Old Course in Reverse - Who's going?

[Bill_McBride]

I was just checking out the St. Andrews Links Trust web site about the late March 2007 Reverse Old Course event.  Pricey but intriguing, just like St. Andrews always is!

Day 1 - March 28, 2007 - TOC normal
Day 2 - March 29, 2007 - New Course
Day 3 - March 30, 2007 - TOC Reverse.

Get out Jeremy Glenn's treatise which is one of the "In My Opinion" pieces and worth another read even if you're not planning this trip.

http://www.standrews.org.uk/golf/book_golf/Old_Reverse07.html

The cost for golf only is 200 pounds.  Not a bad deal at all considering my last round on TOC cost 115 pounds.

Who's thinking about going?  I am thinking pretty positively, would of course tie in a visit to North Berwick.    Maybe suck it up and go for a Muirfield day this time.

[Sean Walsh]

You can count me in.  I'll have to check the website and start making arrangements.

[Chris Kane]

If they have a special rate for the residents, like they usually do, count me in.

[Sean Walsh]

Is that student budget starting to pinch Chris?

[Bill_McBride]

bump

I am planning to be there for sure, March 28-30th version.  The web site says you sign up on 9/1, Sheila at the Dunvegan says 9/6.  I emailed the Links Trust to find out for sure.  Right now my brother Bob will probably come with me and we'll take off for Dornoch afterward, play there a couple of days and hit Cruden Bay on the way back.  

[peter_p]

Bill,
You are a year too early for my planning. It would be nice if the Buda Cup did this, but it is not my decision.

[Chris Kane]

Sean, its not pinching already, but it might be by then.  Furthermore, its a stretch to pay £200 when I can play two of those courses for nothing.

[Bill_McBride]

Chris, can your GCA friends get any of those special rates as your guest?  

[Tim Bert]

I'd love to be part of one of these events.  I think it would be a great way to experience TOC for the first time.  Do they do this every year?

With my wie expecting in early March, the timing in 2007 is a bit of a stretch.

[Sean Walsh]

We might not be able to organise something on a Buda Cup scale for 2007 but I'm sure we can arrange some kind of get together.  

We've got 3 days so we better get cracking.  

I suppose the first thing is Definite names, followed by negotiations with the Links Trust to book together.

So anyone definitely interest reply ASAP to gauge the level of interest.

At this Stage we have:

Bill
Bob
Me

Maybe - Chris (Sean was that an indication of interest?)

Chris,
I take it you have a links pass safely tucked away then?

[Mike Nuzzo]

Bill,
I enjoyed the weekend this spring.
I played my first round ever on the Old Course backwards...
I was in the road hole bunker on my first hole???
I was confused, but not much more than my round the other way.
It was great and fun and cold and windy....
Perfect actually.
Cheers

[Bill_McBride]

I originally got excited about the Reverse Old Course when reading Jeremy's piece.  Then I attended the Open last summer and was sitting in the stands at #14, watching the second shots on the hole, which played about 625, flying safely over Hell time and again.  

Then I looked farther to my left and noticed a bunker set into the hillside, a bunker which could only be a factor on that slope if the hole were played backwards!  

That really got me thinking about the Reverse Old Course, and hoping to get there in late March 2007.

[Bill_McBride]

Mr. Arble, could I presume to suggest that you might get on the phone with the Links Trust and research all these excellent points for us before booking?  I certainly agree I wouldn't pay anything to play TOC - in either direction - off mats.

[peter_p]

Bill,
I checked the St Andrews Links Trust site and the last day for mats on TOC is March 27th. Wold you like to see some phots which may show some of the reverse strategy? Give me a call.

[Chris Kane]

Chris,
I take it you have a links pass safely tucked away then?

Not yet Sean - I have applied to vote, and await a letter from the Electoral Registration Office which is required to buy the Yearly Ticket.  Thankfully I am a British, Irish, European or Commonwealth citizen - if I was American I wouldn't be eligible to vote, and therefore wouldn't be able to get one.

[Tom_Doak]

Sean:

There is a UK phrase I hadn't heard before ... if your daughter was in America, she would be pretty fickle to be planning a "break up" date six months in advance.  

I am thinking of playing and bringing a couple of my associates, if we can get into the system in time.

[Bill_McBride]

Sean

I am afraid my daughter breaks up on March 30th.

 

[ForkaB]

I think Sean was trying to say that his daughter's SCHOOL "breaks up" (i.e. goes on holiday) on the 30th, although I too had visions of some poor pizza-faced schmuck in Droitwich who was going to be hit with a "Dear Nigel" letter 7 months from now....

I might be up for this--particularly if we could use the Buda imprimatur and Cup.  Is there a chance that we could get 20-30 GCA geeks to want to come, and if so, get into the event?  If there is enough interest, I might be able to swing something (other than a club), but we probably need to act VERY soon.

[Tom_Doak]

Rich:

I think there will be three of us from RGD -- but if you can't organize a group outing on two days' notice, I'm going to go ahead and make a reservation myself, unless you tell me otherwise.

[ForkaB]

Tom

I'll check tomorrow.

Rich

[Bill_McBride]

Rich, please let us all know.  I'm waiting for confirmation from brother Bob.  I'm sure he'll go, there's a cocktail waitress in St. A he wants to see again - I think.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Bill,
You are a year too early for my planning. It would be nice if the Buda Cup did this, but it is not my decision.

I'll put in a second vote for 2007, it would be a fantastic Buda cup venue.

However good luck in pulling it off next year.

[johnk]

I'm pretty interested.

First the Buda cup in October, then the reverse TOC in March.  Los Hombres de GCA.

Of course, it's impressive that everyone so far hasn't mentioned the weather.  GCA posters are a tough lot, or just daft.

[Bill_McBride]

I'm pretty interested.

First the Buda cup in October, then the reverse TOC in March.  Los Hombres de GCA.

Of course, it's impressive that everyone so far hasn't mentioned the weather.  GCA posters are a tough lot, or just daft.

John, these are guys who plan trips to Bandon in the winter.  

Or in your case, the Florida Panhandle in August!  

[Sean Walsh]

So far in terms of interest we have:

Bill & Bob
Me
Peter
Rich
Tom D +2
John K

Maybes for
Chris
Sean A
surely we could get FBD interested.

That's 9 + 3maybes without the Buda Cup on the line.  Do we need to start a new thread with Buda Cup 2007 to gauge whether interest is likely to rise.

Obviously we need to make decisions promptly if we're going to get it up.