2004 PDGA World Championships

[Dan Michler]

I got ur email brett.  it just lists the players who are registered (both of us and Damon are listed) and what they are registered for.  It doesn't say what pool we are in yet.

[damonshort]

I was looking at the schedule for the Worlds tonight and realized that we (advanced) don't play all of the courses.  We mostly play Big Creek, Gateway Park, and Des Moines Comm. College.  Does anybody know what these courses are like?  Are they tight, wooded or more open.  I'm a little disappointed we don't get to play at Iowa State, as I heard that was a decent course.

you're still better off than the 'advanced grandmaster' division... apparently the 'master' pool has gotten too big and the *really* old guys (like me) have been bumped down to the courses the junior girls are playing... we get the two courses that everyone plays and that's it. Two of the other 3 don't have any information up on the website, at least as of last Saturday (I just got back in town).

And if I were a junior girl I'd be complaining too....    

[Jon Brakel]

I was looking at the schedule for the Worlds tonight and realized that we (advanced) don't play all of the courses.  We mostly play Big Creek, Gateway Park, and Des Moines Comm. College.  Does anybody know what these courses are like?  Are they tight, wooded or more open.  I'm a little disappointed we don't get to play at Iowa State, as I heard that was a decent course.

you're still better off than the 'advanced grandmaster' division... apparently the 'master' pool has gotten too big and the *really* old guys (like me) have been bumped down to the courses the junior girls are playing... we get the two courses that everyone plays and that's it. Two of the other 3 don't have any information up on the website, at least as of last Saturday (I just got back in town).

And if I were a junior girl I'd be complaining too....  

The upside is that you have two GREAT dedicated TDs for the whole week! Other pools will have a different TD for each course, but Becky and I have volunteered for the Jr. girl - boys <10 - 50-70 year old men pool. We are only taking one day off--maybe wednesday?--so, that's a plus, right? RIGHT?!?  

I understand why you are " ", Damon. But try to not take it out on the Worlds organizers. With having so many people they had to shift an adult division over to the Jrs. I have been told that the courses that the Jrs. are playing are just as good as the rest of the Worlds courses, only generally a bit shorter. It might actually be an advantage for the players who can't throw over 300 feet. There is one course that EVERY Worlds player plays, but I don't have the schedule open in front of me to tell you which course that is. I think it will still be a good time Damon.

[damonshort]

I was looking at the schedule for the Worlds tonight and realized that we (advanced) don't play all of the courses.  We mostly play Big Creek, Gateway Park, and Des Moines Comm. College.  Does anybody know what these courses are like?  Are they tight, wooded or more open.  I'm a little disappointed we don't get to play at Iowa State, as I heard that was a decent course.

you're still better off than the 'advanced grandmaster' division... apparently the 'master' pool has gotten too big and the *really* old guys (like me) have been bumped down to the courses the junior girls are playing... we get the two courses that everyone plays and that's it. Two of the other 3 don't have any information up on the website, at least as of last Saturday (I just got back in town).

And if I were a junior girl I'd be complaining too....  

The upside is that you have two GREAT dedicated TDs for the whole week! Other pools will have a different TD for each course, but Becky and I have volunteered for the Jr. girl - boys <10 - 50-70 year old men pool. We are only taking one day off--maybe wednesday?--so, that's a plus, right? RIGHT?!?  

I understand why you are " ", Damon. But try to not take it out on the Worlds organizers. With having so many people they had to shift an adult division over to the Jrs. I have been told that the courses that the Jrs. are playing are just as good as the rest of the Worlds courses, only generally a bit shorter. It might actually be an advantage for the players who can't throw over 300 feet. There is one course that EVERY Worlds player plays, but I don't have the schedule open in front of me to tell you which course that is. I think it will still be a good time Damon.

oh, I'm not really taking it out on the organizers, I realize they're only doing what they have to do; if I were really upset about it I'd post something on the PDGA board and I'm not doing that...    I'm sure the courses are fine, but it does mean that we're playing one fewer 'distinct' course, I believe, so that's where the disappointment lies.

And I can always get a junior girl to help me add my score.    

I've adjusted my perspective this past week anyhow. I just returned last night from a recording session in upstate New York. It was a joint project with a trumpeter I've known for years (who's on a couple of my earlier CDs). The music was incredible, but the recording engineer, David Baker, passed away during the week before it was finished. He was gravely ill when he arrived from NYC but insisted on doing the session. We had no idea he was in such terrible health (and a lawsuit against his so-called 'doctor' is already in the works) until he got there. We managed to finish the session with the mixing board set as he left it and the eventual CD will be dedicated to his memory and spirit.

David was quite seriously the best in his field, had done thousands of sessions in not only jazz (some of you might know Medeski Martin & Wood - he's done most of their stuff and was going to work with them again next week) but rock (old Moody Blues things) and classical since the mid-60s. I first had the pleasure of working with him about 14 years ago and he was a truly beautiful person as well as a brilliant technician and sound artist. He was only 58 and he will truly be missed around the world.

So, flinging frisbees around Des Moines for a week is not such a big deal to me at the moment.

[Bruce Brakel]

I played the junior courses when I was there.  You will have more fun on the junior courses unless you define fun by how badly you get your ass kicked by a course.  Most of the junior courses are like 18 holes of the Bevier original nine, without the pond, and a little longer.  These are park-like courses that have lots of mature trees but not a lot of nasty schule.  They have traditional par 3 kinds of holes.  They won't shake out the chaff as relentlessly and ruthlessly as some of the tougher courses.  

You can think about that and decide if maybe that works for you!        

[Someone who knows]

I could not find the collared shirt discussion, so I'll post an update here.  This is unofficial but really good insider information.  If you buy or sell stock based on this information, Martha's lawyer won't be able to get you off.

Ams and pros should plan on wearing their collared shirts at Worlds.  Tucked and non-tucked is not supposed to become an issue, but if your TD or marshall asks you to tuck, you will, because that way it won't become an issue.  

[CEValkyrie]

Looks like most of the Advanced Illinois Players are in Pool H to start.

http://www.pdga.com/tournament/tournament_...hp?TournID=4023



I got some good practice in today.

20 holes, Eureka
9 holes, Marquette Heights
18 holes, Canton
47 total holes.

[CEValkyrie]

Dan

I looked at our schedule for the first to days before the great shuffle. I thought we had a 7:30AM Tee off. You didn't believe me the other night. Looks like we need to play DMACC & CM on Sunday to get some practice.

Sunday 8-8 Check in

Monday 8-9
7:30AM @ DMACC (Des Moines Area Community College)
3:30PM @ CM (Carroll Marty)

Tuesday 8-10
11:30AM @ BC (Big Creek)

Here are some Illinois Players in our Pool.
Nate Baron
Brian Bazan
Roy A. Bazon
Pat Blake
Dave Cannek
Justin Clemmer
Brett Comincioli
Jay Greenwood
Brad Guidera
Luke Langdon
David Leeds
Brian Lucas
Eric Mathias
Danno Merkel
Rob Merkel
Dan Michler
Scott Murphy
Chase Roberts
Ryan Schuman
Fred Vroman

[Dan Michler]

i hope we're somewhate close to DMACC then     You said 7 AM the other night though, so atleast u were a half hour off    

[damonshort]

Brett & Dan, you've got PMs.

Not to be confused with PMS.

[airspuds]

pdga radio has advice for you all going to worlds

[damonshort]

pdga radio has advice for you all going to worlds

Anybody else think that Brian Sullivan puts too much Benzedrine in his Ovaltine?
Yikes.  

[Bruce Brakel]

pdga radio has advice for you all going to worlds

Anybody else think that Brian Sullivan puts too much Benzedrine in his Ovaltine?
Yikes.

I think Brian is -- OVER THE TOP -- in his use of -- RADIO DJ INFLECTIONS!!!

[Bruce Brakel]

Rodney has final odds posted at PDGA.com.  I'm a lock to make the semis and a 24-1 long shot to make the Finals.  I have no appreciable chance to win it.

So I guess I can stay home and always remember the day I made the lock-odds to make the semi-finals.      

[damonshort]

Rodney has final odds posted at PDGA.com.  I'm a lock to make the semis and a 24-1 long shot to make the Finals.  I have no appreciable chance to win it.

So I guess I can stay home and always remember the day I made the lock-odds to make the semi-finals.   

El Presidente is 9-1 in advanced; I'd take those odds.

He--, Dan is 33-1 and I'd take that too...



(edit: what I meant was Dan is an even better bet at those odds...unless Brett snores too much, I suppose...  )

[Dan Michler]

that dude has way too much time on his hands.  I'd love to throw down a bet on Brett and myself to make the semis with those ridiculous odds though.  I wonder how he came up with those numbers.  It obviously wasn't straight ratings based.  Somebody should tell Pat Blake that he has only a small chance to make the finals and virtually no chance of beating Sean Butler.    

I think those odds might actually have a small amount of validity for the Open division though, because the top Open players have played a large number of rounds in head-to-head competion.

[CEValkyrie]

has anybody noticed how good Dan Michler is?  I really think it would be a miracle if I can beat him at Worlds. He is my pick to make the Finals, he is so much better than me.  He sure is a heck of a nice guy though,  and still single ladies !!!!

[Jon Brakel]

In the ever changing TD pool, Becky and I are now TDs for Pool O which is all the Jr. Boys except for the <10 boys. So we won't be the TDs for our nieces and the grumpy old men.    

[Dan Michler]

has anybody noticed how good Dan Michler is? I really think it would be a miracle if I can beat him at Worlds. He is my pick to make the Finals, he is so much better than me. He sure is a heck of a nice guy though, and still single ladies !!!!

Thanks Brett! I had no idea you felt that way.  Don't be intimidated though, I'm still human        

[damonshort]

slightly biased predictions for the Worlds:

Open: Barry, Climo, Brinster, Cam Todd in the final 4. Longshots but not a real surprise: Keith Warren, Chris Heeren - Both of them will finish ahead of Russell. Barry will repeat, but not by much.

Women: Juliana and Des will be reallllly close. (2 Iowans, after all). Flip a coin.

Am Masters: Bruce willl make the semis, maybe the final 4.

Advanced: Brett and Dan will make the semis. They'll have to pay my share of the room if they don't  

Junior boys < 16: Adrian Jr. will make the finals, or be really close.

Junior Girls < 16: Kelsey is a lock, probably will beat one of the < 19s

Am Grandmasters: I'm ranked 28th out of 44; if I can finish 28th I'll be "satisfied", if I can make the final 16 (semis) I'll be ecstatic. I believe if I can keep my act together (forgetting about Peoria, among other things) I can make the top 20.

Amateur Mixed Doubles: Bruce and Diana will remain married after the tournament.

TDs of the week: Jon & Becky  

I will be enjoying this.

Place yer bets...