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)

Exploring the Breadth of the Disc

Here's a confession... I haven't played a round of golf since Wes came to visit his sister about a month ago. I've gone throwing a few times since then, but nothing involving a catcher or a skill shot. Just driving.

Part of this is due to standing up the whole day at my job. My feet usually don't want to go pound the links at the end of the day. Another factor is the inability to schedule anything with another person. Mike, if you still read this, give me a call! I can't ever get ahold of you. Anyways, I just want to assure you all that I still get my discing fix somehow.

Recently, I've met some people that love to play ultimate. I've played with 'em a few times now. Its fun. I missed playing ultimate. The problem is, I can't throw the friggin' disc. I used to throw a great serve. But now, I just end up burning the disc. Anyways, just thought I'd give ya'll a small update. I'd love to hear how you're doing. Keep me updated.

Flip the track,

Bring the old school back

~ Diggs

Song of the Week: "Tough Enough" by Vanilla Ninja

Kinesthesis in Disc Golf

This past semester I was in the disc golf class along with the Mid-Range King and have improved immensely. What is the reason for my improvement? It is not simply information. My success stems mainly from the simple act of repetition and is a product of kinesthetics. When we do something in a repetitive manner, good or bad, physical sensations that are generated within the body which are monitored by the brain eventually establish themselves as a memory pattern. This pattern helps us to recall and duplicate a specific movement during future performances. It my case, I observed good procedure (in the person of Jim Beilby and my good classmates) and attempted to imitate their success. Repeated practice accompanied by a good model helped me to develop a proper memory pattern. Now, I play more consistently and can throw farther becuase of a developed kinesthetic action. However, since the environment changes which each throw I still need to work on successfully adapting my throw to fit situations. Also, I must continue to play often or else I not improve and actually get worse (though not below a certain level). The only other thing standing in my way is overthinking the action (which I do constantly). I need to allow my memory pattern to do its job without hindering it by changing positive aspects of my throw.


Until later,
Urbwes
(you're welcome Doug)

Classic Sioux City Discing

Alright, so I haven't actually made it out to play a round at Sertoma this week. Why then the post title you ask? Well, around Wednesday or Thursday (I forget which), I had the itch to throw... hard. So down to Hoover I went. The problem though, as is always a problem in this town, the wind was ridiculous. Any other day, you just play. Wind will forever be a factor here. But there are days when you should really pause and consider whether or not its worth it to even bring out your discs. And with rumored wind measurements of 50+ mph, this was one of those days. To help you get an idea of what this is like, let me provide an example...

We all know I have struggled to turn over my discs as of late. I've recovered much from this, but we're still not yet back to par on the issue. Well, the winds this day allowed me to completely burn my Star T-Rex when I released it even a bit hyzer. Quite a feat considering I have a hard time even turning over my T-Rex when in good form.

So while I don't necessarily recommend playing rounds in hurricane force winds, get out and throw. Its an interesting experience.

Remember...
Rip the nips

~Diggs

Song of the Week: "The Unguarded Moment" by The Church