of 36 hole scratch cups available few and far between I hope to be able to give them a better run next year but if the scoring is equally as bad at least they're a good day out and exceptional value.