2009 Golf Trip Packets

You can pick up your 2009 Golf Trip packets at Houston National Golf Club beginning at 7:30 on Wednesday, May 6. Please swing by to pick up or make arrangements.

Thanks
The Commish

Update

Due to the fact that we will be playing desert courses with waste bunkers, Rule 4-4. Maximum of 14 Clubs is being modified to 15 clubs. This will allow you to carry an older club to use from the waste bunkers and not risk potential damage to clubs in your everyday set.

Michael Helm will reserve the party room at the Condos for Wednesday and Thursday nights for us. The cost for each night will be $75. We are also exploring the possibility of having meals catered in for us on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Attempts are being made to keep the cost near $10 per person.



The rental cars have been prepaid by Meridian so I will write a check to them upon my arrival for them. Since we won't be able to check in prior to our opening round on Wednesday, please board the plane with what you're going to wear to play the opening round. Also, please place your tees, balls, socks, golf shoes and whatever else you may need to play in your golf bag and not your regular luggage. In case of weight issues with the plane, we will voice our objection to any golf bags being removed from the plane. Luggage they can remove and deliver later, but not golf bags. If you recall, we ran into this issue last year going to Alabama. Fortunately the airline listened to our pleas and left the golf bags on the plane. even as they tried to remove people, the golf bags stayed on the plane!!!!!



Cigars



http://www.bestcigarsprices.com/ 1-888-41-CIGAR



http://www.thompsoncigar.com/ 1-800-237-2559



Continental Airline

http://www.continental.com/

COUNTDOWN TO PHOENIX

REMINDER

Just a reminder that if you made the initial payment of $138.91 in January, an additional payment of $138.91 is due by the end of the week. If you recall, we were allowed to pay the 50% deposit over a two month span. The balance is due by the end of April. However, feel free to make additional payments prior to then. ALL payments can be made directly to Meridian CondoResorts via credit card or check. The original payments were handled by me so that I could get an accurate number of participates.

Ronnie has created the Match Play bracket and only the 1-3 seeds will have an opening round bye. Since Al is the defending Champion, he will go into the 2009tournament as the Number 1 seed. We will have to meet to determine the remaining seeds. The match play portion of the competetion is a handicapped event. Even though we will have to utilize all 5 rounds for the completion of the match play competetion, we will only use 4 rounds in the calculation of the Gross and Net award winners.

Also, prior to the first round, we will collect $50 for those that would like to participate in the skins pot. This will make the skins pot much more manageable. So you're either in or out with regard to the skins pot.

Update

Of the 31 people that have expressed an interest in the golf trip, 26 have paid a deposit!!!! I'm still expecting Jim Hurd, Steve Smith , Dan Whitfield and Sherry Williams to get their deposits in over the next few days. We have 3 pickup trucks and 3 full size cars reserved so far. The total for the rental of the vehicles, including all taxes and fees is approximately $1,588.74. The rental cost will be divided evenly amongst the participants and you will get an invoice for your portion after the trip.
Once we have a firm number of golfers, Ronnie will create brackets for the Match Play portion of the trip. So, depending on your seeding, you may have an opening round match on Wednesday afternoon. We're going to have a few newcomers on the trip this year, so be sure to make them feel welcome. Stacey Jones; Leon Rhodes, Sr. and Darrell Cavil are the newbies so far. We'll have to enlighten them on the driving rules and newcomers buying the first cases of beer rule.
We will present awards at the Saturday night dinner in the following categories.
Low Gross (The Teddy Rhodes Award) 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place; Low Net (Yet to be named) 1st, 2nd and 3rd. And, Match Play Champion and Runner Up. Please note that if you plan to participate in the skins pot, there is a $50 buy in. This allocates $10 per round for you to the skins pot. There will not be any buy ins after the first round begins, period. You're in for all 5 rounds are you're not in at all.
Finally, if you have a name or title that you would like to propose for this annual excursion, please let me know.

Until next time,
Keep it in the fairway!!!

Payment Information

Meridian CondoResorts:

Via Phone:
1-800-213-6446 Ask for Steve Watson

Via Mail:
Meridian CondoResorts
ATTN: Steve Watson
PO Box 14914
Scottsdale, AZ 85267

Reference: James Perry Group

Participants

Wow!!!!!!
To date, 30 people have expressed an interest in the 2009 golf trip. Of that 30, twenty three have purchased or redeemed miles for their airline ticket. People are already discussing things like, preparing breakfast in their condos, stocking the fridge with an assortment of refreshments, playing cards and everything else that fits into a golf trip. Of course there have been request along the lines of, "what if I want a room by myself?" and "what if I rent my own car?" These questions have been answered, but how long with this go on? One day the answer may be, "Well just make your own plans and we'll see you there!"
Airfare with the cheaper rates may be sold out, so if you haven't purchased your ticket, you may want to do so soon. Michael Helm has visited the condos in Phoenix and we should get a full report when he returns. His initial phone report gave the property a good review with only 1 drawback. When all the details are in, you will be provided that review.
So be sure to schedule your vacation days and get that golf game together for May!!!