Notebook
Winning & Sandbagging

To some degree, the term "sandbagging" always finds its way into any handicapped event. "Sandbagging" by definition is proactively posting higher scores than real, to gain an advantage in a golf tournament. Participants who use the term sandbagging in casual conversation are implying factual knowledge that a fellow golfer is a cheater.

Sandbagging does not occur at the Carl Spackler Open, but prior to the event. A participant who accuses a golfer of sandbagging or circulates rumors of sandbagging is implying he watched or experienced cheating prior to the event and ignored it.

The Carl Spackler Open is not designed to reward a golfer who plays better than his statistical averages. It is designed to recognize a single golfer who has played better than everyone else who are all playing against their statistical averages. To win this event, a golfer would almost certainly post scores that are not believable to anyone including himself. THESE UNBELIEVABLE SCORES BY DEFINITION WILL RESEMBLE SANDBAGGING.

Dress Code

Golf shirts along with bermuda shorts. T-shirts, jogging apparel or denim of any kind is prohibited. Only soft spike golf shoes are allowed on the golf course, practice green, and driving range.

Packing List

The following is a list that you might want to bring along on the trip. These items will not be provided.
1. Shampoo
2. Golf Clubs
3. Cigars & Cigarettes
4. Sunglasses
5. Medical Tape, Bandaids, Sunscreen, Chapstick
6. Cash
7. Umbrella
8. Bug Spray or Absorbine Jr.
9. Golf Shoes (soft spikes)
10. Golf Clothes (the course requires proper golf attire. Please review dress code note)
11. Golf Gloves (extra for potential rain)
12. USB Charger
13. Phone Charging Cord
14. Golf Towels, plenty in case it is wet.
15. Golf Balls
16. Belt
17. Swimsuit.
18. GPS, GPS Watch, or Laser Yardage Finder
19. Powder or Boxer Briefs to guard against chaffing.
20. Weigh Travel Bag for 50lb Airport limit.
21. Carl Spackler Open baseball hats.
22. Music Speaker

Handicapping

The tournament handicapping uses Poststats Points.

GOLF COURSE HANDICAPPING
The handicap system is based on posted scorecards to the website, USGA Slope Rating, and yardage played. The USGA Slope Rating is a number (between 55 and 155) given to each tee box in America by the USGA. The number represents the difficulty to the average bogey golfer. The average USGA Slope Rating in America is 115.

Poststats.com uses total yardage played and USGA Slope Rating to apply a "course bonus" to each tee box in America. These bonus points are used to level the course difficulty and handicap each golfer participating in the Carl Spackler Open. The course bonus is not used at the Carl Spackler Open since all participants are playing the same course.

Use of Golfer Scorecards
Each golfer is required to post 4+ scorecards to participate in the Carl Spackler Open. The handicap system and computer will use the last 15 posted scorecards regardless of year to determine a golfer handicap. The handicap system will omit the best scorecard and four worst scorecards from the previous 15 posted scorecards. It will tally the average number of birdies, pars, bogeys, double-bogeys, and triple-bogeys for each golfer. (Eagles are converted to birdies.)

The "personal profile" for each golfer has a date field for health setbacks. This field is used for heart attacks, strokes, broken legs, surgeries, and anytime past scorecards are not a representation of a golfer's skill level. The computer does not use scorecards prior to the date entered.

TOURNAMENT LEADERBOARD DESIGN
The handicap system is designed with quite a bit of detail. Ulitimately, the Tournament Leaderboard is designed for the Top 10 to consist of four A players, three B players, two C players, and one D player. A quick sorting of the event roster by stroke handicap and grouping golfers equally into 4 groups provides A, B, C, and D status.

TARGET POINTS BASICS
The system is designed to set all golfer handicaps to reach 60 target points. Each participant is handicapped to score 60 points per round with their course bonus.

The handicap system is designed to address (1) probability of lower scores for hackers vs scratch golfers, (2) golfers who handicap at familiar golf courses, and (3) golfers with volatile scorecards from lack of play.

TARGET POINT BUMP - HACKERS VS SCRATCH GOLFERS
The chances of one unknown high handicapped golfer (from a pool of 12+ high handicapped golfers) dropping 15% of their strokes per hole over a 54-hole period is 99% certain. The same is not true for scratch golfer. Target points for each golfer are raised as stroke handicap decreases. The lower the stroke handicap, the more target points a golfer will receive. Golfers with a stroke handicap of +8 to +11 receive an elevated target to 62 points per round. Participants with a handicap +6 to +8 strokes are bumped to 63 points per round. Handicaps of +6 strokes have target of 64 points and +5 strokes get 65 points. Golfers with a handicap of +2 are targeted at 65 points per round. A scratch golfer or negative stroke handicap receives a target of 67 points.

TARGET POINT BUMP - PLAY AT FAMILIAR GOLF COURSES
In addition to golf skill, golfers who play the same course 70 percent of the time will be given an elevated target of 1 point. These "home course" participants will be given 2 points if they play the same course 90 percent of the time. Golfers statistically play worse when leaving their home course. The point upgrade allows the entire tournament field to handicapped equally and remove scoring based on extensive course knowledge.

TARGET POINT BUMP - SCORECARD VOLATILITY

Lack of play promotes volatile scoring. Frequent play lowers volatility. Golfers who post scorecards per year (365 days) will receive additional target points. Point targets will elevate by 1 point for every 4 scorecards posted with a maximum of 5 target points added.

SETTING HANDICAPS
The computer sets handicaps for golfers within 5 seconds. For each golfer, the computer cross-check the database of 250 different "sets of points" and assign a set of points that matches a golfer target points. Each set of points available to computer are prioritized for ties.

The statisical handicapping detail for each golfer is fully available online. Golfers can visit the homepage and click "HANDICAPS" in the lower menu. Then click on their name.

Scoring

The Carl Spackler Open is scored on smartphones and live, however allows paper scorecard in rare circumstances.

Greg Garrett will be managing 7,000 scores. PLEASE CONSIDER HIM ON YOUR VACATION. Paper scorecards with Mike, Jay, or J.D. are the opposite of clarity. Do not chicken scratch or circle birdies.  

Paper scorecards should have a clear unique name, 18 clearly written numbers, and circled scores to indicate holes with long putt made. Turn in both scorecards when totals are identical.


1. Comfort. Carry small cell phones in your pocket or find a traditional space in the golf cart.

2. Battery Charge. Come to the golf course with full charge.

3. Share. Multiple golfers in your foursome can share the job and cell phone batteries die.

4. Integrity. Do not score birdies to grab attention with plans to change it later. Long-term integrity is paramount.

Mobile Website

The Carl Spackler Open has an independent mobile website. m.poststats.com. This is the letter m followed by a dot. Then poststats dot com. The username and password are both case sensitive. Many phones auto capitalize the first letter when trying to enter a username. Be careful. BOOKMARK THIS WEBSITE ON YOUR PHONE. YOU WILL FORGET THE WEB ADDRESS.

The mobile website is simplified and used during the actual 108-hour Carl Spackler Open. It does not have pictures, participant options, finances, process, or news. It contains an address book, Leaderboards, rooming list, scoring, golf rules, notifications, pairings, tee of play, handicaps, tee times, and itinerary.

Pace of Play

It takes about one hour to play 18 holes of golf. The other 2.5 to 4.5 hours is "logistical positioning" -- getting to the next shots with the right equipment. Any golf tournament including the PGA Tour played by the rules (no gimmies, no fluffing, etc.) is not going to be completed in under 4 3/4 hours. Add hackers and add time.

The slowest group dictates the pace of play for everyone behind them. Any group that gets out of position -- especially early in the day -- will affect many groups after it.

The pairings are designed with "fun" as top priority and "pace of play" as a close second. Skilled golfers should educate and lead by example. Everyone needs to enjoy their round, but allow low handicappers to help move things along.

Raking bunkers for others, fixing divots for others, replacing divots for others, and carrying a pocket full of XL Top-Flites is being someone's caddy. It also is speeding up pace of play. Hitting your own ball first, putting out on occasion, and even putting out of turn while someone is raking a greenside bunker can do wonders for pace of play.

None of the above requires a fellow golfer to play faster between pulling a club from the bag and swinging it. It does imply as a foursome we will work together to play faster. Your foursome is playing slow if you cannot see the foursome in front of you.

Communications

COMMUNICATIONS
The Carl Spackler Open uses multiple forms of communication. As indicated, the event is managed by volunteers that leverage technology everywhere possible. We do not make phone calls to 70 golfers or email individual golfers as a general practice. You will not be sent an individual reminder.

WEBSITE (FROM SPACKLER TO YOU)
The CarlSpacklerOpen.com website is our portal for event information. This document steps you through our large overwhelming website. The NOTEBOOK inside CarlSpacklerOpen.com is a small library of Carl Spackler Open information. The event itinerary and My Finances page are good resources.

WEBSITE (FROM YOU TO SPACKLER)
All participants communicate using both Poststats.com and CarlSpacklerOpen.com websites. Golfers (1) manage their golf profile on Poststats.com, (2) enter scorecards from golf played using Poststats.com, (3) register for each Carl Spackler Open, and (4) complete participant options as a paid accepted participant.

EMAIL
We send bulk group emails to our golfers from time-to-time. Approximately once a month starting 9 months prior to each event. Your email server may or may not accept our emails. Your Poststats.com golf profile page has a ‘test icon’ next to your email address.

TEXT MESSAGE ALERTS & NOTIFICATIONS
Bulk group texts are sent to cell phones from time-to-time. These occur more often during the actual event. Our event and website leverage the Telegram App. You must install and configure the Telegram App to obtain alerts and notifications. The website notebook provides easy YouTube Video AND written instruction. Your Poststats.com golf profile page has a ‘test icon’ next to your cell phone number.

YOUTUBE TV
The Carl Spackler Open has its own YouTube Channel. Carl Spackler Open. Some people do not like to read. Videos are produced as a supplement to some written documentation.

MOBILE WEBSITE
The Carl Spackler Open uses a 3rd website during the 108-hour event. It is built solely for event execution and designed for all models of smartphone. m.poststats.com

EMAILING US
We would like to hear from you. You can reach us at carl.spackler.open@gmail.com.

Instructions for a Missed Deadline

PDF Version.
http://storage.poststats.com/cso/RosterBuild/RosterBuild-MissedDeadline.pdf

This note is a supplement to the new registrant acceptance procedure. Its sole purpose is to provide simple instructions to past participants who missed a deadline.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR GOLFERS
WHO MISSED THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER

Golfers who missed their phase deadline must register for the Carl Spackler Open. Another phase has opened. Newly registered golfers will reenter the Roster Worksheet and be considered on the 1st day of the next phase when space is available. The following instructions should be followed.
Step 1. Register on the website immediately.
Step 2. Pay the Deposit ($150) during registration. Consider Paying the Full Event Fee. Funds will be applied to the current or last event attended and automatically carry forward.
Step 3. Monitor our website to ensure funds get posted to the current or last event attended.
Full 100% refunds will be returned to registrants not accepted due to roster size. 100% guarantee.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTERED GOLFERS WHO FORGOT TO PAY THE DEPOSIT
Added registrants who missed the deadline to fund their registration have been Unregistered. Another phase has opened. Unregistered golfers must re-register for the Carl Spackler Open. The golfer will reenter the Roster Worksheet and be considered on the 1st day of the next phase when space is available. The following instructions should be followed.
Step 1. Register on the website immediately.
Step 2. Pay the Deposit ($150) during registration. Consider Paying the Full Event Fee. Funds will be applied to the current or last event attended and automatically carry forward.
Step 3. Monitor our website to ensure funds get posted to the current or last event attended.
Full 100% refunds will be returned to registrants not accepted due to roster size. 100% guarantee.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAID GOLFERS WHO FORGOT TO REGISTER
Golfers who paid must still register for the Carl Spackler Open. Another phase has opened. Newly registered golfers will reenter the Roster Worksheet and be considered on the 1st day of the next phase when space is available. The following single instruction should be followed. Register on the website immediately. Full 100% refunds will be returned to registrants not accepted due to roster size. 100% guarantee.

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott

The Fairfield Inn by Marriott is located 5 minutes northwest of downtown Washington, North Carolina and 8 minutes north of Cypress Landing Golf Course.

The event fee includes 5 nights including breakfast. Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday night.

The​ hotel features complimentary breakfast and WiFi, an indoor pool, fitness center, and outdoor patio. The hotel will host the Welcome Player Meeting and possibly Awards Presentation with a roster of 60.

2090 West 5th Street, Washington, NC 27889

A full description is available on “Carl Spackler Open” TV Channel using YouTube. Episode 3 starting at 14:45.

Cypress Landing Golf Course

Cypress Landing Golf Course, in Chocowinity, North Carolina, is a flat par-72 golf course, designed by Bill Love with Ault, Clark & Associates. It is located in Eastern North Carolina among lovely homes, thousands of tall pines and lakes. Its signature 15th hole overlooks scenic Chocowinity Bay. The community and the course were developed in 1996. The course was designed to wind through the housing development with 720 home sites. There are 64 sand traps on 17 holes. There are 9 holes with water hazards.

The golf carts ride on cemented cart paths, have no USB ports, or coolers. The clubhouse is on the smaller side.

A full description is available on “Carl Spackler Open” TV Channel using YouTube. Episode 3 starting at 5:01.

Awards Dinner & Presentation

The Awards Dinner and Presentation will be held Sunday evening inside the hotel banquet room with 60 golfers or Washington Civic Center in downtown Washington, North Carolina with more golfers. Dinner will be provided.

Washington Civic Center
110 Gladden St, Washington, NC 27889

Player Meeting

The Welcome Player Meeting on Wednesday night will be held inside the hotel breakfast area. Event gifts, purchased apparel, introductions, and a variety of topics will be discussed. Please arrange travel plans to arrive prior to 9:00pm EST.

Airports

Washington and Chocowinity, North Carolina is located 30, 45, and 120 minutes from 3 different airports.

Raleigh International Airport (RDU) in Raleigh, North Carolina is 2 hours. Many Airlines.
Pitt-Greenville Regional Airport (PGV) in Greenville, North Carolina is 30 minutes. American Airlines.
Coastal Carolina Regional Airport (EWN) in New Bern, North Carolina is 45 minutes. American Airlines.

Washington Restaurants & Bars

The following are local pubs and restaurants.  Everything except Blackwater Jack’s and Boss Hogs BBQ are within 200 yards of each other. Most have outdoor seating. Blackwater Jack’s and Market Street Pub are the two traditional bars or pubs in town.

Blackwater Jack’s Tiki Bar (live music and food)
1052 E Main St, Washington, NC 27889
https://backwaterjackstikibar.com/

Market Street Pub (live music. No food)
143 N Market St, Washington, NC 27889

Mulberry House (roof top restaurant)
189 W Main St, Washington, NC 27889
https://themulberryhousenc.com

Pitt Street Brewing Company On the Pamlico
On the Pamlico River. Bring your own food.
307 W Main St, Washington, NC 27889
https://www.facebook.com/PittStreetBrewingOTP/

Ribeyes Steakhouse (steaks and drinks)
228 W Stewart Pkwy, Washington, NC 27889
https://www.ribeyes.com/

Down on Main Street (food and drinks)
107 W Main St, Washington, NC 27889
https://downonmainstreetnc.net

Grub Brothers Eatery (food and drinks)
156 W Main St, Washington, NC 27889
https://grubbrotherseaterync.com

Boss Hogs BBQ (food)
1550 Carolina Ave, Washington, NC 27889
https://www.bosshogsnc.com

Roster Worksheet

The Roster Worksheet will be used to build the participant roster. It is an active list of past participants organized into a three-phase schedule.

Roster Worksheet   Link Opens New Browser Window

Telegram Messenger

Sending quick bulk text messages on occasion to everyone has become a critical function with 80+ golfers at the Carl Spackler Open. With that said, sending bulk text messages has also become expensive, restrictive, and viewed nationwide as one-way spam communication.

Text communications are two-way agreements with Poststats.com. We use a 3rd party cell phone app. This will manage both one-way texts, but also empower everyone to create group chats. This initiative continues to connect our Carl Spackler Open database to future one-way text messages. This will not be a replacement for email but used solely for a handful of text alerts each year.

This one-time action item takes 15 minutes of your time. There are both video instruction and written instruction for both Apple iPhone and Android cell phones. Your choice, but having video instruction on TV while holding your cell phone might be easiest.

The participant option process starting February 22 will begin to collect our progress towards this initiative.

Thank you.

YouTube Video. Search: Carl Spackler Open.

Written PDF Instruction.
Android Users
https://storage.poststats.com/cso/telegram-setup-android.pdf

Apple iPhone Users
https://storage.poststats.com/cso/telegram-setup-iphone.pdf