Mega Meet 2013??

We still need a couple more names for ballyliffin mid july if anyone fancies it.
I dont even need to sell the idea beyond saying you will not forget it. :D
 
Before we all go charging off and booking places etc, has anyone thought of contacting Mike and actually seeing if there is another Hillside like event in the pipeline even if he can't confirm dates and details yet? surely it would be a) cheaper using GM buying power, b) a decent event on a good course and c) potentially close to as many as possible although I accept some will be luckier than others in distance travelled?
 
Before we all go charging off and booking places etc, has anyone thought of contacting Mike and actually seeing if there is another Hillside like event in the pipeline even if he can't confirm dates and details yet? surely it would be a) cheaper using GM buying power, b) a decent event on a good course and c) potentially close to as many as possible although I accept some will be luckier than others in distance travelled?

There will always be those that get lucky with meets. At Woodhall last year I was still in bed when most where in their cars, but that is the luck of the draw. I will travel for the right course at the right price. What I will not do is drive 200 miles for 18 holes on an alright course and I am sure most forumers are the same.

If there is something in the pipeline then if it is at the right price on a good course within reasonable distance I will go.
 
I am lucky being in Salford, not too far from most places, Hillside was a great courser ot play, I would love something sinilar this year.
 
We still need a couple more names for ballyliffin mid july if anyone fancies it.
I dont even need to sell the idea beyond saying you will not forget it. :D

I thought that it was more likely that you would not remember it, or at most remember the odd moment in the alcholic fog.
 
Before we all go charging off and booking places etc, has anyone thought of contacting Mike and actually seeing if there is another Hillside like event in the pipeline even if he can't confirm dates and details yet? surely it would be a) cheaper using GM buying power, b) a decent event on a good course and c) potentially close to as many as possible although I accept some will be luckier than others in distance travelled?


You've got a point there Homer. GM would certainly have the muscle to get a good deal at a good course for one of their events. They've managed it at virtually all the previous 'official' events. Castle Stuart was a steal at £60, Hillside likewise at £80. Any unofficial event is just likely to get the society rates on offer.

As for ideal location, that was supposedly worked out last time as being on the stretch of coast where Hillside is located, based on geographical location and quality of courses available.

The age old problem of location and travel distance is what has always been the biggest negative factor when anything like this is suggested. I can't see that change I'm afraid.
 
????????????????? we only need one course though. I know what the area is like for golfing as I lived there for 5 years at RAF Leuchars. My point was that you are now going beyond the distance that most will travel. To get people from all over the place it will have to be quite centrally located.

My point was that it wouldn't have to be just one round, there are plenty of good courses within spitting distance for all budgets and like the Castle stuart meet, games could be arranged before and after for those who wanted to do that and get maybe 4 rounds in to make the trip worth while.
 
My point was that it wouldn't have to be just one round, there are plenty of good courses within spitting distance for all budgets and like the Castle stuart meet, games could be arranged before and after for those who wanted to do that and get maybe 4 rounds in to make the trip worth while.

It is gods country for golfing round that area, I do not see why people waste money going to places like Turkey when the course in central Scotland are probably some of the best around. It is just getting everyone up travel to Scotland. Did many travel up to Castle Stuart then from the south of England?
 
It is gods country for golfing round that area, I do not see why people waste money going to places like Turkey when the course in central Scotland are probably some of the best around. It is just getting everyone up travel to Scotland. Did many travel up to Castle Stuart then from the south of England?

I think it was limited to 50 or 60 at Castle Stuart, but a few played at Spey Valley on the friday and 60 played at Nairn on the Sunday and about a dozen at Boat of Garten on the monday after org by the that Knob Smiffy, or should that be Anthony;)

Thought quite a few who went have long since hung up there forum boots sadly.
 
I think it was limited to 50 or 60 at Castle Stuart, but a few played at Spey Valley on the friday and 60 played at Nairn on the Sunday and about a dozen at Boat of Garten on the monday after org by the that Knob Smiffy, or should that be Anthony;)

Thought quite a few who went have long since hung up there forum boots sadly.
The only downer about that fantastic weekend was the weather on the Friday at Spey Valley, great course but we got soaked and frozen.
Twise, my brother and I rented a caravan and had driven over after the flights were cancelled, and it was still quite an affordable weekend when split a couple of ways inc fuel etc.
Weekends to hidden gems are so much better value too (though Castle Stuart was an utter bargain that weekend thanks to GM).
Some of you guys really should club together and fill a car with 4 guys, clubs and clothes (works out around 50 quid a head return). The likes of Ballyliffin and Druids glen etc have great offers on each year,even Royal County Down is doing green fees til the end of Feb for 50 quid on the big course.
 
not really going to work is it? It is pushing the distance I would be willing to travel and I live at Spalding, anyone from further down south is not going to travel all the way to St Andrews for 1 night. Some might be willing to travel long distances to to play but not enough to make it a mega meet.

Also like I said people will travel 4 maybe 5 hours to a meet for somewhere a bit special. I do like the New and Jubilee courses but what would be the point of travelling all that way and not play the Old Course?

I know what your saying Adey, but like The Craw said your never going to please everyone.
If it was in North west England there would be some from the south that wouldn't travel. If it was in the Midlands it would put some off in Scotland.
I think you once said you was based near St Andrews a few years ago, so you Know what a great town it is. I just made the suggestion as I can't think of a better place to spend a couple of days playing golf.
 
I know what your saying Adey, but like The Craw said your never going to please everyone.
If it was in North west England there would be some from the south that wouldn't travel. If it was in the Midlands it would put some off in Scotland.
I think you once said you was based near St Andrews a few years ago, so you Know what a great town it is. I just made the suggestion as I can't think of a better place to spend a couple of days playing golf.

Just having a lurk when i saw this St Andrews would be the ideal place, there are so many courses in 10 -15 minute radius it would be a great trip.

My own place is only 10 mins drive from St Andrews and is the 13 th oldest in the world and a cracking test of golf there's also the 2 courses at Fairmont, Crail ,Leven Links and Lundin Links all crackin tracks.
 
Nobody gets a better deal than Craw.

£60 unlimited golf, yer bed and a stunning breaky and somewhere to park yer bike ;-)
 
I would vote for the Midlands as the best option. Would be very happy with Beau Desert again - cracking course and they have been busy doing work in the past couple of years apparently; Other top choices that won't break the bank that I would be keen to see: Delamere Forest, Notts, Sherwood Forest. We could also try a links in North Wales - Conwy looks a cracking course - 6th best in Wales - is very cheap and easy to get to - and no doubt lots of cheap accommodation and a bit of nightlife
 
I think we are looking at a mega meet, again in isolation. The biggest talking point is always location. I think this needs to be looked at over a 3-5 year period. It is like discussing where the open should be.

I don't think it is fair to have it in the Midlands/M62 corridor every year, just because it is the most central location be it England/mainland Britain.It should be moved around, maybe one year central Scotland, North West, North east/Yorkshire, Midlands and the South. Some years we may have a 10 minute drive, a 3 hour drive and some a six hour drive. It is up to people if they want to go or not. Maybe every 6th year we could go to Ireland/Northern Ireland or even Wales.

I think the main attraction/decision is "is it worth it"? That is why we need to build 2-3 rounds as a meet. I think the Hillside meet (which was good) was slightly detracted as we never had a big night out, and a game the day before or the next day, which was a shame considering the other courses nearby, as well as a big night out in Liverpool/Southport being an option. However, Mike/GM are busy people so probably don't have the time to sort everything out. Maybe once a meet is arranged a local committe of 2-3 "locals" in conjunction with GM can put flesh on the bones of the one round. I'm sure we would not be short of volunteers.

If you can get 60 to go to Castle Stuart, we have hope, and I'm guessing the reason why is that there were other courses added to the weekend. Hillside would have maybe got another 20 from far flung places, if say Formby, Birkdale, S and A would have also been included.

Overall, I think we have to realise that it should move around, some people may get to 2 out of 5, some 4 out of 5. That's life. As Craw said you can't please everyone, so accept that and just decide if you want to go, or maybe leave it until next year.
 
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Agree with the above. If the main course is worth it and we can organise other games around it then it will get the numbers imo. I would be happy to go pretty much most places in britain if the courses are worth it.
 
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