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Ladies and Gentleman,

When you read this email tomorrow morning, you will officially be 25 days away from the world’s greatest golf tournament: The Ninth Annual Myrtle Beach Open aka MB2K9 aka NAMBO! aka the one before double digits.

The summer of ot9 has seen memorable golf. It started with Eagle Rock at the Vinch wedding, rubbed its balls in some of our faces at Torrey Pines, gave us the redneck half of the Grover Slam in West Virginia, and culminated in the burgh this past weekend with some hilly golf and rainy hilly golf.

As we arrive at MB2K9 we have reached a turning point in our time honored tradition.  Gone are the late night bar adventures; gone are the nights which don’t affect our morns; gone are the wizards, firehouse subs and cockroaches; bring on man o’war, sticky fingaz and barefoot resorts.  Say goodbye to friday and saturday nights and say hello to sunday afternoon and monday night. But one thing remains the same, and we all know what that is.

Handicaps:

Math is our friend. Excel, our confidant: BEHOLD! the handicaps for MB2K9:

This years handicaps come from a calculation of 3 factors:

1. Your strokes from MB2K8
2. Your strokes from the 2009 Grover Invitational 3. Your handicaps on MB2K.com - 14 strokes (Greg and Neils handicap)

(The stroke system for MB2K is an inexact science.  At the end of the day, we are trying to give everyone a fair shake in the title. If anyone feels this is inaccurate, feel free to let me know and we can retry this).

Pic - 0 strokes
Neil - 0 strokes
Grove - 10 strokes (1. 10; 2. 12; 3. 7; total 29/3) Bob - 12 strokes (1. 14; 2. 10; 3. 11; total 35/3) Pete - 15 strokes (1. 17; 2. 14; 3. 15; total 46/3) Riba - 19 strokes (1. 19; 2. 16; 3. 23; total 58/3)

Odds:

Mike “Y.E.” Riba - 19 strokes - I believe a par par bogey finish on Thursday at Quicksilver has Y.E. feeling a little confident heading to MB2K9.  A new job also has Y.E. stronger than ever and ready for 4 rounds of golf.  He also officially has the greatest nickname is MB2K history. Odds - 10/1

2 time and Current MB2K Champion Robert Smith “the III” - 12 strokes - The anti-Y.E. started off par par on thursday only to finish up sloppily. The III played a lot of golf early in the season, but hasnt been playing much of late as he finally did what we all suspected and became a homo(ner). So here’s the question - Does the defending champion has 4 rounds of golf in him? Odds 8/1

Pete “NMD” Vinch - 15 strokes - What does NMD stand for? No More Distractions. Now that NMD is married, there’s nothing going to stand in his way of losing the BPTHNWAM tag.  According to Vinch, we’ve had some rounds in the 90’s recently.  If we get some MB2K rounds in the 90’s we could see the tag lifted.  Odds - 8/1

2 time MB2K Champion Neil “Schoey/Tit/Jew” Schoenberg - 0 strokes - Schoey decided Pic wasn’t the only one who could play a lot of summer golf.  8 rounds in May, 12 rounds in august, some added iron length, a 79 and a few low 80’s later and someone feels a little confident going into MB2K9, someone who hasnt been relevant at a MB2K in 6 yrs.  It all comes down to the tee game - keep it in play. Odds - 6/1

3 time MB2K Champion Greg “Pic” Picarello - Pic has played a lot of summer golf again as well. Some days the swing is broken, other days he’s flirting with 70’s.  The fact remains, no one is more consistent in MB2K than Pic. 2 70’s last yr, and an 82,82,81 stretch earlier this year proves that fact.  Smart money. Odds - 5/1

MB2K Champion Raymond “Chris” Grove - 10 strokes - Grover Slam 09, you heard it hear 2nd. Even though he hasnt golfed much this yr due to baby abey, i saw something on Friday that could result in some low scores.  All he needs to due is harness the new gut strength added to his irons (i know the feeling) and we could see Grover Slam 09 become reality.  Or he could shoot 4 rounds in the 100’s and pretend its a Grover Inv and finish dead ass last. Odds - 4/1

25 days bitches……

Ladies,

Welcome to the Ninth Annual Myrtle Beach Open, officially known for this year as NAMBO!  I am your official NAMBO! historian/documenter, two time MB2K champion Neil Schoenberg.

We are welcoming back the same 6 participants we have had since ‘06, including Robert Smith III, MB2K8 champion (2nd championship).

Golf over the past year has included the 3rd annual Grover Invitational, coincidentally won by none other than Chris Grove, who posted two sub-100 rounds after playing 1 round of golf in the new year, and after back to back last place Grover Inv finishes.

A lot of other events have taken place since MB2K8. Lets discuss:

- Greg Picarello got married and moved out of his folks house.  About time; somewhere Joe Picarello is sitting with a cigar in hand thanking lord jebus he doesnt have to deal with his middle aged son living at home anymore. Praised be Jesus!

- Chris Grove moved back to the burgh and more importantly, had a little jewish baby named Abraham. Mazel Tov!

- Pete Vinch used some FBI shit and allowed himself to be fericiously whipped in order to get married. Drugs!

- Neil Schoenberg convinced his girl friend to move in with him, and then promptly asked her for a security deposit and made sure she had sufficient references. L’chiam!

- Mike Riba finally caved and got his girl to move in with him, but still lives farther from pittsburgh then the philly guys so he doesnt hang out when we come to pittsburgh, even though it only happens every so often, and wont happen again til the last weekend in august, where we fully expect mike not only to hang out but to crash at ben or groves so that he can drink, because jess is coming and you should meet her. End Rant!

- Bob “City of Champions” Smith is the same as last year except he’s a little happier because he’s MB2K champion and the stillerz and guinees won. GO ON J-DATE!

With that said, NAMBO! will be scheduled a little differently this year than MB2K’s in the past.  We will fly down on friday, play rounds on Saturday through Tuesday and then fly home tuesday evening. Here’s a look at the courses:

Saturday PM - Man O’War - Instead of having Greg anally rape the wizard, we are going back to an old friend from MB2K1.  Neil’s 94 was the best score of that day.

Sunday AM - Barefoot Resorts, Love Course - New course for NAMBO! Apparently very nice.  Plus Riba looks a little bit like Davis Love so he’s got that going for him.

Monday PM - Pawley’s Plantation - New course for NAMBO! A Nicklaus course, apparently very nice and the MB2K8 Champion pick.  Plus Grove looks a little bit like Jack Nicklaus so he’s got that going for him.

Tuesday AM  - Dunes Club - New course for NAMBO! Robert Trent Jones and a top 100 public course to finish off NAMBO! Plus, eh, i dont know what Robert Trent Jones looks like anyway.

Odds, Strokes and Player recaps will follow in the 75, 50 and 25 updates….till then…flog on bitches!

But Wait:

I leave you with the most important part of NAMBO!

TEN @ nyj 1:00PM

kc  @ PHI 1:00PM

no  @ BUF 4:05PM

PIT @ cin 4:15PM

yuh footy!

Robert Smith the III did not disappoint - After predicting victory all summer long, Bob overcame a 5 stroke deficit to the defending MB2K champion Greg Picarello entering the final round and eased his way to a 7 stroke victory.  Bobs consistency over 4 rounds proved too strong for Pics two rounds in the 70’s, including an MB2K record 77 in the first round. The Career MB Standings are as follows:

3 wins - Greg Picarello
2 wins - Neil Schoenberg, Bob Smith the III
1 win -  Chris Grove
Best Player(s) to have never won a major - Peter
Vinch, Mike Riba

Final Scores will be posted on MB2K.com. However, for our records, with handicap adjustments, I believe they ended as:

Sixth Place - Peter Vinch - 378
Fifth Place - Mike Riba - 374
Fourth Place - Chris Grove - 349
Third Place - Neil Schoenberg - 347
Second Place - Greg Picarello - 343
First Place - Robert Smith the III - 336

Now onto the ramblings:

The top 10 quotes/sayings/objects of MB2K8:

HM. The Final Countdown Card - Was introduced before MB2K8, but its involvement above the fridge was vital for when morale was down. Hopefully someone brought it home.

10. The Breakfast of Champions - 1 part Banana, 1 part Chocolate Donut, 1 part Starbucks Coffee, 1 part Tums

9.  The Collision at the Collesium (OSU vs USC) - Another failed ploy by ESPN to make an early season college football game bigger then it needs to be.

8.  Riba’s True Love - Outback….and his order doesn’t require a menu.

7.  The Motivational Posters - Slavery (it gets shit done), Water balloon toss (its just that intense), Sometimes (you wanna just break the law), Courage (iron my shirt bitch) and Holy Shit (is that a grizzly bear)……..1 more to come…

6.  The Pass - Grove’s car led home from Bilo, but was passed by Neil’s car on the inside at the entrance to the condo. Neil’s car +1.

6.B The Pass 2 - Neil’s car leads to the airport from Sticky Fingaz but goes the wrong way out of the parking lot, makes and illegal U and watches Grove’s car head towards the same light. As Neil’s car waits to make a left onto airport road, Grove’s car drives past, middle fingers and all. Grove’s car +1.

5. Hi Dave, I love your show - The official show of MB2K made another late night appearance, highlighted by all time favorites Black Bush, Is Wayne Brady gonna have to choke a bitch and Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Story of Rick James (we gave him some help).

4. New Bilo staples - Cinnamon buns, beef jerky, pretzel sandwiches and of course, tums.

3. Bear Grylls Swolen Face - Allergic moron + hunger + honey + african bees + not wrapping your forehead with your shirt = X-files looking face 

2. Mooseknuckle - Because camel toe has an ugly sister.  And we saw it live at Outback.

1. Glass pong - The official game of MB2K8 - involved plastic wiffle golf balls and the hole in the patio table from the umbrella. 4 players take turns with 2 balls. Hours of fun for everyone. Riba was the first to 5, Neil was the first to double figures and Grove had the best run with 5 made in a 5 minute span. 

The top girls of MB2K8:

5. The Woman on the Philly-Charlotte flight - Large, hairy and coughing up a lung to boot. We were all hoping to sit next to her.

4.  The Par-3 ladies at Trueblue/Caledonia - A pair of knockouts (for George Burns)

3. The Cartgirls - Didn’t the cartgirls in Myrtle used to be girls, and not 30-40 yr old Myrtle Beach natives. Just because we are in our 30’s doesnt mean they all have to be also. ugh.

2. Our waitress at Outback - She paid more attention to the older guys at the other table, but at least she talked to us (even though she had to). The closest thing to a stripper we encountered.

1. The Cartgirl at the Legends - Riba talked to her about football for 10 minutes, and we didn’t buy anything from her. Very nice, cute girl. Sadly, this is the best it got in MB2K8.

The Top 10 Most Disappointing Moments, Events, Things of MB2K8:

HM. Riba Talking about Quitting - Don’t do it Riba!

10. Pic Puking - The 2nd puke in MB2K history, resulted from a mix of pizza and cigars. We are still awaiting the first MB2K puke resulting from drinking.

9.  Neil’s 11 (10) - Par 4 13th at Caledonia - Tee shot to 1st bunker, to Waste Bunker, to 2nd bunker, over green to 3rd bunker, still in 3rd bunker, still in 3rd bunker, still in 3rd bunker, out of 3rd bunker, chip, missed putt. lame.

8.  Grove’s PW’s - For the 2nd straight year, Grove snaps a club. PW’s throughout the world weep, and hope to not be purchased by a man named Raymond who is not Floyd (fuck him and his par 5’s).

7.  True Blue - For all the great things we heard and read about this course, they all failed to say how ridiculously hard the course is. Add in a half hour wait, slow play, and extreme heat and humidity; the result is a bad experience.

6.  Pete’s game - What happened Pete? 4 rounds higher than any rounds from the previous 2 yrs.  Or is this all a plan to get more strokes for MB2K9? hmmmmmm. I’m onto you Vinch.

5.  The Cockroaches - All over the patio. All over the front door. All over the walls. Grossness.

4.  The Fridge - It froze everything we wanted to drink, and when we left it still held a case of beer and a case of water. Sloppyness.

3.  The Bars - Booze, Girls, Shots, Strippers, Debauchery - MB2K8 had it all; every round was played with horrible hangovers on no sleep. Oh wait. That was bizzaro MB2K8. The Real MB2K featured one night of drinking and one night of half the guys going to the pool hall.  Crazyness.

2.  No Sunday Football Day - Football sunday is not meant to be spent travelling and watching segments of games on blurry bar tv’s.  As I sit here typing this watching the eagles-dallas MNF game, I realize how much better it would be watching this in Myrtle.

1. The Stupid Airlines - Baggage Fees, $5 to change seats, cancelling flights, 5 hour layovers, losing golf bags, and redirecting flights; US Air annoyed all this yr. 

and now - The top 10 moments of MB2K8:

HM. The Streak Continues (sort of) - Pics unemployment streak ran to 8, if you count him not having a full time job which he had to take vacation days to attend MB2K8 like the rest of us.

10. MB2K8 Shot of the Year - Grove’s shot at 18 at Caledonia - most of us lost balls at Caledonia. Grove’s drive went to the pinestraw 200ish out, and he hit a 5 wood over the water and poop to the green to save par.  Runner-up - Pics chip in on 9 at Arrowhead for birdie which started his back-9 run.

9.  Neil’s 84 - It took 8 yrs, but he finally broke 85 at the Legends Moorland Course. See what happens when you keep drives in play. 3rd lowest round of MB2K8.

8.  Poker 2008 - I don’t have the final tallies, but im calling this a draw between Vinch and Smith.  Co-champions. Bob now leads with 2.5 Poker Championships to Pete’s 1.5 and Neil’s 1.

7.  Logistics - We all managed to be on the same flight from Charlotte to Myrtle and back. We had our first first-class ride to Myrtle and were able to avoid any trips back to the airport. 

6.  Caledonia - One of the nicest, if not the nicest, course we’ve played in MB2K history.  Not impossible to play (looking at you True Blue), in tip-top condition with beautiful scenery. We will definitely be coming back here.

5.  Sticky Fingaz - The “greatest audible in MB2K history” occurred as a Firehouse Subs trip was redirected mid-route to Sticky Fingaz. For the second straight year the official restaurant of MB2K, with two appearances. 

4.  Potential for MB2K9 - Ideas are thrown together and plans are discussed, but the potential for MB2K9 could be mindblowing.  First, possibly buying a condo instead of renting each year. I give this 3/1 odds, considering we would have to find a good deal(A-Jew, bless you), it would result in people having to make trips, and ultimately we all may be too lazy for this endeavor.  Someone suprise me.  Secondly, switching the trip around from a thurs-sun tourney to a sat-tues tourney with a sunday morning round in order to watch football all day sunday.  This has the makings of a MB2K tradition on our hands. Odds 1/1 - I don’t see why this can’t happen.

3.  Pic’s 77 and 79 - The best 2 rounds in MB2K8 and most likely the best 2 rounds in the history of MB2K - The 77 was outstanding to watch with a +1 back 9 and 8 pars, and retribution for the 81 (with 10) from last year. Pic’s game had us all spend hours reassessing the handicaps, (which coincidentally, worked out rather well).  Pic also crushed the tourney greens and pars records. 

2.  The Year of the Bob - We will never hear the end of this one, but you have to take your hat off to Bob for his summer dedication, consistent golf, and lack of meltdowns (except for 17-18).  His 93 in round 1 was his lowest MB2K score ever, and his unadjusted total of 392 his lowest overall score by 13 strokes.  For all of you who question the handicaps, Bob was the only player to improve his score from last yr by more than 3 strokes.  Congratulations Smith and F Bob.

1.  The golf - Ike stayed away, we got a little wet but nothing too bad.  We dealt with a few slow rounds and some heat, but all in all another solid showing for MB2K. We are getting old, and so we’ll make adjustments, but the 8th year was again a great success.

See ya next year.  Bitches.

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