What will it cost?
Ballpark estimate of all costs per guy (assuming you share a room) will be about $2,500 plus your food and drink:
(Actual cost details to be confirmed in early June)
I will directly collect a few hundred bucks of this budget for common costs we split among everyone, such as prize pool, bus rental and driver fees, beer and other Big Break costs, and the green fees at The Lakes.
The following costs will be covered directly by you:
- the rooms at The Birches Inn
- the green fees and rooms at Cabot Resort
- food, and drink (at your discretion)
- caddie fees at Cabot - I'll send an email about this. I highly recommend hiring a caddie for at least one round for the experience. They take cash only.
Billing at Cabot Links Resort
You can bill things to your room and settle with your roommate if you have one. Or if you prefer, pay for everything directly upon consumption if you don't want to charge to room and split with your roommate (if you have one).
What If I don't have a handicap?
The Ryder Cup format we play is net scores, adjusted for handicaps. It is a lot more fun for everybody if we all have an accurate handicap.
If you play at a club, you probably already have a GAO (Golf Association of Ontario or Golf Canada sanctioned handicap). If you aren't a member of a club, you can join GAO for $50 per year to track your handicap at http://www.golfcanada.ca and start recording your rounds. Be careful to adjust for ESC (Equitable Stroke Control).
If you don't do either of the above, try and get as many rounds in as possible before we go and give me all of your scores (noting what tees you played from). In this case, let's try to get out for a round together before we go so that I can help set an appropriate number.
Of you have an estimated handicap, we may adjust it if necessary based on the scores you post during the weekend.
What flights should I book again?
July 18, 2018: The group is flying from Toronto in to SYDNEY on Westjet flight: WS0280 at 8:20 PM EST
July 22, 2018: The group is flying from HALIFAX out to Toronto on Air Canada flight: AC625 at 8:50 PM AST
If travelling with the group, the bus will take care of all ground transport.
What if I'm not travelling with the group?
You can arrange your own ground transport. Feel free to arrive anytime on Wednesday, July 18 and hang out with any other early arrivals at my family bungalow at 6376 Route 4, East Bay (Cape Breton), Nova Scotia. Let me know your plans and I will help you coordinate with others.
What to Bring
- Golf clubs and golf attire for four days. Two sets of evening wear should be more than enough
- Very casual clothing is fine for off course. No need for a blazer - takes up baggage space ...all you should need is carry on and golf travel bag (stuff some clothes in the travel bag). Smart denim, one long sleeve shirt
- Two Pairs of Golf shoes (if we get any rain, you’ll want a second pair while the other pair dries). And enough dry golf socks for fresh pair in second round in the two days are priceless if it rains
- Bring clothes for anything from 10 degrees and rain to 28 degrees and sun (the evenings can be chilly down by the shore, so a sweater or long sleeves will come in handy)
- Have some bug spray and sunscreen in your golf bag
- Five shag bag golf balls you will lose for the Big Break competition
What is the Modified Alternate Shot Format?
- Both team members take the tee shot
- Determine which of the two balls you want to play
- Whoever took the selected tee shot allows his partner to shoot second. The tee shot player shoots the third shot, and you continue to alternate until the ball is in the hole
Filling out and Submitting Scorecard:
- each foursome will be given an official scorecard for each match that will have handicap dots on the holes that each player is given a shot (handicaps are set off the lowest handicap in the match, then each player is given a dot for each handicap hole within the differential from the low number)
- for modified alternate shot matches, the average team handicap will be used
- Craig MacAdam, Jim Flynn, and Joe McCooeye will help dot the cards as well as collect cards after each round. Please make sure one of these three get the official scorecard of the foursome
- please fill out your gross score clearly for each hole. If you want to put your net score in the box, or mark the +/- of the match, please ensure the gross scores are the most prominent number, which makes it much easier for recording scores later