Sounds like a lot of fun! Where is Spiritwood???
Spiritwood is in Victor, MT. About 40 miles south of Missoula. Go south on 93 out of Missoula, about 3 miles south of Victor make a right on Bear Creek Trail, turn left on Red Crow (first stop sign) follow it around the first corner and continue straight, road will turn into dirt, at about 100 yards make a right on Spiritwood, go to the top and turn right and your there.
Its where the Trees live
There is a big dragon in that forest too, beware!
There is a big dragon in that forest too, beware!
We didn't see a dragon on our first round out there a couple days ago, but we did see a herd of 30+ cow elk being chased by a giant bull elk right near the tees for 15-18.
LOL @ "Misconception: Not enough money involved for me to play" - the thought that people actually play tournaments just for money is pretty damn funny to me, like disc golf is a big money game or something.
2 days and counting...
Spiritwood served up another beauty day! I think there were 30 players this year and we used the same format as last year to determine teams, which seems to work pretty well. Rick and his local partner James won the dubs round with a very hot 58 on the 22 hole layout. 3 teams were tied at 62 for second: myself and local Dan, local Tyler and Chad Talley, and Jeff Schmidt and Jon Graff. We played a sudden death play-off that lasted 3 holes with me and Dan coming out in 2nd , Jeff and Jon in 3rd, and Tyler and Chad taking last cash at 4th.
Gotta say that there are getting to be more and more local players at Spiritwood and they are getting good!!!! Great to see!
We will be playing the 18 traditional holes for the seed round, then proceed with the full 22 hole course for the doubles round. As in the past three years, up for grabs is free entry into the Spirtwood Open in June 2012. This is awarded to the lowest score to par on the seed round. Entry is $10.00 to the purse and $2.00 for the course. ($12.00) This year we will combine all players in one field and split the field according to Low/High scores. Then do a blind draw to create teams. This gives the best chance for an AM to get a chance to play with a Pro Player, we feel this creates the best chance for all teams to win and the purse will be larger. The payout depends on the number of players that play. We have traditionally paid three places, but if more players the farther down we can pay.
Here are some comments from last year after the tournament:
"Just want to thank Nick and Dave for the fantastic time! The event went of without a hitch and the RANDOM format was just what the doctor ordered for all who attended
Misconception:
The event is not random so I am not going.
Truth:
Per the format post, the seed round was to place a player in A or B pool.
Then cards were distributed to each pool to select then match with the other pool. RANDOM.
Misconception:
Not enough money involved for me to play.
Truth:
With the format, by combining the entire field entries (only $10) "A and B pool" plus the added CASH = 50% payout.
1st= $150 with 8 teams. Paid to 4th.
Bonus:
Lowest seed score = Paid entry to Spiritwood Open 2011. $50 to $60 value.
BB will take that.
Misconception:
No fun.
Truth:
You missed out."
Travis
"your gonna have to elaborate how splitting the field in any way, shape or form falls under "random"... random is actually random, not splitting field based on scores and THEN random... ...anyone else on the same page?
regardless, Im pretty bummed I missed it...
Bod D.
BB "The dubs was a really good time and glad I made it down to enjoy a perfect fall day in the Bitterroot!
The teams were somewhat random in that players played the first round for score with the top half of the players going to Pool A and the bottom half of the scores going to Pool B. Then a player from pool A got teamed up, randomly, with a player from pool B. I think many people misunderstood this (myself included) from the discussions after Tags last week and didn't come because of it. Well, they missed out.
This is a very valid way to determine partners, unless your like DoubleC and sandbag bad enough the first round (J/K) and get put into the B pool and get paired with a local ringer from the A pool. Anyway, sandbagging aside, it produced several equally matched teams which made for good competition for the Dubs round. Travis and partner, Rod, won the dubs comp after Travis hit a big putt on hole 2 to end a 3 way play-off for 1st at 6 under 60 for the round. Myself and partner, Cody, were in that 3 way tie but took 3rd after the 4th play-off hole. Locals Tyler and Jake were the other team in the play-off who took second. Lucas and Tom Potts were the last cash spot at 4th.
Payout was FAT!! DoubleC mentioned a 50% payout, that was in terms of the portion of the field that got paid. First place split $150 which is pretty huge considering that there was only $160 paid into the pot from entry fees."
DON'T MISS A GREAT DAY AT SPIRITWOOD!