Golf Digest Event Carton House

wilfitz · 27-04-2013 08:11PM

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 · 28-04-2013 08:30AM

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 · 28-04-2013 06:54PM

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 · 28-04-2013 10:36PM

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 · 28-04-2013 10:58PM

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 · 29-04-2013 09:01AM

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 · 29-04-2013 09:56AM

Hi,

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

Just wondering what scores won the prizes yesterday?

Kev.

Ilik Urgee · 29-04-2013 10:10AM

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 · 29-04-2013 10:17AM

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 · 29-04-2013 10:18AM

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 · 29-04-2013 10:38AM

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 · 29-04-2013 12:42PM

Good review Ilik !

tigerwood1 · 29-04-2013 09:27PM

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 · 17-06-2013 08:27PM

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 · 17-06-2013 09:15PM

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 · 17-06-2013 09:16PM

Lads was the Royal Dublin one on yesterday.

Did anybody go?

millerj · 17-06-2013 09:19PM

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 · 17-06-2013 09:24PM

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 · 17-06-2013 10:12PM

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 · 02-07-2013 08:06PM

Knightsbrook this Friday, is anyone playing?

glynser100 · 03-07-2013 09:40PM

hay lads playing in my first one of these on friday in knightsbrook, can anybody tell me what tees have the previous ones been played from?? are they the furthest back tees??? cheers in advance

Benny Cake · 03-07-2013 10:06PM

glynser100 wrote: »

hay lads playing in my first one of these on friday in knightsbrook, can anybody tell me what tees have the previous ones been played from?? are they the furthest back tees??? cheers in advance

I hope not for your sake, Knightsbrook is a monster off the back markers...

Ilik Urgee · 03-07-2013 10:06PM

No, they're usually off the whites or greens, never yet the stones.

glynser100 · 03-07-2013 10:12PM

ah dam...was hopeing they would be, my 300+ yard drives is the strongest part of my game........i bloody wish!!! i was just looking up the course and it sure is a monster of the back tees.....a whole bunch of par 5s instead of 4s lol cheers for replys

tigerwood1 · 03-07-2013 10:13PM

played two of these so far o meara and monty and nearly sure was off white both times, due to tee off last on friday at knightsbrook looking forward to it even thought recent form is miserable.

glynser100 · 03-07-2013 10:19PM

not in great form at the mo myself, putting doing my head in but its bound to click eventualy...i hope, looking forward to friday looks like great craic, driveing up from wexford, tee of at 1.30

tigerwood1 · 03-07-2013 10:33PM

glynser100 wrote: »

not in great form at the mo myself, putting doing my head in but its bound to click eventualy...i hope, looking forward to friday looks like great craic, driveing up from wexford, tee of at 1.30

great course have played it last five years around july/aug greens are nomally super only thing i dont like is it finishes with par 3.

glynser100 · 03-07-2013 10:37PM

and if your in the hunt when ya come to the 18th youd wana keep your nerve with the water there by the looks of it, then again if haveing a crap round it would be nice to finish with closest to pin and new set of clubs lol

bailey99 · 04-07-2013 08:47AM

Freemount09 wrote: »

Good review Ilik !

Nearest the pin wins a set of Taylormade Burner Irons...........the most stupid prize structure I've ever seen!

Ilik Urgee · 04-07-2013 11:21AM

bailey99 wrote: »

Nearest the pin wins a set of Taylormade Burner Irons...........the most stupid prize structure I've ever seen!

What's wrong with it? They're obviously sponsored prizes so it'd be ridiculous to refuse a set of irons.
Put it up as category prize? I think the 2 rounds and an overnight is incentive enough tbh.

Golf Digest Event Carton House

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