for me personally, it’s about time commitment. I have a bunch of kids in all kinds of different activities, so that doesn’t bode well for golf weekends. That said, I’ve worked hard on prioritizing my time and investing in my mental health to find the course more. I play a lot of 9 hole rounds or try to find a short course on my lunch break. That equals more golf than you’d imagine, but not a lot of golf with friends.
Strapped is what brought me to NLU and the story its told is what keeps me here. Golf is a game that is incredibly competitive, but the rewarding part is that you can be incredibly competitive with some of your best friends and closest relationships. DJ, Big, and Neil didn’t need a group of 75 to be on the course at the same time and we don’t either.
I would like to see more emphasis put in small group events: the yearly matchplay is perfect, but maybe some cool hangs at a driving range or short courses too. How cool would it be to have a driving range that you knew on this date/time there would probably be some people there to hang out with, and there could be a bunch of those set up throughout the state. Or maybe there’s a standing tee time at a certain course every week? To me, the small group focus will bring us together and drive more involvement.
BUT, i say all that stuff about the small groups stuff to come to this conclusion. To get the small groups, you must participate in the large events to meet people. It doesn’t have to be every event, but pick an event and go. If you can’t go find a way to get involved. I’ve been on the forum on and off since 2019. I couldn’t commit to any events and wasn’t involved online. I still can’t make all the events, but I like to be creative so I messaged Joe and have been helping out. If you can’t attend, find a place you can help, remote or in person.
My free time fluctuates wildly, but the sweet spot for me and most of my peers (early middle age with kids) is Mid June to Late July because of the dead period.
I’m in no position to organize anything in Central OH, but I think an event around Columbus in that time frame would maximize attendance.
This is my first full year in the Refuge/Roost - for this weekend’s event, for Christmas I purchased concert tickets for my wife for a show on Saturday, otherwise I would love to be there.
Because of that conflict, I am playing in The Extinction instead for a shot at the NIT. It’s really just about scheduling for me - I am attending the Almost Qualifier at Springfield CC and the Tiki at the Kiki in the coming months and very much looking forward to those. Assuming there is another fall Cincy event, I of course will be in attendance for that, too.
Me missing Findlay this year is mainly a family conflict. A lot of good points being made. @quicktempo is dead on about family stuff. My first Findlay event was 2022. I had a blast. And I had even more fun last year. The second 9 with @Albatrossity@PlumbBobMillionaire@waver82 and @clevelandgooner was probably the most fun I had on course all year in ‘23. I don’t remember the last time I laughed that much on a golf course. Fast-forward a short 12 months. I like to think I would’ve been there this year if not for an honest to god conflict. But my family life is making the idea of a full day or weekend away seem like wishful thinking. And I only have one kid.
@Browcoww77 makes a great point that bc of this local thread, and by extension our Roost, a lot of us have built or grown our circle of golf friends. And that’s what matters most. I think the NIT is a shiny thing that sounds like an amazing time. I’d love to play in it one day. I think in turn the concept of Roosts needing to match the sheen and the need for all kinds of bells and whistles has grown. But I’m exponentially more grateful for the circle of friends and acquaintances I’ve met here. To end, @spicychimis made maybe the best point. Do not, ever, allow fear of your game not stacking up keep you from getting involved. I’m a 14-15 who’s played with scratches and 30’s. If I’m building a list of most memorable playing partners from the Refuge, that will never matter.
5 Stickers and ~20 tees for $15 (For those that voted in the poll, I will try to make sure you get 5-10 tees of each vote)
Going to plan to handle these like last time and start by handing them out at events. Unfortunately, I am not a great planner and will not have these available in time for Findlay.
I had an absolute blast last year, but i am now working Saturday mornings. That is the only reason i won’t be making it this year, getting someone to cover for me when only 1 person is capable is not easy and that’s a bummer because most events are on Saturday in the morning. Hopefully in the future some things could be Saturday afternoons or Sundays.
I wish I could make it. I don’t know if I just don’t engage enough in the forum but I subscribe to this thread and am on the slack but have a super tough time keeping up.
Truly this is a hands up, that’s on me issue for sure. But just being honest, between work, work travel, a young family, etc it can be really hard to feel up to date and not overwhelmed by the posting on this forum.
Thanks for all those who plan. I attended the first year sleepy/kiki thing and it is still a highlight of my social golfing experience.
In full transparency I’m still sober as I write this, the same can’t be said for me after the afternoon round Saturday.
I owe A LOT to NLU, the dads, the family and the people I’ve met. I’ve been very fortunate to play with almost everyone you’d want to play with in the family and even some people I genuinely never hope to see again.
That being said, it all started because of these events whether they are big or small. The first year I hosted the findlay event we had 70 people show up and I had no fucking clue what I was doing. If I remember right 9 states were represented. WTF.
The reason I say all of this, come to any event, big or small in Ohio or not. I’m stereotyping here but middle aged males need golf friends for their mental health and this forum provides a fucking lot of golf friends.
I’ve been able to play some of the best courses in the country because I allowed myself to be a little vulnerable and stick my neck out and offer to participate.
A side note related to this (is it a side note then?):
But I played golf last weekend with Pro V1s with the Denison U logo on them. I laughed when I opened the box, I helped @Randy when he hosted an event at Denison GC and he couldn’t play golf with titleist balls because they were on Callaway staff. I remember floating through most of that day but one of the coolest parts of that day was when I was talking to a high school kid who was there. He commented on my towel and I asked if he had anything NLU which he didn’t so I gave him a clean towel I had in my car. He was shocked but it was something that made him smile and it gave me a free memory.
The reason I’m saying all of this is these events are rarely about the golf or the NIT or celebrities, but about the memories and the stories and the people. I’m gonna try to win this weekend but I’ve played four rounds of golf this year and am more excited to see my friends than to win a trip to AZ.