The (VGA) Veterans Golf Association (Lacassem's Journey & Others)

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

1 minute ago, tricket3d said:

I need to check out other states. Wisconsin is shut down for too long hehe. 

Yea I was not able to travel to much last year with how many vacations we took but this year will be a little less long travels with the family and some more local stuff which will afford me some out of state rounds! Can’t wait!

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

Anyone trying/planning any cross state line trips on the upcoming year?

[Preeway]

1 minute ago, Lacassem said:

Anyone trying/planning any cross state line trips on the upcoming year?

I like to look at ones in areas that border NE and are less than 3 hours away. Played in Iowa and Missouri last year. Will likely continue to look for a few that I can do as a day trip. 

[Preeway]

Are you talking about doing longer distance tournaments?

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

1 minute ago, Preeway said:

Are you talking about doing longer distance tournaments?

Justin general any plans to travel to tournaments. I know I’m planning on going to bethpage in NY

[CharlieGrisham]

Yeah I’m doing a lot of trips.  Since my son lives in Daytona I visit often.  
A tip to find good vga itineraries…look up a few of the guys in the lead of AFC or just VGA points.  Check out their profile and upcoming tournaments…I’ve used that to copy their work.

3 day in Gulfport end of January 

4 day in GA coast end of May

kentucky already has a few multi-day events.  There’s one in Lexington in March

[Luisddavila]

On 2/8/2023 at 11:51 AM, Lacassem said:

Hey all!

I have been contemplating doing this for years. The VGA for those that have not heard of it is the Veterans Golf Association. They run a ton of tournaments nation wide and have different regions. There are regional leaders and some pretty big competitive championship tournaments all around the world. In 2021 they hosted one in Scotland.

I finally signed up today. There are several tournaments I hope to play in. Even if I play in one I will be super pumped. I am ecstatic to get into some truly competitive golf.

This thread will host my thoughts leading up to tournaments, what I was thinking during the round and how the round went. Maybe get some pointers from the folks on here. Also to provide a space for other VGA members to get involved in one spot.

I am not sure what to expect or how everything works so maybe I can provide some insight as I go along for others that maybe sign up and get into some tournaments!

https://www.vgagolf.org/app/

https://www.vgagolf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/VGA_2022_Tour_Players_Manaual_20211102v3.pdf

I think my first tournament will be either April 28th or April 30th (28th is in Connecticut and 30th is in Massachusetts)

You know I’m in

[Luisddavila]

Those are the tournaments in Kentucky for 2024. I am playing the ones I circled so if you are close let me know and we can meet

[Luisddavila]

Also I play the Crown Royal open in Southern Pines, NC every year in October. It is a 3 day tournament you just pay the entry fee and it includes green fees, lodging, and meals. Great golf experience if any of you want the details shoot me a message and I will put you in contact with the POC. I might need 1 person for next year’s event. It is a stroke play by HC but it is fun

[Shank Aaron]

On 12/23/2023 at 5:17 PM, Luisddavila said:

Those are the tournaments in Kentucky for 2024. I am playing the ones I circled so if you are close let me know and we can meet

Wow, Kentucky is killing it! That's a great looking schedule. 

[Shank Aaron]

On 12/23/2023 at 11:19 AM, Lacassem said:

Anyone trying/planning any cross state line trips on the upcoming year?

I'm planning to play a little further out of my home area this season since I'm going to strictly play in VGA events and drop the other Tours I've been juggling for the last 3 seasons. I primarily play in New Jersey and a few in New York (you don't miss Bethpage with my proximity), but I would like to play a couple in other states in the North Regions this year. Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania are definitely on the wish list, but I also had an idea of playing in each one's State Championship depending on the dates. I could potentially pull that off if my schedule holds.  

[VGA MA State Director]

I'll be releasing the MA VGA Schedule shortly after the new year.  Will be a mix of private tracks with tournaments on Monday's (for the most part) and weekend tournaments at public tracks.  Additionally we (New England) are working on scheduling tournaments where the courses are close to the borders of the New England states.  For example we'll schedule a tournament near the border of MA,CT, & RI where one tournament would be in MA and one in RI over the weekend (Sat/Sun).  Goal here is to draw members from each state to bump up the registrations for each tournament.  Hopefully that makes sense.  We'll target doing this a minimum of 4 times this season.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

5 minutes ago, VGA MA State Director said:

I'll be releasing the MA VGA Schedule shortly after the new year.  Will be a mix of private tracks with tournaments on Monday's (for the most part) and weekend tournaments at public tracks.  Additionally we (New England) are working on scheduling tournaments where the courses are close to the borders of the New England states.  For example we'll schedule a tournament near the border of MA,CT, & RI where one tournament would be in MA and one in RI over the weekend (Sat/Sun).  Goal here is to draw members from each state to bump up the registrations for each tournament.  Hopefully that makes sense.  We'll target doing this a minimum of 4 times this season.

Love the thought process! Mondays get to be tough for me but hopefully can get a few penned in!

[Shank Aaron]

1 hour ago, Lacassem said:

Love the thought process! Mondays get to be tough for me but hopefully can get a few penned in!

Normally, the exclusive private courses will only host events on Mondays, well.....at least around my area. Reasons vary, but most common is because that's the day the course is "closed for play", and/or that's the day of the week with the least amount of traffic. It's tough for most to make a Monday event, but for the right course, you'll see a full field more often than not. Plus, who the f**k wants to go to work on Mondays? 

Edited December 27, 2023 by Shank Aaron
Spell check

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

13 minutes ago, Shank Aaron said:

Normally, the exclusive private courses will only host events on Mondays, well.....at least around my area. Reasons vary, but most common is because that's the day the course is "closed for play", and/or that's the day of the week with the least amount of traffic. It's tough for most to make a Monday event, but for the right course, you'll see a full field more often than not. Plus, who the f**k wants to go to work on Mondays? 

Unfortunately its more timing with my son and not so much work lol. If the event is close enough where I can get there after I drop him off it is not an issue but there were none last year close enough for me to get there in time.

[Shank Aaron]

25 minutes ago, Lacassem said:

Unfortunately its more timing with my son and not so much work lol. If the event is close enough where I can get there after I drop him off it is not an issue but there were none last year close enough for me to get there in time.

From a guy with 6 (not a typo, 6) kids and three of those at home under 7 (nope, still not a typo), I can feel that pain more than most. 

[Preeway]

1 hour ago, Lacassem said:

Unfortunately its more timing with my son and not so much work lol. If the event is close enough where I can get there after I drop him off it is not an issue but there were none last year close enough for me to get there in time.

I saw that event at Bathpage as well and was trying to figure out how to work out a trip to NY just for golf . Needless to say, probably won’t be able to make it happen from Omaha. 

[cksurfdude]

@Lacassem and @Shank Aaron - funny thing I'm less than a half hour from Bethpage Park... Please lemme know if you decide to do that event and come this way!!

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

1 minute ago, cksurfdude said:

@Lacassem and @Shank Aaron - funny thing I'm less than a half hour from Bethpage Park... Please lemme know if you decide to do that event and come this way!!

I will be there, I have a reminder set in my calendar for when it opens up to sign up for and have cleared the 3 days to come up Monday and get a round in somewhere and then play red and black back to back days! Be great if all 3 of us can get on there!

[Shank Aaron]

My plan is to make both days, and if I get in, we should all definitely get together for sure. I might do the smart thing and get a hotel this time. It's only about an hour's drive on the way there, but 2-4 hours on the way back through that NYC traffic. 

[PrismFlopper]

A while back myself and a few guys in my unit made a FT Devon’s golf team. It was mostly a joke cause the courses around there let us play for cheap or waved the fees, but it was a wild group. Our unit kinda caught on that when we were out “training” we were usually sneaking in a quick 9 somewhere. It was going real well till a course posted a picture of us in full kit teeing off

[Shank Aaron]

From the looks of things in the North Region, most of the state chapters have a pretty full slate of events scheduled. So.....that begs the question- have any of you made your personal playing schedule for the season? How's it look so far? Where are you guys planning to play? 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

43 minutes ago, Shank Aaron said:

From the looks of things in the North Region, most of the state chapters have a pretty full slate of events scheduled. So.....that begs the question- have any of you made your personal playing schedule for the season? How's it look so far? Where are you guys planning to play? 

Nothing up from MA or RI yet but April 26th has Lake of Isles tournament in CT. Think I am going to jump on this one for now. Registration opens April 11th, would be my first one this year.

[billpierce]

On 1/7/2024 at 1:39 AM, PrismFlopper said:

A while back myself and a few guys in my unit made a FT Devon’s golf team. It was mostly a joke cause the courses around there let us play for cheap or waved the fees, but it was a wild group. Our unit kinda caught on that when we were out “training” we were usually sneaking in a quick 9 somewhere. It was going real well till a course posted a picture of us in full kit teeing off

Is this in Mass? Fort Devens?

[billpierce]

56 minutes ago, GolfSpy_SHARK said:

Nothing up from MA or RI yet but April 26th has Lake of Isles tournament in CT. Think I am going to jump on this one for now. Registration opens April 11th, would be my first one this year.

April in CT - could be risky

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

5 minutes ago, billpierce said:

April in CT - could be risky

Played Massachusetts in February last year AND this year!, not any more risky than that lol!

If we have weather like we have been we will be in great shape. Everything will be melted and not to wet!

[Preeway]

I have a couple already booked for April and May

[BreakfastBall15]

This is pretty cool. No clue it existed. If I can get my game together where I’m not a complete embarrassment I’ll sign up for a few events

[CharlieGrisham]

Trust me, if you haven’t missed a 1ft putt, you’ve not played in the vga.  You won’t be an embarrassment around us

[BreakfastBall15]

27 minutes ago, CharlieGrisham said:

Trust me, if you haven’t missed a 1ft putt, you’ve not played in the vga.  You won’t be an embarrassment around us

Haha good to know! I’ll have to sign up then!