Mega Meet 2013??

[Birchy]

Just a couple of thoughts.. Is it all about the quality of the course or the quality of the event/meet?

I havnt played in one but the idea of a Ryder cup England v Scotland match sounds appealing. If even numbers were achieved and obviously this would depend on location of venue, would it be possible,and label it as a Mega Meet.

It seems there are a lot more regular users on the Forum nowadays, but I'm sure it would depend on how much interest there was from North of the border so we could obtain equal numbers.

Its just an idea and I know It probably won't suit everyone, but I'm sure it would get the banter going on the Forum in the build up.

This idea has been discussed and a ryder cup style event is something i would deffo love to play in. Would need to be done proper over a few days though imo.

 

[fundy]

If you are looking at a venue for a mega meet it would have to be somewhere like Forest Pines as that is probably the most central golf course around. 300 from Dundee, 330 from Plymouth and 240 from Eastbourne. So on those distances nobody is really any more than about 5 hours on a good run, which by sharing the driving with others will not be too much of a problem. That way it gives the most chance of getting a large attendance from all over the UK.

If you had it on a Friday with the first tee offs early afternoon that would give people plenty of time to get there, then have dinner and drinkies with an over night stay heading back down Saturday morning, or like we did at Woodhall have another round Saturday morning.

Not sure I agree that somewhere like Forest Pines would be ideal, Lincolnshire not the most accesible of places by any form of transport other than car. If doing this the ideal venue would be close to an airport with decent road and possibly even rail access. I dunno, somewhere like Luton (yes it seems I can pick a decent venue close to where Im based too lol, which is invariably what everyone does when asked where they want an event held )

 

[patricks148]

I think you would have more chance getting people to go it it were a top 100 course or open/ryder cup venue. Some where a bit special.

Though I'm sure forest pines is a nice enough course, i for one would not want to make a 660 mile trip even from Dundee. Which is 2 1/2 hours closer than i am

 

[MadAdey]

Not sure I agree that somewhere like Forest Pines would be ideal, Lincolnshire not the most accesible of places by any form of transport other than car. If doing this the ideal venue would be close to an airport with decent road and possibly even rail access. I dunno, somewhere like Luton (yes it seems I can pick a decent venue close to where Im based too lol, which is invariably what everyone does when asked where they want an event held )

IT is not so much as it is close to me, it just so happens that I live in the midlands, so anything that is pretty central to all will be close by for me. The only problem I see by going further and further south is that people from up in Scotland may choose not to come and vice versa with people from down Kent and Cornwall way if we go up towards Scotland. Obviously there are those who will travel to anywhere for a good game of golf so do not care where it is.

I just used Forest Pines as example Fundy, not necessarily as a definite venue for looking into holding a big just an idea as it is just off the M180 so can be easily accessed by car in a reasonably quick time as you are on motorway all the way, no matter where you are travelling from, so it can make a quicker drive that other places that are out in the sticks.

 

[Qwerty]

This idea has been discussed and a ryder cup style event is something i would deffo love to play in. Would need to be done proper over a few days though imo.

I'm sure the guys who've played in them before would confirm it, but it just sounds like it would be a really good meet.

Like you say Birchy it would have to be done over a couple of days, but a few beers in the evening having a laugh over the days play sounds good to me. And to be honest, personally I wouldn't be too fussy over the venue. They've even had it at Goswick in the past

 

[bladeplayer]

a Ryder cup England v Scotland match sounds appealing. .

.

. That way it gives the most chance of getting a large attendance from all over the UK.

.

. The only problem I see by going further and further south is that people from up in Scotland may choose not to come and vice versa with people from down Kent and Cornwall way if we go up towards Scotland. .

.

:whoo: :thup:

 

[Fish]

I think when looking at central area's taking the Scottish contingent into account then Staffordshire, Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire are the 3 most central counties which are fed by all arterial motorway networks either directly or indirectly from most area's of the country.

There are plenty of excellent courses amongst those counties.

 

[Birchy]

I'm sure the guys who've played in them before would confirm it, but it just sounds like it would be a really good meet.

Like you say Birchy it would have to be done over a couple of days, but a few beers in the evening having a laugh over the days play sounds good to me. And to be honest, personally I wouldn't be too fussy over the venue. They've even had it at Goswick in the past

I agree with all that. The banter, format and the company makes them sort of things .

It would probably have to be seperate from the mega meet though because what about the welsh and irish? I would imagine a mega meet to be open to all.

 

[DCB]

Re another Ryder Cup style match, there wasn't much interest for one last year when the idea was muted. Would there be enough interest to try again this year ?

 

[Qwerty]

I agree with all that. The banter, format and the company makes them sort of things .

It would probably have to be seperate from the mega meet though because what about the welsh and irish? I would imagine a mega meet to be open to all.

How about England versus The Rest of the UK? :thup: OR we could even invite Steve in Spain and that bloke from France who called everyone peasants.

 

[Fish]

Re another Ryder Cup style match, there wasn't much interest for one last year when the idea was muted. Would there be enough interest to try again this year ?

I think when you read what some people have already committed to this year and when some have said yes but already dropped out of some meets, I think a "Mega-Meet" to be successful and take everyone into account would require at least a full years notice at the very least.

I also think when taking Scotland and Ireland (North & South) into account then a central area with all motorway routes and an airport is a must. People like me (and many others) who live 10 minutes from Birmingham International can pick people up so Warwickshire/West Midlands & Staffordshire I think is a good shout.

I think an invitation course then like Blackwell would then be unique as not many people get the opportunity to play it and its very nice, steeped in history and a good test for everyone of all levels and with excellent hospitality too.

 

[MadAdey]

I think when you read what some people have already committed to this year and when some have said yes but already dropped out of some meets, I think a "Mega-Meet" to be successful and take everyone into account would require at least a full years notice at the very least.

I also think when taking Scotland and Ireland (North & South) into account then a central area with all motorway routes and an airport is a must. People like me (and many others) who live 10 minutes from Birmingham International can pick people up so Warwickshire/West Midlands & Staffordshire I think is a good shout.

I think an invitation course then like Blackwell would then be unique as not many people get the opportunity to play it and its very nice, steeped in history and a good test for everyone of all levels and with excellent hospitality too.

Looks good, but it would always depend on access and time it takes to drive. I said something like Forest pines only because it is very central for everyone. Going to Blackwell after looking on Google maps has just moved it a lot closer for people down the south of England and put it another 70 miles away for anyone from central Scotland. I think it needs to go further up north than Brum and look at airports like Leeds and MAnchester. Even though I do not think that airports are that relevant because how many people would actually be travelling by air anyway?

A venue to attract the largest audience needs to be dead central for everyone. Looking at where most of the regular poster are in Scotland that would mean taking the Central Scotland area as the furthest north regarding Scotland and all the way down to Devon/Cornwall. If you look at a map the M62 area is probably the most central.

 

[bluewolf]

Sorry guys, not to put too much of a downer on things, but I doubt a Mega meet would work. Last years effort at Hillside was fantastic but only about 30-40 people could make it, and most of those were from the North of England.

These things are usually held mid week, which rules out those who are working (and can't get time off). Wherever they are held, they will be too far from some/most forumers. The cost involved is usually high (when factoring in stay over, fuel, food, DRINK etc.) The Irish contingent are usually left with a huge bill for ferries, flights etc. Any meet would attract only a relatively small, localized contingent.

I still think the better option is the local County based meets ie Lancashire vs Yorkshire, Dorset vs Kent etc. The North West series of meets has 6 comps with 10-20 players at each. All for a similar cost as 1 Mega Meet.

Right, miserable hat off.......... Good luck to anyone who takes this on. Due to current golf diary being rather full and also work and family commitments, unless it's within an hour of me, I won't be able to make it....:blah:

 

[full_throttle]

I'll throw an idea into the hat,

April 2014, overnight stay with 2 rounds of golf at Woodhall Spa. should cost circa £150 plus travelling.

12 months to book any leave, and monies could be paid monthly to help the finances

 

[MadAdey]

I'll throw an idea into the hat,

April 2014, overnight stay with 2 rounds of golf at Woodhall Spa. should cost circa £150 plus travelling.

12 months to book any leave, and monies could be paid monthly to help the finances

It is a good idea. We had the Old fart Whippersnappers match there last year. The hotel we stayed in was good and the food was nice. that was around the sort of money you are talking.

 

[virtuocity]

Think it would be EASIER to organise a regional ryder-cup style comp.

Think it would be BETTER to organise a mega meet.

The latter doesn't need to be difficult. Just pick a date around 8-12 months in the future and ask for non-returnable, non-transferable deposits of £70 between now and 8 weeks time (giving people 2 paydays to gather the amount, so no excuses). This will enable the organisers to guarantee a reasonable amount of numbers.

I would also create a window 8 weeks before the event where a limited number people can sign up as long as immediate payment is taken.

 

[Region3]

I've just had a look at the map, and if you assume that the furthest north people will be coming from is Inverness and the furthest south Southampton, the middle is Blackpool.

I'd be keen regardless of location if it were a weekend, but I don't suppose there's many courses that you could get that many people on at the weekend.
I know Woodhall Spa do as they alternate which course is for the members each day at the weekend, but I don't suppose there are many more.

 

[Qwerty]

Another option to keep costs down, would be to do as we have for some of the GMNWOOM events.

Whether it be a Ryder cup style event or Mega meet. Interest could be gauged on here,then pick an Open event that still has plenty of availability in a location that suits (easier said than done) Forummers could then book themselves in if they're interested and we could sort the finer details from there, Format etc.

I know its not the traditional style mega meet, but it could work (and keep costs down) if the right venue was found, and also there's a good chance of getting something at a weekend.

 

[wrighty1874]

The central point of Britain is Sheffield, so I would suggest people start looking arond that area for courses.

 

[G1BB0]

no chance of a 3/4 nighter overseas meet in 12/18 months time? I'd be well up for that