The Return Of The Jim?

Well Fellow Frolfers, Easter Sunday saw the return of Italy's/Mendocino's own James B. Eldridge (and you better believe that B stands for Birdie) . James showed up on the scene: wind blown, weather beaten, and jet lagged but that didn't stop him nor did it stop this author and 4 other eager disc golfers from skipping out on the traditional egg hunts and silly bunny games. The round had 2 CTP prizes, one for hole 9 and one for hole 12 which got pushed to hole 13 due to Parkweather's (he donated this prize) park job. The disc golfers on this day included this author (David), Jimmy, Park N' Pay, Nate Dizzle, Vincenzo, and B-Runoffski. Vincenzo took home the first CTP prize (I forget the prize...Jim, can you help me?) and Jimmy, beating me out by several micro-inches, took home $10 generously donated by Parks. We all played together rapping and carrying on until the last several holes where things began to tighten up and the players started to metaphorically position themeselves in for the win. Standing on hole 18, I was in the lead at 5 under my handicap and Nate DizDiz and B-Run were on my tail (Easter Pun) at 4 under their handis. The 3 of us missed the uprights and I pulled out the win by one stroke over Nate Dog. Jimmy and Parksalot both made the uprights and pulled out birdies. The scores were as follows:

DaveyD: -7 (4 under handi)
Nate Dog: +4 (3 under handi)
Vincenze: even (1 under his handi)...I think
Parks: even (1 under handi)
Jimmy: -5 (even with handi)...not to shabby Jim for not playing for 1-2 months.
B-Run: I forget...someone help me.

see ya.

"may your drives skip where you want them to and your putts stay down"

We all need some help from time to time.  When I was moving from my house in Mendocino, where I could play disc everyday, to my home up here in Inglenook, my pal, and MFC president, Matthew "State Parks" Starkweather was there to offer his truck, trailer and brawn for the transport of my things, on the day after Christmas.  When I was drunk out of my mind on Absinthe and getting roughed up by two trigger-happy New Zealanders down at the Woodlands, who was the dark hero to come to my rescue, even though I was about to get the best of them?  That's right, our very own Nathan "Nate-Dog" Anderson of Anderson Alternatives in Mendocino, that's who.  When "Detroit or Bust" David Stein needed companionship for the last game of the regular season for his beloved Lions, it was Matthew "All park and no bite" Starkweather and yours truly who endured the loss with him.  This is the support of a community.  It's strength lies in the bonds it creates.  No matter how strong that bond may be, it is up to a higher power whether or not your putt will stay down and if that skip and roll will be towards the basket.  Some people believe that if you yell at your disc loud enough, and with enough conviction, then it will respond accordingly and save your shot.   Others say that "body english" or leaning in the direction you want the disc to go will correct its flight path.  A small but dedicated group of people are convinced that saying "luck of the Irish" at just the moment before impact with a tree will kick the disc out into the fairway and out of trouble.  Have we as disc golfers been reduced to the superstition ridden level of the ball golfer?  Luck plays a part in our games but good old fashioned confidence is more powerful than all the shots that bounce around in the tree on #9 and end up next to the hoop.  There was a fair bit of talk at the sunday round of "scores that could have been".  I know I was so frustrated with my "luck" that I picked up an innocent plastic chair and hurled it into the lacrosse field.  The human brain tries to find patterns in life and make judgments based on these patterns.  It is easy to have a few shots chain out and roll down the hill, farther away from the basket than the original shot.  Sometimes shots that hit directly into the center of the basket will ricochet off the pole and onto the ground.  These things happen.  When you think that they are because of some hex on your game, then they will continue to happen.  You loose the confidence to make the shots that count.  Aaron Brun did not have that problem.  When you are playing with the confidence that Aaron has been bringing to the course, your putts don't fall out because you don't let them.  You don't shoot too hard, or too soft.  You don't miss just barely right and chain out, only to blame it on the basket or bad luck.  When you play with the confidence of "The Brun" your shots are calculated and without risk.  That is how you score a handicapped -11.  In second and third respectively were A. "to the M- F'n" J. and D- ricculous with both scores of -4.  That is a record for best handicapped score for Aaron "the gravedigger" Brun.  Time will tell if Brun can keep up the intensity of this score. 

"nobody gives you any respect, anyway they already expect you to write out your check to tax deductible charity organizations" -Bob Dylan

It always (usually) comes down to one or two shots!

Good People of the Mendocino Frolfer Association,

Well another tournament in the books to keep our record, of consecutive tournaments played, going. Somebody get Cal Ripken Jr. on the phone. For those of you who aren't baseball fans, Cal Ripken Jr., broke a 56 year old record of consecutive games played. This record was held by legendary New York Yankees first baseman, Lou Gehreg. Ripken played in his 2,131st game on September 6, 1995. On that day Ripken Jr. hit a homerun which is exactly what none other than Ft. Bragg's Tom Snyder did on this windy Sunday afternoon (shooting a -5). Ripken Jr. went on to play in many more games and his record now stands at 2,632 consecutive games played. So, with that said I have questions for all those out there in Frolf Blog Land. Does anyone know how many consecutive tourneys we have played? Will Tom Snyder break Rye Bread/J.D. Salinger's record of 3 consecutive tournament wins? Only time will tell. I (Davey D/the dentist) came in second place (shooting a -3) and all I could think about last night was the title of my post: "It always (usually) comes down to one or two shots". As I contemplated laying up a fairly short putt on 17 for bogey I couldn't do it despite the wind and the repercussions of a long miss. I let this wobbley putt fly and it hit the chains and fell out. "Fuck", screams Stein. Luckily the putt didn't roll too far down the hill and I ended with a 4 (which might I add was a respectful score on this day) anyways. I continued to search for an answer, ANY ANSWER, to explain why I wasn't having a playoff with Tommy. There were and are other answers but that will be left for next week gentlemen (and ladies). I am not sure of all the scores but here is what I remember:

Tom: -5 (2 under his hc)
Davey: -3 (1 under my hc)
Rye: +4 (2 over his hc)
Erin: -2 (3 over his hc)
Nate: +18 (12 over his hc)

I forget the rest of the scores. Can somebody (Parksalot or whoever remembers) post the rest of the scores. I will see you soon at a frolf course nearbye.

David

On a day like this anything could happen!

~ The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain. ~
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

That being said the other best thing one can do is to play disc golf! And play disc golf a few of us did. I came for one more tournament of my vacation. To join Derrick or D-Money as the magazines may read some day, Erin, George "Rustyfari", Good Ole Roy, and A.J., Nate came and he was not having it! Can I blame him? Maybe. Any how conveniently most of the core members were busy this very wet afternoon.


So we tee off in one happy moist group and it kinda got ugly. I know I was very happy to end with a par and Derrick actually had to write down a 4 after hole one. Erin did not birdie if that says anything for the day. Any how we went on about our business of frolfing. I can say for myself that rubber boots and rain coat suck for disc golf. I also can state that they have no effect on D-Money! He rocked the course after that 4. He went on to shoot a -1 on the front 9 to tie the sometimes seemingly nonhuman Erin Hemmings. Good job on that D.
~ The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. ~
-Dolly Parton

The second half of the round is a little blurry, my glasses were covered in rain. George just played without the aid of his optical items. I do however remember Erin hitting the goal post on 12 and the disc still had enough behind it to over shoot the basket. Crazy! Roy lost a disc on 14 so keep your eyes out guys. We have made it to 18 and AJ has one stroke on Derrick. Everyone misses the uprights on this crazy day. But wait did one of us miss on purpose? Did one of us know that 18 can be a easy 3 or a tear jerker 5? After a week of talking about it. Derrick did what many of us should do. He laid up on 18 and walked with a easy par. He actually almost nailed the long through the uprights bird.
Any how we have a tie! AJ and Derrick. Erin Hemmings took a unhappy third. Recording his worst highschool round in its 7 years of existance. A sad day for him.
" I love walking in the rain, no one knows when I am crying."
-unknown
So what do we do for the tie? We do what is going to get us in our cars and on our way home the fastest. We decide CTP to hole 6. Derrick steps up and blazes a low drive right over the top of the hill and just then the south wind steps in and does its job lifting it ever so slightly over the top of those pesky soccer goals and lets the low speed fade park the disc within arms reach of the basket. "Its over AJ" "You can try" we shouted. The only way he was taking the money home today was if he took out that magic cobra and aced it. That did not happen. So with a great round and a wonderfull play off Derrick is this weeks winner! Good job buddy! You stood up to the weather and AJ's laser beam putts and took home the loot!

This is a fond farewell for now! Thank you all so much for a great time in Willits! Thank you Jim for throwing down a great tourny! Thanks for teaching me liars dice. I hope to take some of your money someday! Yeah you Davey"liars dice" Stien. Cant wait to get back down this spring.
Peace.
"We will never be an advanced civilization as long as rain showers can delay the launching of a space rocket."

-George Carlin

Laying Up

Laying up has been the foundation of the traditional Scottish herdsman's pastime.  For centuries, men carried sticks through their pastures, hitting stones towards a common target.  Amidst many of these forays through the hillsides, men who reached the goal in the least amount of shots had done so with strategy.  Looking at the distance between the tee area and the target, the player would then look at all the potential places his stone may lie after a given shot.  He would string these researched locations together and formulate the fairest way of reaching the goal.  Over time the players began to out shoot one another and began reaching farther fair lies.  The risk/ reward system started playing a part in the strategies of leading players called "laying up".  This remained the quintessential strategy until a cooperative of herders, determined to lower their scores, grazed the entire length of each shot in their pasture.  They grazed and then reseeded the ground with the grasses they preferred from other areas of the pasture.  This resulted in the first "as the crow flies" fair ways.  The only skill the players needed was to shoot straight, as far as they could.  At local gatherings the herdsmen boasted of their latest scores and drew scorn from their friends.  Scores these low had never been spoken out loud before.  Following the men back to their course, the fellow herdsmen learned why the scores were so low.  They didn't have to strategize their shots as much and as a result scored lower.  This began a trend of grazing the fair ways of their holes and reseeding with the grasses more preferred by the players.  Within a decade the game of herdsmen was transformed.  Since the grasses used in the building of the fair ways was inedible by their livestock, the men slaughtered the animals and vowed to dedicate their lives to the cultivation of this game.  Years went by and one player who scored best before the "change" occurred, altered his course with bends.  They occurred at just the right distance as to challenge players to risk danger of the rough lie for the reward of a closer shot or play to a safe location with a fair lie and try to reach the target from a farther distance.  This man's name was Shamus Donnegan.  A bastardization of his surname led to the term "Dog Leg" in the modern version of the sport.  Due to the trend of shooting as far and straight as you can, players tried to pass over the rough on these "dog legs" and more often than not suffered higher scores because of it.  It was because of this that ol' Shamus the Shameless began dismantling the best and longest of players of the time and thus rebirthed the strategy of Laying Up.  

This has been "A Brief History Break: Out of Ryan's Ass" thanks for reading.

A putt and a throw

Anatomy of an Ace....and other Willits fun!

Ever wonder how to throw a line drive ace?
Here is how AJ does it with his Cobra..

Don't forget about the Might Brun..

Rye Bread battling on without the majestic Eagle..

RAAAAAHHHHHHRGGGHH!

Run-up?! I don't need no stinking run-up..

Man, Derrick's drives are smooooth.

Last shot of the day on 18? Think again
we have a whole night round comin'

Willits

And so it shall forever be that Aaron Brun of Mendocino, California, son of Mickey Brun and husband to Katie Brun, defeated all in a hotly contested battle on the 8th day of March in the year of 2009.  

For those that follow the blog closely, you will notice the name of Aaron Brun posted above.  You may say to yourself, "Is that the guy who showed up one Sunday and scored a 14 down with a thumber over the trees on 11?".  No it was not.  You then say, "Surely that must be the little fella' who Rick met and invited.  The school age kid."  Wrong again.  I'll give you one more.  "The hippies.  The Hippies in the bus.  The one guy payed to play and his girlfriend and the rest of 'em just joined in, right.  That must be the guy."  I will assume that you are making reference to these obscure characters just to get a reaction out of me.  You have.  I am disappointed.  I can understand you confusing the name with maybe L. Ron Hubbord, author of Dianetics and the father of modern Scientology.  Or perhaps you confuse him with ReRun from "What's Happening".  Aaron Burr comes to mind, the third vice-president of the United States of America under Thomas Jefferson.  These mixups are common.  Just the other day I was talking with a fellow frolfer about a player named David Stein.  Understandably I mistook him for Ben Stein of "Win Ben Stein's Money" as well as many commercial appearances.  Perhaps it was Ben's first career as an economist that created the misunderstanding but a simple description of David corrected my folly and put myself and my cohort on the same proverbial "page" (Grey skully cap, chucks and long sleeve under the tee).  Aaron Brun is a name that will no longer be taken lightly.  It will no longer be acceptable to go around saying, "Aaron who?"  His mark is made.  Following in the footsteps of David Stein, Aaron Brun has won his very own disc golf basket.  By outlasting the crowd (including 3 self proclaimed pros) in a windy match, Aaron used his handicap to his advantage and won.  This is usually where the author goes on to talk about specific holes the champion used as leverage to hoist his own score up above the others.  Or a detailed account of the close match and how the leaders jockeyed for position in the final holes.  Maybe the author would critique the shot-gun start to determine if it played any role in Aaron Brun's win.  These all would seem proper, conventional, and even right.  This is not where the story lies.  The construct of the Tournament, the teams, the start time, even handicapped score did not even cross the mind of our hero.  The story begins at the end.  At the scorers table.  With all the cards turned in and our director Jim Eldridge and Erin Hemmings looking them over, a comment was made.  It wasn't shouted or announced or even stated.  It may have been said without the hope of anyone hearing it, but the statement started a buzz that would not be resolved until the final announcement was made.  "I think the one person I wanted to win this thing is gonna take it."  A paraphrased quote from a dishevelled scorer's table.  I heard it and the gears started turning in my brain.  Let it be known that Aaron is one of my best friends.  I never even considered him after hearing that comment.  No one knew who won.  Not even the winner himself.  He never even considered it.  When his name was called as the handicapped winner for the day and thus the new owner of a practice basket, a tear came to his eye.  Onlookers may have confused it with the combination of lack of sleep, beer consumption, grass inhalation and just dry wind, but knowing the man the way I do, I knew a soft spot had been touched.  You say "come on man, get off of it.  How much drama can you put into that act of winning one little match out in the middle of nowhere."  Is that a challenge?  Aaron shed a small tear through his proud/ shocked gaze and proceeded to be showered with praise in the form of a trophy.  Not just any trophy, but a scaled down, cherry wood destroyer.  The trophy goes to the winner of the special tourny and will be passed along in two months.  In a rush of emotion and altruism, Aaron rose to his feet, climbed atop a picnic table and announced to all who would hear that he intended to give away the very basket he just won.  A few of his closest cohorts pulled him aside and quickly controlled the philanthropic beast.  Aaron agreed to "sleep on it" and it seems will elect to keep the basket after all.  The real story lies in the fact that neither Aaron nor most of the players even thought of him as in the running, never mind as the champ.  This is a success for our handicap system and a success for the tournament.  May the best played game be rewarded.  The author played a fine match.  He battled the wind and the terrain and managed to eek out a plus 5.  With David Stein at a minus 2, I thought a placing would be in the cards.  When someone like Aaron shoots plus 6 in those conditions it is a fine game.  Let us all think of the rolling putts, the wind carried drives and let us not forget the updraft headwind that destroyed not a few scores.  Aaron had to avoid all these obstacles and still make good choices to score the way he did.  Aloha Aaron for providing the most exciting winner announcement ever, mahalo to Jim for putting it together and suppling the lights, another mahalo to everyone who donated discs for PEEC (I'll put together some fun pictures of the discs in use during this spring) and a huge aloha to everyone who showed up and made the game special.

Crazy Superimposed and Shit.

Wow, look at that Awesome form on the hella handsome male model. That is a crazy picture...Erin what and how did you do that? It looks like hole 2 but backwards and with Mt. Shasta in the background. Crazy, I love it, thanks. Well Mr. Bread, I am coming for your title of 3 tournament wins in a row and what a better battle ground to complete this journey than Willits. I will see you there with my best fencing sabor to both attack your title and defend my winning streak. Lets get it on. Can someone put up the scores from the last tourney? I think it went something like this (but I am not positive):

Davey: -4 (2 under my handy)
Nate Dog: +7 (even with his handy)
Erin: -5 (1 over his handy)
Parksalot: +1 (2 over his handy)
Rye Bread: ??
Boonvarro: +7? (6 over his handy)

Jimmer: Oh, he chickened out.

P.S. The definition of fencing is: the art, practice, or sport in which an épée, foil, or saber is used for defense and attack.

Bringing Frolf to the Masses

Aloha everyone,

As some of you may or may not know, I run a small private non-profit up in Cleone.  We are an environmental education school where 6th graders come out to the coast and camp for 5 days and learn about ecology.  The kids have some rec. time in the afternoons and I've set up a small disc golf course for them.  In the past we've used ultimate discs, but the kids break them.  For a few seasons I've been neglecting our supply of discs and reinforcing it with cheap give-away discs.  Last season I brought two old putters of mine in and donated them to the course.  They have stood up to the abuse and inspired this posting (thank you "dennis/ sequoia/ berkley" and "old-school aviar").  If anyone has old putters for donation, Pacific Environmental Education Center has a collector.  Don't worry how bad of shape it is in, we'll take it.  Thanks for the time.  I will be more interesting next time.

Ryan

Willits Tourney, March 8th (and 7th!!)

Ok, all you disc hooligans, here is something to sink your gnarled teeth into:

Our Sunday tourney on March 8th will be at the KOA course in Willits!  Not only that, but the grand prize for the handicapped winner will be nothing less than a brand new traveling disc golf basket!!

That's right people, the tourney you've been itchin' for is finally coming, and none too soon to get prepared for the big KOA Pro/Am Jam in June!  

And if that weren't enough, a number of us will be spending that Saturday night at the campsite, getting up to goodness-knows-what kind of shenanigans, likely to include but not limited to:  a doubles round on Saturday afternoon, a night round involving lighted baskets and either glow discs or lighted discs, liars dice, puttputt golf, campfires, BBQ, and throwing Davey into the pool.  

There are some things to be worked out.  I need to know how many are going to be spending the night, so I can reserve enough campsites.  Also I am deciding whether or not to book one cabin for our group, in case it dumps rain Sat. night and we need an indoor area in which to frolic.  I would be interested to hear any input on that.  Thusfar we have four confirmed for Sat. night for sure:  myself, Davey, Ryan, and Derrick.  Let me know if you're in!  

Then the next thing to establish is the time of the Sunday tourney.  I would lean toward making it earlier, since we'll already be there.  Something like noon seems like a reasonable compromise.  What do people think?  Chime in!  

Fyi, bc of the prize, the entry fee for this tourney is 10 bucks instead of 5.  Unless people are willing to kick in 15, in which case I might make my money back on the basket!  But in any case, 10 bucks will get you in.

Also, I loved Nate's idea of everyone bringing a CTP prize, so everyone try to remember to do that, and I'll try to bring a few.

Also I think I'm going to place an order with Catch-a Canoe for a bunch of lighted discs, so we can play the night round.  If you want me to order you one, OR if you have some extras other people can use, let me know.

Alright, let the chatter begin!!

I made my Putts!

Well, the 22nd day of February of the year 2009 saw 4 brave men withstand a fierce south wind and some wet weather. Those 4 men among men were your author (Davey D), the ace champion from two weeks ago (Vince), Nate Dog Nathan Anderson, and one James Eldgride, who traveled all the way from Arcata to play in this round. Looking back on my round there were 6 important shots, 4 of which were putts. After grinding out a par on hole 1 the first important shot occurred. I was looking at an easy putt on any other day but on this day a definate easy miss (especially for me) but I stood near the track and as I let it go the beautiful sound that so many Frolfers know happend...CHING. Jim said it best, "don't give it a chance to miss". I hammered the MFer in there. After birdieing hole 3, I attempted to send a big hyzer out on hole 4 but fell short. I stood in between the burn pile and the Excite Bike mound (on the other side of the Excite Bike mound as if I picked up my old school Nintendo control and made a sweet jump). Anyways, back to disc golf...I attempted to lay up but that south wind knocked my feeble attempt down. I was looking at a tough par save but I have a feeling y'all know how this story is going to end...yes I made an important par save which was my 2nd important shot. I parred hole 5 and my 3rd important shot was birdieing hole 6 for which I stood on the hillside short of the basket but once again made my putt for birdie. After parring 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 I was 3 under which was a pretty good score on this day. After a crazy disc flight and a weird roll I stood to the right side of the basket (if your looking at it from the tee box) as the wind was whipping I sent the putt slightly to the left hoping the wind would whistle it into the chains and falling into the basket...I was right and made my birdie. I parred 13, 14, and 15 and I stood (barely, because the wind was pushing us back) on hole 16 eyeing this like a hawk would eye a lowly field mouse. I picked up my destroyer and threw it straight at the sonofabitch. PARKED. Yes, I birdied hole 16...maybe my shot of the day. I bogeyed hole 17 (only bogey of the day) and my last important shot was throwing my disc through the uprights as Jason Hanson, field goal kicker for the Detroit Lions, has done so many times but my shot was for a winning effort (unlike the winless Lions of last year...by the way Jason Hanson is one of the best field goal kickers in history...do your research and then come talk to me). I ended up parring hole 18 bringing me to a 4 under for the day. Thank you for joining me on my journey. So, the scroes were as follows:

David-4 under...2 under my handicap
Nate--8 over.....1 over his handicap
Jim---Even........6 over his handicap
Vince-9 over......7 over his handicap.

P.S. Check your email I am going to send a mass email about ideas for a tourney in Willits on Sunday March 8th.

I know were all thinking it part 2

I know we are all thinking it but I will come out and say it: what is Matthew shooting at? A 180 for hole 9? Is he just posing as Lindsay was? And what is up with those glasses, Tom Cruise?

New skins record

Well it is with great shame and recrimination that I report a record for most skins.  After a horrendous round by both Dave and myself, wherein I alone missed 7 makable putts, the easiest two of which would have netted me 5 skins, Erin ended up taking home 15 skins.  He seemed somewhat embarrassed by this, given the pathetic performances of his opponents, but a record is a record is a record.  I will say that I have a memory of taking home an even greater number of skins against Davey and Matthew, but that was pre-blog.  So post up the 15, Erin--Dave and I deserve the humiliation.  But we will rise and take you down in similar fashion soon enough!

Presidents Day Tourney

Tournament Results:

Handicap Winners
1st Place- AJ at +1
2nd place- Erin at +2
3rd place- Jim at +3
4th place-Matthew
5th place Tie-David & Derrick


CTP was a Brand New Champion Groove, which we all wanted!
Jim wanted it most and took it with a nice shot on 8.

Tournament Run Down

Well folks, Sunday sucked. That is, if you were me, or Roy.... Now if you were Jim, Vince, or Larry- Sunday kicked ass! For me, it was hand numbingly cold, my feet were wet along with the rest of me, and I was stupid enough to play the whole round with one disc for.... fun?!

We had more than 10 but less than 15 players, all anxious to tee du to the pelting rain. At my request we split into three small groups and succeeded in playing one of the quickest tourneys ever. I started my round badly and felt like going back to the parking lot and hiding under a tailgate, which Yoda had already wisely done. I stuck it out chain out after chain out, while Jimmy tallied his birds. There was little banter in our group and groans from the others. That is until hole # shorty.
ACE ACE ACE ACE ACE! Vince makes his presence known with a flick through the tree line and into the bucket on 13. The $68 pot takes him outta da red. As far as I know that was the first flick ace on this hole. Nice one!

After we started to conglomerate around the uprights, whispers and eyebrow raises pointed the probable win in Roy's direction. He shot a tourney best -2bh which with a +4 handi would have won it with a -6. That is if his handi was +4! For some strange reason his handicap had actually changed from last week?! +3 was the new hc and it dropped poor Roy one behind Heavy Metal Larry. Cheer up, second place ain't so bad. This was Larry's first tournament win, and we were all stoked for him. Ironically he was going to sit this tournament out because he, "Hates to play in rain." Which I doubt is still true ehh Larester? Jim took the overall purse with an uncontested -8, while I shot my tourney worst -4. I think all who played on this nasty winter day were proud to carry the tradition of no tournaments canceled.

A full write up is in order, but a sneak peak at the Ukiah ice bowl results show 4 of 6 Mendocinians in the money. Derrick or Tom how bout a synopsis?

idea; logo design contest

so i sit here this nippy morn sippin my coffee thinkin again about this idea. Tom mentioned to me once and i think it would be really great, if we could come up with some sort of logo for the mendo frolf club. one idea i had was to hold a contest for it. i thought that involving the community a little more might be a good way too help keep the course in good standing with the school, and the rest of the community. i also thought that we could gather any donations at the sunday tourneys for this idea and others. even a buck or so from some of the players would add up quick enough. i would be happy to donate some flow for this idea. a prize of mayby 200$ to the logo design contest winner would sure bring in a lot of great art to choose from i thinkin. i think we could talk to the art teacher at the school and have him/her announce it to the art class and we could hang up some flyers around town. mayby eventually we could even order some discs with the logo or t shirts, stickers or something.

also these would be great prizes if we ever had a bigger tourney out there, with divisions for high school kids and newby locals,if we could pull off a charity tourney sometime i think it would be much more unlikely for them to take out the baskets ever. maybe starting next year we could have our own mendo ice bowl.

just some ideas, i know im newer to the club so mayby this has all been talked about before. but i would appreciate knowin what yall think

I know we're all thinking it...

but no one asked yet, so I will:

What exactly is Linz doing throwing from there??

Single Disc Record

Yo Peeps,

So I noticed there was no record yet for a round using only one disc, so I decided to establish one this afternoon.  As Erin knows from having played two speed rounds today, the conditions were totally benign.  I had a light mist and only a whisper of a breeze from the north.  I started out using a Destroyer.  I had thought this disc choice out.  I thought about my Monster, but I worried about putting with it.  I briefly considered something more putter-friendly like a Comet.  But the idea of getting that thing to the baskets on 1, 10, 14, and 16 without Erin's wingspan was daunting.  I would think a Wasp will do just fine for him, but for us mortals, the driver seemed like the way to go.  Started out and birdied 1, 3, 4, and 5, before figuring out, after bogeying 6 and 7, that putting with the thing was going to be a bear.  So I pressed the reset button, went back to the car, and got the beat-up (read: not-so-stable-anymore) Tee-Rex. Started again, and birdied 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9 for a 7 under on the front. Turns out the thing putts pretty well!  

After another birdie on 11, I realized that I might have a keeper round going, and was going to have to do a mando layup on 18 without a spotter, so I put in a last-minute call to Erin and Linz, hoping one of them might be able to burn out and give me an official judgment on 18 by the time I got there.  Unfortunately, as I was later to learn when I ran into Linz at Harvest after the round, they were off exploring in the woods and didn't get the message.  Well OF COURSE making the call threw the karma off a bit, and I proceeded to miss the birdie putt on 12, then, after making an ace run and hitting the basket on the skip on 13 (!), it somehow rolled about twenty-five feet away, just out of range of the putting Tee-Rex.  Parred 14, managed a birdie on 15, a near birdie on 16, and a fab par on 17 where I had to choose between the layup or going for the par from just behind the treeline (no guts no glory, people!).  At that point I was 9 under and REALLY wanted to be able to try for double digits.  I waited a few extra minutes for the Erin/Linz cavalry, but none arrived, so I executed my first successful layup par on 18, to post the first official one-disc-only record as:  9 down.  And bogey-free!  

There is a lesson here, people.  Think about it:  my first round ever using just one disc, and I threw a bogey free round which was only 4 shots off my all-time best?  I HIGHLY recommend the one-disc round to everyone!  Not only is it fun, and not only is it incredibly liberating to leave that big clunky bag in the car and walk around a course with only one disc, but I found that using one disc really allowed me to focus solely on the job at hand: getting the disc to the basket.  I think, in relying so much on disc choice and disc engineering, that we forget the adaptive, intuitive ability to work a disc wherever and however we want it to go.  It was fun playing many different kinds of shots with just one disc, and I know it was good for my game.  I left thinking that I might take most of the discs out of my bag, and rely on my ability to play different shots with a few discs, instead of having one disc for each kind of shot.

It reminds me of a story about golfing great Ben Hogan.  He was playing a round with an amateur player, and the guy kept asking him which club he was using on every shot.  Finally Ben, who was not known to suffer fools gladly, had had enough.  The next time the guy asked him the question, as he stood about 150 yards off the green, he turned to the guy, pulled out ten different balls, dropped them on the fairway, and without a word, hit them all onto the green-- with ten different clubs!  The message: don't get caught up in picking the perfect club.  Pick any damn club, and play the shot that will get the job done! 

As with ball golf, so it is with frolf!  Amen!

Speed Frolf!

I take this opportunity to applaud the latest Mendo frolf incarnation, speed frolf!  And I narrate here a cautionary tale for all to take to heart.

It was an erratically windy afternoon when I arrived at the course for only my second speed frolf round, the wind direction being from the south.  The experienced Mendo frolfer, being told the wind direction, will not be surprised to hear that the course was dripping wet.  D. Stein having taken off to Seattle and having left me with his hound, I was escorting two canines along on my speed ride, and sporting full rain gear.  Playing within myself and yet moving right along, I found myself 5 under through 16, with nary a bogie on the card, and, considering all the wiping of discs, tearing off of overheated clothing, and yelling down the hounds, having made fine time.  Any Mendo frolfer will tell you that this score is particularly solid in an increasingly strong south wind.  When I bogied 17, I was hardly bothered and motored up to the 18th tee, to execute perhaps only my second attempted lay-up on the 18.  

Let me pause here to say that I had decided that the only fair way to play the 18th without a spotter is to play a mando (manditory) lay-up shot short of the uprights, given the relative impossibility of fairly judging whether one's own shot goes through or not.  I believe this needs to be the ongoing rule for any official rounds played solo.

So I execute my rapid-fire lay-up, leaving it short on purpose.  This is from my experience of seeing both DStein and Matthew throw lay-up throws long and under the uprights!  Ah but that is another story for another day.  Let me just say that I had no intention of going long.  So my short lay-up perfectly executed, I sprinted downhill for the all-important second shot.  I sized up the line and pulled my monster for the hyzer shot I hoped would leave me in park city for a new speed frolf record.  Where I went wrong, my readers, was in the calibration of the strong south wind's effect on a hyzer shot.  I was soon to discover my horrible horrible mistake.  As I lobbed up the shot, that wind came powering down onto the field with a fury, impacting the top of that left-curving monster with a downward thrust unlike any I've ever seen!  And as I watched with horror, my simple monster hyzer throw came rocketing to earth far ahead of schedule....lower and lower, until it just slid UNDER the all-important uprights!  NOOOOO!!!  My cries could be heard from Westport to Point Arena, my friends.  When all was said and done, I carded a horrendous 5 on 18 and hit the chronograph button.  

The final damage?  I had finished at 2 under, in a record time of 25:50, rounded to 26 minutes.  Do the math and shudder:  I came in at 78, one shot shy of Dave's current record of 77.  My final words as I completed the calculations?  AAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

low gap ice bowl

sat feb 7th is the low gap ice bowl you guys prob already heard but i just wanted to make sure. i think tom and larry are going , as well as george(rusty) and roy, and myself. anyone else interested sounds like a lot of fun

Steinmaster D's Near Ace on 18 & other stuff

Great SB XLII frolf tournament everyone. Here are a few vids for the records.

Davey's Near ACE!



Jim Eldridge for the lead & the dough.




Tom drives the disc damn well, lefty!
This guy deserves some sort of award for his
ambi skills..

Damn that felt good!

As we tallied the scores after 9, I (David) quizically stated, "Wow, Larry is 3 under his handicap, Vince is 3 under his handicap, I am 3 under my handicap, Jim is 3 under his handicap, and Derrick is 4 under his handicap". As the round progressed I birdied hole 10 and 12 to only chain out of 13 and 14 leaving me with 2 unsettled pars. After 14 all members on our card were still in contention. Derrick unfortunately (or fortunately depending on who you are rooting for in this story) threw hole 15 deep in the woods and ended up getting a 4 (I think). I missed my putt and with all the determination and anger I have seen in this man in some time Uncle Jim nailed quite a long putt over the chained link fence and some wooden posts. After 16 we were still all pretty much in contention. Now I ask for y'all to put your visualization hats on and let me take you for a ride of David Stein's last 2 holes. My drive on 17 was less than stellar and I stand alone in practically the middle of the field. What does one David Stein do but go to his bread and butter...that's right folks the ole Banshee but I wish I could tell you what I did a couple months ago which is birdie this hole but, NO I can't tell you this...I can only tell you that I ended up looking a long putt upwards for which I, in turn, nailed IT. This gained some cheers from the visiting Ukiah folk and a remark from Jim that went something like this, "I thought I had you". Well Jim...keep thinking because not on this day buddy. Jim in turn also made his par putt. Jim and I sat upon hole 18 looking down and the judges urging us to throw. Jim sits at 9 under (4 under his handicap) and David sits at 7 under (4 under his handicap). David throws first...as I am watching my beatiful Banshee fly through the air I calmly state, "make a run". No sooner then I utter those words, Bang, the disc hits the basket, inches away from a hole in one. Jim looks at me with both congratulations and disgust because he now knows that he has to birdy if he wants a shot at the coveted win. Jim throws and "It's Good" state the on-lookers. Jim has a putt to make. David calmly drains his putt and on 6 out of 7 days Jim makes this high pressured putt, but I guess today was the seventh day and what I learned growing up was that God rested on the seventh day. What does this mean? Does Jim have a God Complex or did he not get enough rest last night so he had to make up for it by resting on this day and putt? I don't have the answer just more questions....

With all that said, Jim shot a helluva round-9 under (nice round Jimmy) and won the overall crown.

Can someone put the scores on the blog.

Erin, I am dying to the see the video footage of my near ace. Can you put it up on the blog?

Have fun next week guys I will be in Seattle and unable to defend my crown. Good Luck!

#7 In Depth Report

Hole #7

"Lest she be bearing down on our port side at full tilt, with head bulled and eyes full of rage, we shall not back down, we shall not relent.  Dig men.  Dig deep into your souls and find the whaler in ya'.   The white whale smote ol' Ahab and the boys, but he's no threat to this crew.  Yar, we've slewn the Sperm whale from Finland to Fiji.  We've looked the leviathan straight in the eye and seen fear, man.  Fear!  The fish knows no fear like the fear of the whaler.  We are Gods, men. And when we find that beast, we will treat it to it's final struggle.  Oh yes men, we will.  What was that said in the back there?  We have seen horrors to compare with the fear we bestow upon our prey?  I say blasphamy.  I say you lie, boy.  There is nothing in South Seas, nothing in the iceberg ridden Atlantic, nothing in the great expanse of the Eastern Pacific...  no wait.  Yes boy, yes.  I see what you mean.  There is such a challenge that just might teeter a captain who could harpoon a whale's eye from 100 yards or make the feistiest Sperm Bull turn tail and run like a puppy barking at the wind.  Remember men.  Remember that fateful day.  Yes men, I was 5  down after 6 and then came #7."

This Passage is part of a larger work of fiction which was uncovered at the "Ford House Museum" in the Mendocino Headlands State Park.  Historians have been unable to pinpoint the exact year that this piece was written due to glaring inconsistencies in the age of the paper and ink and places written about.  

Anyone familiar with the Mendocino High School Disc Golf Course will instantly recognize the reference to the seventh hole at the very end of the passage.  This hole has managed to wrinkle and crimp the otherwise smooth and steady games of local players.  None would speak on record and the few willing to comment on the importance of such a hole have preferred to remain nameless.  Maybe the connection to the inaccuracies in the writing and the unwillingness of locals to speak of the hole on record, points to the occult.  

Rumors of a spiritual force inhabiting hole seven have not been known to circulate among the players.  Never have the words "ghost" or "phantom" been used to describe the strange happenings but some of the players might think such thoughts.  Alone and wallowing in an aura of thick self pity and mind melting depression, the local player might blame the addition of strokes to their score on the unnamed power.  

Trying to flick this hole is in itself a shameless act of pride.  There are a few days when the wind is light enough.  When the conditions do not instantly pick your disc up into the jet stream and deposit you up on the parking lot or worse, in the "nest".  South winds.  A possibility.  Too many times a flick has driven itself straight into the hillside, caught a bush or just dropped onto the iceplant.  Flicking the disc high enough to get up and over the hill to the basket all too often will be too steeply hizered and left crashing down upon the road.  Even if the player shot low enough into a NW wind, and put just enough hizer on it to prevent the dreaded flick-turnover; even if the south wind didn't push the disc down and drain it of all its natural glide; even if the conditions let you take a regular old flick at it; even if you are a lefty and have the privilege of backhanding the thing, then you would still have the wall of trees to contend with.  Is there a hole in that wall?  Sure.  There are many.  Just none very big.  The south leaning nature of the Monterrey Cypress, counters the arc needed to make a legitimate run at the basket.  You flick it and whack! there goes that one.  

Backhanding is the preferred method of frolfers on a typically conditioned day.  Up and over the benches, arcing left over the corner of the parking lot, mail slotted between the overhanging branches and the dumpsters and finally sending all of its energy down the hill.  This does not sound like any preferred shot I have ever imagined.   When players summit the parking lot and gaze down into the new frontier of the football field, they see their discs at the bottom of the hill and say, "Rats.  I hoped it would stick there on that 30 degree slope."  Shooting backhand over the parking lot is like aiming for the bottom of the hill.  If it sticks, than it was a miracle.  Don't leave it short.  With a NW wind, any shot left short could be whisked away and deposited on to the bottom of the hill.  From the parking lot, the upside down lay up putt has been employed to rule out the birdie and inflict the least amount of damage.  How many holes on this course require a full on lay up? Two.  Even under pristine conditions, a simple rejection of the disc by the basket, not caused by any misplay by the putter, will not only loose the player the one stroke but make the player putt from the bottom of the hill, after it rolls out and down to the flats, up to 50 ft. away.  That putt becomes the safest shot. A 15 yard, 10 ft. elevation gain, tailwind putt. 

Could spirits live on the land and control the discs to repel birdies?  Could those same spirits, in turn for your soul, leave you with safe lies and honest putts?  Players refuse to comment but maybe, they believe absolutely.  If the captain in the passage referred to the seventh hole on the Mendocino High School Disc Golf Course as an even more dreaded encounter than one with Moby Dick, than we must assume a certain level of mischief afoot.  Maybe the author of the passage was a time traveler, using a device discovered in a Mayan ruin in South America, who witnessed both the slaughter of the mighty Sperm whale and the sadness of the downhill rolling disc.  Maybe the alternate universe in which this piece of art exists is one where whaling captains take a healthy interest in land games such as Frisbee golf.  Maybe we all should consider these possibilities the next time we set foot on the tee of the Seventh Hole.

this guy loves disc golf

Tips for windy days.

1. Stay Home
2. Putt upside down
3. Aim a little more to the right
4. Putt upside down
5. Lay up
6. Dress warm
7. Watch Erin
8. Use the "El Rollo" shot
9. Putt upside down
10. Wear shades so your eyes don't dry out
11. Overstable
12. Flick it
13. Bring loppers (cut branches before match)
14. Be aware of where the wind is coming from
15. Don't get discouraged
16. Putt upside down
17. Aim the frisbees so that they go in the basket
18. Don't try to drive the 17th tee from the 14th hole
19. Do make it through the uprights
20. Take a deep breath and go for an ace (you know you're not gonna beat Erin, right?) 

The Long Awaited Post From The Stein

Well, here I am fellow FROLFERS! I am posting my first entry and I first want to re-say a BIG thank you to Mr. Erin Hemmings for creating this amazing blog where we can discuss Frolf related issues/topics, see the Brody's and Derrick snowboarding, re-live past aces and rounds, and most importantly...talk shit. So, today (the 25th day of January of the year 2009) was a windy, might I say blustery (which one defintion states, "to force or bully with swaggering threats") day, which is in fact what a one, Mr. Erin Hemmings did to this course on this day but these weren't threats. The first round that went out consisted of George or Rusty (whatever you call him this week), AJ (a newcomer to the tourney but I have seen him on the course practicing up), Tommy, Me (David), and the threat maker himself...Erin. Erin took the card by shotting a strong 9 under (2 under his handicap) and bouncing out of at least 3 putts. I don't know if y'all can do the math but if he wouldn't of bounced out these 3 times he would of shot a 12 under...but needless to say a helluva round. Second place on the card went to none other than your ace pot holder Davey D...I shot an even round (4 over my handicap). The second group consisted of Birthday boy, Nate Anderson (HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATE DOG), Aaron B-Run (Keep coming back Aaron), Roy, Derrick, and Rye Bread "J.D. Salinger" Ryan. After the first group finished up we patiently awaited the second group's shots and facial expressions to try and get a read on their scores. After seeing these glum, wind blown expressions I thought I had second place securely wrapped up like a nice Hannukah or Christmas present but on this day I forgot about one man who has traveled a long way to get back to this tourney...Mr. D Money Derrick who shot a smooth 2 over (2 over his handicap). Welcome back Derrick, you bastard!
So for a recap the scores are as follows:

Rusty +12...10 over his handy
AJ +8...8 over his handy
Tommy +6...9 over his handy
David even...4 over my handy (3rd PLACE...which doesn't mean shit)
Erin -9...2 under his handy (WINNER)

Nate +14...6 over his handy
B-Run +19...13 over his handy
Roy +16...13 over his handy
Derrick +2...2 over his handy (2nd PLACE)
Rye Bread +12...12 over his handy

As you can tell by these scores this day was no walk in the park and if it was a walk in the park you would of stepped in dog shit!

Windy Sunday Photos & a Movie!

Nice Form Davey! Also great write up of the tourney, the

blog needed you man.

Going over the score one more time...

Can these really be right?

Derrick and I on the podium. Is that my putter or a
villainous mustachio?



This putt was in, dead center!

A question for the Mendo Frolfers.

This is Bryan again and I had a question for everyone involved in getting the course set up at the high school.

Here is our scenario:
There is a existing course in Hood River. It is not very old, they have just added the baskets within the last 6 months or so. A set of 9 nice baskets! Erin I do believe has actually seen this course and knows the pain I am in. It is very close to 3 roads one being I-84. It is a very small piece of land and the holes cross over each other all the time, non stop really. They thought some holes out, but others are just asking for a accident. To boot it has so much poison oak. The Hood River Rec. Dept. is willing to talk to me about moving it and the best location I can come up with is neighboring the high school. I think there is a great potential, because it is already a hiking trail and designated rec area.

So my question to all of you is "Can the high school and rec area share the disc golf course? What actions did you take to get the course on the land at MHS? Is the "B"course ok'ed by someone or is it just a "unspoken rule"?

I will post pics of the exsisting course and maybe a few of where I hope to move it to. Any help would be great. Thanks again Erin for setting this wonderful blog up for us to use!

See you all soon.

Frolf Records

I thought it would add some fun to keep track of all the record rounds shot on our course. I have set up a rough list out of memory, but I'm almost positive it needs some corrections. If you know of any records I don't, or see flaws in the ones I listed please leave a comment. If anyone can think of other records worth documenting let me know.

For those wondering what speed golf is, Wikipedia defines it as:

"Speed Golf is a sport started California in 1979 by American runner Steve Scott and which involves completing a golf course in the lowest combination of strokes and time.

Players run between shots and generally carry as few as one or as many as six clubs, (discs)
A player's score is calculated by adding minutes plus strokes, so a round of 90 completed in 50 minutes and 30 seconds would compute to a score of 140:30."

So next time you want to play some disc and only have half an hour, time to try for a speed golf record!

-Erin

A SUNday frolf match Jan. 18, 2009

With clear skies and a light southeasterly breeze, sunday's tournament had the conditions to make for a low scoring round.  Players arrived early to warm up there shoulders, the dogs practiced sitting on the tee box and a band of hippies from Portland, led by Val, showed up to test the limits of the Mendocino High School Disc Golf Course.  To really understand a round like this, we need to follow in the shoes of one of the greats; one of the founding fathers of the MFC.  Jim Eldridge has his own share of tournament wins tucked away in his underware drawer next to his fake dog poo-poo and his monogrammed handkerchiefs.  A day like this beckoned him to the parking lot and out on the course for a shot at a 2009 title.  As all the players split up into groups and score cards were etched with the appropriate names, one by one they lined up for their first shot out over the soccer fields and hopefully into the basket.  It was not until 11 of the twelve drives were tossed that Jim approached the tee for #1.  Parked.  #2. Parked.  3,4,5,6,7.  All birdies.  With a score of -7 after seven, even with his handicap that clings to his back like a frightened kitten, digging its claws deep into his shoulder blades, Jim still looked the safe bet for a win.  A couple of pars on 8 & 9 gave him -7 after 9.  The big toss across the football field and back past the bleachers may just be the longest "par"able hole on the course.  Jim dug deep into his burlap sack of gumption and let fly a smooth gliding, arching, shot that despite the southerly (or easterly depending if your name is Jim or Ryan) component to the wind fought back towards the hill.  Unfortunately the shot landed a yard short and forced him to putt from the dreaded "corner o' death" at the base of the bleachers.  It was at this point that something happened.  A clandestine force slipped into Jim's bag and wrecked havoc on a flawless game.  As readers, I know you want me to stop now.  You say, "Jim is a great player.  He's shown his mettle on the course and deserves the respect of a champion.  Let us not delve down to the depraved state of gossip.  We don't need the juicy details.  Tell us who won.  Who placed second.  It just wouldn't be right to read on if we are not going to get the happy ending we all want.".  I say to to you, "Bravo.  Thank you for being the rational head in this world of paparazzi.  I will continue if only to tell a story.  I will remember your request for restraint when it comes to taking pleasure in the demise of a man's frolf game."  Let the story now unravel like a ball of yarn racing to prove that it is not just a ball of mass, but a long, long line of braided cotton which if manipulated correctly could yield you a sweater, a pair of gloves or even a winter scarf.  None of these articles of clothing could have prevented the foreshadowed events.  Jim's shot for 11 came out of his hands and received a well deserved smile and nod of the the head from the author of this post.  As if to say, "you don't have control over your own destiny", a small branch just barely visible in the high hizer line smacked Jim's shot down, potentially robbing him of a much anticipated 8th birdie.  After birding I believe 12 & 13, Jim set his sights on the anhizer line to the left of the trees on 14.  Let it be known that there were no gremlins witnessed in the trees at this spot on the state park property.  No gnomes, no menehune, not even the chupacabra, the goat sucker himself, made an appereance; although apparently bigfoot prefers the more forested areas to make his presence known.  Jim's shot vaporized into the tree.  An unlikely "lost disc" was announced and Jim reteed.  Standing on the tee box all alone, shooting for par, one can only imagine his dilema.  Do you take another risky shot at the basket or play it safe and shoot for bogey.  Not a position you or I would like to be put in and without knowledge of how Jim chose to play it, a 5 was scribbled on his card.  Very seldom do we see that number on Jim's card but twice when the 5th and 15th holes are labeled.  Things slowed down and Jim continued his brand of steady, calculated disc golf.  You can count on brands.  Orowheat for one will produce a hearty loaf of bread packaged to keep freshness in and contaminates out.  My beloved Bear Republic brewery homogenizes their Racer5 to taste just the same time and time again.  These patterns do not have their exceptions.  Even these two examples of excellence (I am expecting care packages from the above mentioned brand names) may produce a "bad egg".  Willy Wonka's factory was equipped with machinary to weed out the offending products and save the brand the embarasment of letting a mistake slip through the quality control.  Let it be said that Jim would have scored much, much worse, were he to haul around a 2 ton quality control machine and pass every shot he took through it.  The rest of the players would have been burdened by such a device, possibly blocking otherwise open shots or just slowing the pace of play.  Jim did not have such a contraption for the game and was left to take his shot like everyone else.  The imposing distance of 17, the undisputed #1 handicap hole on the course, showed not even a flinch in the otherwise stoic demeanor of a concentrated Jim Eldridge.  Out of his hands came a perfect rip that landed him skipping on the track out by the #11 bleachers.  A veteran shot by a veteran champion (let it not be overlooked that Val the hippie almost landed on the parking lot, ramming about a foot below the benches for #1).  Sitting just below the the hill and with a clear view of what the hole required to produce a par, Jim used his patented "use the thumber to make the disc vertical when it passes the trees thus giving it a better chance for a clean getaway" shot.  An excellent choice that  more often than not leaves Jim with a decent par look.  Oh how I wish it turned out that way.  I wish I could tell you that Jim not only got through the trees, but mimicked none other that Dave "don't tell me when it's coming, just hit me" Stein, and birdied to take a commanding position into 18.  I wish I had a robot butler that cleaned the clothes, did the dishes, emptied the cat's litter boxes, raked the leaves, vacuumed, cooked (sometimes, I think I might prefer to cook on nights that I can prep and hang out in the kitchen), scrubbed the bathroom and fulfilled any other chores I can't think of right now but until we either learn to expand our communication systems to link us with genies hiding in lamps on far off shores, this will never happen.  Jim's shot got lodged in the tree, high enough to warrant a stroke penalty and a razor sharp glare from the champ.  Another 5 and deep breath later, we all stood on the 18th tee.  As the final group to finish, the rest of the players were down by the goal posts to judge the final shots.  After a few misses by the rest of us, Jim fired a well placed upright disecter right at the hole.  Unfortunately, and in Jim's own words, "that was the story of my whole back 9", the shot careened of a tree right next to the basket and rolled far enough away from the hole to leave a tester for birdie.  Does he make the shot, does Jim hit the birdie?  I don't know.  I can hear you now.  "You brought us on this forsaken journey.  You dragged us through this muck you call a leisure game and you end the whole thing with 'I don't know'.  How dare you.  How dare you be so vain."  I must defend myself by saying that I too was having a less than stellar day and my shot on 18 (I hoped) could save my score and maybe back me into second place contention.  I was so focused on that shot that I really can't remember what Jim did.  What I do know is that Tim the Navarro Nightmare won his second straight match and is now in contention to tie and possibly eventually break the long standing record of "three-in-a-row" held by the man who's pen you follow right now.  Since the record was set, a few attempts have been made but none have been staunch enough to earn the triple crown of frolf.  Will the Nightmare step into history with a big win, or will his rising handicap slow down the freight train momentum built up over the last couple of weeks?  Time will tell.  The last run at the record was made by Mendocino's own Nathan "Nate dog" Anderson of Anderson Alternatives in Mendocino, "your eco-lumber provider".  The same Nate dog that won second place in a three way playoff between Rusty, Erin and himself.  Despite a valiant birdie run by Rusty and a creative "coffin shot" by Erin, Nate dog split the uprights and nonchalantly flicked in the winning putt.  Congrats Tim and Nate, well played.  Thank you Jim for not hating me after this posting and thanks Erin for the legwork on this blog.  Stay Frolfy Mendocino. 

Scores!

This Week's Winners!

This weeks scores: (bh means before handicap, ac after handicap)

Larry +5bh +2ah
John +3
Ryan -1bh -2ah
Roy +4bc 0ah
Derick +4
Val +4
Nate +5bh -3ah
Tim 0bh -4ah
Tom -5bh -2ah
Erin -10bh -3ah
George 0bh -3ah
Jim -5bh 0ah
Ann +14

Note to Mathew: No need to start Handi's for Val, John, Ann, or Derick. They were just visiting.
Hope to see you next tourney.

Thanks for the great posts Derrick and Ryan! Lindsey and I really liked them.

im comin for ya

derrick is back on the scene and not going anywhere for a while. although i missed you all and the course greatly, i had a wonderfull time visiting my family, seeing some incredible concerts( garaj mahal check em out), getting some great snowboarding in on beautifull mt hood



, and disc golfing in the frozen northwest.the brodys out of a complete jonzin addiction set up three holes in like 3 feet of snow. bryan shoveled some tee spots and all the snow was ob.






i played a new course in vancouver wa that went in near where my parents live called leverich park. this park was being taken over by homeless camps and addicts but now from sunrise to sunset a constant flow of frolfers. its only 12 holes but its fun. i shot probably 15 rounds here while i was gone. my best score ended up a 1 down which i was happy with. also many rounds went down in the dalles at sorosis park(funny name huh?)a fun course as well but very frustrating with tons of trees but a couple of great views.
also the brodys and i took a day trip to hornings hideout one of the greatest places on earth prior to putting in 36 holes, a long and somewhat less long course. now with the addition of the frolf this place trancends greatness and becomes some sort of heaven like playground with tons of peacocks


so thats what ive been up to. The blog is great to keep track of whats happenin here while ive been traveling. Im glad you created it Erin. See you all sunday if not sooner.

New B-Course Doubles Record!

Well I write to report that a fine best-shot doubles match ensued yesterday, between Ryan "Rye Bread" McGee and Jim Eldridge vs. Davey "The Dentist" Stein and Erin Hemmings.  Ryan and Jim have had a good amount of doubles success in the past, so Dave and Erin knew they had to play their best, and they did.  After the tough front-nine of the B course, the score stood 6 under to 5 under, with D&E leading but the momentum being squarely in the R&E camp after their birdies on 8 and 9.  But Davey calmly stepped on the gas on the 10th hole, and single-handedly birdied it, one of the most difficult birdies on the course!  From there, D&E never looked back, birdieing 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, to post an extraordinary score of 14 under!  Although few doubles rounds have been played on this tough B-course, we are confident that this score will hold up as the best-shot doubles record for some time!  

Although it seemed as if Davey was carrying the team a bit (and making every putt he looked at!), a look back at the round shows that they really ham-and-egged it around the course.  They used 11 of Erin's drives, and 7 of Dave's, and after counting putts of consequence--i.e. putts made that were outside the comfortable range--I had Dave making 5 and Erin making 3.

For the record, R&E hung in there, getting to a bogie-free 8 under, before failing to make the uprights on 18 and finishing with a strong but disappointing 7-under.  But it was a pleasure to watch a doubles team in synch and on fire, making history!

The Boonville Bomber...I mean the Navarro Nightmare!

As many FROLFers are aware, beer and disc golf go hand in hand. It seemed only natural, then, that on Sunday last, Nathan hosted our second special tourney at the Boonville Brewery. I don't know about the rest of you guys but I was anticipating this tourney and I was truly stoked to play this new course. Nathan did a great job of organizing the event, we had thirteen players, and just about as many donated CTP prizes, which was a great idea whovever had it.


Here are the results: Tim the "Navarro Nightmare" walked away with this one with our first over par winning score ever with a +1 ah. There was a playoff for second with Ryan Mcgee and Mr Runner Up himself Roy! Ryan took second with a +3 ah. I took the overall with a -3 bh. The ctp's were spread out fairly evenly, with a few too many in my pocket. Nobody aced, although I did see a group ahead of us ace hole 15.

This course was definitely way more difficult than ours. I can say without any doubt that every player hit trees, often. After playing his first round on the new course, Jim said this Boonville course is way better than the High Schools. I reluctantly agreed at the time, but after having a day to think about it, I would have to disagree. I think Mendo has more shot variety and more fun factor.

The special tourney torch was passed from Nate to Jim, so we will wait to see what he cooks up this springtime.

-A- Game

Judging by the final scores, everyone was ready to bring their A-games for the first tourney of 2009. After three or four days of strong north westerlies, Sunday turned out to be dead calm. 12 players in all, we split into our groups and teed off. Halfway through the round, I'll bet quite a few players thought they had this tourney in the bag. My group all seemed in contention, and from all the noise the other group was making they were playing damn good as well.

I wish I had the scores in front of me, but I will do my best to remember them. Mae's Dad (Jim) won with a superb -12! This tied his previous tournament best, and was certainly a well deserved win. His handicap was a -5, making a -7 ah the score to beat. Ryan shot a -6 ah, which on any given Sunday is a sure win. Sorry Rye Bread. He did receive the second place $10 to ease the pain. Third place was -5ah shot by Vince, fourth was -4 by Davey-D, and I lost track after that. Also, Jim's -12 was way ahead of my -8 and easily took the overall pot.

All said, it was an impressive showing, and a great start for our 09' frolf club.
This is the time for resolutions, so I am hoping that I can get more people involved in this blog. Is anyone interested? If you signed up and are listed as an author than your ready to go, just click New Post and write whatever you want. No rules, no expectations, doesn't even have to be about disc golf.

I'm stoked for next weeks Special Booneville Pony Keg Tourney! I will take photos and blog it for those who can't make it. We miss you Jody and Bryan!

Our own Frolf Cheerleaders!
Sky & Shaleah's cheer went something like "supercalifragilisticaspialidocious You WIN!"

Nile, Jonah, & Ian Watching us play #11.
These are great local guys who grew up here
and are pretty darn good frolfer's. After many
invites they still refuse to buy into our whole
monetary based competition scheme,
and only play for fun.What gives, guys?