From East to (mid)West

Alright ya'll, with yet another finals season finished, a new time of the year begins (preferably with more disc golf than the last).  My summer will be markedly different than the previous few.  For instance, my PDGA account has not been renewed this year.  With so much uncertainty and busyness and travel in the last couple months and with so much more of the same in the next couple months, I didn't think I would find the time or resources to make renewal worthwhile.  We hope that next year will be different, but it just didn't make sense this year.  Further, the annual disc golf weekend of the SCDGA will be sans Diggs.  I hope the rest of ya'll are still able to get together for a trip, but for similar reasons, the timing and the finances just didn't make it possible.

What I am looking at, however, is a Midwest cameo for about a month or so before returning to the east coast.  During that month, I hope to connect with anyone who might be around the SCDGA birthplace during the rest of May through a fair amount of June.  I would like to see you gentlemen if possible.  I will be without reliable transportation during that time, and with my competition bag staying put out east, I'll be struggling through a meager disc schedule on backup discs.  Such is life.  But after I get back out here, things should open up a bit, allowing a more regular disc fix.

Here's what we're looking at through August:

• MRK has already mentioned a possible trip down to throw a round or two.  This needs to happen.
• I have a couple business trips during the Midwest trip.  One of these takes me to Jiggs' hometown.  We're going to try to get together and play a round at our old stomping grounds
• Another trip takes me to Kansas City for a couple days.  I have not played a course in Kansas or Missouri.  I'm hoping to make both happen
• I haven't spoken with URBWes in awhile, but if he wants to spike some more burritos, he should visit his sister during early June.  URBWes, you want a burrito
• Harky I know is more limited in coming back (that's what you get for living in the Big Cheesy), but I wish him the best in working out a disc weekend!
• When I get back here, I'll have about three guys to play with around here.  They aren't my Cold Lampin' Crew, but they'll do.  We'll be regulars at the Mercer course, which has gotten much better this season
• I'm also hopeful we are able to make a trip to Tyler State Park and maybe even Warwick up north.  These are two well-regarded courses and the best around here
• Most of you will know to whom I refer when I mention the Halo name Reepicheep.  There's a possibility I'll be able to head up to see him this summer.  If so, I'm not sure I could pass on all the quality disc around Rochester

I leave tomorrow morning for a place that was 40 degrees colder than it was here today.  I hope you are all doing well.  Catch ya'll 'round the Lamp.

~Diggs

2013: A Disc Odyssey

This summer represents a pretty major change for me and my family.  I will be moving across the country in August to the east coast.  I'll be driving solo in my trusty Chevy Impala that may, in fact, eclipse a quarter million miles on the trip.  Now this isn't the first long trip I've made.  A number of years ago, I moved to Charlotte (in the same Impala, no less!).  The problem with long trips... they are long.  And they are boring.  They are long and boring.  And I needed to figure out a way to make the entire experience more palatable.  Enter map.  Here's what we're looking at:


View Larger Map

I know what you're thinking.

"Wow Diggs, that's a long way to drive.  What are all those little markers?"

So glad you asked!

Those are points spaced out on my proposed driving route.  Each one represents a course I (tentatively) plan on playing on the way out, picking up most states I will be traveling through.  I chose large cities in my path spaced out fairly evenly.  Then, looking at local options, chose some of the better regarded courses in the area.  Here is the list:

1. Sertoma Park (Sioux City, IA): Former Cold Lamp Headquarters, this was the beginning of my disc golf experiences.  Seemed fitting to make it the beginning of this disc golf journey
2. Camden Park II (Milan, IL): A course in Davenport looked more interesting, but this one also looked promising and is located in a state in which I have yet to play.  No better reason, really.
3. Mohawk DGC/Boondock Farms (~Indianapolis, IN): Mohawk looked really interested, but it was described as a private course available only on special occasions.  What does that mean?  I don't know.  But Boondock is a more than suitable substitute from what I have seen.  It will also add an Indiana course.
4. Brent Hambrick Memorial DGC (Columbus, OH): The Memorial is the site of one of the largest and well-respected tourneys of the year and a National Tour stop.  Having yet to play a course used in the NT aside from a couple WC courses, I am excited to give it a go!
5. Moraine State Park (Portersville, PA): I hear Pittsburgh is a fairly decent place to play some disc.  Moraine is described as a championship level course.  Hopefully I have enough time to fit in all these quality courses!
6. Mercer County Park (West Windsor Township, NJ): This will be in the neighborhood of my new home.  Might as well see what the locals are up to, eh?

 All stops will depend on how the drive is going and whether or not I have the time to spare, but I should be able to manipulate the drive to include most if not all.

Of course, if my wife joins me on the trip, I'm going to say all plans are off (though I might be able to finagle the Memorial!).  Anyway, wish me luck and Godspeed.  I will be embarking on a new adventure.  One thing is for certain (as concerns this blog), disc golf will continue to be a part of it!

Auf Wiedersehen!

~Diggs

The Hummel Tourney That Wasn't

As a follow up to my previous post, I say, "not this time, folks." On Friday, I was able to hit up Treasure Cove DGC over in Council Bluffs (it's actually a nice course they have over there) with my local partner, Josh "Jiggs" Van Roekel. While windy and chilly, we were hopeful that the day would prove fruitful, giving last minute practice for me in prep for the tournament the next day and giving Jiggs a chance to see some decent course action before the Bachelor Weekend of the Century (official new title).

While the fruit did appear in those two regards, we had underestimated three items. Both the wind and the cold were substantially more unfortunate than we had estimated. Wind in general is a bummer, but everyone has to deal with it. Fine. But cold creates such a problem because in order to function, you have to add layers. These layers (sweatshirts, coats, etc) invariably alter throwing mechanics, and I had no desire to mess with those just when I was getting them down. And the other variable was the ground. While it had rained here for the previous couple days, I figured it would have been absorbed enough to provide fairly reliable footbing. Not so.

And so, as I arose on Saturday morn to see that the temperatures were lower, the ground remained soggy, and the wind blew stronger. Therefore, I declined to enter the tournament. I didn't like it, but that's what happened. I will certainly get up to Hummel as soon as I can. I'm pretty excited to throw a wooded course again.

I'll be sure to give you my impression of the course once I play it, as well as other course reviews from around the area. Also on the docket, South Sioux City has introduced their first disc golf course this month! I was able to confirm that the course is up and playable. That being the case, the King and I should have a chance to hit that up during Memorial Day weekend, and hopefully our old home, Sertoma. I'm pretty excited for a reunion run with the King!

Finally, a big welcome to Josh "Jiggs" Van Roekel to the blog with his first post on the homemade baskets. I've known Jiggs for years. We were on the same floor in our college dorm, we played on the lacrosse team together, and has become a reliable and dare I say excitable discing partner this past year. He will be joining the rest of the crew at the Bachelor Weekend of the Century. He's a good ship. The rest of you will like him.

Have a great week ya'll. I'll meet you back at the basket.

~Diggs