BUDA XI - It's SHOW TIME!

[David Davis]

Steve,

I like the effort Ulrich has put in to make you sound like a German pronouncing a Dutch word. Very clever Ulrich 

I had to think about it as well. I think the closest you can come with never hearing it yourself would be to plug your nose with one hand then say "Hows ter Down" exactly as it sounds in American English.

As for the hickory sticks, I'm making everyone play the whites at least one round at Noordwijkse and at Royal Hague. These courses are made to play (at least with modern equipment) from these tees. I've never used hickories as I honestly have enough trouble trying to play the game with my modern stuff.

However the whites at Noordwijk are 7000 yds with some semi tough carries so I don't think that would be fun with your hickories. As Frank says you can certainly play up on those other tees that will make all the courses fun and manageable that way. I know a guy at our club that plays with clubs older than me all the time (I'm 43).

[Ulrich Mayring]

I think one of the most satisfying privileges of organising an event such as BUDA is setting up matches between players with different handicapping systems, playing from whatever tee and taking into account jetlag, swing changes and other injuries that preclude them from playing their normal game

Ulrich

[Bill Brightly]

I think one of the most satisfying privileges of organising an event such as BUDA is setting up matches between players with different handicapping systems, playing from whatever tee and taking into account jetlag, swing changes and other injuries that preclude them from playing their normal game

Ulrich

Good point. What is the appropriate handicap adjustment for jetlag?

[Mark Pearce]

Gentlemen, please.  Experienced BUDAites will tell you that the correct protocol is to wait until a couple of days before the match before the USGA  handicappers start to complain about handicapping.

[Tony_Muldoon]

It's looking good.

Welcome to so many new faces, looking forward to meeting you all.

Can I just clarify, for those who haven't been to one before, David is organisng Golf from Monday through Wednesday. All other bookings and arangements are down to the individual - including the Hotel.

Will be great.

[David Davis]

Guys,

What Tony has said is correct however, I have of course gone the extra mile for you all and already arranged the hotel for early arrival and late departure as you like it. All you have to do is call/mail them to arrange.

If you tell me how's definitely in for Thursday and Friday golf then I'll give that a go as promised at the courses I already mentioned.

Ulrich, yes that definitely sounds like fun. How is the German hcp system by the way? My German golf buddy is a 3 hcp, seems to win a few of these open events in Germany each year and has never broken 85 at Noordwijk. Since he's my only reference it would be fun to have a pool to see which nationalities hcp system delivers the closest to accurate results at Noordwijk and to see who if any play under their hcp (this group will forever in my eyes be seen as sandbaggers).

I'm going to make the bet open to everyone coming in some way shape or form. If you are a 5 hcp and lower and you break 80, stroke play from the white tees on your first go on Monday I'll buy your drinks. Pre-requisite is that the wind is blowing at least at the annual average of windforce 4.5. If your hcp is between 6-12 well make it 85 and if your hcp is higher than that we'll make it 90.

BTW. just to make it specific enough, I'm talking about 18 holes of golf, not breaking 80 on the front 9. ;-) Also all hcps need to be verifiable.

If you lose the bet don't worry, you owe me nothing, everyone has lost so far but it will be fun watching everyone sweat a bit.

[Bill_McBride]

Gentlemen, please.  Experienced BUDAites will tell you that the correct protocol is to wait until a couple of days before the match before the USGA  handicappers start to complain about handicapping.

It's usually a two step operation.   Complain in the bar the night before.  Complain on the tee as the matches commence.

That night in the bar:  wash, rinse, repeat.   

[Frank Pont]

I'm going to make the bet open to everyone coming in some way shape or form. If you are a 5 hcp and lower and you break 80, stroke play from the white tees on your first go on Monday I'll buy your drinks. Pre-requisite is that the wind is blowing at least at the annual average of windforce 4.5. If your hcp is between 6-12 well make it 85 and if your hcp is higher than that we'll make it 90.

BTW. just to make it specific enough, I'm talking about 18 holes of golf, not breaking 80 on the front 9. ;-) Also all hcps need to be verifiable.

If you lose the bet don't worry, you owe me nothing.

Gents,

I will match David's bet at Royal Hague white tees and for whoever visits on Sunday at De Swinkelsche black tees. In both cases no wind required :-)

[David Davis]

Frank,

Does that also count for me then? I might need to arrange a cab on that day and a hospital bed that night. I tend to play pretty well at Royal Hague and I've never seen the front tees there.

I'd like to join in for the game at Swinkelsche and Eindhovensche as well if you have space. We could also do it another time though.

Gentlemen,

You've heard it all now, it lies in your hands to bring your "A" games and make Frank and I sorry we put our money where our mouth is.

Looking forward to seeing all of you with a 10ft sliding put on 18 for a 79...

[Frank Pont]

David,

Ofcourse you are more than welcome on Sunday at Swinkelsche in the morning and Eindhoven in the afternoon.
Sofar including you and me we'll be with 13. I have also invited some players from Eindhoven in the morning (Cees Collart et al)

Bet for Swinkelsche is also valid for you, not on Royal Hague since it won't be your first time playing there ....

FP

[Ulrich Mayring]

I'd rather see some bets focusing on the joy of playing a world class course for the first and probably only time ever, instead of a scorecard and pencil based approach

Ulrich

[David Davis]

Ulrich, I'm with you, it's only in good fun. It's hard to make a bet against joy of playing btw as I've not yet found a way to measure that in someone else. Maybe it's the size of their smile once they hit the 19th hole yet still before they have taken their first adult beverage. Unless your one of these guys that drinks a couple pints for breakfast to loosen up.

In any case no-one is being pushed to take any bets and the bets are one sided anyway. You can't lose, you can only win. I honestly don't expect anyone to break 80, not golf pros or + hcp'ers. Not on their first round. So if someone does they I will happily fill them with drinks so it doesn't happen when I play against them the next day ha ha...

[Ulrich Mayring]

It's easy to break 80 in match play, if your opponent is off his game

Ulrich

[Michael Whitaker]

Oh, great... now we are going to have the Buda newbees grinding over their score and adding 30 minutes to our round!!! Buda golf is slow enough as it is without half of the field worrying about what score they shoot. I get it, the courses are difficult... which will add to the time to play them. Now, we are going to have some of the players sweating over chip shots and putts so they win a free drink! 

[Ulrich Mayring]

Well, then I would suggest modifying the bets inasmuch as we are allowed to take five more shots than originally alloted, but need to finish in time in order to claim the prize.

Ulrich

[David Davis]

Michael,

Noordwijkse and Royal Hague are not really courses you can walk quickly. Royal Hague is a little easier walk in my opinion. At Noordwijk from the back tees you have to do some climbing on several holes.

Today I played one of the fastest rounds ever there with a 2 ball. Just under 3 hours BUT we had winter greens so the course is much shorter. As a 4 ball from the back tees you can expect 4.15-4:30 and that's not waiting on anyone. So sure we can access penalties for slow play, I'm all 4 it. Or we can just say after you've hit your 8th shot, time to pick up ha ha ha....

I'm kidding of course and I'm sure we will keep the rounds moving the best we can. If you are nice maybe I'll send you out in the first group so we all get stuck waiting on you.

Ulrich yes, we will go with your idea.

David

[Michael Whitaker]

I've never participated in a Buda where the participants were concerned about their individual score, so this is a new concept for me. We have always played matches and picked up our ball when our chance of winning a hole has expired. Playing out on every hole to card a medal score is how we play in America, and you know how we are criticized for the time it takes to play over here. It will be an interesting experiment to see how frustrated the UK players become standing around waiting to play a shot... we Yanks are used to it! 

[Bill_McBride]

I've never participated in a Buda where the participants were concerned about their individual score, so this is a new concept for me. We have always played matches and picked up our ball when our chance of winning a hole has expired. Playing out on every hole to card a medal score is how we play in America, and you know how we are criticized for the time it takes to play over here. It will be an interesting experiment to see how frustrated the UK players become standing around waiting to play a shot... we Yanks are used to it! 

Six hour rounds?

[Tony_Muldoon]

Gentlemen a topic we'll soon have to get round to discussing is slecting Captains. 

There are a few 'players' still in the wings and I suggest we get the no's settled first; but it's looking like this Buda will be USA vs ROW on the nearest thing yet we've had that might be considered neutral ground.

[David Davis]

Joking aside, this last year when we hosted the National Amateur Strokeplay. The average hcp was +1, the average score was 84. The best was I think 1 over par. One guy shot -1 and won by 5 if I'm not mistaken. This is over 3 rounds. The average time it took them to play was something like 5.5 hours. Ok I know these guys are sweating over puts but no worries gentlemen we won't be turning in any 5 hour rounds or well get kicked off the course. From what I've seen people play quick enough that I'm guessing we will finish in 4:30 if the conditions are tough.

Tony, I'm curious which team is going to get stuck with me. Duo citizenship means I could go either way.

You guys don't worry about speed of rounds and definitely not about your score. I'm just teasing on all that stuff. My goal is that you all have a great time and enjoy the golf courses and then we enjoy debating about their set up afterwards over some nice cool adult beverages.

[Ulrich Mayring]

If past BUDAs are any indication, then we'll have players, who routinely break 80 and others, who usually break 100. So it might make sense to not put everyone on the same tees

Ulrich

[David Davis]

Ulrich we can let people choose. No problem. We also have 3 sets of forward tees to choose from.

However, we will try to avoid mixing tees in one 4 ball. that just takes too long at our club.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Tony, I'm curious which team is going to get stuck with me. Duo citizenship means I could go either way.

David it's a (semi)movable feast.  Within the same Buda you might get to play for both sides - of course that means you might also get shot as a deserter, twice!

At the moment it looks to me as if there's plenty of USA players and I'll be more than happy to play alongside you.

( I think we're now at 18 no and will reveal more names this week).

[David Davis]

Tony,

Thanks for the vote of confidence...well, I think. At least you know I'm good at being creative and making up my rules such as the winning the hole by two during Mexicans and making off like a bandito with all the points.

At Noordwijkse and Royal Hague there are some blind shots and I see those as great opportunities of pointing my opponents in the almost correct direction. (no, uh, I meant that bush on the left, not the one on the right) better reload ;-)

Of course if I have the opportunity to play for both sides then I won't feel as though I'm letting either of my nationalities down. Good point!

It's still months away but I'm already excited to welcome everyone to NL.

Guys, better jump on those last spots for an unforgettable week of golf.

[David Davis]

Hi guys, I had an update from the Hotel today: they confirm that the following have arranged their rooms: if you are not on this list and have already arranged your rooms please let me know. Also If you haven't arranged them but are coming for sure. Please call or e-mail the hotel to get these arranged.

Mr   Brightly, W.C.
Mr   Huffanis, D.
Fam   Mayring, U
Mr   O`Ceallaigh, D.
Mr   Peyronnin, W.
Mr   Shaida, P.
Mr   Whitaker, M.
Mr   Wilson, S.

Thanks