Sunny skies in west Texas

It's 95 degrees and sunny as heck right now, on the far-away-from-Ike side of the state. Glad I'm over here and not over there. I think it's the first time I've seen the sun in 5 days. Ran into a small doubles tournament going on at the courses in San Angelo, but they let me play through, thanks guys.

I REALLY don't know what to do now, with Houston being wrecked and all. I think it'd be prudent to stay away from there, to let them fix it up and stay out of their way, if it's even safe, if hotels are even in business, water is drinkable and the power is on! Who knows if any courses are good, either. So, I am thinking of sticking to San Antonio/Austin for awhile, head up to DFW for a week or so, then to Arkansas, and maybe hit Houston from the border with Louisiana later, next month, skipping the very far southern coastal courses (Corpus Christi). To me right now that seems like the most logical choice. It sucks, but it's what needs to be done I guess.

Busy planning like mad all night.

People might be thinking that I am missing some of the best courses and wondering why, but it's because I have already played 40+ courses in Texas in the past, so if I come through your area and you wonder why I missed the best of the best, it's because I already played it.

Abilene, TX- Cal Young:Medium to long very flat holes through Mesquite groves and open spaces. One shot across a creek, and another over a tree onto a peninsula. 2 types of baskets, good tees with # and length stenciled, course map at msg. board. A few challenging (as in tough to park not tough to get a 3 on) holes. No legit. par-4 in my opinion.

San Angelo, TX- Picnic Bend:Easily the toughest course of the day, though somewhat short with no holes out of reach but also nothing under 250'. 2 holes dangerously close to a river on one side and road on the other. 1 hole throws across the creek, over a tree line, to a basket on a solid rock old creek bed. Another shoots from up on top of the rock cliff across the water again. One very low ceiling shot next to a fence followed by a hole well protected by palm trees and a cool wide pine. Very clean and well maintained, tees have # and length engraved.

San Angelo, TX- Brentwood:Flat, playing up and down the sides of a small drainage creek lined with rock walls, dry today. OB in play often, roads, yards, and that creek line. Nicely maintained rubber tees but no signs, yet easy to follow due to the size and dimensions of the park. I shot -7, 9 holes, in wind. One hole forces playing right up to the OB road and throwing through a 10' window, or throwing a bomb off the tee, over the fence/net by the tennis courts.

Del Rio, TX- Buena Vista:The Mexican Border fence is OB be careful. Short and flat also, through small groves of trees in a grassy area with some exposed rock ground. Poorly marked, some tees hard to find even though there's a map. One basket way too close to a playground, you throw at the playground then over it, so can't be played when occupied. A few wide open holes, most with a couple trees or a line of trees to easily negotiate, windy.

[Bill Burns]

It might have looked like Mexico, but the only Buena Vista Park I can find in Del Rio is on the north side of town, which is the other way from the Mex. border there, which would be the Rio Grande. That would have been cool to have a course right on the border, but that would cause headaches if you were trying to retrieve a disc! I was in Brownsville, TX last year, and drove down a dirt road that ran right next to the Rio Grande. Walked around the bank, found some abandoned clothes. Sure enough, up rolled Border Patrol. Sure glad my clothes were dry!

[humchris]

Haha!!! Mexico is OB, too funny!!! You have to pay someone jumping the border to grab your disc and bring it over for you. Or be a reverse border jumper. HAHAHAhahahaha....

[Kyle Jacob Smalling]

Did you see anyone trying to cross the border?

[Sheila Calhoun]

Hi Ben, sounds like Ike has put a damper (get it?) into your plans. Best to stay away from that area though. Becky Gilbert has a sister in Arkansas that would probably put you up she said. Love you....stay safe.

[Bryce @ Treebangers Disc Golf]

"The Mexican Border fence is OB be careful" Thats just funny as hell I hope you got some good photos of that wall and course

[Jamie 'gr8rocshot' Ruane]

So, as it normally goes...other park patrons have the right-of-way.

What do you do when those perceived patrons are really...illegal fence jumpers? Are they considered hazards or obsticles?

So, if you want your disc back from Mexico...do you risk spending some time in a Mexican pokey...jump the fence and run like hell? ...something not seen very often...an American running into Mexico.

I wonder if the State Dept. has a 'return the disc policy'


Where did you lose that first run Valk? ....I went OB into Mexico and chose to throw from the Homeland Security 'Drop Zone'

....I traded a green card for my OB disc

There's a top ten list in here...somewhere...lol

[Terry "the Pirate" Calhoun]

"Prudent," Ben? If McSame/Palin win, you'd better learn to stop using esoteric words like that. Where'd you learn that kind of thing, anyway? ;-)

Really, a course where the OB is the Mexican border?