2009 No Foolin' Tournament

I'm glad that I overcame my worries about being behind at work and spent the day at Hudson Mills with a bunch of disc golfers. There were 179 competitors in the event, including huge contingents of Am-2 and Am-3 competitors.

Not only is my work busy, but I had spent all week - during the day - sitting in the jury of a gory and sad murder trial. We rendered our verdict early Friday afternoon - Guilty of Second Degree Murder and three Larceny counts, but acquitted on one Larceny and on Felony Murder.

The point is that I began the week stressed and overworked, and ended it even more so! So I was considering working all day Saturday instead. I am - mostly - working all day today :(

Sheila and I arrived at Hudson Mills at 7 am and immediately were engaged in helping set up registration. We worked registration right up until the players meeting. Then I moved from Am-2 to Pro GM, so I could play with Mark Ellis, and the game was on.

Mark crushed me in the morning, by 10 strokes. But only by 3 in the afternoon. We had on our card, the only Pro Woman, Sarah Hocum from St. Louis, and local Pro Scott White. Mark, of course, won Pro GM; Sarah won Pro Women; Scott turned in a blistering -10 in the afternoon round, with incredible putting, to move up in Open. How far, I do not know.

Probably my biggest hole of the day was getting a 2 on the Monster Course Hole 1, from Yellow Tee to Championship Basket. I got that with a really good drive, followed by a 40' forehand putt around some trees.

My worst goof of the day was, after parking Original Course Hole 13, missing what was essentially drop-in putt because I was talking with Mark :(

Not only was the turnout good at 179 competitors, but there was a huge $550 ace pot, a Chainstar raffle, and a Michigan Disc Golf Organization CTP contest following the second round for a nice portable basket. And, if you look at the photos I have posted of some of the divisional winners, you'll notice the really special trophies made by a3discer Mark Piotrowski.

As usual, a3disc had a huge number of volunteers helping out. I was just a helper, so I don't have a list, but at one point during the morning registration I counted 18 volunteer workers doing various things at one time.

Jeff Lewis did another good job as TD. It helps to be about 7' tall and have a foghorn voice, I think.

Sheila volunteered and worked all day, taking some time in the middle of the afternoon round to join my card for a few holes. I wish she had been there all day. Just before she left to go back and work some more, I had a run of three birdies in a row - then I missed that stupid putt on Hole 13. Sigh.

Thanks to everyone for a nice day at the course(s), especially Scott, Sarah, and Mark for being such a congenial card all day long.