Golf Digest Ambush: Are You Next?
Last month I Ambushed Tom Messmer, Tim O'Neill and Mike Cornelius at Pinehurst as they celebrated their 40th birthdays. They submitted an itinerary that earned the envy of, well, a Golf Digest travel editor. And then they helped me Ambush Peggy Kirk Bell, legendary instructor and owner of Pine Needles in Pinehurst, N.C. Bell turns 87 later this year, but she is still as sharp as a new tee. She had lunch with us, gave us a free lesson that you can see in the latest Ambush video and told us she thought Annika is the best female to ever play the game. Then she walked down and watched us tee off, granting a mulligan to Tim O'Neill. Their story appears in the current issue of the magazine and on golfdigest.com.
I have this month's Ambush down to the following five finalists. Let me know your thoughts on which one I should meet up with by clicking on the comments link at the bottom of this entry.
From Courtney Joyner of Chicago, Ill.:
"Honey, we need to move the baptism. I'll be at the Meetings that weekend." True story. No, it's not a gathering of Buffett, Gates, Pickens, and others in Davos, Switzerland. It's people like Salty Dog, Taylor, Jones, The Brothers Herrmann, and The Overcusser. The Meetings began in 2000 as a long weekend with seven guys getting away for a "man conference." It is now a five day trip (three days of golf) with a new location every year (determined by planning committee). The membership is now sixteen strong and there is a waiting list to join. If you can't make it one year, you better have a good reason or you drop to the bottom of the list. The only person to miss and be back the next year was Brent Douglass, due to open-heart surgery. It has not been determined if he thinks all the baboon-heart jokes were worth coming back for. Besides bragging rights and having an incredible time, the players compete for two trophies: The Cup and the Shane Sullivan Award for Individual Achievement. The Cup was upgraded in 2007 to a 3-foot trophy complete with Stanley Cup type carrying case. The Sully is decided on by the namesake and is not necessarily given out every year. Day one is the four-man scramble and Day two is a four-man modified shamble. On one of the practice days, a 9 hole round, is added and includes a different challenge on each hole (ex: teeing off with a putter, playing the hole with one club, etc.) Please tell Walter Iooss, Jr. to bring Vendela, Stacy Williams, and the Matty G. arrow for the Ambush photo op. Itinerary: In Chicago, Illinois. Evening activities will consist of poker and beverage consumption. Thursday, August 7th: Harborside - Port Course. Friday, August 8th: Pine Meadow. Saturday, August 9th: Cantigny.
From Leonard D'Angelo in South Lyon, Mich.:
Garland Resort in Lewiston, Mich. (Aug. 1-4). The Mid-Michigan Golf Invitational (MMGI) has been a Michigan golf tradition for the past 16 years. The event always takes place in the state of Michigan, and traditionally in the beauty of Northern Michigan, which has some of the best golf in the nation as far as we are concerned! The usual attendance is 16 guys, with at least six of those being core members that have been around since day one. Others come and go as their wives allow (which we all refer to as "the scheduling department"), and others have been lost to unfortunate tragedies (cancer, car accidents). But as with many men, the simple act of getting together for a long weekend of golf once a year helps heal the pain of the loss, and also helps to keep their legacy alive and honor their memory. Every year the field is handicapped by a nonsensical formula derived by Tony Kornaga, the founding member. His unique ability to botch even the most simplistic math, when it comes to handicapping as well as to the cost of the annual event or especially keeping his own score, has become lovingly known as "Kornagian mathematics," and is the source of much ribbing year after year. For one long weekend, as long as the "scheduling department" clears it, forget about your worries and your strife, let it all hang out and relish the fact you'll be made fun of for years to come. And should something terrible happen, God forbid, you'll be remembered forever, once a-year, as a fun loving goof. I'm relatively new to this thing, but I can tell you this is one heck of a group of guys who are every bit deserving of being honored in Golf Digest.
From Hunter Williams in Atlanta, Ga.:
This is a trip that has been going on for about 15 years. It's known as Cattail, named after one guy tried to hit out of a particularly bad lie and only came back with six cattails, which he promptly stuck in his golf bag like clubs! The trip is anywhere from 12 to 24 guys and takes place the last of July in Myrtle Beach (OK, it's cheaper that time of year and all of the guys like to "hydrate" all day). We are mostly in our mid-forties and know each other from college, hometowns or this trip. Richie Harris is the guy who puts it together each year and does a great job. Below is the itinerary and a sampling of the flavor of the trip from one of his e-mails. We've all played the Dunes once before and it is a great old classic course. The last time we played we went out after a storm and no one else was on the course but our group. It was heaven! Here's the e-mail: "Hey boys, Just about Cat-time! Only five weeks away. Thurs: 1:42 p.m. at Kings North, Fri: 8:41 a.m. at Grande Dunes, Sat: Noon at The Dunes --can sleep a little, who knows maybe we will have a Bloody Mary brunch. We are at 20 with several people wanting in. I'm sure we can talk Joe Nicks, Tommy Ray, or someone else into making us 24. Sorry to hear Eric M. can't make it this year, and of course Ricky D. got the "pink slip" for breaking the rules. [No Pain Allowed; It's about Me] I will be sending out requests for handicaps in a couple of weeks, and we all know what fun that leads to. Plus, I will just assign you what I want anyway."
From Chuck Young in Pensacola, Fla.:
We have a group of 72 guys, who every year for the past seven years, gets together on the Robert Trent Jones Trail for two days of Ryder Cup style competition. We call it the RTJ Cup. There are two teams of 36. Nearly all of the 72 have a connection to Pensacola, Florida. The first three years of the event it was played at various sites along the Trail, but for the past four years it has stayed at Capitol Hill. (Driving between days became cumbersome.) Everyone travels on Thursday (most play a practice round). Friday morning is two-man scramble, afternoon is a two-man best ball. Saturday is alternate shot and Saturday evening is singles. Everyone stays on site. We rent out two villas--one for each team. It's an amazing trip. Included in this year's price of $550 per player: Three nights at the Marriott, four rounds of golf (typically the Senator for two, the Judge and the Legislator), pizza Thursday night, dinner Saturday night, and adult beverages at the villas Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. This has traditionally been an all guys event, no wives or girlfriends; with the exception being 2006 when one guy came back from Iraq and used some of his time to come play in the event. The organizers rented an on-site cabin for him and his wife. It's by handicap (that's were the stories really begin and end) so the playing field is level (like a carrier on the open sea). One player won the American Amateur Classic while others have trouble carrying enough balls to get through 18 holes. This will be my fifth year and I don't think I have ever had this much fun playing golf.
From Dirk Smith in Scottsdale, Ariz.:
Our foursome's annual pilgrimage is golf in its purest form--90 holes in two and a half days, grinding it out amid the 100-plus degree dog days of summer. This is our fourth annual guy's only trip. The amount of abuse we put on each other is topped only by the sweat we lose. The most eclectic guy in the group, a diabetic, always conveniently gets "fuzzy" in the heat when his scores start to rise. I'm a professional meeting planner so the role of scheduling this trip falls on me, and believe me when I share, the invasion of Normandy was likely easier to plan than getting all of these guys organized. I would love you to Ambush them! Itinerary--Palm Springs area on Saturday at La Quinta Resort (Dunes 7:15am), (Mountain at 1:15pm), Sunday at PGA WEST (Stadium Course at 7:15am), (Nicklaus Tournament Course at 1:15pm) and Monday at PGA WEST (Greg Norman Course at 8:37am).
Do you have a group (or know of a group) worthy of an Ambush? Tell us about it. You may be next.
--Matty G.
Dirk Smith has filed an e-mail on behalf of his group:
"Hey Matt,
Reading the other submissions, I didn't realize I could elaborate more, as I basically adhered to the submission instructions.
You know, the tales about Gary that I mentioned are only the tip of the iceberg. One of our guys was a former exec. with the NFL and he thought he'd seen everything until Gary. I should add, among other things, we always have to make a pre-tournament run to Walgreens for Gatorade and Snickers bars on his behalf. He insists on playing with a black golf glove that he usually forgets to pack. Sometimes he forgets to bring his insulin to the round (you would think that something designed to keep him alive would be on his short-list of items to remember?). You can't make this stuff up. That all said, he's one of my best friends. He and his wife home school four kids and I know he'd be a proud dad to appear in your magazine. Thanks again for nominating us. Sounds like you have a great collection of groups to choose from. I have to go now--need to climb Camelback Mountain in 90 degree heat so I can train for this golf marathon.
Hope to see you.
Dirk Smith"
Here's an e-mail from a reader who may be able to help plan future itineraries worthy of an Ambush:
"Hi Matt,
I have a small agency in Minneapolis that specializes in golf travel. We offer a unique product designing and managing golf trips to the nth degree. I tell clients that we, "design the golf trip that
they would if they had an unlimited amount of time to plan the trip."
If you have any interest, I would love to tell you about our business--it might be something that your readers would like to hear about.
See our website at: www.thegolfgroup.com.
Thanks,
Thomas Kozlak"
Hi Matty,
I think you would do well to ambush Dirk Smith's bunch out in the deserts of Palm Springs. With all the surrounding opportunities to play -- Torrey Pines, the Broadmoor, not to mention Arizona's own selection of excellent high altitude courses (read "not featuring daytime temps over 110 deg.") -- that these guys would travel from the Sonoran desert in order to play in the Mojave desert -- in July -- should speak volumes about their inherent "ambushablility". My vote is for these guys to get whacked!
doverj
Well Matt you actually have to earn your pay this month. These are some great options and not at all an easy choice. I'm leaning toward the group of 72. Having tried to organize a group of 32 in the past I can't imagine how the organizer(s) keep everyhting on track. The guys in the desert sound like fun as well, but I don't think I could handle the worry of something really bad happening to Gary while I was writing a story about thier trip. I like the sound of the Chicago guys. They have two trophies, and rules that get you wait listed for future trips. Their 9 hole practice round sound like it's worth the trip on it's own. As always you'll make the right choice, but I would probably go see the biggest buddies trip I've ever heard of. Coming off the heels of your three man trip it will be a good contrast and I'm sure you'll have plenty of good stories to choose from.
I doubt however that anyone will hole a bunker shot for birdie in a 4-man scramble, or help you meet a cart girl like Ashley.
Good article about the 4 top 100 courses in Minnesota. That would make a cool trip for the O'Toole invitational in the future.
How are the new clubs treating you. Did you play while you were ambushing three guys (what a coincidence) at Pinehurst?
Matt,
I just want to put in a plug for The Meetings in Chicago. We're a great example of how to create a tournament that allows the C & D players to significantly contribute to their team's performance (and feel the pressure) without having to post 110+ scores. Of course, when guys that bad at golf wouldn't miss a golf trip for the world - that says something for the non-golf activities and comraderie. This year, we have guys flying in from as far as the Phillipines and Australia for our trip. We even have a trophy, "The Shane Sullivan Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution to The Meetings", that has nothing to do with performance on the golf course!
It would take hours to share all the stories from our trips. For example, the time we convinced Chateau Whistler to let all 16 of us play an impromptu 1-club, 1-ball, 1-hole "tournament" on their 1st hole. Ever seen a course let a 16-some tee off? Of course, I think our bar tab had something to do with it!
We may not be great golfers, but the competition is very serious. There isn't a player in the group that can't instantly tell you how many times his name is on our yet-unnamed, and massive trophy. (The first guy to die gets the trophy named after him!)
We hope to see you in Chicago!
He scampered away into the distance, across the grounds of the Nicklaus-designed Breckenridge Golf Club. The rest of his team stood and watched in utter silence. It was the Championship round, and Shawn was gone without a word. THE MEETINGS, 2002 (names changed to protect the guilty)
THE MEETINGS commence in Chicago, IL August 6, 2008.
Where everyone knows your name...
Where you better be able to make a putt...
Where a broken club is simply another opportunity for a wager...
Where you can meet the Cornbread Cobra...
Where one player remembers when Lincoln was just another frontier lawyer...
Where the most expensive part of your trip make involve the tossing of fruit...
And the only place where you can learn the fate of dear Shawn.
Ambush it.
Matt,
Ok I have no affiliation to any of the groups. But I do envy them all. I am still a college student, graduating next May, that hopes to start planning yearly trips with my buddies for years to come. But I have narrowed it down to the top 3 of the 5 choices. I know that doesn't help much, but oh well.
3) Chicago- 16 man, the cup, the sully award, sounds like a good time.
2) Myrtle Beach- 12-24 man, great courses, I just got back from playing 3 courses down there last week.
1) RTJ- 72 man trip, I repeat 72!!! That is outrageous! I mean there are so many things that could be hilarious on that trip. That would definitely be my number 1 choice.
Thanks and enjoy wherever you decide to go.
Matty G,
From a completely biased perspective, the MMGI outing described by Len D'Angelo is a brilliant reflection of the essence of golf. From fantastics stories built upon the time shared golfing to tragic events outside of golf. [Sucks losing your brother-in-law and bud in less than a year]. An event where everyone has a nickname and team names like 4U2NV reflect the creativity of the group (thanks, Pat "space mountain" Darish). When's the last time you saw a bocce game stretching 420 yards through an active sprinkler system. Or a scramble that required an extra 3-holes to complete. How often have you heard a bird whistle the theme song from Austin Powers or seen a grown man wear a ladies golf shirt, for an entire round, due to losing a bet. From Leaderboard shots, wuffle ball championships to a six month discussion on the fluff rule. I could go on and on.
As the author of Kornagian mathematics, I believe this outing has the heart and sould of golf and those who enjoy the game!
Tony Kornaga, co-founder of MMGI
Matt,
I am also not involved with anyone of the groups but would go with the Meetings. It adds a little something with the trophies. Good luck with your choice.
Rob
Hey Matt. No affiliation with any group, but I vote for the Michigan guys (which means a lot coming from a Buckeye!!). Bottom line is that Northern Michigan does have some of the finest golf in the nation. period. I also liked the additional comments posted by the other guy from that group. sounds like a fun group.
Matt
72 guys for a weekend..Can you imagine the stories and lies told at night. The amount of time and organization that must go into that has to be huge. Being in the south I know the courses they play and you get to see all different types of golf. resort to links golf. Plus you get to see all different formats. I would vote for the RTJ just to see how its pulled off. Do they take over the enitre resort?
Matty G,
I think all of the trips sound GREAT! I am the Brother-In-Law of the event coordinator for the 72 man group called RTJ. I can attest to the tremendous amount of coordination that goes on behind the scenes (to which most of the guys is invisable). There are three separate courses at this particular club. The staff there know us so well they actually give us one whole course FOR THE DAY, complete with 2 beverage carts and no marshals. We marshal ourselves quite well (read: yelling from the tee box or fairway at the group ahead). On Saturday night, they provide us the clubhouse for dinner, beverages and the awards/roast ceremony. The last couple years, for Saturday's matches, one of our sponsors provides us team shirts. Its pretty impressive to drive up to the range and see 72 guys hitting with matching shirts (2 colors). I have played in this event all but a couple years. The interesting fact about this competition is that Team Rowe won the first 3 years. Team Hank won the next 3 years. Last years' event, believe it or not, ended up in a DEADLOCK (in a Ryder Cup style event with 90 possible points??). We couldn't believe it ourselves. So after 7 years, we have a dead heat. This year will be more heated than ever with 8 years of bragging rights (thats what its all about anyways) on he line. Throw in the fact that we have a Miller Distributing Company as a sponsor .... Nuff said!
Greg Preston
Very, very biased here, but RTJ is the way to go...the courses are fantastic, the competition fun and intense and the trash talk ridiculous. When one team captain edits together Win One for the Gipper footage from Friday Night Lights ("Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose") and Any Given Sunday (Pachino's "YOU GOTTA FIGHT FOR THAT INCH!) culminated with a RTJ style Pac Man Jones Make It Rain of Tees and Ball Markers while the other captain just rolls his eyes and orders his charges to do another shot you know you have a classic on your hands. You have two 28's (max handicap allowed) battling in singles for that crucial point winning holes with quadruple bogey's while scratch golfers go birdie, birdie, birdie. You have RTJ's version of "Shooter" from Hoosiers destroying people all weekend on the course then telling his partner on 11 to wake him up if their opponents get within two then falling out of his cart on 13. You have the scratch golfer and the 28 HNCP teamates screaming at each other during alternate shot. (Just a word...if you are ever a captain in one of these things...never do that pairing. The scratch golfers get a litle annoyed hitting 300 yd drives dead center to within 130 only to be 110 out and behind a tree.) You have guys getting the RTJ Rocky "Cut me, Mick!" treatment on the turn by shotgunning a beverage to turn around their fortunes. Miracle shots and tragedy come in bunches (e.g "There is a midget in that tree!! Did you see that midget!! He threw it on the green!!!" and The John Thomas 13 incher for the win that wound not fall). I could go on and on and on...just come out and see for yourself. Of course, we'll need some editorial control. You know, to protect the innocent (i.e. wives). And despite the competition, at the end of it all it is about hitting the golf ball and just having some fun with your boys. I'm driving over from Atlanta with some of the crew Thurs AM, 8/7 and playing a practice round at Grand National in Opelika. Join us and you'll get two RTJ destinations for the price of one.
I just wanted to thank you for all your thoughts on this month's Ambush. You've made a tough choice a lot harder. And remember, if I don't meet up with you and your group this year--there's always next year.
Safe travels and have a great trip.
Matt