The Global Pandemic Invitational
The Corona Virus pandemic has grounded us this year and we are stuck playing at arguably the best golf destination in the country/world that includes the number 1 public course in the United States, without getting on a plane. This sucks! But alas, we are hearty men of Punjab (at least that it what the name of the organization implies and Australians are the Punjabis of Australia (?????)) and we will persevere.
In doing so, we must take precautions to keep ourselves virus free, socially distanced and masked as appropriate. I think we are all united on this front and safety, containment and eradication must be high priority. Where we might differ is the products we use to keep us virus free. (Note, the Punju Golf Association now has a website, a blog, a logo, a webmaster and blogger (CC)- we are growing, we have to think bigger- we have to monetize.) As such, we are recognizing the strange times we are in and the need to pander to corporate America at the same time- which is also representative of our times.
We will celebrate our differences in our team names- Team Lysol vs. Team Clorox. We were in talks with Clorox and Reckitt Benckiser for sponsorship. It was going well until they saw our collective indexes. We were rudely escorted out of the building(s) (which was odd because the meetings were on Zoom and when the calls ended I found myself outside my own house – fuckers.). They also demanded that we not use their names in our tournament so as to not infect the names of their disinfectants. However, we remain undeterred.
We will be Team Lysol vs. Team Clorox.
Some perspective:
Please review this NSFW video clip to get us in the right mindset with respect to what we are after. The clip represents both our greed as we chase sponsorship and our resolve both on and off the golf course. I would encourage that we not use such language and be much more respectful- but the sentiment is hard to argue. And this one is simply a safety statement after some confusing direction from our President.
The Tournament
The Global Pandemic Invitational is a 3-day Ryder Cup style tournament.
Buy in: $200 per man plus the team shirt of your opponent. More on shirts below- but it will either be your trophy or an expensive shirt for yourself (considering the losers will each buy two.)
We will select two teams of 6 that will participate in a 3-day cumulative event. Days 1 and 2 will be four ball and day 3 will be singles matches.
SHIRTS:
As we did in Kiawah, we would like to get team shirts to be worn on the last day. Biren’s team will get the blue shirts if it is an option. I will organize and collect shirt money which should be less than $100. This is the only money I will collect. When all is said and done, you are to settle directly with your day 3 opponent. Loser pays $200 plus the cost of the shirt. Please send me your Nike shirt size.
INDEXES:
This is always the sticky part- but I ask that you trust me as you have in the past. I am very familiar with everyone’s game and past performance and current state of your games. We are playing at 85% of you low handicap index, with a couple of adjustments. The 85% of the low is directly stolen from the methodology used in the Cordevalle Club Championship. This is the championship for this group so thought it appropriate. The adjustments are as follows: Nitin will remain the nine seed but will play even with Naveen. Romy will remain the ten seed but will play even with Chetan. Sunil will be capped at 31 strokes from Mahesh.
The result of the adjustments is as follows:
Nitin loses 1 stroke on days 2 and 3.
Romy gains 1 stroke per day.
Sunil loses 2 strokes on days 1 and 3 and a loses 1 stroke on Day 2
The index table reflects these adjustments. Further revisions are possible but unlikely.
DAY 1 MATCHES – Spyglass
(Thursday) – Gold Tees
DAY 2 MATCHES- Spanish
(Friday) – Gold Tees
DAY 1 AND DAY 2 Format: Four man better ball matches.
Each team will form 3 teams of 2. The partners will be at the discretion of the teams. Team Clorox will declare who their first team in the first foursome will be and Team Lysol will then declare their team to go out in the first foursome. After the first foursome is set, Team Lysol will declare who their team in the second foursome will be, Team Clorox will respond, and the third group will be set by default.
On Day 2- Team Lysol will name first and Clorox will respond.
The matches are all worth one point and if they end in a tie the point is split. The matches will play off of the lowest in each foursome.
I would like to have the Day 1 matches set this week.
Day 3- Six singles Matches.
Pebble Beach- Gold Tees
Opponents for these are set based on index and strokes are indicated. We will go out by index and the matches are as follows:
Group 1 Mahesh v. Greg (2) Sanjay v. Kiran(1)
Group 2 Ajay v. Sandeep(1) Biren v. Naveen (even)
Group 3 Nitin v. Romy (4) CC v. Sunil (18)
Each match is worth one point. Strokes are off the lower guy in the match. There is a total of 12 points during the three days. 6.5 points wins. 6 points is a tie. No money changes hands and buy your own shirt.
CLOSEST TO THE PINS- If we can get them we will let you know. There will be a surcharge of $50 per man if we are able to do this.
FORMING THE TEAMS
Biren Sood will be the Captain of Team Clorox. Naveen Sood will be the Captain of Team Lysol. Team selection to be organized via zoom in the next day or two. We will flip a virtual coin to see who selects first. As always the 1 and 2 seeds are on opposite teams, the 3 and 4 seeds are on opposite teams etc. With the last group, the 9 seed and the 12 seed are a package deal and the 10 and 11 seeds will be on the same team. What this means is that Nitin and Sunil will be on the same team and Romy and CC will be on the same team.
RULES: It is 100% match play so settle all disputes within your groups.
RANGE FINDERS AND GPS: These are legal but the slope adjustments must not be used. You are on your honor to turn this feature off.
PACE OF PLAY: We have a lot of golf to play that weekend so it will be helpful to work on pace of play.
SIDE BETS: All are encouraged- try not to slow pace of play though.
CHAMPIONS DINNER: None. Thanks Covid. Food and Drink is informal and impromptu.
If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments let me know.
Sanjay “Commissioner” Ahuja