New Teams

[Steven Dakai]

I just read that another Maine team is forming. This one is from Portland, 3 hours from West Thompson. As much as I wouldn't want to discourage another group of players from joining I am not sure how we can accommodate teams that far from the other teams. We are attempting to make divisions and some people have suggested that the divisions are somewhat regional. What region does Maine fit in?
We may have to set limits on travel, this is winter golf.

If you don't think this is a problem then just wait until a team from NJ wants in. They would only be 45 minutes from Cpt L and Utopia,but 5 hours from Maine.

If I am being a big cat about this then I apologize. But I wouldn't even ask my team to go there in February. Just sayin...

[Adam Whitten]

I do agree Steve maybe we might have to have them travel for the majority of the season. Also, not saying we don't get enough snow down here, but Maine gets a lot of snow and I do remember last year playing in 14" at Hylands was brutal. Especially when 14" comes to your waste lol. Things to keep in mind def.

[Todd Lapham]

Maine teams do the traveling during the heavy part of the winter. I let them all know this when they join.

You will only be going to Maine in Oct, Nov and/or March.

Also, don't forget it's not every year either.

[Kelly Conroy]

I agree with Steve. This is becoming a problem. My one pool regional idea may be the best solution for all this travel. I am not going to Portland in the snow.

[Todd Lapham]

With all due respect, you haven't really made an actual proposal with what the divisions would look like and I find it odd that you pick today to bring this up, since it's the day a Maine team joined your pool.

Also, isn't interleague play still a part of your idea? So you'd still be travelling to Maine regardless of your division, right?

You'd also have 3 Maine teams to possibly play, instead of just the one that's in the B Pool. With only 2 home matches, there would only be 2 B Pool teams travelling to Maine.

Like I said, no one travels to Maine in the rough winter months. Oct, Nov and/or March is when you'd be potentially travelling.

Please don't take this the wrong way because I mean no disrespect, but it seems to me that this all boils down to you not wanting to go to Maine.

[Steve Solbo]

Maine drives everywhere, from the Bennett guys to the Woodland guys... this is complete BS that Southern New England teams wont drive to them... here's an idea... if you don't like it... forfeit! Saw a team from CT do it last year!

Let's make the new Maine team travel all winter all the southern teams get to stay home.. lol. for christ sakes, I played a challenge in 2 feet of snow last year! get over it, it's a WINTER LEAGUE!

We at Burgess travel the MOST seeing as the closest course is 50 minutes away, and we WONT be playing them this year, thus, the next closest is 2 hours away, lol. You know what you signed up for.

[Steve Solbo]

My conclusion... the southern New England teams are a bunch of whiners... ecspecially the CT, western MA teams... Bennett boys have NEVER complained, Capt. Lawrence, NEVER complained, Burgess NEVER complained, Borderland, NEVER complained.

[Chris Bolton]

While the drive to Maine might suck. If we have to drive then we have to drive.

My only comment is that can we have the schedule out more than two weeks before october starts. I know that we lost an option of a weekend of play b/c we needed a little more time to plan. Same goes if Maine has an away match in October.

Having more planning time will be great if Maine joins the b pool

[Todd Lapham]

The schedule will be out by early September. I just posted a deadline in the regular forum for new teams to join by Sept. 1st. I will make the schedule as soon as I can after that.

Bottom line about Maine is no matter what the format is, someone will be driving to Maine. Not really a big deal, imo.

You have to look at the big picture, not just your teams travel schedule.

[Kelly Conroy]

With all due respect, you haven't really made an actual proposal with what the divisions would look like and I find it odd that you pick today to bring this up, since it's the day a Maine team joined your pool.

Also, isn't interleague play still a part of your idea? So you'd still be travelling to Maine regardless of your division, right?

You'd also have 3 Maine teams to possibly play, instead of just the one that's in the B Pool. With only 2 home matches, there would only be 2 B Pool teams travelling to Maine.

Like I said, no one travels to Maine in the rough winter months. Oct, Nov and/or March is when you'd be potentially travelling.

Please don't take this the wrong way because I mean no disrespect, but it seems to me that this all boils down to you not wanting to go to Maine.

Actually I love Maine, but just not when the weather is crap. This conversation wouldn't happen if the trip were to be in June or something, but my concern is safety. We haven't had to travel yet thankfully, but in a situation where we would have to travel in winter with potential bad weather, I would prefer not.

As far as the divisions go, tell Maine to brew up one more team...or maybe NH so I can draw up an idea. Seems like TC keeps popping up in all areas, so why not.

[Pete Violet]

I don't think driving to Maine once a year (if that) is a big deal especially if its in oct or nov. If its bad weather you call it off and reschedule. Also I hear a lot of teams try to crash somewhere the night before. While my wife and kids may not be thrilled - it would still be fun and its not like its every month (or even every year).

[Dave Hickson]

Bring it!

[Steven Dakai]

This is an issue that we do need to deal with. It sounds like Todd has a good handle on the solution for now. That being said,we need to have a policy on teams outside the "southern new england" we started with.

When teams sign up the rules/expectations/conditions should be clear. We cant throw curve balls at teams that aren't expecting to jump through new hoops that were not made clear at the get go.

[Steven Dakai]

Maine drives everywhere, from the Bennett guys to the Woodland guys... this is complete BS that Southern New England teams wont drive to them... here's an idea... if you don't like it... forfeit! Saw a team from CT do it last year!

Let's make the new Maine team travel all winter all the southern teams get to stay home.. lol. for christ sakes, I played a challenge in 2 feet of snow last year! get over it, it's a WINTER LEAGUE!

We at Burgess travel the MOST seeing as the closest course is 50 minutes away, and we WONT be playing them this year, thus, the next closest is 2 hours away, lol. You know what you signed up for.

Now that's funny. Thank God you arent running TC anymore!

Todd answered the question,and as I said, he has a policy about winter travel. We would be happy to meet any Maine team halfway,like we did with Woodland last year. Going to Portland for the weekend would not fit into 2/3 of my team's lives so I am raising the issue with TODD and the other B POOL captains.

[Steve Solbo]

Maine drives everywhere, from the Bennett guys to the Woodland guys... this is complete BS that Southern New England teams wont drive to them... here's an idea... if you don't like it... forfeit! Saw a team from CT do it last year!

Let's make the new Maine team travel all winter all the southern teams get to stay home.. lol. for christ sakes, I played a challenge in 2 feet of snow last year! get over it, it's a WINTER LEAGUE!

We at Burgess travel the MOST seeing as the closest course is 50 minutes away, and we WONT be playing them this year, thus, the next closest is 2 hours away, lol. You know what you signed up for.

Now that's funny. Thank God you arent running TC anymore!

Todd answered the question,and as I said, he has a policy about winter travel. We would be happy to meet any Maine team halfway,like we did with Woodland last year. Going to Portland for the weekend would not fit into 2/3 of my team's lives so I am raising the issue with TODD and the other B POOL captains.

lol. wait till the sked comes out, someone is going to maine during questionable weather winter months... B pool whiners... carry on. let's make Maine teams drive OUT of Maine in questionable conditions??? during the winter? anyone think of the flipside? guess not.

[Titan Bariloni]

just saying we had a guy driving from barre122 to pyramids..prob one of the closest rides you will get..when we played BL2 and he wrecked his truck..to the tune of a new vehicle...there was almost no other option to reschedule...

so problems can be local as well...if its too bad out...just cancel or go light..I say when forming a team...you need 8 DG warriors that will go through hell...so no matter what ya can play...when we first formed TR..we based things on ability to travel and tourney/rule ready golfers....skill grows or ya just sux and have fun...

so the point who cares..its fun...

and I doubt TR will be in ME this year...we went to WV last year and no farm team.....so I would guess we are clear.....and I think my entire team wouldn't care about going to Captain,Burgess or Cran....I think we would request Burgess in mid Jan/Feb for a slight break in the weather...and NY usually gets less snow also so all would be like going to florida