MI scramble / future long ball event

[RSteele]

Laying the ground work for a nice event next year. 
On October 3rd, 2010 there will be a 4-man scramble at Rackham GC in Huntington Woods, MI (right by the Detroit Zoo). 
Entry fee is $400/team and payouts are:
1st- $3,000 2nd $1,600 3rd $800.  Also $80/team (optional) skins with 100% payout, field limited to 36 teams. 

This is a scratch tournament, teams paired by blind draw on day of event. 
Paying out $100 cash on all par 3's (4) closest to.  This is a tournament to benefit the First Tee of Detroit. 
Go to www.thefirstteedetroit.org to register. 

Right now entry only provides golf, cart, lunch and prizes.  We are working on providing catering after golf as well as at least 1 $10,000 prize for a hole in one (trying for all 4 par 3's), neither of which are guaranteed since it is only 6 weeks out.  Currently figuring what to do with the long drive hole.  There will be several long drivers in this field of 36 teams and Rackham won't allow a 3-ball shootout at the end on a hole so we will probably just do a regular long drive hole, not sure yet.  Any ideas welcome.  Basically we are looking to fill the field and have a smoothly run scramble.  If all goes well, we will move this venue to a nicer course (won't say the name yet) with a range and dining hall.  That will allow us to also have a long drive shootout at the end on a golf hole so everyone can watch.  We would like to turn this scramble into one of the better if not best ones in the area, one that is attractive to both golfers and sponsors which ultimately benefits The First Tee of Detroit.  I'd like to attract at least the local long drivers so we can turn this into something bigger for next year as well as give us local LD'ers another venue to compete at.  Also could be good exposure for the sport, I'm fairly certain there will be some very good teams in this field.  All sponsorship opportunities are 100% tax deductible and welcome.

[Chris]

Hey Rick,

I am in.  I live in Lapeer, about an hour and a half away.   

Chris

[RSteele]

Sounds good Chris, should be a fun event. 

BTW, we are having a very positive response and should have no trouble filling this field.  The only question is if we can add some more bells and whistles in the next 6 weeks.  I'm looking forward to it.

[Chabbs]

How many teams do you have so far?

[RSteele]

I have just started informing my golf friends/contacts the last few days with about 90% (the other 10% either away on that date or already committed) expressing interest.  The registration page has only been up since the weekend.  Fliers were made this week and will be at the Golfsmith's in Macomb and Troy today along with a good portion of students from one of the Golftec's being informed as well.  Several courses around the area are also posting fliers.  I'm playing in a few scrambles over the next few weeks and forsee a few teams from them being interested.  Compared to the payouts of most tournaments with a similar format, this is one of the best overall payout structures for a 4-man scramble in the area along with a great community-based program with a well established name that ultimately benefits.  I can't give you a specific number on how many teams yet but I hope that answers your question.

[porqueva]

just noticed this topic. I will try and bring a team I dont think I have anything going on that day.  Any LD stuff you can add to the tourney is a bonus.

[RSteele]

Just wanted to update the skin payout.  Assuming a full 36 team field enters skins and no skins are won, the skin money will be used to increase payout pool as follows:

1st $3,180
2nd $1,700
3rd $1,200
4th $1,000
5th $800
6th $400

If less than 36 teams the money will be adjusted accordingly with the same ratio per entry.  There will also be a 50/50 raffle which will include around 5-10 prizes (Free 4some rounds at several courses, putter, First Tee Jacket, gift cards, etc) to give away along with the 50/50 cash(given first).  Also have $100 cash on all 4 par 3 greenies.  There will be no long drive hole or long drive event for this first one.  Again, just trying to fill the field and then aim for a much better event next year with a mini-LD shootout.

A portion of the entry fee is tax-deductible since it is a charity event.  Contact me for further details 586-822-1741. 

Rick

[RSteele]

We ended up with 14 teams, paid out 4 places ($1,000 was 1st place), also paid out $400 in greenies on the par 3's, pace of play was fast for 8-somes, gave away some good donated prizes with the 50/50 and had a skin pot worth $1,040. Weather was party/mostly sunny mid-high 50's but 20-25 NE winds. Top 4 scores were 56,56,57,57 par 71 (Donald Ross design). Count-back started with #1 handicap hole to determine winners. Mike Beals (Chairman of the First Tee board) team won 1st place.

Rackham also had open golf during the event (neither us or regular golfers were affected by pace of play). We raised over $2,000 after expenses for the First Tee, which isn't bad for just over 6 weeks of organizing.  We are looking forward to planning a much better one next year.  I will be pushing for at least a mini-long drive shootout attached with a small purse.  Would love to get some exposure for both The First Tee of Detroit and long drive! 

Good luck to those competing at the big show in a few weeks!