Golf Digest Events

kevgaa

Hi Folks,

I am off Aug 30th so was thinking of making the Trip to the Slieve Russell for the next Golf Digest Event. From a previous thread on other events I see not to expect a quick round even if only slots left are early.

Anyone play in the event today in the K club? How was it? Would you recommend these events?

Kev

Ed Winchester

I played today in the K Club. 5 hours 25 mins to get around.
It's very well run and apart from the time, it was very enjoyable. I love that track though! Serious prizes on offer.

Think ill put my name down for Enniscrone in a few weeks time.

Dtoffee

I played today (first time) .... 5 hrs 20 mins, never delayed or pushed and burger stop at the half way mark. No complaints from me regarding time, it is a tough track.

Well run event, Golf Digest team are very good and the prizes are very good.

A few changes I would suggest are paying a few juniors to ball spot and watch the par 3 nearest the pins, as well as letting the picky-out winner pick out the next winner... all minor issues and I would say everyone should have a go at one of these events.

Ed Winchester

Dtoffee wrote: »

I played today (first time) .... 5 hrs 20 mins, never delayed or pushed and burger stop at the half way mark. No complaints from me regarding time, it is a tough track.

Well run event, Golf Digest team are very good and the prizes are very good.

A few changes I would suggest are paying a few juniors to ball spot and watch the par 3 nearest the pins, as well as letting the picky-out winner pick out the next winner... all minor issues and I would say everyone should have a go at one of these events.

The burger after 9 went down a treat!

scrubber72

Where can someone find results of these events?

kevgaa

I usually get a mail the day after the event but also found a Facebook page below


https://www.facebook.com/GolfDigestEvents

Kevinmarkham

Ed Winchester wrote: »

Think ill put my name down for Enniscrone in a few weeks time.

I'm playing at 2pm - may see you there

Dtoffee wrote: »

I played today (first time) .... 5 hrs 20 mins, never delayed or pushed and burger stop at the half way mark. No complaints from me regarding time, it is a tough track.

I was out early at Royal Dublin and was very surprised to find that we'd taken five hours. It flew by and, like you, we were only occasionally waiting or being pushed from behind.

tigerwood1

Dtoffee wrote: »

I played today (first time) .... 5 hrs 20 mins, never delayed or pushed and burger stop at the half way mark. No complaints from me regarding time, it is a tough track.

Well run event, Golf Digest team are very good and the prizes are very good.

A few changes I would suggest are paying a few juniors to ball spot and watch the par 3 nearest the pins, as well as letting the picky-out winner pick out the next winner... all minor issues and I would say everyone should have a go at one of these events.

I would agree with your suggestions, played this course yesterday for the first time thought the par 5 3rd hole was a poorly designed hole. ie blind tee box shot (cant make out the fairway)and cant see the green from from 150yrd out encourages slow play loss of ball etc (should have left my pinseeker at home)10th similar but on the positive side 7th,13th,16th 18th great holes.

kevgaa

Played in the Gold Digest Event yesterday in the Slieve Russell. First point I would make was complements to Slieve Russell as the course was probably in the best shape I have seen it in recent years. Well worth a visit

As for the event: As stated Above don't expect a quick round 5hrs+ is the norm and the last groups just made it home in daylight.. The event is very well run and there is no shortage of goodies and grub with a burger at the half way mark and drinks fruit etc every 3 holes..

The winners of the 3 categories were (43 points, 12+ ) 39 points(0 - 12) and 37 points (ladies)

Nearest the pin prizes were all 2foot or less...

was no where near the prizes, stayed around for the picky-out ( generally done by people waiting around ) and one of the lads in our group won a prize so worth the visit.

May go again....

jtown

Anybody going to Tralee tomorrow?

Kevinmarkham

jtown wrote: »

Anybody going to Tralee tomorrow?

Yep, playing at 12.20. You?

jtown

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Yep, playing at 12.20. You?

Trying to see if I can make it or not.

jtown

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Yep, playing at 12.20. You?

9.20 tee off

Kevinmarkham

jtown wrote: »

9.20 tee off

Based on how long these rounds can be, that means.... I'll be teeing off at 12.20 when you're on the 3rd hole!

Enjoy. Looks like it's going to be a cold day!

jtown

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Based on how long these rounds can be, that means.... I'll be teeing off at 12.20 when you're on the 3rd hole!

Enjoy. Looks like it's going to be a cold day!

Ah will never be that bad (I hope)

millerj

Just wondering how Tralee went yesterday. Having played in a few of these events previously and having played Tralee twice before (albeit in horrible weather both times) I was envious yesterday looking at such a nice day and hopefully a good event. just interested in what scores won and generally how the day went.

morrga

Glorious day for it, course was superb. Back 9 was something to behold. 44 points won the 13-24 section and I think 42/41 won the 1-12. Scoring was higher than anticipated despite the good day.

Great day and thoroughly recommend the golf digest events.

lobby069

44 points in tralee!Some score.

Kevinmarkham

Photos of the Day - not often you play a classy links like Tralee in perfect weather. Sunshine for 18 holes and no more than a 1-2 club wind.

44 Points off a 19 handicap, with two 40 point scores coming 2nd and 3rd in 13-24 handicap category.

In the 1-12 category, 41 points won, and he was playing off 6!

morrga

Hi Kevin, were you the photographer taking photos of each of the groups?

Kevinmarkham

morrga wrote: »

Hi Kevin, were you the photographer taking photos of each of the groups?

No, not me. They bring in an official photographer at the start of the day and snap off a load of photos for the magazine/ezine (which should be out shortly).

slave1

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Photos of the Day - not often you play a classy links like Tralee in perfect weather. Sunshine for 18 holes and no more than a 1-2 club wind.

44 Points off a 19 handicap, with two 40 point scores coming 2nd and 3rd in 13-24 handicap category.

In the 1-12 category, 41 points won, and he was playing off 6!

Lovely set Kevin, weather was glorious by the looks of things, played both Headfort courses yesterday in similar weather, must upload some shots...

Kevinmarkham

morrga wrote: »

Hi Kevin, were you the photographer taking photos of each of the groups?

Maybe you're somewhere in this lot: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.404671292992125.1073741841.217651415027448&type=3

Did you find the fairway on the 1st?

millerj

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Maybe you're somewhere in this lot: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.404671292992125.1073741841.217651415027448&type=3

Did you find the fairway on the 1st?

Superb photos in fabulous conditions.

dwd

Was just looking at the list of events for 2014, some great courses. I've signed myself up for the Portmarnock Links event anyway, and will probably play the Concra Woods event, if the boards society doesn't play there this year, anyone else planning on playing?

icesnowfrost

Wat is this event all about ?

spacecoyote

dwd wrote: »

Was just looking at the list of events for 2014, some great courses. I've signed myself up for the Portmarnock Links event anyway, and will probably play the Concra Woods event, if the boards society doesn't play there this year, anyone else planning on playing?

Have been saying to myself for the last 2 years I must play one of these, but never got round to it. Think I'll take the plunge this year

spacecoyote

Oh & jaysus dwd I'd get battered if I told the missus I was spending Valentine's day on a golf course

dar_cool

Definitely going to put my name down for the portmarnock links and the concra wood events!!

Dr_Colossus

Regardless of how well the events are organised and run the entry fee is poor value in my book and thus I will not be participating. €65 to play Portnarnock Links in Feb is excessive in the extreme regardless of what prizes are on offer.
Plenty of other better value options on offer such as the TopGolfer scratch cups and similar.

dwd

spacecoyote wrote: »

Oh & jaysus dwd I'd get battered if I told the missus I was spending Valentine's day on a golf course

I actually didn't cop that it was Valentine's Day until after I had booked it I think I'll just sneak the golf clubs into the boot and have a normal day at work :cool:

Neil Andblomee

icesnowfrost wrote: »

Wat is this event all about ?

In a nutshell, it's about honest golfers subsidising prizes for less honest golfers and free advertising for Golf digest and Volvo.

Ed Winchester

Neil Andblomee wrote: »

In a nutshell, it's about honest golfers subsidising prizes for less honest golfers and free advertising for Golf digest and Volvo.

I'd be fairly certain their involvement costs a lot of money.

Neil Andblomee

Ed Winchester wrote: »

I'd be fairly certain their involvement costs a lot of money.

Yes that's why they don't charge over the odds for the pleasure of playing, oh wait....!

tigerwood1

dwd wrote: »

Was just looking at the list of events for 2014, some great courses. I've signed myself up for the Portmarnock Links event anyway, and will probably play the Concra Woods event, if the boards society doesn't play there this year, anyone else planning on playing?

i also booked portmarnock links and have being waiting for a chance to play concra woods. i notice they have increased pormarnock to 65 from 55euro what i paid. hav,nt played either course at portmarnock is it the hotel course ?

dar_cool

portmarnock links it says which is the langer designed course not the old course.

A New earth

Anyone who is interested in Portmarnock Links outing on 14th Feb should book up immediately, it looks like a lot of the slots have been taken today after Golf Digest sent an email to everyone on their distribution list. Still availability for the 9.10 to 9.50 times. I'm in at 10.40, haven't played in one of these before.

A question - when you get the email confirmation it says to sign in an hour before your tee time, does anybody know, from past experience, what happen if you say only book in 15 mins before?

millerj

A New earth wrote: »

Anyone who is interested in Portmarnock Links outing on 14th Feb should book up immediately, it looks like a lot of the slots have been taken today after Golf Digest sent an email to everyone on their distribution list. Still availability for the 9.10 to 9.50 times. I'm in at 10.40, haven't played in one of these before.

A question - when you get the email confirmation it says to sign in an hour before your tee time, does anybody know, from past experience, what happen if you say only book in 15 mins before?

Once you are at the first tee 10 minutes before your tee time there is no problem. You can land in at anytime to sign in beforehand. I have played in a number of these events over the last couple of years and have enjoyed every one including the monsoon conditions we had in Killarney last year. The fact that its your first one I am sure you will enjoy the razzamatazz of it all (excuse the spelling). The announcement of your name and home club over the loudspeaker along with the flags and gazebo etc is fun but amazing how it seems to make guys more nervous than normal on the first tee, even though it is probably only your own fourball and the following group watching you. Enjoy it and particularly the grub half way round! If you can stay for the raffle, some good prizes

A New earth

millerj wrote: »

Once you are at the first tee 10 minutes before your tee time there is no problem. You can land in at anytime to sign in beforehand. I have played in a number of these events over the last couple of years and have enjoyed every one including the monsoon conditions we had in Killarney last year. The fact that its your first one I am sure you will enjoy the razzamatazz of it all (excuse the spelling). The announcement of your name and home club over the loudspeaker along with the flags and gazebo etc is fun but amazing how it seems to make guys more nervous than normal on the first tee, even though it is probably only your own fourball and the following group watching you. Enjoy it and particularly the grub half way round! If you can stay for the raffle, some good prizes

Thanks very much for the details, looking forward to the day out now

ABitofsense

What tees do they usually play off? I am very temped to join the Portmarnock Links event. Never played it and would love too

A New earth

Don't know.

Only 15 slots left 8.20 to 9.20

http://www.brsgolf.com/golfdigest/opens_day.php

Slicemeister

Are they gone up in price this year?

dar_cool

Id say it would be the whites, the blues are way back and only used for pro events according to golfgraffix who is a member there years

millerj

ABitofsense wrote: »

What tees do they usually play off? I am very temped to join the Portmarnock Links event. Never played it and would love too

These events are always played off the whites

ABitofsense

Took the plunge and booked in at 9.10. Sounds like a really good event so looking forward to it.

millerj

Was looking at golfdigestevents.ie earlier and see they have added some extra venues this year. Seventeen days in total including Castlemartyr (June) and Adare (July) down this end of the country. €60 for Castlemartyr for a Monday event sounds a little rich and €75 for a Wednesday event for Adare. Sill imagine the Adare gig would be the better value of the two?

FixdePitchmark

millerj wrote: »

Was looking at golfdigestevents.ie earlier and see they have added some extra venues this year. Seventeen days in total including Castlemartyr (June) and Adare (July) down this end of the country. €60 for Castlemartyr for a Monday event sounds a little rich and €75 for a Wednesday event for Adare. Sill imagine the Adare gig would be the better value of the two?

Mad money - it is suppose to be a promotional event. The original idea of promotional events was to promote the product. This normally involves the promoter subsidising the event, this is strange in that it seems to be the reverse logic.

Genius - if people fall for it.

14handicap

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Mad money - it is suppose to be a promotional event. The original idea of promotional events was to promote the product. This normally involves the promoter subsidising the event, this is strange in that it seems to be the reverse logic.

Genius - if people fall for it.

+1 totally agree.
It should be about promoting the brand but it seems to be now about making money while promoting the brand...!!!

morrga

Lads, been honest (and I'm totally impartial here) but it's the courses who are milking it and not golf digest. Golf Digest spend a lot of money promoting their brand and like any marketing drive it's costing them money but they are getting brand promotion in return.

The courses demand the prices and for what you get for the whole package, top courses, top prizes, food, drinks and the colour, it's a great fun day out for any avid golfer!!

PARlance

morrga wrote: »

Lads, been honest (and I'm totally impartial here) but it's the courses who are milking it and not golf digest. Golf Digest spend a lot of money promoting their brand and like any marketing drive it's costing them money but they are getting brand promotion in return.

The courses demand the prices and for what you get for the whole package, top courses, top prizes, food, drinks and the colour, it's a great fun day out for any avid golfer!!

For the volumes of golfers they are getting I would expect that they should be able to get better deals with each course.

I'm not sure how many numbers they get, is it about 80 or so for it event?

If a society of 20 can get a decent discount then Golf Digest should be able to do so too. There is also the PR a club gets from being featured in the Mag...surely this is worth another discount from the club.

I would have thought that the entry should be about the same as a standard green fee.
I would assume that most of the prizes are in some way sponsored too... Personally I think the prizes are too good, perfect for attracting the you know whos at present.

Anyway, it's all fair game and as it stands I think it still offers some value. If they're making money/breaking even then fair play. Why wouldn't they if people are willing to pay.
They don't seem to have problems with getting the numbers.
I think it could be a lot cheaper, don't necessarily think it should be, as it stands.

morrga

If we paid the standard green the costs would be too high. Tralee is €170 peak season, cost €80 per golf digest entry.

Adare is up there in the €120 bracket so €75 is very reasonable entry mid summer!