deadbody

I went to Acorn with Dylan today instead of Central since we had some gift certificates to spend at Fairway Flyerz. I picked up 2 Soft Challengers and a Champion Xcaliber to replace my Star Monster that I don’t really care for as my meathook of choice.

Act I: A poor start.

Hole 1: Nice release on the drive, moving left, starting to curve back right, and curves back right into a tree. Falls to the edge of the swamp, tough angle on the second leaves me well away from the basket. 2 putts later and I start with a 4.

Hole 2: Tried to anhyzer a leopard through the opening, left it short and in the bushes, but I have a way out. Toss my out close and bang home the par 3.

Hole 3: Solid drive with the Star Wraith, in the woods a bit on the left. clean window though and I put it nice and close. Slam home another par 3.

Hole 4: Drive the Ridge to about 15 feet, slam home the birdie 2. Back to even par.

Hole 5: Solid release, but the Champion Beast moves a bit too far left and slams a tree. Run the Ridge up close and drop in the par 3.

Hole 6: Drive the River backhand, clear the trees but get caught in a bush on the other side, didn’t get enough on the backhand. Tough angle on the approach and I en up bailed way left, 2 more shots to get in and I make another Bogey 4.

Act II: Maybe this won’t be so bad…

Hole 7: Drive the Beast nice and smooth, through the trees, and fades back just right of the basket, the overhanging trees block my birdie attempt and I knock in another Par 3.

Hole 8: Drive the Beast nice and long over the swamp, turn it around the bush and then fade it back. Was less than 2 feet from the winter basket. However since it is summer I was about 25 feet uphill away. I miss the birdie putt and settle for a par 3.

Hole 9: Bad drive, nose up n00b hyzer style. Send the 2nd into the edge of the swamp, my third is just short of the basket, but behind a large tree that has a thick chest high branch sticking across where I would like to putt. I try to pop it up over the branch, and drop it just off. Make a double bogey 5. Make the turn +3.

Hole 10: I screw up here as I often do, and yank my drive left. There is a stand of trees just to the right of the teebox, and for someone who throws majority forehand they are a huge distraction and generally I subconciously worry about them and yank my drive. Today is no different. I have no shot from the trees and I just try and get it out, I do, and 2 putts later I am in with a 4.

Hole 11: Keep my drive really low with the Champion Beast. Wrap it around the bush and almost back to the fairway, however I am on the left and need to worry about the trees, so since the trees are now in my head I do what any normal person does. I throw it into the fucking trees. Drop my third shot close and make the bogey 4.

Hole 12: I try a different approach and try a backhand drive here, not great results, as I am in the trees to the right. my second slips off my hand and slams into a tree less than 5 feet away from me. my third gets out but not close, and I take 2 more shots to get in and take a bogey 5.

Act III: A false hope

Hole 13: I toss the Star Wraith because I can’t afford much movement left due to the trees, I does exactly what I want and leaves me about 40 feet to the pin. 2 putts and I am in with a Par 3.

Hole 14: I always feel like I should do better on this hole, it’s a not too terribly long right turn hole that is tailor made for a meathook driver. I just bought a new meathook drive. Lets see what it does. A nice easy forehand and it dissapears around the curve. The next sound I hear is the sweet sweet sound of chains being hit as my drive slams in for an ACE. Hell to the motherfucking YES. This is my first ACE, and Dylan is here with me to see it. High fives are exchanged, and he signs my disc confirming it’s ACE status. I consider retiring it since it is my first, and going to Fairway FLyerz on the way home to pick up another. Didn’t but I still might. Either way, a 1 looks pretty damn good.

Hole 15: I try the backhand River again, and I love the throw, except when I get to it I see that I am in a bad spot with no good angle at the pin because of trees. my attempt at a putt goes way long, and I have to suck up 2 more shots to get in with a 4.

Hole 16: Toss the Beast, and watch it not turn left enough, and then fade way back right down the ravine. I attempt a thumber to get out, and catch a bit of a branch leaving me still in the ravine. My anhyzer attempt at getting out doesn’t turn enough, and it takes 2 more shots to get in with a 5.

Hole 17: Bit of a headwind so I try the Star Wraith. get a bit more fade that I would like and I am off to the right about pin high, maybe 40 feet away. Drop it close and take the par 3.

Hole 18: Bad drive, doesn’t get out of the trees. Bad second hangs in the fairway. Bad third puts me behind the screen of trees. I try to make something happen and throw it at an opening about 35 feet off the ground. I miss and end up buried in trees, a couple out and another putt and I finish with a 7.

This was probably the worst round I have played in quite a while, but the Ace made it worth it. Not sure if I’ll get out tomorrow, and this weekend is totally full of nerd stuff. Not really the way I want to end the week, I might try and get out really early on Saturday for a quick round just to get the taste of that 7 out of my mouth.

Garrett

Alternate title with no work I have nothing better to do than spew drivel at all of you. Want me to shut up, call Mark Dayton and tell him to sign the budget presented to him.

Hole 1: I seems to have trouble with this hole at times, it’s a tweener distance for me, too short for a full drive, but too long for a mid, and the layout of the trees means my preferred forehand line is not an option. Lately I have been getting my shots too high and fading them far right where a tree gets into my way putting. Since I played like 60 holes of pitch and putt the last couple days throwing all backhand, I decided to try and backhand a Champion Leopard. Start it with a bit of an angle down, get a good snap on release and see it flip up and head straight for the hole. Drops just short and left of the chips, leaving me about a 15-20 foot putt. I dork it, but I’m happy cause it was a good drive, and I make that putt most of the time. Take a 3 and move on.

Hole 2: Another hole that has given me more trouble than it is worth, I always seem to put my drive right into the trunk of the same tree, this time I forehand the Champion Beast and put it just outside the grap of that stupid tree, watch it work its way back around and leave me about 40 feet with a small tree right in front of me. Drop the putt close and in for the 3.

Hole 3: 2 good drives so far, I generally am pretty happy with my drives on this hole so I’m thinking I’ll be OK. Instead I manage to get the nose of my beast higher than Charlie Sheen and noob hook it off to the right. Leaving myself like 100 feet to the basket I decide to try and settle the Ridge close. That works as it slides onto the chips and I save a 3.

Hole 4: Very pretty drive, watching the Champion Beast weave through trees like it’s on a string, I leave myself about a hundred feet to go, with trees on my right between me and the basket, taking away the line I’d want to throw. I decide to try and anhyzer a Buzzz SS, and I turn on it too much, sending it right into the trees. Blast vile trees. I get to my disc and I have about 25 feet with the blasted tree right in front of me. I can’t make the putt I normally would due to a stupid branch, so I lean the other way and try a little anhyzer around the tree under the branch and into the chains. Not the prettiest par I’ve made today, but it was a pretty effing sweet putt so I’ll take my 3 and move on.

Hole 5: Another beautiful drive around the trees, if the measure on this hole is right I actually pushed this one out like 325′ or a bit more. Leaving myself an easy approach, and a drop in 3.

Hole 6: Another hole I generally drive pretty good on, so instead I leave it too low and ground it 100 feet from the pin. Fuck. poor approach leaves me outside the chips, and I miss the putt, and take my first bogey of the day. Damn Hell Crap.

Hole 7: My meathook driver is up to the task here, Star Monster clears the hill and turns in, leaving me about 70 feet, drop the approach close and make the par. Nothing spectacular here, but no mistakes.

Hole 8: I decide that there isn’t much in the way of wind today, so I’ll toss the Beast instead of the Star Destroyer. Good choice as I hit the pole under the basket on the fly, and drop in the birdie putt.

Hole 9: Another tweener hole for me, I decide to just throw my KC Pro Eagle to see what happens. It holds the line perfectly, unfortunately the line I put it on is straight at the woods, well left of the hole. Dammit. I get a bit of a favorable roll and leave myself an opening though. Drop the approach really close and close out with a 3 for an even par round. Emptied my bag driving here just cause I was bored. Had some pretty good throws, backhand was working pretty good with the Leopard and the River.

I’ll be there tomorrow again about noon, hopefully the humidity won’t be so bad and I’ll feel like playing 18. if anyone wants to join me let me know.

Garrett

They’re back

Disc Golf Weekend

So I played 2 rounds this weekend. 20 holes at Red Oak on Saturday, and 18 at Acorn Park on Sunday.

Since I know that everyone wants to read all about my play for the weekend I won’t hold you up any further. Skins and stoke play on Saturday, skins for the event, strokes for bag tags. Sunday was just a round with Dylan so stroke only.

Saturday:

Hole 1: Drive with the Champion Beast slipped a bit and faded hard left, leaving me 75 feet or so to the pin behind a couple trees, the Firm Ridge doubles as a nice approach disc and drops to a foot away. Drop in the three, no skin as Justin sinks a 20 footer to split the hole.

Hole 2: Drive with the Ridge on this short little hole, clipped a couple trees, leaving myself about 30 feet, dropped the putt close and make the 3, pick up a skin as this little hole gave our whole group some trouble, and both Justin and Dion ended up in deep junk on their drives.

Hole 3: Drive slips off my fingers bad, leaving me very short and on a weird uphill, I pull out the Hornet and slip backwards on my release, pulling the disc way too high in the air and to the left. Scramble to get my putt close and take the 4. Dion pulls out a par and takes the skin.

Hole 4: Drive the Champion Beast to 8 feet? Take the Closest to the Pin? Sink the birdie putt and take the skin? Check, check and check.

Hole 5: Drive the Beast pin high, but the nasty crosswind hauled me way left and behind a screen of trees. Tossed the Ridge near the basket and dropped in the par. No skins as Dion makes a par as well.

Hole 6: I honestly don’t remember what happened here, I know I made par. As did Dion and Justin. It must not have been anything special, probably a decent drive, followed by a close approach and a drop in. That sounds good.

Hole 7: Nice long drive with the Beast into the open on the left, dropped the Ridge close, and nailed the putt. Solid par. Dion and Justin man up as well, and there are no skins again.

Hole 8: Drive hangs up in some brush, and my out hits another tree, made a hard run for the 3, just a bit off, missed the chains, made the short comebacker for 4, but Justin takes the skin with a 3.

Hole 9: My drive gets caught about 3 feet off the ground in a cedar tree. Weird angle for the approach, and I bail out early trying to avoid killing my hand against said tree. Leaves me a long approach that I duff, 2 putts later and I make a turrible 5. Justin is hitting his stride and makes another 3 to take the skin.

Hole 10: Drive sticks in the bush in the center of the fairway. Needed to get it about a foot higher and I’d have been ecstatic. Intstead I have no real out, and I end up on the left side of the fairway with just shy of an entire forest between me and the hole. With no other real options I try a goof tomahawk with the Hornet, and it drops to a foot away. Guess I drop in for the 4. No skins on this hole as Justin and Dion also take 4’s.

So Red Oak is different in that it is 10 baskets and 20 tee pads, so round 2 is shooting at the same baskets from different tees. I posted a 34 for the front side, and while I’m not super happy with that score, I’m not crushed. I feel like I can do better.

Hole 11: Good drive, leaves me a good approach that I drop to a foot, drop in the par and take the skin as both Justin and Dion had some troubles and Double bogey.

Hole 12: Griplocked the ESP Buzz a bit and sent it far right. Into the junk. Have a window to get out and leave it close though, drop in for the par. Justin and Dion do the same, no skin.

Hole 13: Good drive, but I’m on that same slippery weird hill, and I make the same mistake, yanking the hornet up and left, 2 putts again, and I make a bogey. Dion takes the skin with a par.

Hole 14: Drive pin high, but about 50 feet right, Drop the putt right at the base of the pin and take a par. Justin makes par as well, no skin.

Hole 15: Great drive leaves me about 50 feet to the pin, drop the approach close and make the par. Justin makes his par as well, no skin.

Hole 16: Drive my Star eagle a bit long, leaving about a 25 footer. Justin makes his Birdie, I miss and take a par. Justin takes the skin.

Hole 17: Another outstanding drive, and as I go for the approach with the Ridge, I griplock the crap out of it, leaving myself about 50 feet right. 2 putts to put it in and I make a bogey. Justin and Dion bogey as well, no skin.

Hole 18: My Hornet turns a bit early on my drive, leaving me about 30 feet of uphill putt to try and keep pace with Justin who dropped it to about 3 feet. I make a run at it, but just miss the chains and have to settle for a par. Justin makes his drop-in and takes the skin.

Hole 19: My Drive goes too far right and ends up in the trees, I have no real opening as there are small branches all across my field of vision, so I go for blind hope and throw the Hornet as hard as I can, somehow I don’t hit anything until a bush about 40 feet short of the pin catches and holds me, 2 putts from there and I make a bogey. Justin and Dion make Par so no skin.

Hole 20: Another pretty good drive, leaves me about where I was after my 2nd shot on 10. On the left edge of the fairway with about a million trees between me and the hole. I try to catch lightning a 2nd time with another tomahawked Hornet, and instead I leave myself way right and in the woods. 2 putts later and I make a bogey. Justin pulls out a par to win his 5th skin, and take me by 1 shot on strokes so he gets my bag tag which was number 3. I beat Dion so I end up with the 7 Justin just picked up.

Back 10 was 34 as well. I’m still not happy with that score, I feel like I can do better, a couple missed putts here and there really did me in.

Sunday

The Easter Bunny came to my house and delivered to both me and Dylan new Latitude 64 Rivers. Since I have the impulse control of a crack addicted monkey and Dylan is the same. We had to get out yesterday and play. It helped that the weather was gorgeous. So after a nice Easter dinner at Jamies Grandparents house, followed by a nice nap in the recliner while the Twins won, Dylan and I hit Acorn for a quick loop. The place was packed and the round took us a lot longer than normal, but it’s always a good time out there, so what the hell.

Hole 1: They moved the pin here back to the summer placement and I drove it perfectly for the winter placement, putting it 3 feet from the old pin. Instead I have about 60 feet to go as I am way left, and I drop it close for the drop in 3.

Hole 2: Toss the Star Eagle low it takes a nice skip and I think I’m good so I bend down to get my bag. When I look up I see my eagle rolling back down the little incline and across the path into the crud. WhaFuck???? Not happy about this little turn of events, I have no angle to put it close, and end up taking a 4.

Hole 3: Drive goes nice and long, but I leak a bit left, and hit some trees before I can fade back. Leaving a weird shot trying to make it close, but I manage to get it close enough to drop in the par.

Hole 4: Drive the Ridge to 2 feet. Check. Sink the Birdie? Check.

Hole 5: Decided to try the River here as this is kind of a tunnel shot and my normal driver likes to weave a bit. The throw comes off ym fingers smooth as silk, but way too low. Grounds up about 60 feet from the pin, another close approach and a drop in putt for the par.

Hole 6: Last time here I took a 7. And not one of those put it in 2 water hazards and killed a duck kind of 7’s either, just got it into the woods and couldn’t get it out. 7’s make me very sad. Plus the group of like 8 guys with a total of 10 discs and a Coors Light home draft keg decided to let us play through, so with a crowd of onlookers, I toss what has to be the best backhand drive I’ve thrown in a while, great snap and pretty good distance out of my beat up DX Valkyrie. Leaves me about 60 feet right of the pin, another up and in for par.

Hole 7: Drive the Champ beast about pin high, 60 feet or so left, up and in for par.

Hole 8: Champ beast again, leave it about 40 feet left and short. Drop it close and in for the par.

Hole 9: Good drive to the rock. A group of like 8 people have waved us through as they are standing around the stagnant water trying to find a disc. Instead of moving out of the line of fire, most of them are still standing there not really paying attention. I bail a bit on my throw and nail a tree. Leaving over a hundred feet for the approach I again, bail the throw and bit trying to make sure I don’t hit the idiots. And 2 putts later at the back summer pin I make a 5.

Hole 10: Trying the river again on this tunnel hole. Nice smooth drive up. I think the confidence that this disc will go nice and straight is helpful, I don’t need space for it to go left and right. Leave myself about 5 feet with a bunch of trees, drop it close and bang home the par.

Hole 11: Very nice drive puts me in the opening, my approach with the Ridge hangs a bit and fades father left that I wanted, leaving me about 30 feet. Slam it home for the par.

Hole 12: Another hole that lately has been giving me some trouble as I want to work the disc out left to right and there really isn’t the space to work a throw like that so I decided to shoot the River again and try and run it straight up the gap. Still leaked a bit lef,t but far less than before and I end up with a pretty nice drive that leaves me about 50 feet, drop it close and make the par.

Hole 13: Nice long drive leaves me up on the hill about 40 feet away, but with a tree blocking the straight line approach. Drop it close and make the three.

Hole 14: I decide to try and shape a line with my Ridge here, Don’t get enough on it to turn it right, and it fades into the trees on the left about 30 feet short. Again no good approach for the duesce, so I drop it close and take my 3.

Hole 15: Drive starts out looking really nice, but I got it a bit high and clip a dead branch, dropping straight down and leaving me about 90 left of the pin. I griplock my approach into a tree, and still have about 50 feet, 2 more shots and I’m in with a bogey.

Hole 16: Nice drive, leaves me at the top of the hill, about 60 feet away. Again I griplock the Ridge and have to scramble back for a 4.

Hole 17: Good drive pin high about 40 feet right, putt falls just short, and I drop in for the par.

Hole 18: Good drive, slip a bit on the approach and leave it about 50 feet short and left. Let go of my putt and think it is golden. Turns out it falls just a bit short of the winter pin, and I drop in to finish with a bogey.

Overall I shoot a 59 or +5 which is a personal best at Acorn. I felt like it was probably the best round I have ever played. I was putting my shots more or less where I wanted to, and other than the 5 on 9, which I blame the idiots who stood pretty much where I wanted to throw and stared like I was asking their drunk and or stoned asses to solve for x when I asked them to move I didn’t really have a blow up hole. A couple 4’s that I think I could improve on, and I really only made 1 putt longer than about 15 feet. I dropped a lot nice and close, but I still need to start making those long putts a bit more consistently.

Guess it’s back to the practice basket in the front yard for a while more. I think I’m finally found the putter I’ll be using for a while in my old Surly Challenger. It just feels right in my hand, and I’m more consistent with it in terms of getting it close and not having much in the way of roll-aways. Now to start turning those 30 footers that I leave close into 30 footers I make.

Disc Golf Monday

Thanks to being a wage slave for mt egubmint I had Monday off, seemed like a good day to go play some disc golf, so the wife and kids and I met Bret and Scott at Bryant Lake. After playing as bad as I have played in at least a couple years at Acorn I had low expectations, but it was a better idea than hanging around the house so off we went.

Hole 1, good drive with the Champ Viking, left me center fairway, approach made a solid run at the chains, then faded hard and left me just outside the chips, downhill from the basket. I knew I needed to get my putt up, and I got it way too high, tossing it over the basket, made the comebacker for 4, but was not feeling the game as putting is usually something I do alright at, and missing that badly doesn’t bode well for me.
Hole 2, another nice drive with the Viking, I am loving this disc, leaves me a short approach, or very long putt (about 60 ft) I drop the VooDoo right next to the pin, drop in the 3.
Hole 3, in the fairway again, feeling good about the viking, another long putt dropped right next to the basket and another par.
Hole 4, little bit shorter so I decide to try and bend the Star Eagle around the clump of trees on the left, instead I throw it right into them, boo, but by some divine providence the tree smacks my disc straight into the fairway and another easy up and drop in par.
Hole 5, toss the Viking, and I love it, get a great roll and end up just outside the chips, drop in the putt for the birdie.
Hole 6, Uphill hard right turn, sounds like I need a Katana to slice in there. I release a good throw, nick a tree a bit which slows me down and takes some of the turn off, but it also kept be a bit shorter which I think was good, leaves me another long putt, I drop it close and take the par.
Hole 7, Terrible drive, hard right and short, still quite a ways from the basket, I decide to try the Eagle again, and flew it around the tree, poor release, but I got the distance I needed, it dropped onto the steps and bounced back to the top level. Long 3rd putt from behind a tree, I miss, but make the comebacker. Bogey
Hole 8, another not great drive, and a poor second means I am still over 70 feet away and a tree is in front of me, I try to get fancy and fail, brusing the leaves and leaving myself about 40 feet, bang in the long putt though and take a bogey instead of worse.
Hole 9, another poor drive, didn’t get enough on it, and it just faded right into the tall stuff, decent approach left me just outside the chips, I miss the putt and take a bogey.
I make the turn at +3, not bad, but I feel like I can do better. Some really bad shots there that I was able to recover from nicely.
Hole 10, They cut down the dead stuff that was protecting the basket, so it is a much easier shot, I toss the Champ Leopard, and it ends up a bit short, about 50 feet away, I make a run for the duece, and leave myself about 20 feet past, bang in the 3 for par.
Hole 11, hung my Eagle in the trees on the left, had a weird angle, but the Buzzz held the line I wanted perfectly, leaving me with about 10 feet, bang home the par save.
Hole 12, solid drive, center of the fairway and longer than normal, easy approach, easy par.
Hole 13, nice soft forehand eagle (casue I can’t forehand a mid for crap) leaves me about 20 feet, miss the putt, but save par again.
Hole 14, I lost my first Champ Viking here a couple years ago, and have always had some trouble with this hole, I decide to just let it fly here, and am very happy, drive cleared everything, and left me about 50 feet, take the easy approach easy par route.
Hole 15, poor drive way left, that somehow managed to avoid all the trees and flex back a bit, leaving me 40 or so feet, lay the putt at the base of the basket, and take the 3.
Hole 16, poor drive hits the trees on the left, I have a weird angle, but I think I can still leave a Buzzz close, my throws skips funny and bangs a tree root, leaving me to try and putt under a 2 foot branch, I miss and take a 4.
Hole 17, bit of a headwind so I decide to try the Star Destroyer, Nice long shot flexes back nice at the end, leaving me just out of the fairway but at a weird distance, the pin is hard uphill, the distance is normally a hard Buzz, but with the elevation I am considering trying to step up and throw the Eagle backhand, I decide that I am not confident enough in that, so I go with a soft forehand Eagle, drop it to 5 feet, and take the par.
Hole 18, another good drive with the Viking, leaving me another long in between shot, it’s uphill again, but not quite as sever, so I try a hard Buzzz, leave it a bit short, and miss the long putt to finish with a 4.
I end up shooting a 59, which is my best score ever by a couple strokes at Bryant. And I feel like I could have played better than I did, I made a lot of poor throws, and had some good scrambling saves. I also didn’t try to bang home some of my putts towards the end, not wanting to leave myself with hard comebackers since I was in a league match with Bret and I had a bit of a lead, I knew that if I kept making pars it would be hard for him to overtake me, so I went with the safe route and I think I cost myself a couple strokes that way, but it was the right way to play it, forcing my opponent to play great to beat me instead of making a mistake and giving away strokes I didn’t have to just to try and increase a lead. Had a fun round overall, and was happy to have made it out a 2nd time over the long weekend so the debacle at Acorn didn’t stick in my head as the last round I played.

Disc golf Monday

So I was meeting Ryan to play a quick round at Acorn. Still trying to break in a new driver, not loving the Valkeryies that I have now, but thinking I just need to adjust my form a bit for them, had some success on Friday at Central with Scott and Rob (shot a 58 total which is not great but not bad).

Hole 1, Champ Viking drive, clears the water easy, solid up solid par.
Hole 2, Teebird starts too far left and hangs in the trees, really good approach leaves me an easy par putt that I make.
Hole 3 Drive into the left woods, only way out is to try and kind of tomahawk my Eagle out, it goes into the woods on the right of the basket, putt for 3 hits a tree and bounces about 15 feet away, I dork the bogey and take a horrible 5.
Hole 4 Drive with the Crystal Z Buzzz is nothing special, and hits a tree, easy up, easy par.
Hole 5 Drive with the Viking again, hits a tree, approach has a chance but overflys the hole leaving me a long comebacker for par, I miss it and take a bogey.
Hole 6, Weak drive with a DX Valk puts me in a weird spot (right next to the bridge) at the angle I have to try a really soft forehand eagle, and I get it too high, fades far off, and I end up having to put my next one close to take the bogey.
Hole 7, Decent drive with the Viking, easy approach and drop in the par.
Hole 8, Perfect drive, starts out right, curves back in left around the tree, before fading right a bit again, leaving me with 6 feet for the birdie, I drop it in.
Hole 9 Nothing special drive, just behind the rock, a year ago I’m ecstatic about this, now it is common, that is progress I guess  Second shot the the teebird turns over on me and ends up in the swamp, trying to get it I mistake a wet spot for a dry spot and sink up to my ankle in swamp water, that’s good for the skin right? Ugly out, and an ugly approach means I take a 5.
Hole 10, Champ Viking nice and easy, gave me a good line for the approach, and a drop in Par.
Hole 11, bad drive means I’m only about 8 feet from a black ace, but I have a line towards the basket, too good of a release on my eagle and it skips a bit past the hole, long putt for 3 and I just miss, take the 4.
Hole 12, Long drive that stayed a bit left with the Viking, but it gave me an opening, I bang the post below the basket with a long putt and take a 3.
Hole 13, Decent drive, nothing good as I got hung up in the bush, terrible approach got way too high and hit a branch, had to try and make my par putt between tow trees, I miss and take a 4.
Hole 14, Trying to work on forming a line with a midrange here instead of trying to softly forehand an eagle, today seems like a good time to try it out for score, nice smooth comet release, a bit too soft leaving me a long putt, I miss it and take the par.
Hole 15, Overdrive the fairway with my Viking, leaving me to try and find a line out of the trees, I get out some, but end up rolling away a bit, miss the comebacker and take a 4.
Hole 16, Good drive to the top of the rise, probably the longest I’ve ever driven on this hole. Easy lay up second and easy par.
Hole 17, into a headwind my Destroyer never fades, and I have to take my second from 16’s fairway, I put it close and drop the par.
Hole 18, Good long drive, good long second, but I’m just short of the opening, I try to get fancy and hit a tree, settle for a 5.

So I finish with a 10 over 64, not a good round, but not terrible, did some good things, really liking the Viking, I hadn’t been using it for a while because it’s just a bit slower Valk, but after losing the Valk I loved, I stepped back to it and changed my grip just a bit , and had some of my longest throws of the year, the throw on 16 is at least 20 feet farther than I have ever been, and my drive on 18 was also in territory I don’t usually hit, plus the drive on 15 which was too long. Maybe I am doing something right. As Ryan and I leave, we hit the parking lot to see Beth and Justin there, we ask what they are here for and Justin has a match with Jim scheduled. Since I also need to play Justin and hadn’t gotten a hold of him yet, I decided after checking with the boss that I needed to play another round. So I changed shoes (yay for a back-up pair of tennis shoes in the trunk so I had dry feet) and said lets dance.
Hole 1, Drive nicks a tree a bit, but ends up dry and in a good spot for an easy approach, so I do just that, and drop in an easy par.
Hole 2 Easy drive to the opening, easy approach, easy par.
Hole 3, Hit the perfect line with the Viking, put it on the top of the hill, had a weird line to try and putt because of the trees, but I make the easy par.
Hole 4, Crystal Z Buzzz again, Leave it a bit short, miss a makeable birdie putt and take a par.
Hole 5, drive releases great, but hits a tree and pushes way right into the trees, I have no way to throw forward and end up back out on the fairway, a bad third leaves me a long putt to save a score that isn’t embarassing and I miss it, Double bogey 5. Boo.
Hole 6, get the DX Valk out longer, but it fades into the woods, my second ends up in the woods as well, but I have a shot at the basket, hit the post and take a bogey.
Hole 7, Good long drive, missed the tree and faded back, left me a bit out of comfortable putting range, and I take the easy 3.
Hole 8, terrible drive, nevers fights back left, and then fades into the woods, no shot out at all, and I leave my par putt short, bogey.
Hole 9, drive into the water with my destroyer, I haven’t done that in years, I am not leaving that disc behind so I start to look, step out a bit on a log, and then realize that I’m gonna just get this pair of shoes wet as well, and step in, find 3 other discs before I find mine (one of which had a number on it and he will be getting his disc back), but I get my Destroyer and throw, right into the large bush, from there it goes from crap to craptastic as my approach hits a tree as well ending short and I finish the pain with a missed putt and a circle 7.
Hole 10, good long drive, leaves me with a tough putt, I miss, but take the easy par.
Hole 11, bad drive nestles right up to the base of a tree, I have very little shot and I try to get out with the eagle, I get it a bit low and it hangs in the grass instead of skipping, long approach gets close and I take the bogey.
Hole 12 Nice and through the opening, but left, have a bit of an opening, and I hit it with my approach, but leave it short, miss the long par putt and take a bogey.
Hole 13, good drive, long and straight, missed the tree on the left that I always seem to hit, easy approach, easy par.
Hole 14, try the Comet shot again, a bit harder, still leave it short, but nice and in the fairway, bang the basket with my second and take a par.
Hole 15, throw the eagle after overdriving with the viking, and it releases perfect, I am envisioning needing to throw a putter next time on this drive because I am just so powerful on this hole as the eagle gets ready to crash over the fairway again it jumps up on a wind gust striaght into a large tree branch, dropping like a stone, I have no shot at all of making the 2, and really no line, I throw and pray, and I am bad at praying so my shot leaves me with about 25 feet back uphill, I miss the putt and take a 4.
Hole 16, bad drive into the ravine on the right, good out to keep it close, but I miss the long putt and take a bogey.
Hole 17, nice drive leave me hole high and just to the right in the long stuff, I sink the birdie.
Hole 18, good long drive, even though I nicked a branch on the way out, second doesn’t turn out how I wanted and end up in the woods, try a goofy tomahawk out and it doesn’t really do what I want, miss the long putt and end with a 5.
So I shoot a 67 for the second 18, I really felt like I played better on the second 18 than the first, except for a couple spots, hole 9 was a disaster wrapped in a clusterfuck. And the Bogeys on 12 and 16 were bad, plus the terrible play on 5. I was getting better distance than I had in a bit though, and that is nice, I feel like if I could combine the days where I am driving good with the days where I am putting and approaching good I could have a pretty low round. Maybe next time

Disc Golf Thursday

So since the wife decided that I needed a new pair of shorts, I had to go shopping, that meant a trip to Rosedale. Since she wanted me and Dylan out of the house anyways I thought we’d get a round in at Acorn to to kill some time.

Here’s how it went.

Hole 1, my drive starts fading left right away, grazes the dead tree on the edge of the swamp, and that slows it down so it fades back to the right nicely, easy approach, easy par.
Hole 2, nice little teebird to the edge of the opening, easy approach to about 5 feet, another easy par.
Hole 3, good drive to the top of the hill with my Valk, easy approach leaves about 10 feet, drop the par. Not a bad start so far.
Hole 4, what do you think, should I just send a low skimmer off the post? Ok I will, drop in birdie.
Hole 5, how about a nice long valk shot that weaves around a couple trees and ends up 5 feet from the pin. That sounds good, another easy bird.
Hole 6, poor release on the drive, means that I have to tomahawk an eagle out to try and save par, I leave myself about 50 feet, and take the 4.
Hole 7 good drive, fought through the trees on the left, easy approach to about 15 feet cause I threw it like a moron, drop the par putt.
Hole 8, got my drive way too high, left it left, had a very small opening to try and get it close, missed by about 6 inches and banged a tree, ended up with a bogey.
Hole 9, we got there and there was a group of 4 older guys who had never played before, we played the hole with them, and I had a very nice drive (about 5 feet short of the rock in the center of the fairway, just to the right) but as I released my second one of them said something, and I pulled my shot up and into a tree, bad got worse as I just threw my 3rd shot poorly and left myself like 40 feet, with a large branch across the height I wanted, I tried to go over the branch and failed, instead hitting the top and bouncing my disc back as far away as I was. I end up with a very ugly 6, and am happy to leave the group of new players behind.
Hole 10, drive leaked a bit left, leaving me no window, can’t get the approach close enough and I take a bogey.
Hole 11, great drive with the Valk, deep into the opening, second shot slipped out of my hand a hit a tree 10 feet away. Damnhellcrap. Dropped the 3rd close and took another bogey.
Hole 12, drive leaked left, but had a good window, dropped the approach close and saved par.
Hole 13, good drive, went left of the clump of bush and came back a bit, threw the approach a bit soft and left myself about 15 feet. Tossed the putt and missed everyfuckingthing. Didn’t even hit the basket. I don’t know what I did there, but it was uglier than Urkel after a 3 day meth bender. Bogey FML.
Hole 14, terrible release on the drive (still beating myself up over the last putt) great recovery with the comet, drop in the par.
Hole 15, another good drive, leaves me a nice window right to the basket, maybe 30 feet, I miss just a bit and end up 20 feet past because of the elevation. Hit the basket on the par save, and take a bogey.
Hole 16, solid drive, solid 2nd solid par. Nothing special here, just a good hole.
Hole 17, drive was a bit low and hung in the weeds instead of working back to the fairway (probably for the best as it was hole high, so any working back would have overdriven by a bunch) dropped the approach next to the post and easy par.
Hole 18, good drive, long second shot leaves me in a weird spot, right in front of a very thin path to the basket, or I can try and super hyzer a short shot around the brush, I try to thread the needle, and fail, end up with a 5.
Ending score of 63 or 9 over. Not super unhappy with that as I can count like 5 shots I should cut there (at least 2 on 9 cause my second shot is OK if I don’t have someone talk to me right as I throw) and a few putts that I should make. Had some fun, was surprised the course really wasn’t busy. Going camping with the wife this weekend, leaving the kids at Grandmas. Bringing discs to try and play in Duluth, but not gonna worry too much about it if we don’t get a round in on Sunday.

Disc Golf Tuesday

So I went to play Oakwood Park with Dion and Justin Alfs yesterday. I haven’t written in a while because frankly I’ve played like ass on a hat for the last couple weeks. And I don’t have any desire to write about terrible rounds where I made bunches of bad throws. However this was a match against Dion, and our buddy Justin came along so I knew I would at least enjoy myself (even if I played bad) and I’d probably lose 5 pounds cause it was 94 degrees outside with about 150% humidity.

But anyways onto the round. I love Oakwood Park, don’t get to play it as often as I’d like so this was gonna be good.

Hole 1, there is something about this hole, fun little drive off the top of a hill, plays shorter than its listed 275 but really easy to overdrive as there are woods about 20 feet behind the pin. I toss an easy Star Eagle forehand, and if it didn’t hit the pin it was a close as it could be, left me about a 10 footer for the easy bird.
Hole 2, Star valkeryie dropped to about 30 feet, missed the putt, made the par.
Hole 3, huge uphill hole, into a pretty healthy wind. Tossed the Star Destroyer, most of the way up the hill, dropped the Buzz on the chips and made my par.
Hole 4, Star Valk in the center of the fairway about as long as I have thrown on this hole, snapped the eagle for the approach and the wind picked it WAY up, left me about 30 feet for the par, and I missed. Took the 4. Wind is really picking up and I chickened out on this putt.
Hole 5, crazy wind means I’m throwing the destroyer even though it’s really too long for this hole, the wind holds me up a bit, and then smacks me down perfectly into the opening, skips to about 5 feet, and I drop in another easy bird.
Hole 6, have to try a backhand down the hill, I let it go bad, and end up short and left, my approach leaves me about 10 feet, and I sink the par.
Hole 7, Star Valk got high, and fell very close to the mud puddle that is there because of the rain lately, got a lucky bounce off a tree and had an opening to drop an approach close, left myself about 10 feet, and sunk the par.
Hole 8, long hole, here is where the wheels can start to fall off a round. I toss a nice Valk drive, bang my second hard off a tree, send my third about 5 feet past, and take a 4.
Hole 9, Another short downhill, and I again screw up the drive, send my approach about 10 feet past and drop in the par.
Hole 10, this hole looks longer than it plays since it is a bit uphill, toss the Star SL to about 10 feet, and sink the birdie.
Hole 11, another longer hole, turns hard to the right, and I hang my drive badly, toss my second and get a nice skip leaving me about 25 feet, I dork the par putt and take a 4.
Hole 12, much like hole 10 only a bit longer, of course to add difficulty to it, the storms dropped a large tree and completely filled the left opening, meaning if you throw forehand you have no window as the tree fills the opening and goes up about 10 feet. I have to try and put it just over the tree, and instead release super late and just ground it to the left, need almost a tomahawk to get over the tree and end up leaving myself about 20 feet to save par, I miss it and take a bogey. We had to wait about 2 minutes to throw here as a deer was right in front of the tree wall and we didn’t want to risk hitting her.
Hole 13, this is the hole that always seems to have my number, long and narrow, but today I’ve felt pretty good, and a drop a nice drive just off the fairway, sadly I am behind a bush so my angle for the 2nd is terrible and I end up leaving myself about 40 feet, I miss the putt and take a 4.
Hole 14, this gets us out of the trees for a hole and the wind is howling, I toss my Destroyer, and the wind picks it up super high and drops me short and in the crud, my second goes a bit long and I have to try and save 3 from behind a tree, I fail and take another bogey.
Hole 15, Nice drive center of the fairway most of the way up the hill, good approach, drop in the par.
Hole 16, I leak my drive a bit left and have to try and throw out of the woods on a crazy sidehill lie, then I leak left again, and have to throw out of the woods on a crazy sidehill lie, then I put it through the left opening, but still have some distance to cover since my drive and 2nd were horrible short, I miss the long putt and take a 5.
Hole 17, crazy wind again, good drive with the Destroyer, but my second gets held up in the wind and turned way left, dropped the 3rd close and took another 4.
Hole 18, good drive, Destroyer fought the wind just like I wanted it to, really solid second put me at the bottom of the hill just across the swamp. Hard wind coming down the hill, so I threw a low shot with my Buzzz, on release I was really happy, looked like it was going to just fall into the chips giving me a good shot at a 4, apparently mother nature felt different, when my disc hit the top of the hill it was no more than a foot off the ground, it stayed at that height for a good 40 feet as it veered right and left me a nasty putt for 4. I missed and took a 5 to end the round.

I end up shooting an 8 over 62, I’m actually pretty happy with that score, This is a course that can get big numbers quick in a couple spots, and I managed to avoid them, and even recovered pretty good on most of my bad drives to still salvage par. I ended up losing to Dion by 3 which there is no shame in. I felt pretty good on most of my throws and it reminded me why I play the game, to have fun with friends and keep improving.

Tuesdays in Disc golf.

So I got out for a quick round at Acorn with my son and my friend Justin after all (having cleaned the gutters before hand) here is how it went.

Hole 1: Another Champion Viking, this time almost pin high, about 30 feet to the left,  the window to make a putt was really bad, so while I made a run at it, I wasn’t surprised that I missed, dropped in the par save.

Hole 2: Got my Star Eagel a bit higher in the air this time, made all the difference.  Faded right into the open, left me about 40 feet, rang the chains on my putt, but alas it was not to fall, dropped in for par.

Hole 3: Poor drive, leaves me way to the right, but past the stand of trees, kept my approach low, and left myself about 15 feet for the par save.  Ching, nothing but basket.  Par.

Hole 4: Crystal Z Buzzz again, stuck it 2 feet away.  Maybe this course is getting too easy J

Hole 5: CRACK, that is the sound a Valkyrie makes when hitting a tree 30 feet in front of the tee pad.  CRAP, that is the sound I make when my approach hits another tree and bounces the wrong way.  Cursing ensuses when I miss the 25 footer I have to bend around a couple trees for par.  Bogey.

Hole 6: I was really happy with my play here on Sunday, and I was hoping to duplicate it.  Instead I griplock my Sidewinder into another area code, and in the center of the trees, can’t get out cleanly, and my 3^rd sends me into the trees next to the pin, 2 more shots and I crap the bed with a double bogey.

Hole 7: Good drive, gets knocked down by a branch, but leaves me open, terrible release on my second leaves me about 30 feet left of the pin, sinking the par save felt pretty good though.

Hole 8: Put my drive into a tree stand, but I have a small window to work a midrange in close, hit it perfect and dropped in the par save.

Hole 9: Good but not great drive, leaked way left, giving me a window to get near the basket, my 2^nd got me close, but I had to try and putt through a window of a couple trees, the overhang meant I needed to keep it low, and I was about 2 inches too low, as I rang the front of the basket.  Dropped in for Bogey.

Made the turn 3 over, not really happy with it, the double was a killer, and the bogey on 5 was terrible.  I again made some very good shots, and I’m feeling like I am improving, lets see if we can keep the wheels on the car the second 9 instead of what happened on Sunday when I played the back 9 at 7 over.

Hole 10:  So-So drive, pretty good distance but left, leaving me with an alley to the pin but lots of trees if I miss left or right by more than a foot or so.  My VooDoo holds the line perfectly and I drop in a solid par.

Hole 11: Good drive, but again a bit to the left.  Lots of trees between me and the pin, the comet holds exactly the line I want it to, and I drop in a par.

Hole 12: Drive was long, but left (guess what I will be working on tonight) and I have almost no window at a shot, I try to squeeze a shot through and get hung up in the brush, miss the 35 footer, and take a bogey.

Hole 13, solid drive, solid second leaving me about 20 feet.  My putt somehow hits the chains and the basket before falling to the ground.  DAMNHELLCRAP.  Bogey.  Just didn’t quite throw the putt I wanted.  Was hoping the chains would save me and they didn’t.

Hole 14: What did you say, get the Eagle a bit hig and watch it drop to a foot from the basket, if you insist, I guess I can do that.  Birdie J

Hole 15, sent my drive to the left, almost exactly where I wanted it to go, the approach angle wasn’t great, and I ended up with about 15 feet to go, but from above the basket, Tried to putt it low, didn’t limbo enough, hit the top of the basket and skipped away, end up with a bogey.

Hole 16: Nice drive leaves me center of the fairway.  I have a lot of trouble with this hole at times because I feel like it is closer than it is, and I leave my second shots short, so I throw my second harder than normal, and watch it fall to 5 feet.  Par.

Hole 17: Decent drive, hole high about 25 feet left, a bit above the basket.  I wuss out on the putt and leave it short, drop in par.  Dylan tossed a very good drive, that he was unhappy with since it wasn’t as long as mine and Justins, then jarred about a 50 foot putt.  For some reason he was then unwilling to trade scores with usJ

Hole 18: Good drive, thought I was closer than I was for the second, and under threw it, leaving me a bad angle to try and get in, I have to toss it right and hope, I get an angle for a putt, but it is long, leave it just off, and take a 5.

End with a +7, 61.  Better than Sunday, but still not great.  I am to the point where I can start making the throws I am visualizing, and a lot of that has to do with playing more, and with good players who are giving me some ideas with throws.  To all the people I have played with thanks. 

I’ll be up north from Thursday to Tuesday, playing Giants Ridge, Hibbing, Side Lake, Warba, maybe even Ely or Grand Rapids.  If I remember I’ll be writing all the scores down, and you all will be getting a huge write-up when I get back.  Might want to stock up on beer now

I wrote this and sent it to some people who I disc golf with, I know there are some people who play disc golf on here as well.  This is a hole-by-hole account of my Sunday morning round at Acorn Park in Roseville, MN.

I woke up early yesterday morning, looked at the clock and decided I had about an hour and a half to kill, perfect amount of time to get in a quick 18 at Acorn.  So I head up there and the first tee is open.  I step up and toss my Champion Viking cause the water is high and it is a disc that while I like, I have replaced with my Star Valk as my main distance driver.    I get a nice release, and a smooth gentle S-curve clearing the high water by a good 50 feet, leaving me just outside my comfort zone for putts, I drop it nice and close and take a 3.

Hole 2, I’ve been trying to figure out how I want to play it for a while, my throws have gotten too long and don’t fade until past the opening,  I decided to try a bit slower disc and toss my star eagle, I got a good snap, and it faded just past the opening.  Got to the disc and I had a route to leave it close, and did just that, another gimme putt and I make another par.

Hole 3, I have to wait a bit for a group in front of me, and I manage to shank my drive into the trees on the left, my only out is almost sideways just back to the fairway, and after doing that I manage to shank my 3^rd, takes me 2 putts to get in and I am not plus 2.  Boo.

Hole 4, the group ahead of me decides that I can play through, I reward them by dropping my new Crystal Z Buzzz about 10 feet from the hole, easy duece, and much like George Costanza, “Baby I’m back.”

Hole 5, send the Valk to about 10 feet, another deuce.

Hole 6, as I throw most of my drives forehand, this one has always had my number, I can count on 1 hand the number of times I’ve done better than a 4.  Tossed the Star Sidewinder backhand, and it felt good, like all the effort I am putting into learning backhand distance on the course and even in limited field practice with mids paid off.  I left myself about 60 feet, and put my Voodoo right next to the basket.  Nice par for me.

Hole 7, OK drive, got to the opening, but hit a tree branch and dropped shorter than I would have liked.  Really bad release on the zComet I am playing around with (super straight mid-range) and I leave myself about 30 feet for par.  Miss that and take a bogey.  This is another hole that I 4 a lot so I am not too crushed.

Hole 8, a good release on my Valk, and it hits the line I had envisioned perfectly, leaving me with about 20 feet for the deuce, drop the VooDoo in the basket, and I am back to even, plus this is the first time I have ever deuced this hole, so I am happy.

Hole 9, met up with another guy playing by himself and we played the rest of the round together, nice guy.  I dropped my drive to just past the rock, not great, but I’ve had worse, the pin is in the long position, and I drove my approach into the ground, just kept it too low.  A nice upshot and I save bogey.

Hole 10, I am finally over the mental block on this hole, and I make a very nice drive, leaving myself about 30 feet for the birdie, I make a hard run at it, and shoot past, leaving myself about 15 feet for the comebacker, I proceed to duff this, and make another bogey.

Hole 11, another great for me drive (center of the fairway a good 30 feet into the opening) ruined by a terrible release on the comet, during field work with this disc I could do no wrong, but after 2 throws on the course I am ready to toss it in front of a lawn mower, my 3^rd leaves me with about 25 feet, and I nail the bogey save.

Hole 12, I ground my drive, and my second leaves me about a 30 footer that I can’t make, bogey again.

Hole 13, I miss just a bit on my drive and it hits the tree/bush thing on the left of the fairway, Trying to keep my second low I keep it too low and ground it about 15 feet in front of me, put my third in drop in range and take another bogey.

Wow did the wheels come off what was a great start to a round.  Reading back on what I wrote, I can cut a few shots easy, the par putt on 10 should be a gimme, and I make it 95% of the time, just mental blocked it.  The terrible 2^nd shot on 11 was inexcusable, the drive I threw put me in great position to take a par on one of the harder holes for me.  12 and 13 were again just bad throws, trying to keep it low I got it a little too low.

Hole 14, my drive doesn’t turn when I expect, and I end up in the wood about pin high, after an easy out, I drop in for another par.

Hole 15, I take the left route, and give myself a very good shot, I have a nice opening to drop my putter through and take an easy 3, instead I griplock a bit, and instead of putting my putter through the opening I land it just behind the opening.  Now I have a 20 foot super downhill putt to save par, I drop it in, but it was a par I had to work a lot harder for than I would have liked.

Hole 16, first really poor drive of the day, I release too early, and send my Valk down the ravine, the out from there leaves me about 50 feet, and I 2 putt for bogey.

Hole 17, another really poor drive, got it way too high, and I have to scramble for a par on what I think is probably the easiest hole on the course.

Hole 18, a good drive, followed by what I though was a good second shot.  I get to my disc and see that I missed the window by about 5 feet, and I am instead forced to just toss it into the opening, I can’t get distance on it, and I leave myself about 50 feet, another 2 putt and I end with a 5 (on a hole that I have never done better than a 4 with the long pin).

Ended up shooting 62 or 8 over, this is a couple shots better than my average score there after about 40 rounds (thanks dgcoursereview.com scoretracker) so while I am not super unhappy with my score, there where a few shots that I would love to have back, and I really had a good chance the way I was throwing to put up a score in the 50’s and that would have been a personal best for me.   I do feel that playing more and practicing both putting and some midrange shots has been very helpful to me, and I plan on continuing to work on that.

See you all on the course.

So I have a blog now.  That means I can start rambling on about things.

I ran Bespin Regionals and Minnesota States this weekend.  Realized that I didn’t really want to play in and try to run a large tournament.  So I bowed out of playing at States today and just ran the tournament.  Enjoyed watching people play, being able to comment on games, and tease people.  Reminded why I love this game, the camraderie amongst players, and the friends I have made.

Thanks everyone who came, and I’m looking forward to playing with the new cards at our next local on July 10th.