2005 Illinois Open Series

[DougEDawg]

How 'bout Highland Park?    They have a solid course just off of Clavey.  18 holes.  What do you say, Bruce?  Jon?    

[DougEDawg]

My bad!     Only 9 holes, but I don't think there would be a problem adding 9 more.

[Bruce Brakel]

I'm just the merch man.  I can bring extra Skillshots for that kind of project, but since I'm not well positioned to help with design and approval, I leave those issues to Jon and Brett.  They have a fairly well designed and almost entirely approved series in place for 2004.  Does the park really have 10 unused acres that would work for a temporary nine?  

[damonshort]

Does the park really have 10 unused acres that would work for a temporary nine?

If there's no soccer or baseball going on, maybe, but it's not worth pursuing imo.

[Chainmeister]

This is Fink Park.  There is a lot of land.  I know that they use the park for baseball and Soccer.  We would have to coordinate.  The park is pretty open.  The existing 9 uses the area that has trees.  holes would have to be put at the fringe of open land and the surrounding woods in order to give it some challenge.  It is a nice looking park.  The last time I was there a soccer game was being played just to the left of the fairway  as I teed off on 6 or 7.

[SERG]

Question:  Would it actually bother any Wisconsin players if a Parkside tournaments was called an Illinois Open Series Event?

Wouldn't bother me any...except for the fact that of the 3 tournaments (6 total rounds) I've played at my HOME course, my best round was a glow round (-5) in the Big Paw this past year. Other than that, my best round was a -2 during the day.

Has everything been finalized through Parkside?

[damonshort]

This is Fink Park.  There is a lot of land.  I know that they use the park for baseball and Soccer.  We would have to coordinate.  The park is pretty open.  The existing 9 uses the area that has trees.  holes would have to be put at the fringe of open land and the surrounding woods in order to give it some challenge.  It is a nice looking park.  The last time I was there a soccer game was being played just to the left of the fairway  as I teed off on 6 or 7.

It's a fun course (especially since they ditched the infamous "saucers"), and frankly the closest course for me   , but there's already some mildly crossing/adjacent fairways on the existing 9. I'd say what's there is not challenging enough for a tournament - you really have to screw up to get a 4 on anything and even I've deuced half the holes.

I'm guessing that one might have problems with the PIB in Highland Park and ultimately it wouldn't be worth it. (although Ultimate has nothing to do with it. But seriously, folks...)

Might be fun to do leagues there one Sunday sometime, but probably before the weather gets nice and 'normal' people are back out there. There's a lot of land between the course and Clavey Rd. and several entertaining Skillshot holes could be constructed.

[CEValkyrie]

Has everything been finalized through Parkside?

Mirth is contacting them with the date & then things should be finalized.  

[mirth]

Has everything been finalized through Parkside?

Mirth is contacting them with the date & then things should be finalized.

Got word from them today that the contract should be in my hands before Christmas.

[Chainmeister]

Damon, I'm with you.  Anytime you want to play leagues at Fink is fine w/ me. The existing course is probably a bit easy for a tournament but there is a lot of land and tees could be extended.  Yet, length is not the real issue.  The holes are not too short.  They are too open.

[Bruce Brakel]

Damon, I'm with you.  Anytime you want to play leagues at Fink is fine w/ me. The existing course is probably a bit easy for a tournament but there is a lot of land and tees could be extended.  Yet, length is not the real issue.  The holes are not too short.  They are too open.

I remember Fink Park.  Very parklike, flat, nothing extreme, no disc eating terrain, a great introductory course for mom, dad and the kids.  

We have one park district that does not want to participate next year unless we act as their unpaid employees and run the event pretty much entirely for their benefit.  Basically, every scrap of profit we make on a normal event, they want to take as an up front user fee that we pay regardless of whether the event is a success or a bust, so we are now looking for another option for that date.  Brett might be giving negotiations another go around there, but their position did not sound like an invitation to negotiate.

With extended tees on some holes Buffalo Grove can be a good course and there is room for extra holes there.  Tom Christiansen used to run the Buffalo Stampede there in an 18 hole set up.  

[damonshort]

We have one park district that does not want to participate next year unless we act as their unpaid employees and run the event pretty much entirely for their benefit...
Brett might be giving negotiations another go around there, but their position did not sound like an invitation to negotiate.

Does this reflect any new information since Brett talked about this on Sunday?

[mirth]

sounds like it damon...

[DougEDawg]

How 'bout Madison Meadows Park in Lombard, or the Warren Township parks in Gurnee?

[Bruce Brakel]

We have one park district that does not want to participate next year unless we act as their unpaid employees and run the event pretty much entirely for their benefit...
Brett might be giving negotiations another go around there, but their position did not sound like an invitation to negotiate.

Does this reflect any new information since Brett talked about this on Sunday?

At the risk of being as annoying as ever, that would depend on what Brett said.  

[mirth]

Jeez Bruce, yer soooooo annoying    

[DougEDawg]

Sooo........

Any updates on what courses and when the Illinois Open Series is going to Happen?  Bruce?  Jon?  Brett?

[CEValkyrie]

These aren't 100% yet but pretty close. I need to work out some final details but all 6 seem to be a go. Hopefully they will remain that way.

Kenosha, WI
Lombard, IL
Streamwood, IL
Crystal Lake, IL
Waukegan, IL
Round Lake, IL

[DougEDawg]

Brett,

How many IL/WI tournaments do you/Bruce/Jon/etc plan to run?  I know there is the Bev. Blast and the three IOS's.  Are you going to add a couple more?  PDGA sanctioned?  Hope so!

[mirth]

The 6 Brett posted will all be their show next year. AFAIK the Widdershins will also happen, likely run by me, and will be a GDSTour event again.