Golf Digest Event Carton House

Golfgraffix

Anybody playing?

Promised myself I would play more of these things this year, has anyone played one before? I am out in the 1st group at 8.30.

Was going to try and play the Trilby this year but looks like no Irish qualifier this year. There was another event the some boardsies played last year, one with a cut, does anyone remember what it was called and is it on again this year?

J

Golfgraffix

Oops

Of course I meant Carton, can't seem to edit the thread title

spacecoyote

Would have loved to get out for this one but it clashes with the 1st medal on my home course so had to give it a miss.

Haven't played any of their events before but from the advertising it looks like a great day out,so gonna try one of the later in the year outings.

Not sure on the name of the event with a cut, but pretty sure its a 3 day event played on the monty with a cut for final day if I remember correctly. Thanks for reminding me of that one,must look it up!!

Golfgraffix

spacecoyote wrote: »

Would have loved to get out for this one but it clashes with the 1st medal on my home course so had to give it a miss.

Haven't played any of their events before but from the advertising it looks like a great day out,so gonna try one of the later in the year outings.

Not sure on the name of the event with a cut, but pretty sure its a 3 day event played on the monty with a cut for final day if I remember correctly. Thanks for reminding me of that one,must look it up!!

I am not a huge fan of the Monty, always find it overly difficult but would love to play a 3 day event, if my back would hold up !

spacecoyote

Golfgraffix wrote: »

I am not a huge fan of the Monty, always find it overly difficult but would love to play a 3 day event, if my back would hold up !

Yeah, and I'd imagine it'll be set up fairly tough this year with the Irish open coming to town.a testing trek at the best of times,nevermind if they let the rough grow out

Freemount09

Golfgraffix wrote: »

Anybody playing?

Promised myself I would play more of these things this year, has anyone played one before? I am out in the 1st group at 8.30.

Was going to try and play the Trilby this year but looks like no Irish qualifier this year. There was another event the some boardsies played last year, one with a cut, does anyone remember what it was called and is it on again this year?

J

Hi Golfgraffix, I'm making the trip up to this ! I played my first golfdigest event in Killarney a few wks ago and although the weather was a disaster they did put on a great tournament.

I'm out at 1.30ish so might catch you after your round ?

charlieIRL

I was thinking of entering the Heritage one. Would rather play a course I've played before and like.

alxmorgan

charlieIRL wrote: »

I was thinking of entering the Heritage one. Would rather play a course I've played before and like.

Was thinking the same. Might try and get out at crack of dawn as may only be able to take half day. Any interest in an early tee time ?

charlieIRL

any time would suit me.

Dr_Colossus

I'm sure they're well run and enjoyable outings but somewhat lacking in value in my book to warrant playing. Granted there's alot of additional extras but €70 to play Carton House and €55 to play The Heritage, Knightsbrook etc is on the expensive side. The prize structure is also hard to fathom with two wide ranging handicap categories receiving 1st to 3rd prizes but the biggest prizes going to the nearest the pin.

Golfgraffix

charlieIRL wrote: »

I was thinking of entering the Heritage one. Would rather play a course I've played before and like.

When is the Heritage one ?

Cheers for fixing the title

alxmorgan

Golfgraffix wrote: »

When is the Heritage one ?

Cheers for fixing the title

31st May

tigerwood1

I played my first golf digest event on the o meara course last year it was great craic felt like a real pro standing on the 1st tee they anounce your name my heart was pounding but managed to hit one straight down the middle they have fruit and iced drinks on every third hole{just like the pro tournaments} and the prizes are great like nearest the pin weekend away or set of clubs. My only critricim was the horseburger on the 9th:) poor quality. am playing myself on the monty sunday week hopefully i will find my swing the day before in portarlington.

golferAC

Golfgraffix wrote: »

Anybody playing?

Promised myself I would play more of these things this year, has anyone played one before? I am out in the 1st group at 8.30.

Was going to try and play the Trilby this year but looks like no Irish qualifier this year. There was another event the some boardsies played last year, one with a cut, does anyone remember what it was called and is it on again this year?

J

The majors tour!! is that the one your thinking of?

Freemount09

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

I'm sure they're well run and enjoyable outings but somewhat lacking in value in my book to warrant playing. Granted there's alot of additional extras but €70 to play Carton House and €55 to play The Heritage, Knightsbrook etc is on the expensive side. The prize structure is also hard to fathom with two wide ranging handicap categories receiving 1st to 3rd prizes but the biggest prizes going to the nearest the pin.

They are more expensive but the premium price is justified in my mind, if you do win your category you get a driver, plus a ticket to play a weekend 36 hole season grand final, and IF you win that you get an all expenses paid trip to play in a pro-am in South Africa Volvo Open. I think last years winner played with fist pumping Marcel Siem !

Big IF's I know. But eh someone has to win it !!

The prize structure does seem abit off when 2nd place in your category gets a lynx 3 wood and the closest to the pin gets a set of irons, a luxury wkend away or a powercaddy ! Its also worth hanging around in the clubhouse after for the poxy bo11icks lucky dip, with a with some great 4 balls, weekends away, golf bags, a week in a hotel in Spain and some other nice prizes given out.

Out of our 4 ball in Killarney, 3 of us went home with prizes ! And the 4th guy I think is just finishing off the oranges and bottles of water that he packed his bag with ! ! So we all feel like we got our moneys worth.

sodbuster77

Link to official site?

Freemount09

sodbuster77 wrote: »

Link to official site?

http://www.golfdigestevents.ie/mysitecaddy/site3/

Golfgraffix

golferAC wrote: »

The majors tour!! is that the one your thinking of?

Yes that is the one, I had a look at the website and it looks like its no longer running, all old info and no fixtures for this year. Shame as it looks like a but of fun.

golferAC

give it time it was like that last year as well its not till july so might still go ahead!

WillyWonka

I'm playing in this. Teeing off at 9.20.

Alan

ALBT

Out at 1140 In this with reganovski

Ilik Urgee

Freemount09 wrote: »

Out of our 4 ball in Killarney, 3 of us went home with prizes ! And the 4th guy I think is just finishing off the oranges and bottles of water that he packed his bag with ! ! So we all feel like we got our moneys worth.

Not to mention the 7-UP he siphoned off.
Money's worth? Hmmm.
One thing to enjoy a round when you're playing well, another thing completely when the game stayed in the bed that morning:rolleyes:

WillyWonka

Anyone know if GPS devices are allowed?

Presume its stroke play??

Reganovski

WillyWonka wrote: »

Anyone know if GPS devices are allowed?

Presume its stroke play??

I would expect they are allowed.
It's Stableford rather than stroke.

Golfgraffix

Looks like a busy day on Sunday only a few spots left, any idea what score normally wins these?

J

uberwolf

signed up

Ilik Urgee

Golfgraffix wrote: »

Looks like a busy day on Sunday only a few spots left, any idea what score normally wins these?

J

I know 35 won both categories in Killarney, but it was a downpour the same day.

valc

High 30's req'd to win all categories on Monty last year.
GPS are allowed. Fairway markers every 10 yds or so in Carton.

valc

Reganovski

valc wrote: »

High 30's req'd to win all categories on Monty last year.
GPS are allowed. Fairway markers every 10 yds or so in Carton.

valc

What sort of tees do they play off? Society ones I.e forward tees or standards whites/blues.
And is there a CSS or is it handicap counting at all?

valc

Gents play off the white tees (not society tees) & ladies off the red.

Not a qualifying comp so doesn't count for h/c purposes but for 2013, cards beating SSS will be returned to the relevant club. This didn't happen in prior years.


valc

Golfgraffix

Fecking metro match against Sutton moved up to 1.30, won't have time to get from Carton to Sutton.

wilfitz

Played in a couple of these last year. In fairness they are a great day with great prizes especially the pick me outs if you hang around for the prize giving. One thing I would be worried about is the quality of the prizes might bring out the dishonesty in some...

tigerwood1

weather looks a bit crap for this one today hopefully the bunkers get flooded out of play, must not forget to bring my dna test kit for the "hamburger" on the 9th.

ALBT

Very tough conditions , it was into a gale coming in. Shot 87 for 33 pts. Anyone playing to their handicap played very good golf. A really well run event, very enjoyable despite the conditions and the bunkers !!

Ilik Urgee

Just back from it, those last 5 or 6 holes were some slogfest back into the wind. Didn't win in the "lucky bollox" raffle either.

FixdePitchmark

Ilik Urgee wrote: »

Just back from it, those last 5 or 6 holes were some slogfest back into the wind. Didn't win in the "lucky bollox" raffle either.

Are they good events Ilik - like the look of playing Royaler - have never played it and down the road.

Looks like it could be Bandit country with the good prizes ?

Ilik Urgee

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Are they good events Ilik - like the look of playing Royaler - have never played it and down the road.

Looks like it could be Bandit country with the good prizes ?

Have played a few at this stage, I enjoy them.Well run, good courses,goody back and good prizes.
I struggle for length as they're mostly championship course-yesterday played 6800 yds in a gale force wind at times. Hence I haven't made the prizes yet but it's just the whole feel of the day-drive in to see the whole GolfDigest paraphernalia around the clubhouse,practice facilities and first tee,the buzz as people banter at the sign in desk and expectations at the practice facilities:pac:

Tee off to a few sporadic claps from the following groups having had your name over the loudspeakers and knuckle down once off the box. Well run with scheduling meaning a couple of bunch ups on the earlier par 3's but with rangers around play usually keeps some kind of rhythm.

Yesterday we walked off the 18th after 5hours 20 into sumptuous changing facilities-back down to the bar for a bite to eat and a beverage before prize-giving. That'll start within 20 mins of the last group in,about 8.30 yesterday.
There are some good prizes there with sunglasses,fourballs,weekends away,stand bags on offer in the raffle after the cat prizes. One prize was a weekend away in a spanish resort which ain't petty.Not too sure about the flights though.

I suppose the biggest thing is the winner of last years overall competition off 19 teed off with J-M Olazabal and Marcel Siem in the Volvo pro-am in S.Africa last year.That's the nearest a lot if not all of us are gonna get to that level of golf,and these GD Events offer that opportunity. The cat winners from yesterday return to Carton House all expenses paid for a 2-day comp in October,that alone is a great prize for one good round of golf,which anyone on any given day can shoot.

They're events that definitely offer Joe Soap like myself a chance to live some kind of golfing dream,have great sponsorships,sound and accommodating organising staff,and I think it's only going to get bigger and better as it gathers more steam.

You're going to get whingers at any event-"i can get that course for x in an open, wide open to bandits, course was in bad nick bla bla bla"-you'll get them anywhere.

The only downside imo is it needs another category;0-12 and 12-28 is too broad and leaves the lower lads struggling. If they changed that maybe there would be better rewards for those playing better golf consistently.

kevgaa

Hi,

Sounds good, might give Royal Dublin or K club a go...

Just wondering what scores won the prizes yesterday?

Kev.

Ilik Urgee

kevgaa wrote: »

Hi,

Sounds good, might give Royal Dublin or K club a go...

Just wondering what scores won the prizes yesterday?

Kev.

Cat2 was won with 38 points, cat 1 with 36 on countback IIRC.

FixdePitchmark

Ilik Urgee wrote: »

Cat2 was won with 38 points, cat 1 with 36 on countback IIRC.

Thanks Ilik. Will hit Royaler then , nice review.

The points are not that mad.

But - was it very hard out there ?

Dr_Colossus

Ilik Urgee wrote: »

The only downside imo is it needs another category;0-12 and 12-28 is too broad and leaves the lower lads struggling. If they changed that maybe there would be better rewards for those playing better golf consistently.

+1. Haven't played in any of them so can't comment on the organisation etc but agree that the categories are too wide to entice more players, it would be better having 0-8, 8-16 and 16-24. Also don't see why they play them in 4 balls, 5hrs 20mins around Carton House in wet and windy weather sounds fairly tortureous, 3 balls are alot more enjoyable and allow for better flow.

I've mentioned it before but the prize structure is a bit strange with the biggest prizes going for the nearest the pins and longest drives which I heard were a bit incredilious yesterday given the conditions? That said they can result from one lucky shot so anything is possible.

Ilik Urgee

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Thanks Ilik. Will hit Royaler then , nice review.

The points are not that mad.

But - was it very hard out there ?

At times it was,only in the showers though. Everyone had the same wind all day so on that side it was a level playing field.
The scoring wasn't that mad but they reflected conditions properly imo.

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

+1. Haven't played in any of them so can't comment on the organisation etc but agree that the categories are too wide to entice more players, it would be better having 0-8, 8-16 and 16-24. Also don't see why they play them in 4 balls, 5hrs 20mins around Carton House in wet and windy weather sounds fairly tortureous, 3 balls are alot more enjoyable and allow for better flow.

I've mentioned it before but the prize structure is a bit strange with the biggest prizes going for the nearest the pins and longest drives which I heard were a bit incredilious yesterday given the conditions? That said they can result from one lucky shot so anything is possible.

I know the structuring is a bit weird but my own thinking is they're more inclined to give a wider field a chance of good prizes more so than a winner takes nearly everything MO at these events.
There was a par 5 8th? back into the wind for a long drive yesterday. I hit driver 3 rescue and cleared it by only 10 yards! The 17th-83cms took out nearest the pin-a tough pin tucked behind a deep bunker!!
Hard to believe but at the Killarney event I saw my playing partner take out 2 nearest the pins in probably worse conditions, so on any day things like those can happen.

Freemount09

Good review Ilik !

tigerwood1

started yesterday five points after 6 off 18 was really struggling with the weather and championship course greens and bunkers being so large compared to the norm. finished with 25 points so would have to have a hcp of 31plus to win one or improve a lot. however just when i was thinking of selling the clubs managed to hit it to 15 ft on the 17th and birdie the 18th into severe headwind (driver-utility-utility-putter) looking forward to watching the pros play the 18th. have to say when you break down the entry fee it is well worth it considering the quality of the prizes.

smiley1237

Only discovered these the other day by accident when I was browsing planet golf. They look really well run and myself and another lad wouldn't mind squeezing one in before heading back to college. Price seems pretty reasonable as well, however even though I have been playing for a few years now, and unlike my buddy in crime, I don't have a GUI card and that kind of takes the sting out of it for me. The chance to play a euro tour event, however far fetched, is quite a prize their offering. Who enters these tournaments usually? Just average joe soaps and are they just a one day event? Slightly concerned I could make myself look quite the fool I'm afraid.
cheers lads and best of luck to those in their upcoming tournaments...

millerj

I have played in quite a few of these at this stage both this year and last and always find them to be a very enjoyable day out. Unfortunately if you do not have a current G.U.I handicap you will be unable to win any category prize thus qualify for the overall 'Grand Final' to ultimately win a place at a European Tour event. That being said the category prizes are the poorer prizes on the day as they generally consist of a driver for first, a fairway wood second and possibly a putter for third. There are also prizes for nearest to the pins on all par threes, longest drives on two holes and a raffle for all attending the prize giving who have not won a prize in the main event and more often than not these are equal if not better than the category prizes. Sorry, should have mentioned that categories are from 0 - 12, 13 up and ladies. There are super prizes in the raffle. Plenty of refreshments and a good god honest homemade bun burger half way around the course along with the all important official tannoy announcement onto the first tee (by the most enthusiastic man in the world....remember 'The Heritage' for all who participated). Most enjoyable days out and would recommend them to anyone.

FixdePitchmark

Lads was the Royal Dublin one on yesterday.

Did anybody go?

millerj

Sorry again, should have said that they are absolutely for the average Joe as the scoring overall seems to be average enough although I have never made the frame in any event....that probably just says more about my own personal game! I didn't play in yesterdays event but I think the winning score was mid thirties which seems fair enough.

FixdePitchmark

millerj wrote: »

Sorry again, should have said that they are absolutely for the average Joe as the scoring overall seems to be average enough although I have never made the frame in any event....that probably just says more about my own personal game! I didn't play in yesterdays event but I think the winning score was mid thirties which seems fair enough.

Mid 30s around Royal Dublin on a day like yesterday is fantastic. The best Amateurs in the country were 4 to 10 shots off their best in Irish Amateur last month.

millerj

Have never played there myself but imagine yesterday would have been off an easier tee than those used for the 'Irish Amateurs'. Normally the winning scores for the Golf Digest event seems fair without being ridiculous in my opinion.

Uncle Ben

Knightsbrook this Friday, is anyone playing?