The 2015 Midwest Mashie - Minnesota - FINAL RECAP AND OBSERVATIONS

[Jason Topp]

It would also be helpful for people to express a preference at Windsong between 6700 yards (blue) or 6300 yards (red).  (you also can play from 7100 or 7400 but I will not be doing so with you).  From the 6700 yard tees there is one carry of approximately 200 yards which can play into the teeth of a decent wind.   If you carry the ball less than 225, many tee shots will die into a hill and you will be hitting a lot of hybrids as I do. 
The difference in course rating is 2 shots and I would suggest that if a group has a mix of preferred tees that the group adjust handicaps by 2. 
My index is 7.8 and I am happy to play from 6300 or 6700.

[BHoover]

I'll be playing the club championship at Windsong next weekend from 7000+ (hopefully not 7400). I'll be the canary in the coal mine and let you all know how it is playing from back there. Of course, if I don't post my scores here, you'll know that I finished DFL and am too embarrassed to reveal my scores. 

[Jason Topp]

I'll be playing the club championship at Windsong next weekend from 7000+ (hopefully not 7400). I'll be the canary in the coal mine and let you all know how it is playing from back there. Of course, if I don't post my scores here, you'll know that I finished DFL and am too embarrassed to reveal my scores. 

I put your over/under at 267 - even bogey.  Last year the greens were measured at 13' 3"

[BHoover]

I'll be playing the club championship at Windsong next weekend from 7000+ (hopefully not 7400). I'll be the canary in the coal mine and let you all know how it is playing from back there. Of course, if I don't post my scores here, you'll know that I finished DFL and am too embarrassed to reveal my scores. 

I put your over/under at 267 - even bogey.  Last year the greens were measured at 13' 3"

I appreciate the vote of confidence--breaking 90 in each of three rounds! My worry is that the course needs to play firm for me to play from the back tees. If we get rain between now and next Friday, I may need to break out the Hammer driver to keep up (it's Zolex, which is the longest, space-age metal out there).

[Jason Lietaer]

Index 3.5
Happy to play whatever tees the group wants to.   I'll try the longer ones in the morning!

[Criss Titschinger]

I'm the highest capper at these things (19.7, and currently playing worse than that). My preference is 6300, but I'll go back to 6700 if that's what the group wants. Don't let my golfing ineptitude decide tee boxes.


I play fairly quickly, it just takes me more shots than most.

[Jason Topp]

I appreciate the vote of confidence--breaking 90 in each of three rounds! My worry is that the course needs to play firm for me to play from the back tees. If we get rain between now and next Friday, I may need to break out the Hammer driver to keep up (it's Zolex, which is the longest, space-age metal out there).

The length won't hurt you as much as the pin positions and firmness of the greens.

[Jason Thurman]

I'm trending toward a 9.6, and I'm playing one last round at Wolf Run on Friday before the next revision just to add another half stroke or so...


6700 is my preference.

[BHoover]

I appreciate the vote of confidence--breaking 90 in each of three rounds! My worry is that the course needs to play firm for me to play from the back tees. If we get rain between now and next Friday, I may need to break out the Hammer driver to keep up (it's Zolex, which is the longest, space-age metal out there).

The length won't hurt you as much as the pin positions and firmness of the greens.

With my iron play and short game? No problem!

[PCCraig]

UPDATED:
Ken & Jason - How about this for the teams?:


Teams:
 
East

Ken Fry

Jason Thurman

Brian Hoover

Chris Titschinger

Bill Steele

Doug Siebert

Jason Lietaer

Frank Sekulic

Richard Choi

Lou Duran

C. Sturges

Steve Wilson

Joe Lynch

West
 

Pat Craig

Jason Topp

Dan Kelly

Neil Davis

Jeff Shelman

John Crowley

Dan Moore

Rick Shefchik

Buck Wolter

Scott Skorupa

Joe Zucker

Jon Bishop

Tom Atchison

[Dan Moore]

Index 2.8 with a preference to play 6700 or less, definitely not more!

[Joe Lynch]

Joe Lynch -

Handicap index of 8 and a course handicap from either set of tees would equate to 10.  I'm comfortable with either set as well just looking forward to a good time.  Special Thanks to everyone who organized the event as well as the courses for allowing us to play. 

[Jason Topp]

The Minnesota Gophers are hosting their invitational this weekend at Windsong with a strong field that includes, SMU, Oklahoma, Baylor, Cal and others.  Scoring is here  http://www.golfstatresults.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=participants&tid=8284


I took a few pictures:


18 looking back - a par five we will play at between 525 and 550.  They are playing at 575 or 595:






17 tee:





9 Green:





Panorama from Clubhouse showing 16-18

[BHoover]

I was out at Windsong this morning for the first round of the Gopher Invitational. The new bunkering on the front nine looks good. The wind was blowing fairly steadily and the scoring reflected the conditions.

[Buck Wolter]

I was out at Windsong this morning for the first round of the Gopher Invitational. The new bunkering on the front nine looks good. The wind was blowing fairly steadily and the scoring reflected the conditions.

We're playing match play ---right? Big numbers for some of the best college players in the country

[BHoover]

I was out at Windsong this morning for the first round of the Gopher Invitational. The new bunkering on the front nine looks good. The wind was blowing fairly steadily and the scoring reflected the conditions.

We're playing match play ---right? Big numbers for some of the best college players in the country

The college guys were playing the course at about 7200. I'm trying to find the course stats, but can't find them. We won't be playing from back there! It's much more playable and enjoyable from the tees we will play.

Update: the course was set up at 7152 yesterday. The wind also took a toll. The scoring average was 75.70.

[Buck Wolter]

I was out at Windsong this morning for the first round of the Gopher Invitational. The new bunkering on the front nine looks good. The wind was blowing fairly steadily and the scoring reflected the conditions.

We're playing match play ---right? Big numbers for some of the best college players in the country

The college guys were playing the course at about 7200. I'm trying to find the course stats, but can't find them. We won't be playing from back there! It's much more playable and enjoyable from the tees we will play.

Update: the course was set up at 7152 yesterday. The wind also took a toll. The scoring average was 75.70.

Here are course stats
http://www.golfstatresults.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=stats&tid=8284&statsType=c

Does Windsong have "Championship' desires -- looks like it would be a good fit with the BMW

[Jason Topp]

16:  201 for the tournament, we will play at about 185 or 160.  This front pin is very difficult, expecially downwind.  I usually try to bail out right or long. 

[PCCraig]

We are now only 10 days away from the start of the 2015 Midwest Mashie weekend!

As a follow up, we are scheduled to play a very special "bonus" round at Keller Golf Course on Friday, September 25th. Located north of St. Paul, MN, Keller is storied golf course (two time PGA Championship site and host of numerous professional tournaments) that was renovated by our own Richard Mandell in 2013. The course was recognized in Golf Magazine as the "Best US Municipal Renovation of 2014." It is a wonderful classic golf course and I think everyone is really going to enjoy their round.

We are lucky to be able to have Mr. Mandell join us for our event. After golf, we are going to retire to the Keller clubhouse for drinks and a short talk from Mr. Mandell who will talk about his recent renovation work and answer any questions you might have. If anyone wants to have dinner immediately after golf, there is a full service bar/restaurant on site that you can order from (restaurant website/menu: http://www.kellergrille.com/keller-grille-at-keller-golf-course/) .

Tee times will begin at 12:48. I tried to put the people playing Midland at the tail end of the tee times in order to give them extra time to drive across St. Paul. Please note that the tee times are subject to change.

Please note that the guest fee is $43 to walk and is payable in the Keller pro shop prior to play.

The tee times are as follows:

12:48
Jason Topp
Patrick Hodgdon
Rick Shefchik


12:57
Richard Mandell
Pat Craig
Neil Davis
Scott Skorupa

1:06
Dan Kelly
Bill Steele
Doug Siebert

1:15
Joe Zucker
Dan Moore
Steve Wilson
Chris Sturges

1:24
Jason Lietaer
Brian Hoover
Ken Fry
Shane Wright

1:35
Jason Thurman
Chris Titschinger
Richard Choi
Buck Wolter

Keller has two sets of tees at ~6200 and ~6700 yards, players in each group can choose which set they would like to play.

Here is a link to a copy of the Keller Golf Course Scorecard: https://parks.co.ramsey.mn.us/golf/Documents/Keller%20Scorecard.pdf

Keller is located at 2168 Maplewood Drive, Maplewood, MN 55109. The Pro Shop's number is 651-766-4170. The course is an approximately 25 min drive from the MSP airport and a 10 min drive from Midland Hills.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

More information and tee times to follow for the Mashie rounds at Windsong and Town & Country in the near future.

[Greg Taylor]

Keller GC is great fun, especially after the turn. Enjoy everyone!

[Dan Kelly]

Jeff Shelman and I will figure out the foursomes at Midland based on the groups at Keller.

[Steve Wilson]

Re: Tee Preferences.  I'll be happy to play from 6300.  In fact, I'll be content to be the squalling brat who insists on it so that others who also wish to play from them can "Well, I'd've played from further back but Wilson..."

[RJ_Daley]

Wishing all to have a great time.  I would have definitely registered for this, but I just had to get my bucket list trip to 'the old sod' in while the gettin was good. 

I can't wait to see the discussion and impressions from the gang on the Keller resto-reno and what they think of it as a County municipal facility.  I love it.  It is very much like my own regular playground, Brown County Golf Course.  There are many diverse points of view on the appropriateness of municipal owned and run golf courses.  Most know I am a huge proponent of public recreational golf as a specific benefit of local government philosophy.  I think courses like Keller and our Brown County course, have a big and significant of a role in sustaining the game's participation and growth in a broader cross section of potential golfers than a vast number of private mom and pops.  I get that some folks think it unfair that a county/city  course operation can use its non-property tax status as a cost competition advantage, along with several other inherent advantages of municipal owned.  But, municipalities that do a good job like Ramsey and Brown counties, seem to have quality of life advantages as well possibly in part because they embrace and support that aspect of a public recreation facility as part of the spectrum of what local governments can do for its people.   

[Rick Shefchik]

Index 4.2, would prefer 6,300 but won't kick and scream if dragged back to 6,700.


If nominated to play at 7,000, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve.


Really looking forward to putting a lot of familiar names with faces.


Rick

[PCCraig]

I still need the handicaps for the following gentlemen:


Doug Siebert
Frank Sekulic
Lou Duran
Chris Sturges


Thanks.