GM mega meet 2013 (suggestion only)

I think the cost needs to be kept down regarding a mega meet. Problem with making a complete package with 3 rounds at good courses and 2 nights B&B is you are looking at that costing around the £250-300 mark. Once you add on 2 evening meals and 2 nights out drinking plus food during the day and your fuel you are going to be topping the £400 mark. Take in 3 days off work in the middle of the holiday period and you can see where I am going with this. If you want maximum numbers you need to keep the price down.

My opinion on a mega meet would be something like 2 nights B&B with 36 holes of golf. Looking at the Ganton site I am sure GM could get a deal at £75 for 36 holes of golf, block book a hotel for some DB&B and we might be able to get it in for around £150ish all in with a bit of haggling. Do not book up any golf for the day before aor after just leave that up to people to sort htemself if they fancy a game on the way up or down. But then those with a long drive ahead can get themself off home if that is what they want.

That idea may not sound as fancy but it might just give us a better chance getting a large turn out.
 
I think the cost needs to be kept down regarding a mega meet. Problem with making a complete package with 3 rounds at good courses and 2 nights B&B is you are looking at that costing around the £250-300 mark. Once you add on 2 evening meals and 2 nights out drinking plus food during the day and your fuel you are going to be topping the £400 mark. Take in 3 days off work in the middle of the holiday period and you can see where I am going with this. If you want maximum numbers you need to keep the price down.

My opinion on a mega meet would be something like 2 nights B&B with 36 holes of golf. Looking at the Ganton site I am sure GM could get a deal at £75 for 36 holes of golf, block book a hotel for some DB&B and we might be able to get it in for around £150ish all in with a bit of haggling. Do not book up any golf for the day before aor after just leave that up to people to sort htemself if they fancy a game on the way up or down. But then those with a long drive ahead can get themself off home if that is what they want.

That idea may not sound as fancy but it might just give us a better chance getting a large turn out.

I agree regarding the days and complete package etc. In my opinion the mega meet should be organised as one day out at a top course to get best numbers and price down on an expensive course. People can then add on games before/after this to suit etc.

We need a poll of possible venues to move forward imo. Ganton being one it seems so far.
 
sounds a good idea but expensive,how about a mega weekend in LLANDUDNO go friday night play north wales and mausde on the sat and conwyn on the sunday,stay at one the the hotels that caters for golf breaks,most only a good straight drive from the courses,and packages including d,b&b from as little as £130 from the welsh tourist board.
 
Just been looking back at the last three GM events I attended to timing arrangements.
Castle Stuart required tee times over a 2hr20m time frame to get 60 people off in groups of four with a round taking over 4.5hrs
Centenary Event Dalmahoy,took 1hr40min to get everyone off, again mainly in 4balls with a round taking 4.5hrs (bad weather though)
Hillside required a 2hr window to get everyone off in threes. 4.25hrs and I was in first group out.

I know that in the three Ryder Cup matches held at Goswick all took 4-4.5hrs to get round with tee times for 8 BB matches taking almost an hour to all tee off.

Trying to take advantage of a twighlight rate or trying to get 36holes in a single day with a large number of participants isn't going to happen.

To make an event at the likes of Ganton a viable option for both us and for the Club, the event would really have to be organised by GM I think. The idea of a specific day for the Mega Meet and other events arranged around it, worked well at castle Stuart as someone took on the organising of the 'other events' and GM organised the big event. I certainly enjoyed Castle Stuart and then The Nairn on the Sunday. That sort of format gives a bit of flexibility. We didn't really get anything properly organised around Hillside. There were some who managed a game on the Tuesday, but I couldn't hang around for it unfortunately.

A good venue for a Mega Meet and some 'other golf' either side would be a good way to go again I think. Gives flexibility for those who can't commit to three full days of Forum golf.
 
Just been looking back at the last three GM events I attended to timing arrangements.
Castle Stuart required tee times over a 2hr20m time frame to get 60 people off in groups of four with a round taking over 4.5hrs
Centenary Event Dalmahoy,took 1hr40min to get everyone off, again mainly in 4balls with a round taking 4.5hrs (bad weather though)
Hillside required a 2hr window to get everyone off in threes. 4.25hrs and I was in first group out.

I know that in the three Ryder Cup matches held at Goswick all took 4-4.5hrs to get round with tee times for 8 BB matches taking almost an hour to all tee off.

Trying to take advantage of a twighlight rate or trying to get 36holes in a single day with a large number of participants isn't going to happen.

To make an event at the likes of Ganton a viable option for both us and for the Club, the event would really have to be organised by GM I think. The idea of a specific day for the Mega Meet and other events arranged around it, worked well at castle Stuart as someone took on the organising of the 'other events' and GM organised the big event. I certainly enjoyed Castle Stuart and then The Nairn on the Sunday. That sort of format gives a bit of flexibility. We didn't really get anything properly organised around Hillside. There were some who managed a game on the Tuesday, but I couldn't hang around for it unfortunately.

A good venue for a Mega Meet and some 'other golf' either side would be a good way to go again I think. Gives flexibility for those who can't commit to three full days of Forum golf.

Definitely the one thing that people do agree on is 2 nights DB&B with a round of golf then organise side games to suit the individual. I am sure GM will come up with something.
 
I think the cost needs to be kept down regarding a mega meet. Problem with making a complete package with 3 rounds at good courses and 2 nights B&B is you are looking at that costing around the £250-300 mark. Once you add on 2 evening meals and 2 nights out drinking plus food during the day and your fuel you are going to be topping the £400 mark. Take in 3 days off work in the middle of the holiday period and you can see where I am going with this. If you want maximum numbers you need to keep the price down.

My opinion on a mega meet would be something like 2 nights B&B with 36 holes of golf. Looking at the Ganton site I am sure GM could get a deal at £75 for 36 holes of golf, block book a hotel for some DB&B and we might be able to get it in for around £150ish all in with a bit of haggling. Do not book up any golf for the day before aor after just leave that up to people to sort htemself if they fancy a game on the way up or down. But then those with a long drive ahead can get themself off home if that is what they want.

That idea may not sound as fancy but it might just give us a better chance getting a large turn out.

You make a few good points, and as someone else said it may be too "mega". I think any mega meet needs to have a big attraction, to encourage people to travel from far and wide. Let's face it, I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love to meet some of the southerners, geordies,jocks,Irish etc as we only see each other in cyber world, and the mega meet is the ideal place.

We all have different levels of affordability, how far we are willing to travel, how much we will pay to go on a particular course, but the thing that will get most of us off our derriere is the "Wow" factor, as this is why we are all here.

The wow factor on this one was playing three ryder cup venues in one meet. It may not be wow enough for some, affordability will be a factor for others, number of days off work etc.

Another option is for a 2 venue ryder cup option (maybe ganton and Moortown, as both near to York). People can stay for 1 or 2 nights, and if others want to play the third one, or one of the other Yorkshire grand courses, they can. That may be more attractive to some, with the other option for others. I know if I was going to travel for 3-4 hours, I would try tomake a 3 day break of it and take advantage of other options/courses whilst in that area. That's just me though.

Anyway, as I said it was just a suggestion. It would be nice to hear, if Mike/GM has any thoughts, or loose plans in the offing, for other options.........

The twilight/sunday/group tee time prices were just to give an idea of how cheap they let some tee times for. 40-60 golfers, should get similar prices, especially if GM ask.
 
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