I'll leave this as an open invitiation until Mid-March and then will work on getting brackets out based on location. I see no reason why we couldn't accommodate Mr. Doak's request to have the first round deadline be the end of May.....that would give everyone 2+ months to play their first match. I agree it would be much easier to have the match participants agree on a date/location instead of trying to have everyone play together.
We can also include OH, IA, MN, etc. again just as long as participants are willing to drive. You can either add your location to this thread or PM if you do not want it disclosed publicly. If it could work logistically it would be cool to have the championship match played at the MWM.
Ben, you would only play CGC if you could play the Rav in the morning?? You and Brian start working on that CGC invite and I'll gladly be your 3rd.
If one of you guys has to play me maybe we can do it at Chicago Golf.
Generally, though, what I suggested for the UK version was as follows:
One match per month -- so, first round has to be completed by May, second round by June, etc. That would give us five rounds by the end of September, so the field would ideally be 32 players. Divide the field geographically into halves or quarters, and randomly draw the opponents from there, so that people wouldn't have to travel far until the last couple of rounds.
My suggestion was to try to play matches roughly halfway between the participants at a neutral site -- ideally one that neither player had played before -- so the report of the match would include a report on the golf course.
Whichever player is the first listed in the matchup should provide three alternate dates [not all in the same week] when he could play. The second listed player should nominate three potential venues [at least one of which is closer to player 1, and at least two of which player 2 has not played]. Player 1 then makes the final call on venue.
If players cannot agree on a date within the month allotted, they should both forfeit, unless they both agree which of them should go through.