UPDATE 2/10/21: The event has reached its capacity & the waitlist has been closed. We appreciate the incredible interest The Iron Maverick II continues to generate! Any spots that open due to attrition from the current roster will be filled via waitlist lottery selection. Teams will be notified individually.
In September 2019, fifty golfers from nine states descended upon the freshly restored Royal New Kent Golf Club in Southeastern Virginia, not really knowing what to truly expect. Twelve hours later, they couldn't wait to do it again!
Just like that, something was born in the spirit of a "Half Golf Ironman, Half Mike Strantz Tribute, 100% Fun" event and had grown up right before our eyes! However, like many things planned in 2020, COVID popped up and cancelled our plans to make our event an annual one.
We figured we'd better make up for the lost time.
At long last, we are EXTREMELY excited to announce the details for the second iteration of our signature event, THE IRON MAVERICK!
If you've been closely following our social channels, you've seen some teases. The widely recognized South Carolina State flag with our bull skull logo (an obvious nod to Mike Strantz) replacing the famous Palmetto tree below the crescent moon to be exact.
If you're a fan of Strantz - a.k.a. 'The Maverick' of golf course design - and you saw that, it wouldn't be difficult to ascertain that we'd be heading down to the Hammock Coast to presumably play Strantz's Pawleys Island pair of Top 100 Courses, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Golf Club. If you guessed this (which is correct by the way), congratulations! Give yourself a pat on the back.
But WAIT...There's MORE! If you thought that was everything we were cooking up, you're in for a big surprise! As the great Lee Corso likes to say...
"Not so fast, my friend!"
Since we weren't able to host a single event in 2020, we not only doubled down in '21, we wanted to triple your fun.
Due to posting a lot of photos from Bulls Bay Golf Club, not a week goes by that someone asks us if we can help them get on it. For the uninitiated, "Bulls" is the last of Strantz' seven original designs and the only private course of the lot.
Thanks to the planets aligning to form the Christmas Star for the first time in 800 years and enough people wishing upon that star to play Bulls Bay AND the club celebrating their 20th Anniversary in 2021, we can finally answer that oft asked question as, "YES WE CAN!!!"
That's right friends... we are humbled to be able to finally let you know that The Iron Maverick II will be held at Caledonia, True Blue AND Bulls Bay!
We said we were excited! We hope you are to! Since the reveal is out of the way, here's how the event will shape up and how to sign up:
FORMAT & FLOW
As with the first Iron Maverick, this will be a team event (foursomes). We will spend Monday, September 27th on Pawley's Island where we will enjoy thirty-six holes - first with dew sweeping the fairways at True Blue followed by a little twilight delight at Caledonia. Lunch is included between rounds, as are four drink tickets per person to use throughout the day.
Format for both Monday rounds will be 4-player scrambles (in an effort to make sure we complete both rounds) before retreating to The Tavern at Caledonia, one of the best settings in the game to enjoy a cold one with 88 other golf nuts.
On Tuesday, September 28th, we'll travel about an hour south to the longhorn skull guarded gates of Bulls Bay for a day no one will likely forget anytime soon. A morning 4-player shamble will kick off a full day of golf and fun in the Lowcountry. Lunch will be provided by the Renegade Chef - the club's very own food truck - on the back half of the morning round! Beer will be provided throughout the day, and we of course encourage responsible consumption of said adult beverages.
Your day isn't over just yet! After all, as the the event name suggests, it's an Ironman-esque contest meant to test the wills of the best weekend hacks and plus two handicaps. We will setup the course in the afternoon for a Par 3 Challenge, moving tees to unique, challenging and perhaps "off-road" locations! Everyone will play their individual ball through the green, allowing everyone to test their skills and provide some unique angles at The Maverick's home course!
A scoring system will be used to award points for each round to determine our Iron Maverick Team champion. All rounds will feature additional contests and games, all of which will be added as bonus points to your overall team score. The scoring details will be announced closer to the event.
After the dust (and sand) settles, the legendary hilltop clubhouse at Bulls Bay, the literal high point in the Lowcountry, will serve as the backdrop for our awards ceremony to close the books on what (we hope) will be one of those golf experiences we all tell stories about for decades to come.
PRICING & REGISTRATION
We've selected dates later in the year to allow the best chance for the event to take place in a less socially distanced world. If best practices to stop the spread of COVID-19 are still the norm, we will work with the courses to ensure a safe environment for all participants and staff. That said...
Each player will receive:
- 18 holes at Caledonia (29th best public course in US - GOLF Magazine '20)
- 18 holes at True Blue (77th best public course in US - GOLF Magazine '20)
- 18 holes at the private Bulls Bay (Long-time host of 'The Hootie' Intercollegiate Tourney)
- 18 holes - Par 3 Challenge - Bulls Bay
- Lunch provided both days
- 4 Drink Tickets for use at Caledonia/True Blue
- Beer at Bulls Bay
- Games & Prizes
- Tee Gift
- Two days with 88 like-minded golf crazies
- Not good times... GREAT TIMES!!!
We don't know what the total of everything would be if you tried to add it up at retail price, but thanks to all three courses working together to provide this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we are humbled to be able to provide this experience for just $350 per person!
To put that in perspective, if you were going to book two rounds the same week at Caledonia and True Blue, you'd be looking at $300 for golf and carts alone (which is still very reasonable for two of the Best Courses You Can Play, not to menti on being one of the Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World according to GOLF Magazine).
The field will be limited to ensure a quality experience and ensure we complete the full schedule in the daylight in which we have to work. Initially, registration will only be accepted for full teams of four. If you are an individual interested in playing but don't think you can get an entire foursome, please let us know and we will connect you with others so you can fill out a team from amongst the golf community at large.
If the event sells out, we'll start a waiting list should the need arise to replace a team.
GolfStatus is our registration and live scoring partner. If you are ever in need of either, we highly recommend giving them a look. They are great folks and make your event setup much easier than going it alone!
LODGING & TRANSPORTATION
Both are on your own. If you need help with a place to stay, Inlet Sports Lodge in Murrells Inlet is a great place to start your search. The Lodge is a part of the Caledonia/True Blue family and is located about 10 miles north of the the two sister courses and a shade over an hour from Bulls Bay.
If you're flying in - you've got two options:
- Myrtle Beach International is 37 minutes from CAL/TB and 95 minutes to BB.
- Charleston International is 32 minutes from BB & 87 minutes from CAL/TB.
PARTNERS & SPONSORS
There is no way we could pull all this off on our own. We have had a lot of help to this point! Without question, the leadership of each course has gone above and beyond normal duties, but we also thank Empire Sport Management and GolfStatus for their expertise and guidance in their respective spaces.
If you own/produce/possess interesting products that you'd like to donate as prizes, or would be interested in partnering and/or sponsoring the event, please let us know via one of the channels listed immediately below. Any contribution goes directly into the event and we'll make a big deal out of your kindness & participation!
WRAP UP & QUESTIONS
We hope you're already mulling over who you want on your team! If you have any questions about the event, you can send us a direct message on either @golfcrusade or @strantzfantzclub or email us at thegolfcrusade@gmail.com.
Put in for that vacation time now & we'll see you in September!!!
Sincerely Fores,
BMAC & Dooner
Your Golf Crusaders
Enjoy a little photo sampler of the golf feast that awaits...