COMMUNITY

I played for three straight years and had a great time. It is a well run tournament. You get to play with and meet other golfers from around the world on some pretty nice courses. They usually will give you two decent courses, one mid grade and one on the low side. When I was there (2006-2008) the convention center was nice to spend a few hours at each night. Lots of vendors and club demos along with some free food and drinks. Grouping is pretty good and you will be put in with golfers near your handicap. There is always some sandbagging but they have done a pretty good job of controlling it and they will boot someone if they think the scores are off the charts ridiculous. I know Mongo played this year and I am sure he will chime in.

I played in it this year and, aside from being waterlogged, had a really good time, met a lot of good guys on the course, and had plenty of good food and drink at the 19th hole. As this was my first year to participate I have nothing to compare it to but the sponsorship of the tourney seemed leaner than I expected (supposedly, in past years there was a car given away each year and lots of club, shaft and ball sponsors but not this year). I played 3 really nice courses and 1 pretty good one (all were recovering from the prior week's reavy rain - most were cart path only rounds) and the winner of my flight shot an average of about a net 71 - more than reasonable. All in all a really good experience which I will likely participate in again. For the record I hear there is another tourney held in Mesquite, NV in late May. Not as big but also supposedly well run.

I've played the last 3 years and always enjoy it. There's a lot of complaining from people that get DQ'd, but then again if you continually shoot unreal scores for your handicap then you should expect to be DQ'd. If you get DQ'd, you still play the rounds but aren't eligible for a prize, which even for first place is only $600. I go because I get to meet people from all over. Last year I played with someone from South Africa, and played with 2 people from Italy this year. I've made a lot of friends down there that I look forward to seeing each year I go back. The 19th hole isn't much to speak of. It needs a lot of improvement in a lot of areas. I didn't spend much time at the 19th hole. Nothing really excited me, even the free food. I just got a few free alcoholic drinks and left after a while.

I spent a lot of time at the hotel bar for meals and even sat at the bar and chatted with Charlie Rymer from the Golf Channel at the host hotel. Last year in November the World Am ran a promo for $299 for the first 299 people registered. Normal price is $425 if you register before around June and the price can go as high as $550 for last minute registration. Included with registration you get a $50 gift card to spend at the PGA Superstore where you register when you get there. A nice moisture wicking shirt with your choice of colors. A hat and several other items. So for the price, it's a pretty good deal. Especially if you like free food and alcohol. My only issue is they could eliminate a lot of the 19th hole activities and drop the price even further if they wanted too. Still a lot of fun either way.

I agree with Golfandsoccer on the courses. I played 3 really nice courses and one nice course. I've really only played 1 dog track in 3 years and that was due to new management who bought the course a few months earlier and was trying to bring things back to normal at the course (Azalea Sands). I think the WA has done a pretty good job of giving some real quality courses.

I just want to thank each one of you for your responses, they are very enlightening. I'll keep that tournament in Mesquite, NV on my radar also. I know I'll be in MB in May of 2013 for the Veterans Classic. If anyone is going drop me a line and perhaps we'll see each other there. Again thanks a bunch for the info!