25 replies to this topic

[clewallen]

So I am moving to Tampa area, within the next week or so any i really want to join a local tournament/tour set-up. I looked at the GCAMTOUR, and looked pretty friendly with different flights and everything anyone ever played on it before? or have better suggestions?

Thanks

[sompin2do]

I've been a member for just over a year now. Florida like Texas has lots of players. Best part I like is it's flighted and gross score not net.

[clewallen]

Yea really excited about giving it a shot, ive played in flight tours before and there were alot of sandbaggers, is it pretty legit competition? Any tips on what to do, to make joining go smoother?

[sompin2do]

 clewallen, on 29 July 2012 - 07:33 PM, said:

Yea really excited about giving it a shot, ive played in flight tours before and there were alot of sandbaggers, is it pretty legit competition? Any tips on what to do, to make joining go smoother?

Sent you a PM earlier with my phone number.  Not sure what you mean by tips on joining go smoother.  They do a pretty good job monitoring for possible sandbaggers.  Mike

[clewallen]

 sompin2do, on 29 July 2012 - 07:45 PM, said:

 clewallen, on 29 July 2012 - 07:33 PM, said:

Yea really excited about giving it a shot, ive played in flight tours before and there were alot of sandbaggers, is it pretty legit competition? Any tips on what to do, to make joining go smoother?

Sent you a PM earlier with my phone number.  Not sure what you mean by tips on joining go smoother.  They do a pretty good job monitoring for possible sandbaggers.  Mike

Like should i try and establish a handicap through USGA or its doesnt matter? I guess would be my only question.

Is there a best time of the year to sign up, or do they run tournaments all year. and yes i got the PM and when i sign up ill hook you up.

[sompin2do]

 clewallen, on 29 July 2012 - 07:48 PM, said:

 sompin2do, on 29 July 2012 - 07:45 PM, said:

 clewallen, on 29 July 2012 - 07:33 PM, said:

Yea really excited about giving it a shot, ive played in flight tours before and there were alot of sandbaggers, is it pretty legit competition? Any tips on what to do, to make joining go smoother?

Sent you a PM earlier with my phone number.  Not sure what you mean by tips on joining go smoother.  They do a pretty good job monitoring for possible sandbaggers.  Mike

Like should i try and establish a handicap through USGA or its doesnt matter? I guess would be my only question.

Is there a best time of the year to sign up, or do they run tournaments all year. and yes i got the PM and when i sign up ill hook you up.

You don't have to establish your Tour handicap with GHIN.  They will accept 6 attested cards to start you out.  Since the National Championship is in Sept. I would say join right after that so you have plenty of time to qualify for the 2013 Nationals.  This year we're playing at Sawgrass and the typical pattern has been to alternate back and forth between FL and CA.

[sompin2do]

And they run tournaments all year. Here in TX I could play in one almost every week between Houston, Hill Country, Dallas and Oklahoma.  Just looked at the Tampa tour and you shoud be able to play all you want.

[rockinar]

I have been playing on the GCAT for 3 years in Texas. It's lots of fun if you're just looking for friendly competition and small bragging rights to help you push your game. There are sandbaggers (usually new guys in higher handicap flights) but they get bumped up in flight after 3 wins or instantly if they put up some crazy low number. If you dont know your handicap, it's best to request to start in a lower handicap flight than you think you should be in. You can always move backwards.
You will make zero friends claiming youre a 19 handicap and then posting a 77 in your first tournament in the Jones Flight.

Relax, join and have fun.

[Jeembo]

I've been playing for a couple months and love it.  I didn't have a handicap so I did the 6 scorecards thing and it worked out fine.  They actually didn't even need to see the cards, so I could've just made the scores up if I wanted to.  I have tourneys the next 3 weekends

[clewallen]

Rockinar is that only in Texas or is it nationwide? Im sure you saw, im in FL.

Cool Jeembo the more people i see saying its legit the better i feel about spending $200 for the membership

[Jeembo]

You actually get quite a bit with that $200.  The welcome package includes a very nice shirt, a towel, a dozen Bridgestones, a nice hat, and some other goodies.  Also, I don't know how it is on other tours, but in the L.A. tour you get to play PREMIUM courses for less than the cost of greens fees.  I played Oak Creek a couple weeks ago which is a Tom Fazio-designed track and they charge $175 for a weekend round.  Tournament entry was $150.  All of the upcoming tournaments are at courses with greens fees in that range.

Edited by Jeembo, 30 July 2012 - 05:52 PM.

[clewallen]

So i know you have the chance to win skins, is there usually a big enough turn out for a flight to produce high skins amount?

[rockinar]

I've seen Skins pay hundreds, and also Par 3s can pay out hundreds too.

[sompin2do]

 rockinar, on 30 July 2012 - 07:58 PM, said:

I've seen Skins pay hundreds, and also Par 3s can pay out hundreds too.

Especially the Giant Skins.

[rockinar]

 clewallen, on 30 July 2012 - 06:10 PM, said:

So i know you have the chance to win skins, is there usually a big enough turn out for a flight to produce high skins amount?

Skins are usually grouped in two different sets. Lower 3 handicap flights are Skins A and higher three handicap flights are Skins B. So skins can pay pretty good and you have a fair shot at winning. The payout does not depend on # of players. It's an optional side game and the pot size is determined on how many people put their money in the pot.

[sompin2do]

 rockinar, on 31 July 2012 - 03:36 AM, said:

 clewallen, on 30 July 2012 - 06:10 PM, said:

So i know you have the chance to win skins, is there usually a big enough turn out for a flight to produce high skins amount?

Skins are usually grouped in two different sets. Lower 3 handicap flights are Skins A and higher three handicap flights are Skins B. So skins can pay pretty good and you have a fair shot at winning. The payout does not depend on # of players. It's an optional side game and the pot size is determined on how many people put their money in the pot.

On the Dallas Tour skins are by flight.  The director will combine 2 flights such as Jones and Sr Jones if necessary to make the pot bigger.  I assume it depends on how many players there are overall.

[Jeembo]

In the L.A. tour, they combine Hogan, Sarazen, Sr Hogan, and Sr Sarazen.  $20 to get in on them and if you can somehow manage to get one, it pays $150+.  That said, had a guy in my group in the last tourney kick in 3 birdies and he didn't win squat.  Nice thing about skins is that they actually pay out cash.  The tourneys themselves pay in golf galaxy gift cards (and there's no freaking golf galaxy within 100 miles of where I live).

Edited by Jeembo, 31 July 2012 - 12:23 PM.

[clewallen]

 Jeembo, on 31 July 2012 - 12:21 PM, said:

In the L.A. tour, they combine Hogan, Sarazen, Sr Hogan, and Sr Sarazen.  $20 to get in on them and if you can somehow manage to get one, it pays $150+.  That said, had a guy in my group in the last tourney kick in 3 birdies and he didn't win squat.  Nice thing about skins is that they actually pay out cash.  The tourneys themselves pay in golf galaxy gift cards (and there's no freaking golf galaxy within 100 miles of where I live).

Ya same no golf galaxy near me either so majority of my focus would be to play well and win the skins. i will look into it for sure, i have found like 3 other am tours in that area with not as expensive tournaments and sign-up fees so we will have to see

[rockinar]

 clewallen, on 31 July 2012 - 04:07 PM, said:

Ya same no golf galaxy near me either so majority of my focus would be to play well and win the skins. i will look into it for sure, i have found like 3 other am tours in that area with not as expensive tournaments and sign-up fees so we will have to see

Those other tours (at least in my area) don't have as many tournaments, the courses are not as good (we play some 100% private courses you would not otherwise have access to) and the fields are smaller. The GCAT has tournaments everywhere from Kapalua, Maui to TPC Sawgrass with 36 hole Majors and a 72 hole National Championship at some of the best courses in the country. The GCAT is owned by the Golf Channel and they have much more "pull" than any other tour. Is it the cheapest? No. But I would say its the best unless you're cheap, or looking to play for cash.

If you're sweating over a $200 sign up fee and $125 entry fees, it's not for you.

[clewallen]

Yea there is one other that i will check into, have tons of tournaments and they do the samething with private, semi-private courses as well...however i like to know someone with a big name like GC is backing this tour, you know they run it right because its there name on it. Money is not an issue just want to make sure i get the most for it.

[sompin2do]

Just got the email for the first 2 majors of the coming season.  Innisbrook Dec 1-2 and Kapalua Dec 8-9.

[Jeembo]

Yeh, I saw that too.  I'd give my left nut to go to Hawaii for a week and play Kapalua.

[clewallen]

what do you have to do to qualify? and how much do you pay?

[sompin2do]

 clewallen, on 01 August 2012 - 08:42 PM, said:

what do you have to do to qualify? and how much do you pay?

Join the Tour.  Entry fees won't be posted until registration opens the week of Sept 17th.  2 day majors are usually around $300.  Except Pinehurst....

[rockinar]

 sompin2do, on 01 August 2012 - 03:47 PM, said:

Just got the email for the first 2 majors of the coming season.  Innisbrook Dec 1-2 and Kapalua Dec 8-9.

I got that too. It does not say if it will be on the Bay Course or Plantation Course. Either way I'm going to play it.
I own a place on Maui and played Plantation last week. It's a brutal course. The greens are crazy. The Bay Course is a little more tame, but still a challenge.

Edited by rockinar, 02 August 2012 - 03:59 AM.

[rockinar]

 clewallen, on 01 August 2012 - 08:42 PM, said:

what do you have to do to qualify? and how much do you pay?

You don't have to qualify for majors. You just have to pay. As mentioned, they are usually about $300. That comes out to  roughy $150/round. And they are on great courses. I played last year at TPC San Antonio and was paired up with someone who played for the San Antonio Spurs which was interesting. I don't watch basketball so I did not know who he was but all the people from the SA your told me.

You do have to qualify for the National Chamionship. Either by points, place well in a major or get 3 wins.

Edited by rockinar, 02 August 2012 - 08:35 AM.