Course Spotlight: Blue Ribbon Pines Disc Golf Club

The time has come for a course review, "up in this place." I recently had the opportunity to play a course that we in this blog world have talked about playing for a long time. No it's not a Hybridge course seeing that's in Wisconsin. It happens to be a course that is located about thirty minutes north of the cities off of Hwy 65 in East Bethel, MN. Believe it or not it is located on a sod farm. So the grass is greener than a golf course in Nevada. Let me just say it's nice. Ladies and Gentleman I give you:
Yes, beautiful BLUE RIBBON PINES DISC GOLF CLUB. Here is a few lovely facts provided by ( http://blueribbonpines.net/ )Check it out for yourself

Facts:
Course was established in 2006.
This course has 27 holes for a par of 88
Pay to Play $5 to play all day long. IT'S WORTH IT!

Opinion: at a glance:
*I only played one round.
*Next time it's gonna be a day trip.
*Bring a Snack lunch and some liquids be it dew or an ale of some sort. (my suggestion is gatorade) cause your gonna need it.
*Don't let the idea that the Minnesota Majestic is played here to be the deciding factor that you aren't good enough to play it. Big missconception. The course is very playable to the average player.

I've seen some people break down the course by holes and give you their opinion on it. I could do that but I'm not for a couple of reasons which you can already guess. Yep 27 holes. That should say it. So I will give you some of my highlights.

Highlights/Review:

Saturday May 9th was the day, and about 9AM in the morning. I got word of some friends from Bethel were embarking to play at Blue Ribbon Pines or BRP from here on out. I was pumped to hear that some of my friends were going to play this that I had to invite myself along. So I did. I brought along my roommate Danny D for the occasion too. As we were driving there my stomach began to get very tense and nervous.

After stepping inside the clubhouse and seeing that it's setup just like a regular ball golf course with a small pro shop, cash register, food and beverages. I began to settle down a bit. My group consisted of eight players split up into two groups for speeds sake. Which allowed us to move at a steady "non-rushed" pace. (Oh and nobody ever begins to play a hole when you are playing...the respect you there)

Here's My Score for the Round I played:
Par 88
King 100


It's was a great course to experience. Lots of technical holes that are very parable if you play controlled and think one shot ahead. I believe it's called course management.

Well if you want more info call me and let's go play it. I heard they re-worked a few holes and they are amazing.

Until then....

the King is out on the course

An attempt to keep my integrity while Disc Golfing

This year, like any other year I always say I am not keeping score till May. I do that for a few different reasons. First is because I haven't probably played the game since the preceding October or November (if we were lucky). Second, because I just don't want to know my scores because they are so bad. I use March and April as a sort of "Spring Training" for lack of a disc golf term. To get my arm and mind back in the disc golfing mentality. I work on making consistent throws. Good or bad. Hopefully for the good. I work on mentally thinking about my next shot before I step up to throw. And ultimately not losing a disc is on my mind. Just lay it up close for a Par...the birdies will come soon enough. When ever the putting arrives. (usually about October or November). So In doing so..it has been May now for about 21 days. I have played a total of three official scoring rounds on three different courses and have done fairly well. The scores don't reflect it but I feel I have. Here are my scores (Don't laugh)

Bethel University (Arden Hills, MN)

Date	Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Total
Par	Yellow	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	27
5.9.09		3	3	2	4	5	3	6	3	2	31

	Blue Ribbon Pines, (East Bethel, MN)
Date	Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	Total
Par	2009	3	3	3	4	4	4	3	3	3	4	3	3	3	3	3	3	4	4	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	4	3	88
5.9.09		3	3	5	7	3	3	5	3	2	3	5	3	4	3	4	4	4	3	5	4	2	3	4	3	4	5	3	100

Hopefully, this will keep me honest this summer. Not that I have or will be a lier but I think this will help me become a better Disc Golfer.

Missionary work for Disc Golf

I have felt that it is a calling for the disc golf community to create new disciples. We must introduce them to the game, help to lead them past the early issues of the developing disc golfer, and eventually create a new convert who can, in turn, create other new disc golfers.
It may be lame to create such a comparison to organuzed religion, but it draws from the truth.

One of my new friends in Marshall, Kyle, has recently been introduced to the game by my suggestion. We played on the course at SMSU and shared my discs. I tried to keep him to the midrange discs but also let him have a go with the drivers to see how they work (even when they aren't thrown properly). Well... he has become a full blown addict! Kyle played the last 4 days in a row, bought 5 discs the day after we played, and has been loving it. Activites have included playing rounds of disc golf, driving range in an open field, and perusing the wonders of http://www.innovadiscs.com/.

His conversion reminds me of another friend from the cities to whom I shared the good news of disc golf. His name is Danny and he is easily a better disc golfer than me and was so after a few months. Not to be selfish, but I hope in that regard we don't have a repeat conversion experience.

URBWes

I miss the warmth...

Unfortunate facts of life these days:

1) Nobody was around this summer to disc with, so I wasn't able to go

2) I worked 2 jobs and was a full-time grad student this fall, so I didn't have time to go

3) Now, I finally have some time, but its too cold to go!

The fates are consipring against me... and I weep. All I can do is look the fool as I emulate my throw in the living room in silence. Winter? I hate the word, as I hate hell and all things vulture!

This is the reason for my prolonged vacation from posting. I have had nothing to report. But...

WE SHALL OVERCOME!!!

Diggs

Spring Is Upon Us!

Weather is clearing.

Snow is melting.

Courses are being prepared.

URBWes and I have already played a round.

Let's do this.


~Diggs

A SiouxCity Reunion

Diggs, The Mid-Range King, and I met on Saturday, November 24th to do what we must, in good conscience, whenever in the Sioux City area: play disc golf at Sertoma Park. The weather was favorable for a late November afternoon and the company was second to none. We reminisced while hurling our champion and other non-champion plastic discs into the air. While it was mostly an outing to shake off the dust, some well placed throws were made by all, and a few pictures were taken to commemorate the occasion. They are reproduced here:

The Upside of Random Relocation...

2007 Disc Golf World Championships...

Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC...

10 minutes from my apartment...

Suckers!!


~Diggs


Song of the Week: "Final Countdown" by Europe

The Dirty South

What up SCDGA! I found a way to pirate a little internet from my apartment, so hopefully I'll be able to post a bit more.

As you can imagine, quite a bit has changed for me in the past month or so. Too much to really discuss here, so let's just stick to the discs. My new town, Charlotte, is replete with disc golfing opportunities. Unfortunately, I have been afforded little time to get out on the links. I work most days anymore. In fact, today's the only day I have off for a week on either side. I also don't know any other discers in the area, and as I consider disc a strictly social venture, I have little desire to go solo.

I have not been fasting, however. I recently visited Augusta, GA to visit a friend. I was super excited to do so. Not just to visit my friend, but because the PDGA headquarters is in Augusta. My friend humored me and we visited the course closest to his house. Little did I know that the course had hosted a world championship a while back. I also had the chance to hit up the Ren, a local course of legend, before the constraints of employment hampered my free time. The Ren had also recently hosted a world championship.

Perhaps I will go into specifics on these courses at a later time, but rest assured that these courses were not chosen for championships on accident. The Ren, in particular, humbled and humiliated me. I was rattled to my very foundations. In exasperation, I became reclusive, avoiding that which had given me joy.

I have since meditated upon my shortcomings and return with a vigor not often found amongst people of our generation. It is a drive that manifests itself in the core of the being. Then, almost brooding, it grows into a violent castrophany that tests the malleability of the soul, finally promulgating itself in only inaudible ways. An expression in idyllic form of the beauty that is our charge as the benefactors of our glorious sport.

With my newfound vitality,

I seek mere perfection.

Gentlemen, I have returned.

~Diggs

Song of the Week: "Life is Beautiful" by Vega4

New Course Review

Today I took my roommate, Nathan, disc golfing with his newly purchased discs. We decided to find a course near the Sporting Goods store where he bought his "disc value pack" (yes I heartily endorse Fairway Flyers but he wanted the three-disc set which actually is a little chaper even with the Bethel discount).
I found a course just up the road from where I work and we set to playing all 12 holes provided by the park. From the beginning I knew this was going to be a decent park. Aside from the usual false start (we played hole 10 first), the course was well laid out. The end of each hole was followed by a sign pointing to the next one which had distance and approximate direction of the hole. The paths were well designated and bridges were in place to aid during the wetter season. The course weaves around a creek which poses some water hazard, but not much especially in the middle of summer. The entire course lay within the woods which was enjoyable as opposed to an open course which would quickly take the fun out of playing in 90 degree weather. Though the course was wooded, the trees proved navigable (though did present some challenge).
The holes offered a decent variety of dog-leg rights and lefts as well as some straight shots. One hole was 675 feet, but most were simple par threes. I spent the majority of m time with my mid-range discs but enjoyed the many skill shots needed to hit par.
Overall, the course was very enjoyable for it's easy to understand layout (as opposed to many courses such as white bear), decent walking paths, and tricky shots. However, the course may become boring with multiple plays due to it's lack of long shots and fairly manageable hazards. If you are in the cities I suggest giving the course a try, but it will harly become the stand-by course that acorn is for me.

Thanks,
Urbwes

Heat + Discing = Manliness

Hey Bros...It has been a little while, but I thought I would stop in and report that it is HOT discing in Sioux City. Me and my homeboy Sean went the other day for three rounds in the morning, and it was muggy. We sweat profusely, and the pair of us could have been smelled on distant courses (Vermillion called and told us to take a shower). You all are probably experiencing similar heat in your respective necks of woods (?), but I am here to say suck it up! Get out there! Stretch the arm! Report back to your favorite website about all of the fun you had.
I lost an eagle to the infamous woodpile during our endeavors, but a high school dude found it the next day and gae me a call...there are still saints out there. It is amazing to me how many things are a reflection of our spirituality, so let me take a moment to over-spiritualize the sport here. I found one of Diggs' discs last week, shortly before he made his trek out to the east side. The extreme east side. Of our country. I want to confess that my darkness is so profound, still so easily at-hand, that I actually considered keeping it. A friend's disc. It would have been easy to do so...I could have just waited until he left and then told him I found it, or never told him at all for that matter. I even started rationalizing it and telling myself that it was an acceptable act (Screwtape chirping in my ear). It is incredible how easily tempted I was to do such a petty, but such an obviously wrong thing. It is apparent that I have a long ways to go. Diggs and I never ended up connecting before he left, and I will hold on to it and not play with it if it is your desire Diggs. Sorry we couldn't connect, but even more so: I am sorry I even considered doing so evil a deed to a friend. I am stunned at my own capacity for wrong. I, plainly, still am in need of a good deal of saving.

I heard somewhere that confession brings healing...

Keep your respective sticks on your very-proverbial ices my friends.

~mjbombadil

Song of the Week: Sorry to inundate the over-inundated, but I am going to have to go with O Most High (sung by the community of mars hill...check it out on their website http://www.musicatmars.com/ click on the play forward button and then fast forward to the song...it is tight)