Sunday, September 14, 2008

Playing against Hurrican Ike

Koons and I made a run at BB Owen at 11 AM on Saturday despite the threat of Ike. There were very strong gusts which psyched us out and caused a few errant throws, but on the whole we put purpose on our throws and had a good time of it. There were even a couple of ace runs out there. The wind forced a greater focus and encouraged more direct angles of approach which actually improved my play on a few holes. I knew my focus was off.

Anyway, we didn't keep score in any traditional fashion. We just played for a win on each hole, and made a good time of it. Score would have been pretty close though.

Plus, this is further evidence that DG can be achieved in nearly all weather situations. Already this season, we have taken on heat, humidity, rain, wind, and darkness. Today, we took on a tropical storm. Good times.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Throwing gutters and getting frustrated

Call it a slump.  Mid-season form is firmly in the rear view mirror.  I'm ripping some ugly throws out there.  It's not a total loss by any means; I've got a few pretty drives mixed in and a few meaningful mid-range attacks as well, but it's been a discouraging month for my game.  There have been many changes in the bag.  Most changes have been upgrades to be honest, but it affects the game nonetheless.  But, let's cut to the chase here: my confidence is shot, my focus is poor, and I'm logging fewer course hours.  Not a combination for winning.

Anyway, the latest round news is a win over Koons at Greenbelt last Saturday, and a loss to Koons today at BB Owen.  I don't remember the exact scores at Greenbelt, but think I threw 1 or 2 over.  Today, at BB Owen I threw a 5 to Koons's 2 (I think he had a 2, but the point is I lost).

Side note: some punk kids were drinking Bud Ice 32 ouncers and kicking the sign on 12.  You know, the "Birdie Alley" sign?  These kids didn't even have bags or discs or anything.  They were just out there drinking.  That's ghetto.  Koons and I should have confronted them, but didn't since we were clearly outnumbered and not looking for stab wounds.  What's the deal?  I've got no problem with disc golfers enjoying a frosty beverage or passing a J, but these punk losers don't even play.  I do have a problem with assholes with no intent to play loitering, drinking, and destroying park property.  I was heartily discouraged by the scene; brought on philosophical notions on the plight of modern society.  No wonder my focus is off.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Don't worry: I'm still chuckin plastics!

Way behind on posting rounds. Let's get back into it with some course notes:

1. All pin placements are short except #12, so go throw a personal best!
2. A smoking bench has been added next the tee box on #18. If you're looking to blow your herb and not be seen, consider 18.
3. Some rubbish fairies from the city have added trash bins. Now there are two bins on each stand. It makes me happy to know that some of my tax dollars made it to the course.

Recent rounds: I don't remember the dates for these, so give me a break.

Lost a round to Koons by one stroke about a week ago.

Lost a round to Mitchell by one stroke also about a week ago.

Joe and I lost a team round to Mitchell and Koons by several strokes on Friday. I think the score was -4 to -1.

Koons and I tied on a round we were both eager to forget yesterday. We both threw 3 over with so many poor putts that I can't forget about it fast enough.

That's it. Too much for a single post, so I'll have to be more disciplined with posting. Apologies.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

A Personal Best!

Played a round of team golf on Saturday morning. The winning team consisted of me and Koons; Mitchell and Chief rounded out the other team. Both teams played pretty well. Mitchell and Chief notched a 1 under, while Koons and I played 5 under. Considering the viciously hot temps lately, I consider it a victory to have survived.

Hopefully, will be able to post some video of my terrible throw on 15 soon.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Tuesday Afternoon Round & Note on Course Etiquette

Koons and I got in a round on Tuesday. Round wasn't too bad until the 18th hole. I had some nice birdies and a couple of ace runs, but tripled 18 due to 3 penalty strokes (2 for playing wrong side of mando and 1 for playing on the sidewalk).

Koons played a subpar round with the leftover discs in his truck. The man's no genius and left his golf bag at the house. So, he was forced to play with the oldie goldie discs on the floorboards. Considering the situation, it wasn't a bad round.

Note on course etiquette:
This subject really requires more thought and its own post (I'll try to get to it soon). Anyway, there's noticeably poor etiquette on the course. Examples of poor etiquette include: cutting off a group by starting at the middle of a course, planning a mini tournament during peak weekday golf hours, spectators with no concept of golf wandering onto fairways, people generally being rude.

It's unfortunate that the sport attracts new participants at the expense of the course etiquette. More on this to come...

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Ugly Round - Note on Pin Placements

Joe, Mitchell and I got a round in today. Interesting play today. I finished at 4 over; thanks mostly to a triple boge on 15. My drive on 15 was high and ugly. It dove off into the woods, and we never found it. I followed that shot with some ugly approach action and short-armed the put to complete my triple. Whatever. I also had three birds on birdie alley (12, 13, 14), so you take the good with the bad and play on.

The course has been on the hard setting for the past month or so. Most of the pins are at the long placements. Number 8 was at the long placement, but was returned to the short placement. Anyway, with holes 2, 9, 11, 12, 15, 17, and 18 at the long placements we get two results : (1) worse scores, (2) more lost discs. Of course, more lost discs equals more found discs, so if you lose one chalk up the loss and know you're due to find one at some point. I've donated several this summer already! My brother found 3 discs today, and a couple others the last time he played. Lesson learned: discs come and go, birds and boges, keep your eyes on the chains.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Saturday and Sunday Team Rounds

Two rounds at BB Owen this weekend - both rounds were team play rounds. Saturday round teams : (1) Calvin and Mitchell (2) Koons and Clay. Mitchell and I got the better of them, but not impressively. Don't remember the actual scores, but they weren't pretty for a team round.

Sunday teams: (1) Calvin and Joe (2) Mitchell and Clay. Mitchell and Clay got the better of Joe and I, but it was a good round that required a play off hole to decide. Good times.

Pics from the weekend:



Calvin throws on the long hole #11, and nails a tree in the fairway. Bogie.


Mitchell rips one that looks good here, but it turned over and ran for the tree line on the right.



Clay lines up an approach shot around the trees - tough lefty shot.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Saturday Round at Greenbelt (07/12/08)

Played a round at the greenbelt course in Carrolton with Koons and my brother. I finished at 2 over, with mitchell at 4 over, and Koons a disgraceful finish at +7. Not a stellar round for anybody, but we're going to blame it on the wind.

My brother brought the camera out to get some "action" shots:


Koons with his head hung in shame after another dismal showing off the tee


Calvin unleashing a strong drive without much control. Wind?



Here's Mitchell winding up on the long hole 5


Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Tuesday -noonish round

Went to the course with Jenny today at noon. It was soooo hot out there today. Anyway, not such a great round. Threw 3 over - boges on 1, 2, 10, 11, 17, 18 and birds on 4, 6, and 13. No ace runs to speak of at all.

Of note: been throwing drivers into the woods on #6 recently. May be time to club down. Still, not sure that I can club down much and still cover the distance. Will see how it goes.

Probably going to get another round in with Koons this evening. Hopefully not so hot.



Monday, July 7, 2008

Monday afternoon 07/07/08

Threw 2 over today. Had boges on 5, 7 (ouch), and 15; with one bird on 14. Not too bad I guess, but need a couple more birds to make anything happen. Still no aces. Had a really decent run at 6 and 14 though. I'll get it next time!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Wednesday Evening Round

Played around with my bro and Koons today. I put together a nice round finishing at 1 under. Played the front nine beautifully with birdies on 3, 4, and 6. Unfortunately, didn't capitalize at all on birdie allie; got bogies on 14 (penalty from throwing in the street) and 17 (hate that hole). Koons finished at 1 over, and my bro finished somewhere around 5 (was 3 over after first two holes - ouch!)

Was a good round. Probably won't get in another until Monday or Tuesday as I'm headed out of town for the fourth of July weekend.

No aces today, but there were some nice runs. More runs to come! Season's still in full swing!

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Sunday evening round at BB Owen

Koons and I got in an evening round at BB Owen today. Play got bottle-necked at #9, so we played the front 8 again and threw 17 and 18 to play a full round of 18 holes. Threw 1 over today. Drives were a little wild to start, but my game came together well. Doubled on 18 because I threw on the wrong side of the mando. Oh well! Good round. Hope to get an evening round sometime during the work week!

BB Owen Course Description


BB Owen is the primary disc golf course inside of Dallas city limits. It is an 18 hole course with hole lengths ranging from 160 to 400 feet (depending on basket placement). Majority of throws are open, but dense woods are a major factor if disc lands off the fairway. Water is not a significant hazard on the course. All holes are par 3s, and holes 12 through 15 are officially titled "Birdie Alley."

Pros:
(1) Course is conveniently located inside of Dallas city limits.
(2) Course is designed on a relatively small land area, and can play very quickly.
(3) A variety of throws are useful: hyzer, anhyzer, rollers, etc.
(4) Course will challenge you with distance (shots over 350 and uphill), but also challenges your control (shorter shots with ace potential).
(5) As primary city of Dallas course, many very skilled players use course and hold minis on the weekends.

Cons:
(1) On front and back nine, fairways lay side by side, so drives with poor control frequently interfere with another hole's fairway.
(2) Course can be very crowded (only good course inside city limits), and can play slowly due to congestion.
(3) Woods off of fairways can be very dense during spring and summer. It's possible to spend some time searching.

Course Maps & Images


Course Map

Printable Version

Satellite Image (from Google Earth)