River City Rumble

[whofarted]

Calling all CannonBoys, Cominciollis, and Michlers of the world....

This will probably be the baddest tournament so far this year in the midwest.  It is a temp course that plays over 10,000 feet, 2,000 added cash, and from what I hear there is no chump shot on the course.  If you like courses that more geared towards par fours and fives this will be what you want to play. 

http://www.qcdiscgolf.com/tourneys.php

[tjdub42]

I took the tour of temporary course on 3/11 and it's a monster.  Plenty of water, distance, tight fairways, & elevation changes.  I'm hoping to break 90 for 24 holes and I believe only a few people will be able to break 80.
Should be a fun & exhausting (?) tournament.

[whofarted]

two rounds of that will be an ass kicker - buy everyone else is in the same boat so you'll hear no whining from me.  its been commented on before on this board, but i really like the idea of long holes and working for par.  to some it may seem that you gotta have the big arm to do well, but if you got an accurate 250' shot you can fair very well in a large crowd.

[Cannon Boy]

This tourney looks pretty sweet.  Your link did not work for me but I found it anyways.  I might hit this tourney up if I can get a ride.

[whofarted]

can you get to the intersection of I-80 and I-39, or better yet I-88 and I-39? 

[Mukey]

I'm planning on playing this one, but does anyone know when they're putting the course up? I usually like to practice the day before, but since it's a temp course.....

Cannon Boy, I've got room in my truck for 1 person but am south of you in Downers Grove.....

[Cannon Boy]

I think I just talked my bro in to driving.  I should be allright.

[whofarted]

I'm planning on playing this one, but does anyone know when they're putting the course up?

west lake park, davenport iowa

[tjdub42]

I just sent an email to the TD suggesting a course tour the day before the event (4/8).  I believe they will be setting up the course early on tourney day, so only someone familiar with the course will have a clear idea where to go before then.  They'll possibly have directions painted on the grass by Saturday, but I would recommend a tour over trying to figure it out yourself.

[Cannon Boy]

Dam 3 hour 15 min to park from my house on mapquest.  I have to keep that info secret from nick untill we are more than half way there.

[whofarted]

Dam 3 hour 15 min to park from my house on mapquest.  I have to keep that info secret from nick untill we are more than half way there.

I-80 is always infested with cops, especially west of I-39.  I am not sure where you live, but I would look into taking I-88.  it always goes a little faster and if you live anywhere near fairfield it is probably alot more direct.  I am guessing it would take 2:45 from the NW burbs of Chicago.

[Mukey]

I just sent an email to the TD suggesting a course tour the day before the event (4/8).  I believe they will be setting up the course early on tourney day, so only someone familiar with the course will have a clear idea where to go before then.  They'll possibly have directions painted on the grass by Saturday, but I would recommend a tour over trying to figure it out yourself.

Maybe I'll just play Menasha & New London in WI vs. this tourney. 2 "C" tiers vs. 1 "B" tier = more points. (hopefully)
The whole "temp" course thing is kinda crappy. Not in that it is a temp, but in the fact that I like to play an unfamiliar course the day before to get my bearings & try different routes.

[MDR_3000]

playing the course beforehand is over rated, just bring some skills.

[Mukey]

playing the course beforehand is over rated, just bring some skills.

So, have you ever driven 3+ hours to play a temp. course you've never seen & will not see until you play it?

Playing the course beforehand allows me to try different shots when they don't count and figure out the best strategy to card birdies.

[MDR_3000]

playing the course beforehand is over rated, just bring some skills.

So, have you ever driven 3+ hours to play a temp. course you've never seen & will not see until you play it?

Playing the course beforehand allows me to try different shots when they don't count and figure out the best strategy to card birdies.

Why yes I have, many many times last year! maybe not all of them temp courses, but i have driven 3+ hours to a tournament the night before and played courses I've never seen.

It's really not that bad, all you have to do it pick a line and be confident in the line you picked.  There will be the "shoulda-coulda-wouldas" but thinking about that doesn't help your game.

[jack]

Drathe (and others),

I don't claim to know anything about anything when it comes to throwing a frisbee, but I always find it helpful to play a course in advance. In fact, I've spoken several times with the TD, and it is likely that he will be at the park several days prior to the event painting tee and basket locations. There should be a fair number of people navigating the course on Saturday afternoon and camping at the park on Saturday night. I don't know that all 24 baskets will be up on Saturday, but please don't let the temporary status of the course you from playing this event.

[whofarted]

jon clued me into this one - bring a bike and ride the course before hand, maybe do it twice.  you can get the whole course done in probably twenty minutes and you have the rest of the morning to stew over what routes you want to take.  MDR is dead on in saying that playing a course isnt neccessary - sometimes that first instinct is the best one.

[tjdub42]

The TD Chad Eng got back to me.  He expects "a ton of people" out on the course on Saturday, plus he will have maps, scorecards, & distances available.  Hopefully Chad or someone else familiar with the course will have time for a tour in the afternoon.

[Chad Eng]

Like Tyler said, there will be a boatload of people out at the course the day before. I'm probably going to have maps and scorecards out there as well, provided I can get some printed up. I'll probably be out there a few days before with some spray paint to mark out the course as far as tees and basket locations, as well as directionals so you don't get lost walking from the basket to the next tee. If I can get out there and mark everything early, I'll probably just float around and play a bunch of holes all day on saturday. We'll be on the lookout for out of towners and new guys, so they don't get lost.

As far as playing the course cold, I know exactly what you mean. But I'll offer a different thought to that argument - Whenever I play a tournament on a course I've never seen, I play considerably better than on a course I've played even a few times. Mostly because I don't have that "I ALWAYS throw that shot on this hole" mentality. (And then it never works.) I like to stand on the tee and actually THINK about what options I have and then THINK about where the flight path I intend to take is. Just something to think about.

Also keep in mind, you'll be playing against a lot of players who also haven't seen the course before. No home field advantage!

We'd love to see you come over for this event. IF you guys are in need of hotels, we can get you details on that, or there is camping (rough or with hookups) right in the park (about 100 feet from basket number 17).

The baskets probably won't all be set up on saturday, but we'll have flags or stakes in the ground so you know where you're going. It's incredibly difficult to set up, tear down, then set up, and tear down 24 baskets. We'll do what we can though. From the e-mail and phone response I've gotten, this event should be pretty good size. Sounds like a ton of people west of the Mississippi will be driving over for it (some are playing a doubles tournament in Des Moines the day before and making a weekend out of it), and I've already gotten 10 calls from people saying they were planning on playing Bowling Green Pro, but they'd rather make a shorter drive to play this new layout.

As far as the layout. It is pretty long. Average hole length is about 450. Don't let this bother you, though. There are some shorties out there to keep it fun and to help your score. There is some wind, so bring your overstable plastic. And there is some elevation and water. Just bring your mental game that day, and you'll be fine. Keep in mind there are some holes designed to be played as approach/placement first, then drive, (then maybe another drive), then putt. I like people to THINK when they're on the tee, not just hop up and crush one. I've been laying out this course for about 3 years now, so most of the holes are pretty well thought out, from tee to green. There's only one hole that I ran into trouble with and made it a short "filler" hole - I hate to admit it. There's a majority of righty holes out on the course, but to keep it interesting, some of those righty holes finish lefty-favored. Upon playing it a few times, you'll see there are some lefty favored holes though, so bring a forehand as well if you've got it. (And throw some extra endurance into your bag for the second round).

I'll be unavailable for a few weeks, and I'll be back in the country the wednesday before the event (I know, poor planning on my part). But pre-registration will still be going strong and the phone number on the flyer and website will still work and there will be people returning calls. If you've got specific questions, you may want to hop on the Quad City message board and ask (http://www.qcdiscgolf.com). Or shoot MDR3000 a message and he'll get you an answer. He doesn't work at all - he's just a board lurker... ha ha

I'll quit rambling. Hope to see you in Davenport.

Chad Eng
Tournament Director - River Cities Rumble

[tjdub42]

Here are the West Lake Park distances:

Hole   Length
1   432
2   265
3   423
4   338
5   826  Lotsa water
6   305
7   342
8   275
9   315

10   237
11   187
12   564
13   870  Lotsa water
14   333
15   856
16   437
17   265  Tight Fairway
18   780  Tight Fairway

19   230
20   514  Tight Fairway
21   642
22   365
23   565
24   470

For all holes over 600 ft., 4 would be a great score.