Sunday, August 5
I'm semi-lost now in the airport parking lot rental car return area, having just dropped off Rocky Russell, a top pro from Kentucky, who it looks like I'll be traveling with for Worlds competition. Rocky's here to pick up a car. I've got a vehicle, a cooler of beer, and he has exceptional directional sense. I have none.
An interesting occurrence yesterday. We were done with a round and making arrangements with the Winnicrew for lunch. It's difficult to get everyone together, since every two minutes someone new pulls in, hellos must be exchanged, offers to join us for lunch are given, and the newcomer wades through some hemming and hawing.
Finally the crew climbs aboard the Winnie, I'm gonna follow. I sit there for like five minutes, waiting, waiting. This is getting ridiculous. Suspecting something is amiss, I get out and walk in direction of the Winnie, and find that the crew has discovered that the Innova van and trailer have arrived. Jonathan Poole drove up vehicle, has a course worth of tee pad mats, baskets, and lots and lots of plastic. 
The most interesting treat he has brought are some Champion Edition Rocs, which are basically being offered by Innova only on a promotional basis for $25 each. When the Winnicrew discovers the first shipment ever they are so excited, and buy like 35 of them. This is really entertaining, as they have never thrown this disc and have absolutely no idea whether it even flies at all. They immediately run over to a field, and Dave Feldberg was so happy: "Yes this is a great disc!" Proceeds from sales of the disc are helping to fund the US DG Championship. I guess the Winnicrew figures it's all going to the purse, so they'll win it all back. Good theory, we'll see.
I have no idea where Rocky is, he's still picking up a vehicle.
This morning, I'm in a group with Joe Giebel, Rocky, and Scott Martin. Rocky is not used to my unusual Lizard Games, and we had to bend his arm to play the complex Doo Run Run. This is my favorite disc golf game. I talked him into it, and as expected, it worked great. Doo Run Run is a great game for a Worlds warm up, or prepping for any tournament. A good game should train you for tournaments, and if your prep is more difficult than the tournament, you have the proper game.
You can have from four to any number of players, can add players without difficulty, and you can always make a fair game regardless of the skill levels of the players present.
It's a non-carryover skins game, and you only cash if your team skins. If no skin is taken, the next hole still has only one skin, instead of skins building up until a lucky shot is made. It's also a switching partners game. You flip for teams, and that team stays together until skin is hit, then you flip for new teams. We use a format cycle so that the longer a team stays together, the more difficult the format becomes. For example: today with a pile of great pros playing (except me of course), we first played best shot, then Trumps, which is worse shot/best shot. The third format is Lizard Abuse: you play best shot on the drive, and thereafter everything is worst shot, where your opponents choose the lie you must shoot from. Each teammate must make the putt, or it doesn't count. So, after the drive, there is huge pressure to play well thereafter. It was a very fun game, and passed the most critical test: Rocky Russell -- who whined and complained before we got started -- actually liked it.
Where the hell is Rocky Russell?
Today is Sunday, and there's a players meeting at 8pm, then tomorrow is doubles. I'm happy to be playing Open Division doubles with Innova's Harold Duvall. I already have a singles starting assignment too: Scott Riley and Rocky, both are fine players and friends.
There are way too many girlfriend/boyfriend combos in the mixed doubles. If you ask me, this is just stupid to pair up with your loved one. Far better to have an affair and tell your girlfriend than play doubles with her. Think about it: when two buddies are playing together, you can feel free to say things like 'nice shot, dufus,' or 'you suck, I can't believe I ever picked you for a doubles partner.' You wouldn't think twice about this kind of comment, but try saying that to your girlfriend and there'll be some serious hell to pay.
The mood here in Minnesota is quite positive and fun, and it was a pleasant surprise to see Colorado's Mike Randolph show up, who we weren't sure was coming. The players are happy with courses, which are all conveniently located. There are a bunch of convenient hotels near the courses, including the host hotel. Our first opportunity to register was last night, and I had a chance to spend some time with the father and son TD team of Greg & Lee Rife. They are doing great! There are always challenges to running a big event like Worlds, and they are both really cool under pressure.
Injury Report:
After my last report, we had finished a round and was sitting in shade at Kapoisia when a disc comes out of nowhere and hits Ron Russell hard in ankle. The disc was actually bee-lining directly toward me, but good old Ron took the shot instead. The irony of all this: the disc was a CE Roc. It didn't appear that the shot caused serious injury.
The rumor mill has been abuzz about a more serious Ron Russell injury. Ron reportedly wrenched his back during a round yesterday, and hasn't played since. I hear he had trouble walking back to his car. Another rumor is that Scott Stokely has a hand or wrist injury, but I haven't seen Scott to confirm this.
Yo, Rocky! Looks like I have found the long lost golfer, time to move. Talk with you tomorrow!
