Thanksglowing and Byron Big D Doubles Recaps

[Bruce Brakel]

I realize that you guys don't travel east to tournaments, so I did not bother to promote my Thanksgiving events out here.  At the request of Overstable.com I wrote up short recaps, and since you are, on the average, exceptionally literate for disc golfers, I thought you might enjoy reading them:


Thanksglowing, The TD's Perspective

It was never my idea to run a glow tournament on the brutal leading edge of winter but traditions must be kept.  The Unabridged Farmer's Almanac lists the Saturday after Thanksgiving as the third most miserable day in the year, on average, in Michigan, and Saturday was no exception.  I got to the course two hours early to shovel and salt the tees.  It was 20 degrees, but the sun and the fresh snow somehow did nothing to lift my spirits.

As I shoveled the snow I fantasized that maybe only Paul Jeffries would show up.  We could play two quick rounds and one of us would get his name on the coveted Hot Round Cup.  But I also knew that the Original Winnie Crew was coming and that local pro Kirk Haggadone had been practicing for this one event since he got home from the USDGC.  

As the players arrived the sun made an early exit behind thick clouds.  The scant warmth of the late November sun faded and the wind picked up off the lake.  Five hardy pros and twelve amateurs signed up and the tournament was under way.

Kirk's pre-game strategy was to hang close to the super-pros by day from the longs.  Then he hoped to beat them during the night round with his superior knowledge of every tree, bush and limb between the short tees and the basket.  Kirk and Dave Feldberg shot the best day rounds under adverse conditions, both coming in at -3.  Todd Branch was a few strokes back.  Former touring pro Sue Stevens had a one stroke lead over Jen Dombrowski.

At night Kirk's practice paid off.  The clouds covered the moon and the holes were inky black.  Although he shot the coldest hot round in Thanksglowing history, victory put a glow on the tarnished cup that Kirk never noticed before.  Jen came from behind to beat Sue and Paul Jeffries prevailed in Advanced on a play off.  

We had 100% attendance at Putters afterwards, owing no doubt to the fact that all the amateurs had $5 off coupons and I went there first with the pro payouts!  The tradition has been kept and I'll be back next year too.

Errata:  Michigan elected a Canadian as our governor during our last election.  In honor of her honor, Governor Jennifer Granholm, next year we will honor our tradition and her's by holding the Thanksglowing on the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, six weeks earlier!  


Byron Big D Doubles at Willow Brook Country Club

The micropolis of Byron, Michigan, nearly doubled in population Sunday, November 30, 2003, when disc golfers from five states arrived for the Byron Big D Doubles at Willow Brook Country Club.  82 players arrived to play the longest and funnest 18 hole course in Michigan, a 13,500 foot long, par 72 monster laid out on a golf course.

Playing 18 holes of 2-man best shot, Team Wisconsin, captained by world class pro Chris Heeren, shot a blistering -10 to take a one stroke lead on The Original Winnie Crew, Al Schack and Todd Branch.

As expected, the limited daylight hours allowed for only a Final Nine rather than two eighteens.  The pros played the shorter, more technical front nine while the advanced amateurs played the longer and windier back nine.  

Branch and Schack shot a near perfect round making several long clutch putts.  Eight birdies and one par later, they defeated Team Wisconsin by a single stroke.

In the Advanced division, 27 holes decided nothing!  Team Kensington, Bill Themm and Casey Cook were tied with Team Brown Park, Ron Howard and Jim Daniels.  The two teams returned to the waning twilight for a sudden victory playoff.  Themm and Cook found a quick birdie for the advanced win.

The tournament was played on temporary Chainstars donated for the event by Discraft.  Until the permanent course is installed, the course is usually set up with lightweight portables made by Innova.  Willow Brook's club house manager, Tracy Glidden, and PDGA State Coordinator, Bruce Brakel, teamed up to make this unique event happen.

[tree]

Did you have fun overall?

[Bruce Brakel]

I made a lot of fun, overall, for those who played.

The players at the Kensington thing were well behaved but spirits were dampened by the adverse weather.  Kirk Haggadone had most of the fun there.  He did not beat a large pro field but he beat a couple of players who matter and will get his name on the cup.  Paul Jeffries certainly enjoyed his first win in Advanced.  Like me, he plays above his rating in winter conditions by just playing the same.

The players at the Byron thing had outrageous amounts of fun.  I did not see anyone having a bad time, even the players who were getting their butts kicked by the course.  I've never seen a larger, happier bunch of players generally ignoring 804.05 on private property that owns a liquor license!