The problem, explained.
A private, invite-only, multi-day, multi-format golf tournament held every March in Pinehurst, NC. Founded and run by Mike Glanz — self-titled Master of Shamermonies. Below: what it is, who it's for, and why we keep doing this.
Started as a 12-man trip. Became a problem.
November 2021: a text thread. March 2022: twelve guys, three teams, a snake draft off a putting contest, and a $1,000 buy-in that covered three Pinehurst tee times and a championship dinner at Duggans Pub. Five years later it's six teams, two houses, a paid House Mom, commemorative coins, and a promo video. The trip escaped the group chat.
Competitive, but not insufferable.
The player base is 30 to 65 year old professionals and entrepreneurs. Handicaps run 30 and under. Most guys are in bed by ten. Poker after dinner. March Madness on in the background. About eighty percent drink to some extent, and the other twenty percent are respected. We take the golf seriously. We do not take ourselves that seriously. There is a difference and if you can't tell, you're the guy.
Rules matter. So does not ruining the house.
Scorecards get signed by the opposing team in your foursome. Disputes go to the Arbiter — which is ChatGPT with a standard prompt — and the ruling is binding. Documented rules cannot be waived because your foursome is feeling generous, confused, or over-served. Damaging property, drawing a complaint from Pinehurst staff, or crossing a neighbor gets you removed. Perfect attendance matters. So does not ruining the house.
Invite-only for a reason.
The roster is curated. Returning players who behaved get first refusal. New spots come from referrals, and the invitee sheet is LinkedIn-vetted. The Ronnies — competitive, funny, good for the trip — stay on the list. Anyone who doesn't take the golf seriously moves off it. There is a real waitlist. We are not being cute about that.
The Ops Crew
Fortune favors the bold. And the well-connected.
Applications for the 2027 tournament are being taken. Submitting a form does not guarantee entry. It merely begins your formal journey through the Shampions selection gauntlet.
Beg for entry