For those on the fence about coming down to The Butter Cow nit qualifier…I present the logo for merch.
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Speaking of merch, get some of this sweet, sweet NSS4 Merch while it lasts!
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Can I purchase merch even if I don’t come? In the midst of a major medical over here, but that cow is unreal
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Think I will open it up so we can do more for charity. Ill try to put a new spreadsheet together or something and let ya know.
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I won’t know for sure until early July, but if my schedule allows it I’m going to make the trip down. Is there a “last sign up day”?
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Probably a 2-3 weeks prior, mid-end of july so we can order merch still, but could probably sign up with less merch a couple days prior. (Still figuring a couple things out).
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Friends, treasured sickos, vague acquaintances whom I have not yet had the pleasure to meet,
I need to be honest with y’all. I come to you at a moment of great import. It is June 16, 2023 - a scant 29 days until the North Star Shootout 4, the crown jewel of the MN Contingent and the North Star United’s Major. We sit at 40 participants.
As the host, a great many questions arise; “Is it too expensive?” "Are people that anti-Gross National?" “Is the format too confusing?” And on, and on. Many of these questions are simply my own insecurities coming forth, and should be ignored. But they lead me to the big question(s):
Where is everyone? Has the MN Contingent lost its edge?
60 of you paid $250 last year for a much more grueling/arguably less fun day of golf. At a much better golf course, no less. It has me scratching my head while I organize merch, and contact potential sponsors, and work out tee gifts, and get the word out here and on IG, and get everything finalized in GolfGenius, and gather auction items, and wring my hands about actually paying the bill.
I am not under the illusion that I know what the fuck I’m doing, or that I’m particularly good at this. I’m not.
So be honest with me - where are you @NorthStarUnited?
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I have a family reunion that day, otherwise I would be #41 fer sure.
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$250 for 36 holes at Stoneridge is less than it would cost without a member out there. $200+ for two rounds at a municipal course looks like terrible value from the outside looking in.
Also, I think people’s lives have just moved on from the Covid era and people are much busier. 18 hole event is an easier selling point for someone with young kids so unlimited golf at the higher price isn’t a selling point.
I played last year and signed up this year but I’m also lucky with the golf leash my wife gives me.
What is option B here? Could we just have an 18 hole event out there?
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I am going to step in a speak for Nanski, which he can smack me afterward if he would like.
We adopted a model very similar to that of the NIT. It isn’t 36 holes, it is we have the whole damn golf course to ourselves for the day.
There will be no public there, just refuge/nest members.
If you don’t advance, you can follow around the groups in the knock out round, or you can go play your own matches or games on the other side of the course.
We literally have the ability to do what we want (within reason of course)
EDIT- playing stone ridge was dope, and I loved it, but we financially can’t reserve a place like that.
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Can’t pretend to know why turnout is so low, but agree with @charvey that summer seems to have filled out quite a bit more. I think everyone has an excuse for not signing up, know I have one, so hope others can have fun!
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I love the initiative with the all day golf but it’s also a con for someone who could get permission for 18 holes.
One of the big reasons for all day is that this is the BIG event. 18 holes just feels like a Frozen Fourball. Other Roosts have 2 day qualifiers, even larger events and have no problems filling them up.
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I’m just providing real feedback ( as a guy who still signed up). I have zero desire to play more than 36 holes at Gross (I’m old and stiff) hence the two round comment.
Also, the frozen fourball is sneakily the best event of the year.
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We’re closing on a house July 14th. So we’re just super busy this summer. I personally really like Gross. It was the course I’d go to and pay $15 for twilight hours when I started seriously golfing again 5 years ago. I’ll fondly remember those sunset hours trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with my swing, but still reminding myself why I started playing again as I walked alone down the fairway.
Though, I do think that $250 for an event at Stoneridge is much better value than $200 at Gross. Wish I could make it, you’re doing a great job organizing @bignanski !
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im proselytizing the shit outta my non-refuge golf buddies…… i think its the price. but i get it. its for free reign over a track. which is my selling point!
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I understand this logic, but I had to set a price that balanced participation with actually paying the bill. To have free reign on format and give people what I think will be an insanely fun day of golf, we had to rent the course. To rent a course at a decent price, it had to be a muni. The break-even at $200 is 60 people.
Sure, we could change to tee times and work around a busy Saturday at a muni, then just go home at 2. But would that be the NSS? Would that even fall outside the shadow of the NSS?
I get your point about an all-day kitchen pass with kids, better than most. But this is the big one. A Roost Major. NIT Qualifier. Put some respect on its name. And I’m using the royal “you” here, it’s not directed at you personally @charvey - please understand that your fee isn’t just for the golf. If you can read through the format, know that you’re getting some swag and donating to an amazing charity, and only see “$105 per 18 holes at a muni”, you’re missing the forest for the trees and I’m not sure I can help you.
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No disagreement there. I just
A. think the Shootout should be more than an 18-hole event and
B. Don’t want to deal with tee times again for 60 people. Organizing StoneRidge was a fucking nightmare.
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You didn’t lose me and it’s a great charity that I’ve supported before and plan to again. Nothing personal taken from that. I think you got your 40 golf sickos and trying to pull in our casual friends is the tough sell at this point.
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