Let's Discuss the Fall Trip

[Bravo]

Guys:

I don't think it is too early to discuss the Fall trip for a variety of reasons - most of which include travel expense and vacation planning...

I know we have discussed November, but October is going to work best. One of the disadvantages we have here is we are on the far eastern side of the Central Time Zone in a lower lattitude. This means we have limited daylight in the late afternoon in the Fall and Winter.

U.S. Naval Observatory
Astronomical Applications Department


Sun Data for One Day

The following information is provided for Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama (longitude W86.8, latitude N33.5):

Saturday 22 October 2005 Central Daylight Time

Begin civil twilight 6:32 a.m.
Sunrise 6:58 a.m.
Sunset 6:05 p.m.
End civil twilight 6:30 p.m.

So if we play in October, and we want to play 36 a day, we need to tee off at about 8:00 and finish our morning round at 12:30 or so - have lunch and tee off by 1:15 and finish.

What does the group think about a trip where you will travel in on a Wednesday, play 36 a day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and travel home on Sunday?

[DaveE]

Bravo:

Either month will be ok if I'm able to come. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I might be going to work for a company in Austin. This looks like it might happen and if it does it's very likely that I won't get to make the trip.

It's funny how the golfer's brain works though. For the last couple of weeks I've been interviewing and investigating this company and it seems like it would be a great opportunity for me. But, in the back of my mind I've caught myself thinking about our Fall get together and how making this change would affect it.

Here I am contemplating this huge life decision and I'm worried about my ability to play a few rounds of golf. I guess this could go in the "you might be a golf addict" thread.

[bdcrowe]

Originally Posted by DaveE

Bravo:

Either month will be ok if I'm able to come. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I might be going to work for a company in Austin. This looks like it might happen and if it does it's very likely that I won't get to make the trip.

It's funny how the golfer's brain works though. For the last couple of weeks I've been interviewing and investigating this company and it seems like it would be a great opportunity for me. But, in the back of my mind I've caught myself thinking about our Fall get together and how making this change would affect it.

Here I am contemplating this huge life decision and I'm worried about my ability to play a few rounds of golf. I guess this could go in the "you might be a golf addict" thread.

No, that would go in the "You might be a moe if..." thread.

Set up the rest of your life and see about the fall trip. We'll still be here when you're ready for us, lover boy.

[Roy]

Where will this course be? I live 30 mins from alabama so like i might be able to come , If you guys wont be to embarrassed to play with a starter That spends some time looking for his ball.

[bdcrowe]

Cool roy. Where are you located, 30 minutes from Alabama? And you are welcome, just buy cheap balls, in case we're playing slow. lol

[Roy]

small town called Bonifay, They have a course here too but nothing to take a vacation too play on.


" Oh and i have 300 shag balls hahaha /sigh "

[DaveE]

Originally Posted by bdcrowe

No, that would go in the "You might be a moe if..." thread.

Set up the rest of your life and see about the fall trip. We'll still be here when you're ready for us, lover boy.

"Moe" would be getting off easy. It's not like I was really weighing the options, I just thought it was funny that I even thought about it. I think I like golf way too much sometimes.

I'll probably know in the next couple of weeks so at least I won't be a last minute cancelation.

[bdcrowe]

Originally Posted by DaveE

"Moe" would be getting off easy. It's not like I was really weighing the options, I just thought it was funny that I even thought about it. I think I like golf way too much sometimes.

I'll probably know in the next couple of weeks so at least I won't be a last minute cancelation.

Keep us informed. I'll keep the fingers, eyes and toes crossed for ya, my man. Good golf in TX, I hear.

[Bravo]

Dave:

Here's a thought...the next time you interview with the company - talk about vacation time and explain that you have a "three day vacation" planned in mid-October. See if your prospective boss/supervisor has a problem with it. If they really want you to come with them - I'll bet they will give it the OK...

Roy:

We will by happy to have anyone along. Here are the only things that you need to think about....

1) We are going to be wagering. It is not going to be a ton - somewhere between $30 - $50 for the entire three day event. But the issue is not the money because obviously everyone will spend much more than that on travel, hotels and greensfees/carts. The issue is that you will need some sort of index/handicap that we can use. We do realize that everyone who is coming does not have an official USGA index - but we can determine their handicap by the scores that they post on bdcrowe's site that we use for our Ryder Cup event....so if you come, please starting playing enough so that you post at least 10 scores here by then - OR you establish a USGA index through a local facility.

2) In terms of actual playing abiity, the only thing we ask is that everyone be able to play at a reasonable pace. We are going to play 36 each day and need to finish our rounds in about 4.5 hours or less...so higher handicappers are very welcome - but we need to make sure you can keep up the pace. I played last weekend with a golfer who has only been playing for three years, couldn't hit a drive over 200 yards and shot a 103 - but he very easily kept up the pace with the rest of the group.

We are happy to have players who shoot over 100 as long as they keep up. They will have high handicaps and get a lot of strokes on the bets!! (These guys are usually the winners anyway - its us lower guys who are the "contributors"....)

[bdcrowe]

Originally Posted by Bravo

Dave:

Here's a thought...the next time you interview with the company - talk about vacation time and explain that you have a "three day vacation" planned in mid-October. See if your prospective boss/supervisor has a problem with it. If they really want you to come with them - I'll bet they will give it the OK...

Roy:

We will by happy to have anyone along. Here are the only things that you need to think about....

1) We are going to be wagering. It is not going to be a ton - somewhere between $30 - $50 for the entire three day event. But the issue is not the money because obviously everyone will spend much more than that on travel, hotels and greensfees/carts. The issue is that you will need some sort of index/handicap that we can use. We do realize that everyone who is coming does not have an official USGA index - but we can determine their handicap by the scores that they post on bdcrowe's site that we use for our Ryder Cup event....so if you come, please starting playing enough so that you post at least 10 scores here by then - OR you establish a USGA index through a local facility.

2) In terms of actual playing abiity, the only thing we ask is that everyone be able to play at a reasonable pace. We are going to play 36 each day and need to finish our rounds in about 4.5 hours or less...so higher handicappers are very welcome - but we need to make sure you can keep up the pace. I played last weekend with a golfer who has only been playing for three years, couldn't hit a drive over 200 yards and shot a 103 - but he very easily kept up the pace with the rest of the group.

We are happy to have players who shoot over 100 as long as they keep up. They will have high handicaps and get a lot of strokes on the bets!! (These guys are usually the winners anyway - its us lower guys who are the "contributors"....)

Just as an aside, the decision was made that the "world golf league" was closed to new members after the "season" began. So, if we want to use the site for this, we'll have to figure out a way outside of the current setup. Actually, since all handicapping is based in some sense on honesty, I'm cool with taking someone's best estimate. But that's up to everyone here.

[Bravo]

ooops...I forgot about that...we will figure something out or go on the honor system...but it would be great if we had something objective to go on.

[bdcrowe]

The way the site currently works is that each player is assigned 1 of 2 teams (duh) and each round entered is assigned to a player, thus an associated team. And the collection of round scores are averaged per team. Quotas are an average of rounds entered by x player. I could set up a 3rd team and assign non-players to this team, which would not effect team standings, scoring or tourney outcome, but will figure a quota for them as everyone else.

Just an idea.

[Bravo]

Originally Posted by bdcrowe

The way the site currently works is that each player is assigned 1 of 2 teams (duh) and each round entered is assigned to a player, thus an associated team. And the collection of round scores are averaged per team. Quotas are an average of rounds entered by x player. I could set up a 3rd team and assign non-players to this team, which would not effect team standings, scoring or tourney outcome, but will figure a quota for them as everyone else.

Just an idea.

That's a software engineer for you...thinking perfectly logically...IF....Then.

I am glad you stopped hanging drywall. You're probably a lot better at your new profession and are better paid to boot.

[Bama Duffer]

Bravo--

I'm trying to see if there's some way I can help you with the planning (if you need or want any help), since I'm so close. Just let me know and I'll see what I can do.

My participation depends on timing. Most of my fall weekends are booked, but hopefully it'll work out.

[Bravo]

Originally Posted by Bama Duffer

Bravo--

I'm trying to see if there's some way I can help you with the planning (if you need or want any help), since I'm so close. Just let me know and I'll see what I can do.

My participation depends on timing. Most of my fall weekends are booked, but hopefully it'll work out.

Well I would love to have your help. bdcrowe is going to be a "co-host" along with me...so the more help I get the better. If we had several "locals" it would help in that we would not need to rent a van for transportation. Additionally, we should have quite a few people to meet at the Birmingham airport and having more hosts here to help will be very beneficial. I have already checked many possible airfares and we may have quite a few people coming in between 12 and 1:00 on a Wednesday. If I had 2 additional drivers here with vehicles - it could help greatly - and we might slide in a quick practice round just to warm up the group.

BTW - we will not play on Sunday, so if you could spare a Saturday - then perhaps it would help you.

Thanks again for the offer and we are going to try to find dates and times that will work for everyone...