Message

26^th Annual Northern Michigan Golf Trip (2024)

Destination: Gaylord, Michigan

Golfers (to protect the “innocent”, I have used first names and last name initials only):

Bob F.

Bob S.

Charles

Dave

Jay

James

Jim

John

Marv

Randy

Trip details, including accommodations and tee times are below. As always, please plan to arrive at the first course ASAP to allow time for check-in, trash talk, predictions, group photo and most important, beverage buying!

Rules

Have fun!
Play well (or at least the best that you can).
Play honest. Proven cheaters will be severely ridiculed and appropriately punished!
Play your ball where it lies unless you drop and take a penalty stroke. It is not acceptable for you to touch, nudge, move your ball or improve your lie in anyway, unless you take a penalty stroke. Exceptions:

You can remove freely lying natural debris (rocks, sticks, etc) around your ball, but if it causes your ball to move it is a penalty stroke. You can remove unnatural debris (e.g. – beer can), but if it causes your ball to move further than one club length, it must be moved back to its original location (without a penalty stroke).
It is not acceptable to break or remove growing or solid plants, plant parts, or other natural items to improve your lie or swing. Tread lightly!
If you are in the fairway (your own fairway that is), you have the option to move your ball within one club length, no closer to the hole, without penalty. This rule is intended to let you get yourself out of a divot and speed up play.
You can move your ball to avoid scenarios such as ground under repair, standing water, and cart path stances, to a position that is NO closer to the hole and within one club length (when possible), without penalty.
Drops must be within the lost ball’s line of flight, no closer to the hole, or in designated drop areas.
You get the hint by now, play an honest game!
If you want to touch, nudge, or move your balls after the round of golf, keep it private. Public display will result in multiple penalty strokes (likely with the clubs or other golfers).

Demonstrate appropriate golf etiquette.

Please do not spend excessive time looking for your lost ball (or other balls). To speed up the search, hit a provisional when appropriate and continue your search as you move to your next shot. If you do not find your lost ball, take a penalty stroke.
If your score on a particular hole is excessive and you are slowing play, you should consider conceding the hole. A general rule of thumb for a max score is twice par plus one. But, only concede the hole if you are slowing play or severely frustrated. We certainly will appreciate those 12-14 stroke holes (especially on par 3’s) and appropriate recognition will be provided for your performance.
Keep pace!

Manage your anger. Your behavior on the course will impact the other golfers. We will all likely have bad shots, holes, rounds, and maybe even a bad weekend (hard to believe). It’s natural to vent your frustration. But if it’s frequent, it’s annoying and unacceptable. However, the occasional scream, curse, and club throw are acceptable and appreciated. Remember, there are non-monetary recognitions for the loudest !@#$ (fore that is) and the furthest club throw.
Report and help me keep track of noteworthy performances (good and bad), which will be used for the post trip summary. I want good golf stories and pictures. Incriminating pictures are best. Keep a sharp photo eye! The summary and pictures will be available through the combination of email and http://strazhouse.com/.

A person wearing a garment

Description automatically generated with low confidence

Golf Games

Mandatory Games:

Total Scores – Before our first round of the weekend, everyone will predict their total score for all rounds of golf. The closest to their prediction (above or below) wins the pot. Ties will split the pot evenly. In the event that one or more rounds are not played, the delta between the prediction and the total score per the number of rounds played will be used.

Skins – Skins will be played among all foursomes. For tracking and mind-game purposes, results will be calculated after each round. Final calculation and payout will be after the weekend’s final round. There will be no hole-to-hole carryover. A skin will be won if you have the lowest score for a hole among all foursomes. Ties on a hole will result in “no skin” won for that hole. The payout per skin will be calculated as follows:

Example:

Total prize money = ($10 * # of golfers) = $120

Payout per skin = ($120 / Total number of skins)

Payout per golfer – (Payout per skin * # of skins won)

Example:

Payout per skin = $3

Skins won by Bob F. = 0

Payout = $3 * 0 = $0

Optional Games:

Greens ($1 per hole, per golfer) – This game is played among a foursome on par 3 holes. The golfer who hits their tee shot on the green and is closest to the pin wins the green. You MUST par the hole to win!

Beanie Babies ($1 per beanie baby, per golfer) – For those of you that have the pleasure to golf in a foursome with me, we will likely be playing the Beanie Baby game. I know it’s a golfing favorite! There will be three beanie babies; squirrel, lizard, and lobster. Golfers start with zero beanie babies. The first golfer to hit into the water gets the lobster. The first golfer to hit into the woods (or heather on courses without woods) gets the squirrel. The first golfer to hit into the sand gets the lizard. If you hit into the sand and then execute a glorious up-and-down, the lizard award is negated. The next golfer to hit into the woods, water, or sand gets the appropriate beanie baby. After nine holes, each golfer with one or more beanie babies owes each other golfer in the foursome $1 for each beanie baby possessed. The game resets for the back nine. This game requires proper order of play to be considered (lowest score from the previous hole goes first on the tee; furthest from the hole after the tee shot goes first). When possible, allow for the appropriate order of play. But, play ready golf when necessary to keep pace. If appropriate order of play is not possible, results will still be on the appropriate order of play. For example, if you shoot before your turn (regardless of reason) and land in a hazard, you still get the appropriate beanie baby even if the next golfer (assuming they had honors) hits that same hazard.

Wolfman ($1-2 per hole per golfer) – Each golfer in the group takes turns alternating who is the Wolfman on each hole. The golfer to go first should be determined by flipping a coin or tee. The Wolfman always tees off last. The Wolfman chooses one of the other golfers in the group as his partner for the hole, or chooses to go alone. The Wolfman has to pick his partner before the next golfer tees off or the Wolfman loses his chance to partner with that golfer and must take one of the next golfers or go alone. If the Wolfman chooses not to partner with the last golfer to tee off prior to the Wolfman, the Wolfman must go alone. The object is for the Wolfman (or partner) to win the hole over the other golfer(s) in the group. The lowest individual score is used to determine who wins the hole. If the Wolfman (or partner) wins the hole, the Wolfman and his partner win $1 from each other golfer in the group for that hole. If the Wolfman did not choose a partner, went alone, and won the hole, he gets $2 from each other golfer in the group for that hole. If the Wolfman (or partner) did not win a hole, the Wolfman (and partner) owe the other golfers in the group $1 (or $2 if alone) for that hole. Have fun and happy howling!