2011 IOS #4 @ Jericho Lake August 13-14 - Aurora Borealis

[jasonc]

IOS crew, thanks for another great tournament!   

[Jon Brakel]

We were so lucky with the weather on Saturday. I was watching the radar from the pavillion and I kept seeing storm cells pop up to the west of us and then break up just before getting to us. We wound up having a brief shower in the middle of the afternoon round and then another one at the end of the round. Most people told me that they had rain for a total of about 5 holes on Saturday. Then Sunday. What a great day! Enough wind to keep the mosquitos grounded but not too much wind that the discs were grounded.

Hope that everyone that made it out had a great time!

[Sr.]

Thanks again IOS Crew! Temp holes were fun and things ran smooth as usual.

[smyith]

had a great time. i was really surprised at the lack of turnout though. Such a wonderful course and a gorgeous day. loved the temp holes, the two IOS's ive made it to this year (#1 and #4) have had some of the best temp holes you guys have ever came up with. every tournament is another rung up the ladder in quality. also, thank you for providing so much info before the tournament happened. the clipboards with the caddy book inside were really nice. all around great job. hopefully ill see you guys out at round lake.

[Jon Brakel]

I think a combination of the last IOS being two weeks ago and in general it being a busy time on the disc golf and personal schedules kept some people away for the weekend. Saturday the weather kept some people away. Jericho Lake is one of those courses that is underrated by some players. However it is a really fun course and we had a great day on Sunday. I don't really consume myself with turn out. It was a fun day and the turn out just made things more efficient. Getting home before 7pm was really nice!

Competition-wise I think the course is perfect for Novice through Intermediate level players. I think Advanced and Pro competition is a little compressed from the shorts but the long tees offer some nice play for all level of players. In addition I think the alt holes add that much also. I think we need help from the players that do come out to Jericho to help spread the word that the course is worth the trip.

[dana]

I'm guessing lack of turnout can be attributed to the course.
Run it on a good course and I'm guessing you would have doubled your turnout.

[stpitner]

From some of the guys that I talked to, a LOT of people were going back to college the weekend before this tournament as well as the weekend of the tournament.  Other people, such as my brother, could only help out one day as his new job as teacher started today with high school getting underway.  I know a lot of guys that due to school related things could not make it.

I do agree that there is a knock against the Jericho course as "too easy", but I definitely know that is not the only reason we had a lower turnout.

Help us get even better courses installed in the area where we can run an IOS, and hopefully we'll have someday again have a problem of needing to turn people away or needing to run a floater group!

[DiscGolfSchodt]

Your attendance would be up if Pro/Adv Played on Sunday.

[Stan the Blue Man]

Your attendance would be up if Pro/Adv Played on Sunday.

Funny Schimo lol

[pickax]

Thank you everyone that made it out to IOS#4. I think the threatening weather kept a few away on Saturday. Their loss.

I want to thank Jon and Becky for coming out and helping in Tournament Central. We hope you both enjoyed your Anniversary Saturday. The 10m circles were the work of some from the Fox Valley Metro Disc Golf Club. Thanks Aaron, Tafe, Blaine, Dahlton, and others who helped get the course setup and looking great for the event. It's nice to run events where people were happy to pitch in. Patrick from Aces and Chains (in addition to providing a couple of CTPs) was good enough to help me haul in the temp baskets in the rain on Saturday.

The IOS events could not happen without Scott Pitner from Paper or Plastic Sports being our merch lord. Without the deal we get from him, the prizes for the Am division would be a lot smaller.

Jericho Lake is what it is: a well kept, good looking course that could be more difficult. It's hard to find great courses where we can run events here in the Chicago Area.

I'm glad people like the clipboards with the course info sheet in them. If you have one of those clipboards in your bag or see someone with it, I need it back so that I have enough boards for the entire field for future events.

The TD reports are turned in and the PDGA has their money so you should see this in the next ratings update in two weeks (which also means if you want to see your unofficial rating, do it today!)

See you all at the next IOS in Round Lake on October 15/16! No aces were hit Sunday, so the Ace Pot will start with $99 in it.

[pickax]

One more thing, we did have a photographer out there from the local paper on Sunday. I'll post a link once something comes online. I do want to apologize to those that may have been affected by him moving around in your sight lines while playing. I will have to give better guidance in the future to the press on expectations from the players.

[Dan Michler]

I'm guessing lack of turnout can be attributed to the course.
Run it on a good course and I'm guessing you would have doubled your turnout.

Jericho Lake isn't that bad of a course, especially for this area.  Fairfield always gets a good turnout and I would rate both very similarly.  On DGCR, people rate Jericho a 3.11 and Fairfield a 2.92.

I think the lower turnout had more to do with several other factors.  Just 2 weeks after Sterling and 3 weeks after IL States which are both very well attended by the player base you'd be aiming for in Aurora.  Also, it seems the south suburbs are just flooded with events this year (I counted 3 PDGA events in Channahon, 8 in Joliet, 2 in Oswego, 1 in Lockport, 1 in Mokena).  Many players have to pick and choose their tournaments for financial reasons and to keep their families happy.

I look forward to attending Round Lake in October.

[Bruce Brakel]

Your attendance would be up if Pro/Adv Played on Sunday.

You could have played Sunday if you had wanted to. 

[stpitner]

For those of you looking for birdie bags at the tournament, my new stock just arrived yesterday.  The smalls now have a more professional looking bag, still zippers open and closed nicely - a very nice improvement.  Thankfully the price increase was small enough that I can keep all of the prices the same on the bags.

Contact me if you are still interested in picking some up since I won't be set up at a tournament (for now) until mid-October.

[airspuds]

I agree with  Dan's statements  .

myself  >dentist on Sat   and White sox game with best friends from grammer school  on Sunday

I would love to play Round Lake  in OCT  my goal is to play

[DiscGolfSchodt]

Your attendance would be up if Pro/Adv Played on Sunday.

You could have played Sunday if you had wanted to.  

Low blow Bruce. Thanks!

[Bruce Brakel]

Sorry.  I was just saying in case you weren't aware.