[Luisabens]

I signed up to become a member (its free). I was going to do the tournaments at TPC Michigan and TPC Deere Run but I completely lost my swing this past week and have shot 56-60 on my last 2 nine hole rounds...pretty bad for a 10 handicapper. Anyway...I've decided to not do the Michigan tournament because it is in a week and I need to get my head back on straight before I play in something like this. So I am going to play the TPC Deere run tournament in July. That should give me plenty of time to figure out whats wrong and get rid of the Sh*nks and then improve on my game a little more. I'm really excited about this, especially after watching the Players Championship on TV and knowing that if I win I could go to the national championship there. I have done well in big tournaments before, finishing 2nd in a Chicago tournament at Cog Hill Dubsdread, so I have the confidence to win this thing if I can figure out what happened to my swing.

[hitaEtela]

That's pretty cool. So let me make sure I have this right....I only need to qualify in one tournament to make it to TPC sawgrass? Sweet!

We'll see what the state of my game is before the TPC Deere Run tourney.

[tinetttstation]

I've been playing in this tournament for the past few years (saw the ad in Golf Digest back in 08 I think). Anyway, it's a lot of fun. I only play in the michigan even because it hard for me to take a monday off work, but I was able to qualify for TPC Sawgrass last year by winning the Birdie flight.

Nature Valley does a fantastic job of putting this event together, and this year they have taken some additional measures to try and keep the sandbagging at bay. In the rules they have implemented something that can cause a playoff if someone shoots and un-naturally low score for a round ( Offical Rules )

Anyway, I'll be there again next Monday. trying to get it done for a repeat performance.

[Luisabens]

Thats awesome Ken! I was really going back and forth on whether to play in this one, mainly because I am driving to Ohio in a few weeks to watch the Memorial and that is just a lot of gas, plus paying for hotels when I travel, so I decided to hold off and play the TPC Deere Run tournament in July. Plus the fact that I completely lost my swing over the last week and I shot 2 9-hole rounds right around 60 (I'm a 9.5 handicap) so I don't want to waste my money if I don't feel I could win and qualify for the championship. The July tournament should give me enough time to figure out what my problem is, plus get in mid-season form and have a chance at winning the Eagle flight. Sandbagging was one thing I was worried about but I read over all the rules and I see they have really implemented some things to make sure that doesn't happen. So far I think the Nature Valley tournaments seem to be the best amateur tournaments around, so I am excited to play and I really hope I can qualify for the championship. I thought if I played the Michigan one and the Illinois one I would give myself a better chance, but today is the last day to register for Michigan and I just have not found my swing yet, so I gotta pass. How did you do in the championship last year? By the way, welcome to THP!

[vipluka]

I just checked into this. The only course that I would be able to play is the TPC in Cincinnati. According to the yardage guide, my flight would be playing the blue tees at 6700 yards. That, plus the $187 entry fee, puts it out of my comfort level. But it sounds like a great idea.

[Luisabens]

Marc, I had considered the TPC Rivers Bend tournament there by Cincinatti as well, but decided to do the TPC Deere Run instead that is played on the same date. They are both about the same distance from where I live, but I think TPC Deere Run might suit my game a little bit more from what I have read about the 2 courses. I am really excited about this tournament, plus the fact that the entry fee at TPC Deere Run is only $131. I think for that price I might go a day early and play a practice round.

[tinetttstation]

...How did you do in the championship last year?

I ended up tied for 3rd in my flight. I think I was 10 strokes off the leader. Hole 16 ate me alive, I made a 9 on day one and a 7 on day two. the angle of that fairway promotes a left to right ball flight, and I fight a fade in my swing. I put 3 balls in the drink between the 2 days.

[domeffire]

This is very cool thanks for the info! I checked it out and unfortunately the closest is Las Vegas. Which would be a load of fun, but not economical at this time. Maybe I can convince some buddies to play with me and we make a Vegas Vacation out of it... I don't know.

There are apparently only 6 people signed up thus far for Vegas.

[loginptsa]

Marc, I had considered the TPC Rivers Bend tournament there by Cincinatti as well, but decided to do the TPC Deere Run instead that is played on the same date. They are both about the same distance from where I live, but I think TPC Deere Run might suit my game a little bit more from what I have read about the 2 courses. I am really excited about this tournament, plus the fact that the entry fee at TPC Deere Run is only $131. I think for that price I might go a day early and play a practice round.

man thats awesome, good luck. If I get my game fine tuned I'd love to try one of these out.

The River Bend looks enticing, I could squeeze into the par flight and only have to play 6200 yards, might force me to keep driver in bag some, which could lead to a good score!

[loginptsa]

of course the guy who won that flight last year was a 22 Handicap who shot a lights out 88 for a 62 Net score and 11 stroke win...smells fishy

[Luisabens]

Mikedean, I'm not sure if the rule was in play last year, but reading over the official rules this year I noticed that there is a stroke minimum or something like that, meaning if you shoot over 8 strokes below your handicap and they think something is fishy then they have a right to bump you up into the next flight I think. I don't know exactly how it works, I just noticed a rule that is in place to keep people from sandbagging. I hate sandbaggers as well....I once played in my club championship with a guy that claimed to be a 17 handicap and then shot 80 the first day, basically giving no one else a chance. Come to find out he really did just have a lucky day, it has now been 2 years and I played with him in league and he shot like 50-something on 9 holes. All we can do in these Nature Valley tournaments is go out there and do our best, knowing that on any given day those sandbaggers could fall apart and we could have a great day! lol. Anyway...compared to other amateur events I think these tournaments have the best rules in place to prevent sandbagging.

[loginptsa]

yeah no doubt sounds like they are going in the right direction with the rules.

Just saw its the last week in July, and of course the 22-24 im going to Louisville for a guys golf trip, 72 holes. Another 18 on Monday might cripple me lol

[Luisabens]

I am hereby officially making this my "Road to TPC Sawgrass" thread, lol. I am committing to the Nature Valley TPC Deere Run tournament in July, and hopefully with enough practice, as well as support and advice from my fellow THPers I will be victorious and make it to the national championship! Let this be a warning to anyone who decides to compete in the TPC Deere Run tournament...I am coming, and I am coming to WIN! *NOTE: I plan on winning the Eagle flight, so I encourage those of you who might play in other flights to come compete and bring your A-game as well and win your flight, just not mine!

[Bemapayople]

I played in this the last two years here in Charlotte at the TPC Piper Glen. I played well and shot my handicap, that doesn't happen very often. I ended up T2 and only two shots from getting to go to TPC Sawgrass for the Tour Chamionship. They set the course up to play pretty tuff and long. It is run well and it appears that the new rules will help against any sandbagging issues. I played it as it gives me a chance to play a really nice course that I would not normally have access to at a reasonable rate ( $155).

[loginptsa]

I am hereby officially making this my "Road to TPC Sawgrass" thread, lol. I am committing to the Nature Valley TPC Deere Run tournament in July, and hopefully with enough practice, as well as support and advice from my fellow THPers I will be victorious and make it to the national championship! Let this be a warning to anyone who decides to compete in the TPC Deere Run tournament...I am coming, and I am coming to WIN! *NOTE: I plan on winning the Eagle flight, so I encourage those of you who might play in other flights to come compete and bring your A-game as well and win your flight, just not mine!

awesome, keep plugging away and stick it to em!

[Luisabens]

Good to hear dean, I am glad to hear a lot of positive reviews of these tournaments because I did not hear very good things about the Golf Channel or GolfWeek tournaments. It makes me more excited to play in it.

[Bemapayople]

Good to hear dean, I am glad to hear a lot of positive reviews of these tournaments because I did not hear very good things about the Golf Channel or GolfWeek tournaments. It makes me more excited to play in it.

That's funny that you mention Golfweek. I have played on that tour for the past four years and love it. Maybe because our tour director is the one who owns the tour ( based in Charlotte, NC). I think that playing in these tournies helped me play better in the NVA last year. Just used to the grinding for pars and bogies. I have heard bad things about GCamtour as far as memebership fees and costs per tournies etc. I can't complain too much about the GWAT as the annual fee is about $80 bucks and it also included a year's subsription to the mag, and a hat and some other goodies. Rates per course are about $20 over the rack rate and we play half of our events on private courses that we would not have public access too. I am sorry that you heard bad things about those tours, hope that you get a chance to get out and see that it turns out differently than you have heard.

[tinetttstation]

Big Day today at Michigan TPC. Tee off at 11am, Wish me luck.

[Pdarasenko]

Big Day today at Michigan TPC. Tee off at 11am, Wish me luck.

Good luck, have fun


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[Luisabens]

Good luck Ken! I'll be checking the results page tomorrow! Better see your name at #1!

Big Day today at Michigan TPC. Tee off at 11am, Wish me luck.