Is the "NHC Tour" worth it?
 

I like to play contests and want to have a shot at the NHC someday, but I'm reading that a lot of people are having trouble playing the NHC qualifiers online, and/or getting their picks in (according to the comments section on the NHC tour page at NTRA).

Anybody having a positive (or negative) experience they'd like to talk about?

Their website is pretty bad, and I don't think they do a good job of letting you know the dates of the "free" contests that are included in your dues.

That sums it up perfectly. But I don't expect NTRA to be able to tie their shoes.

if you are going to play any of them it is. just because of the free plays. i don't know what the format is this year but membership usually gets you in the fla. derby, kentucky derby and travers card contests plus the BC one. of course the more you play the better your chances, so if you are thinking of playing one and paying .....you might as well join. everyone is right though. they don't help at all. if you lose track of whats happening..its a disaster. the "time" factor is almost as important or more important than paying the money.

The NHC Tour is an excellent deal. This is the first year where it's been priced realistically ($45) and you have multiple opportunities to qualify for the NHC for free. Once you join every time there's a free qualifier you're notified by email and you also receive notifications about tournaments throughout the country. Once the schedule is finalized it will be available at www.ntra.com/nhctour

You also need to join if you plan to play in any qualifier at any point during the year. There are currently $100 qualifiers going on at www.nhcqualify.com where if you finish in the top 30 you will be in a group of 90 that play for 9 NHC spots. The NHC itself, as some of the other members on this board can attest, is a tremendously exciting event. It is well worth it to try to get there.

The Tour is absolutely worth it. I have always felt the benefits were undervalued and this year, at a crazy low $45, even more so. For that price, you get several free contests, a chance at big money, and a chance to play in the NHC. Ask anyone who has ever been there and they will all tell you how amazing the experience is.

Paul

Although not perfect, the email notifications for the free contests did get better later in the year.

I didn't know the price dropped to $45.