7th Annual Northern Michigan Golf Trip (2005)

 

 

The 2005 trip was to Boyne Mountain/Highlands located in the Petoskey area.  We had twelve golfers (I use that term loosely). Trip details, including accommodations and tee times are below. 

 

 

Rules

 

Sorry, have to have some, especially when bragging rights are involved.

 

  1. Have fun!
  2. Play well (or at least the best that you can).
  3. Play honest.  Proven cheaters will be severely ridiculed and appropriately punished!
  4. 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:
    1. 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).
    2. 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!
    3. 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.  Real men will play their lie though!
    4. 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.
    5. Drops must be within the lost ball’s line of flight, no closer to the hole, or in designated drop areas.
    6. You get the hint by now, play an honest game!
    7. 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).
  5. Demonstrate appropriate golf etiquette. 
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. Keep pace!
  6. 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.  Bottom line: Be a man, not a baby!  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.
  7. 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.  Incriminating pictures are best.  Keep a sharp photo eye!  The summary and pictures will be available through the combination of email and StrazHouse.com (http://home.twmi.rr.com/strazhouse/).

 

 

 

Golf Games

 

Mandatory Games:

Total Scores – Before our first round on Friday, everyone will predict their total score (for 4 rounds) for the weekend.  The closest to their prediction (above or below) wins.  Ties will split win 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 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.

 

Optional Games:

Beanie Babies – 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 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.

 

Greens – 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!

 

Other - Of course you can always play other games or no games at all in your foursome.

 

 

 

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Trip Details:

 

Dates

 

Friday 7/29/2005 through Sunday 7/31/2005

 

Courses

 

Friday

The Alpine (Boyne Mountain) @ 2:03, 2:12, and 2:21pm

 

Saturday (morning)

The Donald Ross Memorial (Boyne Highlands) @ 10:03, 10:13, and 10:23am

 

Saturday (afternoon)

The Arthur Hills (Boyne Highlands) @ 4:00 and 4:10pm

 

The Moor (Boyne Highlands) @ 4:00pm

 

Note: The Arthur Hills course did not have a third tee time available, so I’ve made a tee time at The Moor for the third foursome.  However, we are on the waiting list if a third tee time becomes available on the Arthur Hills course.

 

Sunday

Black Bear (Vanderbilt; Gaylord area) @ 11:01, 11:09 and 11:17am.

 

 

Hotel

 

Boyne Mountain Resort (http://www.boynemountain.com/) 

 

Note: we are staying at the Boyne Mountain, not Boyne Highlands.

 

 

Web Sites

Boyne - http://www.boyne.com/

Black Bear - http://www.golfblackbear.net/

StrazHouse.com - http://home.twmi.rr.com/strazhouse/