The pictures are up.

Gents:

A few select shots from the 40 Hands Invitational. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.



Four-ball champions, Team Treeholz.


Unfortunate close-up of Duke


Denny (after changing his shirt)


Team Panderson w/Duke @ Time Out (maybe??)


Pure. Class.

Your tournament packet (read carefully ... or I'll kill you).

Hello.

Final details are now available on Friday, July 17 Edward 40 Hands Janesville Open.

Setting: Janesville, WI: Glen Erin Golf Links (morning 18); Blackhawk Golf Course (afternoon 18).
When: The first tee time @ Glen Erin will be 8 a.m. Friday, July 17. The first tee time at Blackhawk will be @ 2 p.m. that same day.

How to play: Send your average 18-hole score or playing partner preference by July 7 to the tournament secretary. His address:
abuchholz2@wisc.edu

Remember, you're getting a lot for 80 big ones - 36 holes of golf, a cart, prizes and booze. And if that's not enough, tournament proceeds will (yes, it's true) go to Janesville Leisure Services to aid youth golfers. But, if you don't want to play all 36 holes, arrangements can be made. Just let me know: Steve's cell: 646-469-9914.
Format: The morning teams' competition will determine who will play whom in afternoon.
The top teams from the morning (best ball) competition will be placed into the "High Ball" flight, and tee off first at the Hawk. However, in the afternoon the teams will dissolve and the top individual players will go against each other in singles match play. These "High Ball" players will play from the blue tees.
The bottom teams from the morning will be in the "Low Ball" flight, but will continue to play the teams format. Only in the afternoon they will switch to match play (rather than lowest score, or stroke play).
These low ballers will tee from the white and red tees, respectively.
Honors: In the end, there will be winners in the low-ball team format, as well as a singles match play champion who will be declared the winner of the Edward 40 Hands Cup and will keep it for one calendar year. The winning team from the low ball flight will take home (and promptly use) a Quotes gift certificate.
Prizes galore, people. Everyone's a winner!
After the morning and afternoon 18: Some of us are planning to get lunch at Italian House after the morning 18. After the tournament, we're planning a cookout at E40H food & beverage secretary Paul Fisher's abode on Janesville's east side, 4300 Tydl Drive.
Note: Now is the time to start requesting day(s) off work, if you haven't already. Saturday is the rain-date for the tournament. But, if all goes well, 3 p.m. Saturday, July 18 will be the date of the Edward 40 Hands fantasy football draft @ Quotes Bar & Grill.
We're still looking for entrants, and volunteers - seriously. If you know anyone who enjoys having a good time, or wants to be your playing partner, pick 'em up! So far we have about 20 confirmed players, but we're looking to add more.

Questions? steven.pease@gmail.com

A call to arms

The legend: When Janesville was founded in the early 15th Century, a tournament of unparalled importance was founded by the Knights Templar. This so-called "Edwardian Fourtey Shanks" tournament was the truest test of a warrior's mettle, and flourished for a century.
But somehow, the secrets of the "40 Hands" tournament were buried for centuries, until the great flood of 2008 revealed a canister containing the forgotten scrolls telling the story of the secretive rite of passage.
Today, the tournament lives on.
So if you're not already signed up, please state your intent to play in the July 17 event by dropping a quick e-mail to steven.pease@gmail.com. And WERE LOOKING FOR MORE PLAYERS! We're still about 20 short with under two months to go. Anyone may enter, however only the brave will prevail.

The plan (as it stands)

SETTING
We'll play 18 at Glen Erin, and 18 at Blackhawk Friday, July 17.

COST
Greens fees will between $43 to (I'd assume) $47 for each player at Glen Erin and $37.80 at Blackhawk. Both prices include a cart, for a total of about $80.
Price at Glen Erin depends on how many players we get. We'd also have to be off of Glen Erin by 12:30 - which would be good for us considering the afternoon 18 at the Hawk.
First group will likely tee off at 7 a.m. Last tee time will likely be around 8 a.m. Figure 4 hours 30 minutes for 18 and the first group rolls into the Glen Erin clubhouse round bout 11:30. Last group at 12:30.
Taking into account a lunch break, we could set a 2 p.m. tee time at Blackhawk for the closing 18 ($37.30 for 18 w/a cart). I also like the idea of driving up business for my favorite hometown course (The Hawk).

FORMAT
Team (four-ball) format in the morning at Glen Erin, stroke play in the afternoon at Blackhawk.
Each foursome in the morning will be comprised of two-man teams playing a best-ball scramble. Lowest combined score in the morning takes the prize.
The morning teams' score will determine what bracket they'll play in as singles in the afternoon.
Top four teams from the four-ball teams competition will be placed into the "High Ball" flight, and tee off first at the Hawk. They will go against each other in match play in the afternoon. High-ball players will play from the blue tees.
Bottom four teams will be in the "Low Ball" flight, with players going against each other, again, in match play. These low ballers will tee from the white and red tees, respectively.
In the end, there will be winners in the team format, and individual flights.
Winner of the high bracket in the afternoon takes home the official Edward 40 Hands Cup and will keep it for one calendar year. Winner of Get Low flight will take home a Quotes gift certificate.

MULLIGAN(S)
Each player will receive one mulligan every 18 holes.

THE BEER FACTOR
How serious you want to take this thing is up to you - but remember that exorbitant boozing and good golf aren't often synonymous with one another. Unless you're a fall-down drunk. In which case - do your worst. You'll no doubt be endlessly entertaining. However, remember: there will be a dubious "shit show" prize given to an unlucky individual who produces the best story/incident of the day.

BENEFACTORS
The fine young youth golfers of Janesville. Think about the children!

Suggestions welcome.

Glen Erin

Ahhh, people. The joys of organizing a tournament. Now I know why the Greater Milwaukee Open (US Bank Championship) is ending.

Glen Erin is likely a go. They have a kick-ass course, and could likely accomodate a group of our size (20 golfers).

So, if all goes well, the weekend would likely go like this ...

8 a.m. Friday, July 17 - Shotgun start to the 1st Annual Edward 40 Hands Janesville Open Championship Tournament. Play all day, cook out at Fish's.

Saturday, July 17, 3 p.m. - E40H 2009 Fantasy Draft @ Quotes B&G, Janesville.

Sunday, July 18. 8 a.m. - Leave for US Bank Championship, Milwaukee.

Times, events, venues subject to change, as usuge. Check back.

Riverside out; JCC in??

In an unfortunate turn of events, Riverside G.C. is booked solid with respective business and ALS fundraisers on July 17, 18 of this year.

That means Riverside G.C. is out as a potential venue for the E40HJO.

However, the JCC is a possibility ... fellow 40Handsian Joel "J.B." Baily is looking into deets ...



* In other news Al Hulick and his crew of nayer-do-wells have been invited to participate. Aside from the fact that they're all good golfers, they're a great bunch of blokes and would no doubt bolster the E40HJO field. I facebook'd him, hopefully'll hear back soon.

* Mr. Fish has offered to help host an FDBBQ at his place following the tournament. He'll be able to procure ribs (pronounced rivs) as well as riv-tips; riv-salad; riv-pie and other riv-based quisine. And maybe some chicken and whatnot. Thought it might be fun to kick back with a fire and a few cold ones following the long day of golf. Also sounds more economically intelligent than, say, a NY strip at the Club... not that there's anything wrong with that! While Norm won't be participating in the tournament, he said he'd be up for meeting up with us after. It's always good to have security on hand when the 40 Hands Crew goes out for a night on the town.

Stay tuned.

Vol. 3 - Improvise; adapt; overcome.

Plans are progressing nicely for the E40HJO.
We're now on Facebook. Become a friend-of-a-friend.
We also have a new e-mail address: ed.4t.hands@gmail.com ... learn it, use it.
Fish says we might be able to get a deal for lunch at Famous Dave's; Joel is offering up The Club as a potential venue and there's talk of the format of the morning 18 at Riverside changing to a scramble.

Expecting a finalized entry fee soon.

Updated E40HJO roster:

IN
Avery; Kyle; Duke; Fish; Steve; Treiloff.
MAYBE
An; Joel; Mikey; Shane; Spielmanns;
OUT
Norm.

Remember gentlemen, this is an open championship. Tell your friends - then let me know if they're interested.

E40H Janesville Open

So every year Janesville holds its city tournament. The best-of-the-best show up, play a few rounds, fork over the entrance money and watch as a Pastore or a Behm take home the coveted prize.
Well they ain't got nothin' on the 1st Annual Edward 40 Hands Janesville Open.

The event will have a class and style all its own.

Tentative details:
- The tournament will be held Friday, July 17, 2009.
- It will be 27 holes (morning 18 at Riverside, followed by an afternoon nine at Blackhawk). Lunch will be consumed at Quotes Bar & Grill, or wherever it's free.
- USGA rules will apply.
- A to-be-determined referee will make all rulings. Galleries (within reason) and caddies are also acceptable.
- The 1st Annual E40HJO will be a showcase for those who have panache and character, and for those who are actually good at golf. And therefore there needs to be a handicapping system.

How do you think we can level the playing field between regular golfers, and those who prefer to spend their free time powerlifting in the weight room?

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Cheers.

E40H: Issue 1, Vol. 1 - 2009 begins w/a virtual bang

Scholars maintain that only the greatest of minds, and the manliest of men, have what it takes to dare to enter into competition that is ... Edward 40 Hands.
If you're reading this, you've been invited into an exclusive, ultra-private club, where only the strong survive.
For years (well, two years) this hallowed brethren have met everywhere from the virtual gridiron, to the frozen tundra. In the years to come, this site will serve as a living, breathing document of all past, present, and future Edward 40 Hands events.
Check back often, and add at your peril.
New format in '09: Much like the PGA Tour's Fed Ex Cup (a confusing, season-long event that awards points in multiple events), the format of the 2nd Annual Edward 40 Hands Cup has changed.
In an unprecedented change of events, The Cup will now go to an overall points champion, culled from multiple events in 2009.
2009 Season begins with a virtual bang.
The 2009 season kicked off March 20 with the Edward 40 Hands Virtual Golf Opener in beautiful Burnsville, Minn.

A three-way virtual playoff ended with a gutsy performance by newcomer Joel Bailey, who "took home" the first place tie-breaker via referee's decision. However, word on the street is his prize was apparently misplaced (read: drank) by someone other than Bailey.
2008 40 Hands Fantasy Football Champion Avery L. Buccholz and southern outlaw Rich Green showed well, tying for second place, and taking home some well-deserved 'respec.
Next up? A mid-summer golf outing is being planned. Much like the Janesville City Tournament, it will preliminarily be played at multiple courses throughout the City of Parks. And much like the U.S. Open of old, it will culminate in a 36-hole (or thereabouts) test of strength, endurance and ability to regulate one's drinking habits. Circa 1964 rules (including stymies) will also apply.
The 2009-10 E40H Fantasy Football draft is tentatively scheduled for that same, yet-to-be determined weekend. It will be held at Quotes Bar & Grill.

What dates would work for you guys?