I’m obviously outmanned here on the trophy vs belt discussion, which is no biggie, rub of the green.
(Stephan A. voice) Howeva! I just want to state for the record that if I were to hold the belt I would bring it to every match/roost event I play in as the holder, carrying it the entire round just to intimidate all you punks.
Thanks for coming to my Ted talk, carry on.
To quote the Spartans:
“if”
Option 1
Or hear me out, re: jug 
Thank you Ryan!
If we cannot get either of these on the original Option B, then we will re-route to one of the other two I found. I really, really like the “Champion Golfer of the Year” one so I’m going to try that first.
I’m willing to engrave whatever at no cost…
I sent you a DM with the files. If you or @flanwilder need anything else, just ping me.
Oh HELL YES. I love this community.
Think you could engrave on the body of the Original Option B cup above?
I can engrave on virtually anything at this point
…and in about 6-8 weeks I’ll also be embroidering on just about anything as well
Kylo @flanwilder Ren
Alright everyone. Used @RyanNas’ link here to order Option B and dropped shipped it to @flanwilder so that he can engrave it for us. All in (minus paying Jim to ship it to me when he’s done) it was $170 for the 12" cup so that we could have plenty of room for liquids to drink out of it.
Budget is down to $1130.00
Setting: Sunday Morning, 8:20 am, Community Golf Club - Dayton, Ohio - Weather, a bit chilly, but honestly perfect for golf.
Combatants: @golf4miami and @tanderson (@smithburger along for the ride as a marker)
Tensions: High
Course: A short 5300 yards from the blue tees allowing for a ton of half par holes which made this match a blast.
In a Pod 2 rematch that I was building up in my head nearly all week we teed it off at Community Golf Club’s Dales course. The right to represent Dayton in the Semi-Finals on the line.
Hole 1: A handshake 280 yard par 4. I topped my three wood and Tanner put his three wood off the back of the green with his tee shot. I slightly chucked my 7 iron approach, but it rolled up onto the green. Tanner would probably want his chip back if he could and we both two putted for par. No blood.
Hole 2. Slightly longer par 4 with trees. I pull hook my driver far enough left to have an opening. Tanner’s tee shot is caught by a pine tree and falls down just behind it. We both miss the green with our 2nd shots, but I’m able to get up and down with a slightly easier chip. Ryan, 1up.
Hole 3: The longest part three on the course was playing about 190 over water. I hit a solid 5 iron to the middle of the green. Tanner unfortunately didn’t get all of his and it wound up in the water which allowed me to two putt for par and the win. Ryan, 2 up.
Hole 4: A 252 yard long par four that is very risk reward as there are lateral hazards that pinch in up by the green. Eschewing the risk, I played an 8 iron to the middle of the fairway. Tanner however showed some true trust in his swing and his three wood (A theme that would develop over the entire day). A perfect drive wound up just short of the green. With the pressure on, I left my approach short and was unable to get up and down. Tanner’s risk off the tee paid off with the reward of a hole win with a comfy par. Ryan 1 up.
Hole 5: A short par 3 playing 130 with trouble on the right and a large mound left. Tanner hit a really solid tee shot, but we couldn’t see it land with the sun shining into us. I followed up with another solid shot of my own, also not being able to see it land. Walking up to the green we see Tanner’s ball ended up on the upper tier to the green and mine was on the proper tier. The pressure on, Tanner hit just the absolute perfect lag putt that looked like it might go in. A two putt par for both of us here tied the hole. Ryan 1 up.
Hole 6: Short downhill par 5. Tanner absolutely piped his drive and I toed my drive out to the right. So far right that it actually wound up being pretty good as I found the 7th fairway. From about 170 I hit my iron into the middle of the green for my 2nd. Unfortunately Tanner’s 2nd shot nipped a tree and found the water fronting the green which allowed me to two putt for birdie and the hole win. Ryan 2 up.
Hole 7: A longer uphill par 5 where I get my first stroke of the match. Two solid drives from both players. Tanner’s was a bit blocked out from the green however so he had to lay up to the right of the fairway. I was not blocked out, but my poorly executed 5 iron wound up being an unintentional layup anyway. A poor wedge shot each left Tanner with an uphill putt that he left short and myself an downhill slider that flew by the hole. I was able to get my next putt close putting pressure on Tanner to make his par putt to halve the hole which he was unable to do. I won the hole with a 6 for 5 to Tanner’s 6. Honestly feels like we’d both love our shots on the green back here. Ryan 3 up.
Hole 8: Par 3 playing about 160 downhill. Fresh off my win on the last hole I completely blackout here and toe-chunk my 9 iron. Taking advantage Tanner hits his tee shot perfectly to the middle of the green. I really had no chance after my absolutely horrid tee shot, but I tried. Tanner’s two putt par was more than enough to secure the hole easily here. Ryan 2 up.
Hole 9: Downhill par 4 playing 315. Tanner hit a perfect drive to the front right of the green. I flared my drive out to the right again, but luckily found some safety with a line between a couple trees to the green. I was unable to capitalize on my lucky break however as I chunked my 2nd shot in as many holes. Suddenly, I was scrambling for part to put some pressure on Tanner as he was able to chip up to around 10 feet for his birdie try. I hit a solid chip to about 3 feet and converted where Tanner’s birdie putt just slid by. I dodged a bullet. Ryan 2 up at the turn.
Front 9: Par 35 - @golf4miami 38 - @tanderson - 40
Hole 10: Another short par 4 gets us started on the back nine at 292 yards. Tanner hits a solid drive just short right. I keep my big right push working for me and push it way up the hill on the right. We both chip it to about 8 feet and neither of us are able to convert for birdie with Tanner’s putt just burning the edge again. I cleaned up from about 3 feet for par. I make a very prescient comment that eventually Tanner will start making those putts or I’m going to start missing the come backer. Ryan 2 up.
Hole 11: A really fun 100 yard par three where you must hit the green or pay. Tanner hits the front edge perfectly. I come up just short right and my chip is lackluster leaving me about 7 feet for my par. After a comfy tap in par for Tanner I step up and drill my par putt home. A huge tie for me to save some momentum. Or so I thought. Ryan 2 up.
Hole 12: The longest hole on the course at 562 par five. Plays slightly uphill and into the wind most days. It did this day too. This is my only hole on the back nine that I get a stroke. Tanner nukes a drive down the middle and my driver push continues to put me off the fairway and into adjacent holes. I hit what was a very solid three wood approach short left. Feeling good about putting some pressure back on Tanner I watched as he hit the absolute shot of the day with a three wood from around 250 to 3 feet. I was unable to get up and down to put pressure on his eagle putt, but Tanner rolled it home anyway. He won this hole with an eagle vs my 5 for 4. Ryan 1 up.
Hole 13: Another mildly driveable par 4 at 292. Tanner rips his three wood yet again. This time leaving him just short right. This time I straighten out my driver a bit and hit a slight draw to the left of the green. I pulled my chip and Tanners ran a bit long after he had to come over a ridge onto the green. Again, his birdie putt slid just by and mine missed as well. Two pars. Ryan 1 up.
Hole 14: The last par 5 on the course. Tanners driver continued to work for him with a drive down the right. Mine over corrected with a draw into the left rough. A chunk on my second shot and a brilliant pin high second from Tanner put some pressure on me to get up and down from about 75 yards. Which I was unable to do. A solid two putt birdie from Tanner ties the match and makes him -3 on the back nine through 5 holes. All Square.
Hole 15: The last par three playing about 165 on the day. Walking up to this tee I thought I was toast. Tanner was playing really, really well and I was getting no more strokes.
Tanner hit his first rough iron shot of the back nine. Chunking it slightly and leaving it in the front bunker. I hit a solid tee shot which left me in the front middle of the green. After Tanners bunker shot ran long of the green I was feeling good about a potential two putt win. But my nerves got to me and I scuffed my first putt and left myself 6 feet for par. Meanwhile, Tanner got up and down for bogey with a great putt to putt the pressure on me. I missed. We tied the hole with Bogey. All Square.
Hole 16: A longer par four before the back to back driveable par 4 finish. Tanners drive goes slightly right into the rough. I decide to keep my wayward driver in the bag and pull out my three wood. Turns out that was a good choice as I went even further right but short enough not to be in the tall grass. We both hit solid approach shots and have decent looks at birdie. Tanners slides by leaving me a decent shot at winning the hole, but my birdie putt is left just short. Another tie with pars. All Square.
Hole 17: A 250 yard par four with a wicked green. Tanners drive goes left leaving me an opportunity. I take advantage with my three wood finding the front left of the green. Left of this green is a tough, tough place to be and unfortunately Tanners chip shot doesn’t find the right area and rolls down to just inside where my putt for Eagle is from. I leave my putt about 4 feet short on a solid line on my uphill putt putting some pressure on Tanner who nuked his uphill putt leaving a tricky downhill putt for par which slid by allowing me to two putt for par to win the hole. Ryan 1 up.
Hole 18: The last hole is a 280 yard downhill and down wind hole. Much like the first. Playing for position, I hit a three iron down the middle of the fairway. Tanner took out his trusty three wood and made his only slightly off swing with it all day missing left and in a spot of bother. Not even paying attention to what’s up with Tanners ball my only thought is to make him beat me with a birdie on this hole as I play my second shot. I hit it right where I wanted to and got a bit of roll out to around 4 feet. After seeing Tanner wound up behind a tree, I thought barring a miracle I might have had this match won. But Tanner was for sure not done. He played his second shot over a tree that was directly in front of him to about 7 or 8 feet in what can only be described as the second shot of the match. One that blew both me and @smithburger away. Not only did he pull off the shot, he made the putt for birdie. Thus making my four foot birdie putt pressure packed and for the match. Luckily for me, it didn’t have much break and I was able to pour it in for the 1 up victory in a match I can only describe as an instant classic.
Playing a rematch against @tanderson was an absolute blast and we both hit some really solid shots to win holes and take momentum. It was exactly what you want in a match. This is exactly what I had in mind when I wanted to start this tournament last year.
Back Nine: par 36 - @golf4miami 36 - @tanderson 34
Total: par 71 - @golf4miami 74 - @tanderson 74
@golf4miami 1 up
Great write up! I know I had a late start to this, but I need to get out to check out some of these matches!
Another elite 8 match in the books yesterday as well. @quicktempo and I teed it up at Sand Ridge in Chardon, OH with Richard Fowler (AKA @Browcoww77) as marker. Match was played straight up with no strokes given either way.
I got off to a quick start, winning 4 out of the first 6 holes but Alex battled back quickly, and with superb approaches on 8 and 9, got things to only 1-down at the turn. Things turned on the back, and I was able to win a few holes early to close it out 4&2. It was a pleasure competing against Alex, and I imagine the outcome might have been different if his game was totally in form.
Congrats on your win!
That sets up the first semi-final to be between @MDM and @Twowaymiss for the right to play at Canterbury Golf Club in the Final!
I also have news from @flanwilder that the trophy has arrived at his location for the engraving.
Also it’s heard to photograph a mirrored item
Truly a special piece of hardware. Excellent work.
You had a chance to do something sneaky with that photo. We all appreciate you staying fully clothed. It looks great!
