Terry "the Pirate" Calhoun's Blog – August 2008 Archive (9)

On Saturday I drove to the Ann Arbor airport and rented a tiny plane and pilot and took some aerial shots of the park. That finally gives me an overarching perspective of what the terrain looks like right now, not several years ago.



Here is the latest. Interpreted on the ground as things get cleared, it is less clear as to what is a right-hand or a left-hand hole. But this is what I am turning in to the city next week. What were Holes 9-11 are going to be somewhat similar but, from… Continue

We had another walk-thru this evening and I think we have settled on at least a rough sketch of the 18 holes—long tees, anyway. It's not clear to me how well people will be able to view the image I am posting here, but my fingers are crossed.



This park was redone to change the water flow and flood control functionalities for Washtenaw County. The disc golf course was taken out two and a half years ago and may get put in this fall, probably next spring. We lost some holes to the… Continue

This fellow's name is Richard (Rick) Williams. He came up to me at the 2008 Worlds at the Robert Morris course and reminded me of a story from the first year I played competitive disc golf, in 1999. The disc he is holding in his hand is a key to the story.

I had begun throwing discs around late in the summer of 1998 and enjoyed it so much I decided to get competitive in 1999. Late spring, I heard that there was this big tournament in Rochester, New… Continue

All of today's Am scoring is here.



I played a pretty terrible round at Oshtemo, figuring by the time I was done it was about 880-rated. However, it turned out to be rated 914 (still not good) and enough to tie me for first in the Am Senior Grand Master group (with Chuck Hornsby, who I figured I would be seeing a lot of). I had three (3) putts hit metal and roll away, two for bogies and a… Continue

Well, I have to say that I am impressed by the courses here in the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek area. No disappointments yet and now I have seen them all. (At least the ones I get to play; plus I got to see Timber Ridge from the bottom of the slopes.)



This afternoon, Sheila and I went to Oshtemo (Sorry Ben, lots of poison ivy.) and played with Heidi (from Texas) plus Martha and her husband (Oops, forgot his name.) from western Washington state; they are both here in DGRUS. We threw from… Continue

This is a great tournament host hotel with plenty of open social space and a nice bar and restaurant.



Garrett and Steve and I drove back roads to Kalamazoo in the convertible. Sheila drove her car via the freeway later in the day. GG and Steve are spending the night in our room and will strike off with friends for the rest of the tournament tomorrow. Sheila and I saw an awful lot of good friends tonight and had a great time: the Hardymans, Doc Harmon, Jon Lyksett, Everett, Avery and… Continue

Went to the Detroit airport this afternoon and picked up Garret Gurthie and his caddy, Steve McNeill. They're staying with us tonight and we're driving them with us - in two cars - to Kalamazoo tomorrow, for Worlds. Picked them up in Clifford the Big Red Truck and then moved into Cliffy the 1963 Corvair convertible and drove to Bandemer Park for a quick 9 holes.



It was fun watching a 1020+ rated pro pick apart the holes!



On the way back from Bandemer a thunderstorm moved… Continue

I finally got to Kalamazoo today (joined by Tom Blackburn, Richard Tuttle, and Josh Cantor). We played Robert Morris Park and Begg Park. I threw a 54 at Robert Morris and a 52 at Begg. I really liked both courses. Robert Morris is tougher than that, and I'll probably never again throw it that well.



Both courses are, I think, in good shape for the Worlds, with some obvious last-minute signage yet to come.



I have never played Three Rivers, and haven't seen Oshtemo or Kimball… Continue

I feel like I am learning so much this year about course design - including the politics of it - that I should share things as I learn them. Which means a lot more related posts from me, although I am not sure whether posting to my blog or to the forum is a better way of sharing/learning. (Opinions welcome.)



Sheila and I drove to the Waterloo course today to check out the work the parks people there have done on the first 9 holes, designed by Gunars Nollendorfs and I. The last time I… Continue