Our annual gathering of GOMACO customers, suppliers, distributors, association members, media representatives and friends getting together for two great days of fun and golf. Events are geared for all skill levels, so everyone is encouraged to take part! This year's event is September 18 and 19. Join us for one day, or both days.
Fun Activities, Food & Entertainment Ready To Go For Invitational #31!
Three golfing events, special entertainment, food, refreshments and fellowship are just a few of the things attendees at GOMACO Invitational #31 will be able to experience.
On Tuesday, September 18, we will have the 2-Person Putting Tournament and the 3-Person Contractors' Shoot-Out. This is followed by the new entertainment, trick-shot artist Peter "The Trick Shot Master" Jöhncke, the Pride of Iowa Steak Fry, and an awards ceremony for the day's winners.
On Wednesday, September 19, we will have the big 4-Person, 18-hole Scramble Tournament on four area golf courses, and a "Grand" Champion Shoot-Out in Ida Grove for the winning teams from each course to battle it out and crown an Invitational #31 "Grand" Champion! The day will conclude with an awards ceremony and banquet dinner at the Skate Palace in Ida Grove.
GOMACO Invitational competitions are designed for all skill levels. This way, everyone can participate and have a great time.
All meals and refreshments at the GOMACO Invitational are compliments of GOMACO and GOMACO Invitational sponsors. So be sure to bring your appetite along with your golf clubs, because we'll be dishing up some of the best food the area has to offer!
Tuesday's Events, September 18
Everyone Is Invited To Putt In The 2-Person Putting Tournament
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The first big event at Invitational #31 is the 2-Person Putting Tournament. It's a fun activity that's geared for all levels of golfers.
To participate, you first need to register for Invitational #31, and click the Putting Tournament check-box when you select the events you plan to participate in.
Next, on Tuesday, September 18, we will need you to check-in with us by 11:30 a.m. at the Ida Grove clubhouse. This will confirm your participation.
After check-in closes, the computer will assign you a partner and place you on one of four putting greens on the Ida Grove course for the preliminary tournament. Your partner and green number will be posted at 1:15 p.m. near the clubhouse patio.
Each of the four greens is an individual tournament. It is match play, with participants alternating shots. The overall Putting Tournament purse is $18,000 in cash. The second through fourth place teams on each green will receive cash prizes, and the first place team will advance to the nine-hole Putting Championship on the #9 green by the Ida Grove clubhouse.
The Putting Championship is stroke play, and will get underway at 3:30 p.m. The first place team goes home with a $3,000 cash team prize, and has their names engraved on the championship trophy. The second place team receives a $2,500 cash team prize, the third place team is awarded a $2,000 cash team prize, and fourth place earns a $1,700 cash team prize.
Last year's Putting Champions were Chuck Nyquist of BOBALEE Inc. and Ricke Welden of the A.G.C. of Iowa.
One Event - For Customers Only! - Join In The 3-Person Contractors' Shoot-Out
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The 3-Person Contractors' Shoot-Out is a special event just for GOMACO customers. It will start at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 18, following the conclusion of the Putting Tournament Championship.
We need contractors of all skill levels, and each team is comprised of one A, B, and C golfer.
If you are a contractor and would like the chance to participate, be sure to click the Contractors' Shoot-Out check-box when you register for Invitational #31.
At 1 p.m. on Tuesday, right before the preliminary Putting Tournament round, there will be a drawing to fill six, three-person teams, for a total of 18 contractors. You need to be present at the drawing to be eligible, and have checked the Contractors' Shoot-Out box when you registered.
If you are one of the lucky 18 drawn, you will need to be at the Ida Grove #1 tee box immediately following the Putting Tournament Championship.
Every player hits the first shot, and shots are alternated from that point forward. The competition is a five-hole shoot-out, with the highest scoring team on each hole eliminated. The play continues until we have a champion on the final hole!
The first place team wins a $2,100 team cash prize, and has their names engraved on the championship trophy. Second place receives a $1,500 cash team prize, and the third place team earns a $600 cash team prize.
Last year's winning team was Chris Gratton of Kansas Heavy Construction, LLC, Terry Hemsath of Terry Hemsath Concrete, Inc., and Chris Scruggs of Hassell Construction Co.
Peter "The Trick Shot Master" Jöhncke Set To Dazzle Invitational Guests On Tuesday, September 18
special entertainment at GOMACO Invitational #31 will be Peter "The Trick Shot Master" Jöhncke! He will delight our guests with the most unusual and extreme ways to hit a golf ball. The fast-paced show, which starts at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 18, will feature Peter's very unusual golf clubs, such as a three-headed three-wood, a driver with a link chain for a shaft, a four-headed four-wood, a nine-foot driver, and his prehistoric driver "Big Erma."
Highlights of his show include amazing drives off an eight-foot tee, hitting balls out of mid air, and keeping the audience involved in excitement! Peter is the current world record holder for scissor hands hitting, which is hitting a row of up to 120 balls with two clubs in his hands non-stop and leaving six to 12 balls in the air at once. Wow!! Peter has been referred to as "Golf's one-man version of the Harlem Globetrotters."
Peter Jöhncke was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He turned pro in 1985, and started teaching in New York. He has also competed on the European professional circuit. Peter became a U.S. citizen in 2008.
He performed his first show in 1994 in Sweden, and over 18 years later he has performed in countries all over the world, such as Denmark, Norway, England, Russia, Mexico, France, Panama, Iceland, Spain, Belgium, Croatia, UAE, China, Argentina, Hong Kong, St. Croix, Nigeria, and of course, the United States.
Peter has been featured on TV networks, including CBS, ABC, and Fox, and on XM satellite radio, and The Golf Channel. He has been featured in many publications, including Golf Digest, Bogie, USA Today, Svensk Golf, Fore Florida, Golf Punk, Providence Journal, Boston Globe and Golf Digest Sweden.
Peter's goal is to be considered the best trick-shot artist and entertainer in the world, and we have him for #31! He's continually developing new shots and skills, and we can't wait to see what he's bringing to Ida Grove in September!
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The Grills Will Be Stoked For The Pride Of Iowa Steak Fry At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
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After a fun day of golfing, what could be better than juicy grilled steaks and chicken breasts, just the way you like them? The grills will be stoked and ready to go at 6:30 p.m. outside the Ida Grove clubhouse for the traditional Pride of Iowa Steak Fry. You can grill Iowa's best, aged rib-eye steaks to your personal perfection, and chicken breasts will also be available.
Thickly-cut, buttered Texas toast will also be ready to grill. And if you can't wait until you get into the clubhouse to enjoy your toast, don't worry, we won't tell. Just dig in and enjoy yourself! There will also be whole, grilled sweet onions to top off your meal. Several side dishes will also be available, and dessert.
Honoring The Winners From The Putting Tournament & Contractors' Shoot-Out
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When you've completed a full day of fun golfing events, there's only one thing left to do… hand out the prizes to the winners! After the Pride of Iowa Steak Fry, there will be a special awards ceremony inside the Ida Grove clubhouse at 8:30 p.m. recognizing the winners from the Putting Tournament and Contractors' Shoot-Out.
During the program, there will be a special drawing for the next morning's $5,000 Putt competition. Five names will be drawn for a chance to putt for $5,000 in cash. These individuals will need to be at the practice green right outside the Ida Grove clubhouse around 8:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Following the awards ceremony, Mr. G's, which is located upstairs at GOMACO University (click this map for directions) will be open until 11 p.m. to kick back at the Tuesday Tune-Up.
Wednesday's Fun, September 19
Check In For The Scramble Tournament Starts at 7 a.m. Wednesday; Breakfast Is Served In The Clubhouse
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If you are playing in the Wednesday's big Scramble Tournament, you will need to check in for the event as soon as you arrive at the Ida Grove Country Club on Wednesday morning, September 19. At this time, you will pay your $65 entry fee (100 percent payback in cash and prizes), and receive your Invitational #31 "goodies." Check-in closes at 8 a.m., and the computer will select the tournament foursomes after this time.
We hope you will bring your appetite along to Ida Grove, because we have a great Wednesday breakfast lined up. Light, golden pancakes will be flipping in the clubhouse, along with tasty toppings, and side dishes.
Before the 18-hole tournament starts, there are more activities around the clubhouse for you to enjoy. Around 8:15 a.m., five GOMACO Invitational #31 attendees will battle for some cold, hard cash in the $5,000 Putt!
Are You Feeling Lucky With Your 50-Foot Putts? If Your Name Is Drawn, It Could Be Worth $5,000!
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Right after the Opening Ceremony, one lucky GOMACO Invitational guest will have the opportunity to attempt to sink a 50-foot putt worth $5,000 in cash!
During the awards ceremony on Tuesday evening, the names of five attendees will be drawn to participate in the $5,000 Putt. Then on Wednesday morning, they need to be at the practice green around 8:15 a.m. with their putters in hand! We gave away this awesome prize in 2006, and we hope we have a winner again this year!
Rich Smith (left in photo), GOMACO's Vice President of Administration and Finance, will host the event, and lead the participants through a short putt-off. The winner will have one chance to sink a 50-foot putt for the cash prize!
Last year's competitors, starting second from left in the above photo, were Sam Clark of Texas Sterling, Terry Hemsath of Terry Hemsath Concrete, Inc., Scott Smith of SK Construction, Fred Beattie of Foster Equipment Co., and Warren Schmidt of Flatiron Corp. Warren Schmidt earned the honor of attempting the long putt. Despite an excellent attempt, the prize went unclaimed at #30.
The rest of Wednesday is dedicated to the fun and excitement of the 18-hole Scramble Tournament and the "Grand" Champion Shoot-Out.
Join Us For The Action Of The 18-Hole Scramble Tournament!
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After a year of anticipation, it's back again at #31! The big 18-hole Scramble Tournament will be on Wednesday, September 19, on four courses in the area.
To participate, please register for GOMACO Invitational #31 and click the Scramble Tournament check-box. You will also need to provide your average score for nine holes of golf. (Please do not exaggerate).
The action and excitement starts bright and early on tournament day. Check-in will be from 7 to 8 a.m. in the Ida Grove clubhouse. At that time, you will pay your $65 entry fee (100 percent payback in cash and prizes), and receive your GOMACO Invitational "goodies."
At 8 a.m., the computer will select the 4-person teams, and place you on one of four area golf courses, either in Ida Grove, Holstein, Mapleton, or Odebolt. This information will be available outside the Ida Grove clubhouse after the Opening Ceremony and $5,000 Putt that morning. Each Scramble Tournament team will contain one A, B, C and D player. Everyone hits every shot, which makes it a fun day for all levels of golfers.
Chartered buses will transport guests who are golfing out of town to their courses, and back to Ida Grove at the end of the tournament. Announcements will be made when it is time to load the buses for your course. Be sure and take everything you will need with you that morning, because you will not return to Ida Grove until late in the afternoon.
A hot lunch grilled by GOMACO employees, along with snacks and refreshments, will be served on-the-go on every course.
Every course is a separate tournament, with Orrefors crystal bowl trophies awarded to the members of the top team. There are three flights of winners from each course, so never give up on your game! The winning team from each course's tournament will have their names engraved on the course champions' trophy, and advance to the three-hole "Grand" Champion Shoot-Out at 6 p.m. on the Ida Grove course.
Team Challenges: Each hole in the tournament has a $500 team challenge. The challenge on each hole will be identified by a sign at the tee box. Examples of challenges include longest putts, longest drives, and hitting closest to the pin.
Special Hole-In-One Prize: One hole on each course will be designated as a "hole-in-one" hole, with a special prize available if you're lucky in one shot!
The Thrill Of Victory! Four Teams Will Compete To Be "Grand" Champions!
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After the winners from the 18-hole, 4-Person Scramble Tournament are announced, everyone comes back to Ida Grove for the "Grand" Champion Shoot-Out.
The top team from each course will compete in a three-hole shoot-out, with the highest score being eliminated on each hole until one team is left victorious. The shoot-out starts on Ida Grove hole #5.
Along with their course champion awards, the "Grand" Champion team members will each receive a Waterford crystal golfer, a cool "grand" in cash, and have their names engraved on the "Grand" Champions' trophy.
It's a lot of fun to watch, and even more fun to play in. If your team isn't in the shoot-out, be sure to grab a cart and follow the action!
Last year's "Grand" Champions were from the Odebolt course. Members of the team were Blake Driskell of Gerdan Slipforming, Inc., Bob Leonard of GOMACO Corporation, Greg Kuhlman of Iowa Fluid Power, and Brad Fryar of Weaver-Bailey Contracting.
Winning the Ida Grove course were Tyson Banks of MSC Industrial Supply Co., Nick Yaksich of A.E.M., Cecil Ward of Lafarge North America, and Alister Williams of International Construction.
Coming in first in Holstein were Mike Swanston of Swanston Equipment Company, Tom Pechan of Scot Industries, Glenn Heimbruch of Wyco Tool Company, and Greg Opp of Opp Construction.
The champion team from Mapleton included Rick Blesi of Construction Equipment, Brian Balm of Josephson Manufacturing, Gary Mishler of Curtis 1000, and Daryl Horak of Lakeland Engineering.
Enjoy A Casual Evening With The Banquet Dinner And Awards Ceremony
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After the "Grand" Champion Shoot-Out, we have a special banquet dinner and awards ceremony at the Skate Palace in Ida Grove. Click this map for directions. The meal will be served starting at 7:30 p.m., and the awards will start at 8 p.m.
We'll hand out the crystal prizes to the champions, give away cash and prizes to the flight winners, and recognize those who won the special challenge holes. We always have the newest golf, technology and leisure items available for the winners on our prize table. Be sure to take a look before the ceremony in case you're lucky enough to be a flight winner on your course!
There is nothing we enjoy more than having you as our guest in our hometown of Ida Grove, Iowa. We hope you will start making your plans today to join in the fun.
Register for #31 today, and we'll see you in September!
