Live From Fort Bragg, It's Thursday Night!

One match, five teams and three and a half hours is all it takes to kick off the summer season of doubles at the newly minted Fort Bragg College of the Redwoods eighteen hole disc golf course. After some deliberation over how the teams would be broken up, a final draw left: Erin & Nate, Greg & Derrick, Vince & Jeremy, David & Ryan and Jim played the round Cali. After the front nine of play it was G&D with the lead (-7), followed by N&E (-6), a tie for third between V&J and D&R (-5) and J pulling up the back (-1). This was a tight match.

Let us now discuss the intricacies of playing someone Cali. As Jim can attest to, if you are not playing well Cali does not afford you a partner to "pick you up" when you need a big putt or a drive just a bit closer. Now wait a minute. Could it be that I am now arguing against Cali on the grounds that it makes things tougher for a player. Wasn't it not too long ago that you, Ryan William Magee, argued that Cali was actually too easy and that a player could dial in a hole with two drives or make certain he nails that putt with two tries? I have to defend my maniacal ramblings by saying that nowhere in this post have I said that I am against playing Cali. There is simply no way to play with an odd number that would be any more fair. Besides, if I pose a question to myself on my own post and then proceed to answer it, is this not a bit like smashing a tee-ball home-run versus a heated discussion at the bar after a round which would be more like hitting a Lincecum change-up out of the park after falling behind 0-2? I suppose so, but I prefer to visualize this analogy in terms of whiffle ball. In my mind, answering my own questions versus an open debate with fellow frolfers is like pitching to Skye Estelle Starkweather versus pitching to Aaron "the home-run baron" Brun. You should take note that my analogy is from the perspective of the pitcher and not the hitter. I think the pitcher has the advantage and therefore deserves the spotlight in the production in my mind. If this were to actually try to explain the nuances of playing Cali then we could just show up to the course, ingest a half ounce of psychedelic mushrooms and play away. Instead we play the game like regular folk and the outcome depends on who plays the best.

On this evening, Derrick & Greg played the best. Taking a commanding three stroke lead after birdying the 11th they looked tough to beat. Erin & Nate made a play at it with a birdie on 12. Dave & Ryan decided enough was enough and birdied 13 to come within 2. The game came alive on hole 14 when N&E and D&R birdied and the CTP D&G missed an important one. 15 is a massive, monster L to R shot easily over 400 ft. E&N missed long and right (not a typo, turn-over boss shot), D&G short and R&D short. Greg made an excellent up shot after a rare Derrick miss and Dave neatly secured par for us. D&G up 1 over N&E and D&R. 16 spelled birdie off the tee for D&G while N&E pulled off the par and Dave made a brilliant 30 footer for birdie and sole possession of second. Along came 18 and the whole game. D&G missed leaving a make-able par while Dave parked a drive making for an interesting playoff. We decided to tee off from the road behind 1 out to the basket for 6. D&R were up on the hill, pin high with about 15 ft. to go and D&G were 35 ft. out past the basket and left. Two putts left short gave D&R a chance to win. Dave missed low and Ryan smashed the chains dead center and bounced off the pole. A little too much gas. Off to hole 7. D&G parked and D&R deep 20 ft. Ryan chained barely upper right, Davey short and thats all it took. D&G bagged it with a birdie.

Nice match. I for one am much more interested in Thursday frolf with the new full 18.

Aloha, Pau.