Friday, August 10
It's Friday afternoon, and the first seven rounds have been completed. Those who are good enough or fortunate enough now get to play on Saturday for the semi-final rounds. I'm guessing they'll let me play, but the final numbers aren't in. Boy it is a grueling process here at Worlds. It can churn you up and spit you out.
This morning before our round, I had another chance to congratulate Johnny Sias and Stan McDaniel, the newest members of the Disc Golf Hall of Fame. There were a bunch of us around; their wives were there too. You could tell they were really pumped up and excited about it.
Johnny said that he had no idea it was coming, no one had leaked the news. It was the same for surprise for Stan. These guys had no advanced warning at all! In the past, this hasn't always been the case. When Elaine King was inducted, she showed up in looking really sharp, and we knew she had been primed. This year they were genuinely surprised. It is such an honor to join Hall of Fame.
Someone said to Johnny, 'you seemed speechless.' Johnny replied that 'it did happen one other time. I was being interviewed after winning a tournament, and we were on live radio. When the announcer asked me question, I looked over his shoulder and noticed two dogs were… um… copulating. I was so startled that I couldn't say anything!'
We're once again at Damon's for grub. At the table tonight is Carlton Howard from Raleigh, North Carolina; Bob Lewis of Florida; Rocky Russell of Bowling Green, Kentucky; and Pat Govang, soon to be moving to Ithaca, New York. We've been having a conversation about hidden gem tournaments: those great little tourneys that you may have never heard of but are really cool, really unique, and really well run.
Let's find out what hidden gems these guys can share with us. First on the floor is Hall of Famer and my National Doubles partner, Carlton Howard.
Carlton Howard:
"Check out an event in Kingsport Tennessee," says Howard. "It runs around the 17th or 20th of May. An awesome course, an awesome campground right by the course, and the folks are really friendly too. It's a unique 24-hole course with tight shots and some absolutely gorgeous holes across a scenic valley.
"August Georgia also throws an awesome tournament; Brian Graham and company always do a great job. Augusta Georgia kinda lives and dies with The Masters ball golf tourney, and in the off-season they're begging for business. You stay in the nicest southern romantic hotel, play on great courses and the amenities are always awesome."
Next up is Bob Lewis, a leading retailer who operates The Leading Edge. In addition, for like a decade or more he has run the famous Florida triple Crown, the top warm weather tournament in winter.
Bob Lewis:
"Okay, think about the Florida Triple Crown," suggests Bob. "Am weekends are also first two weeks in February, pros play the last two weeks in February. The pros play six rounds in nine days, and the ams play only on weekends. Pros have a leg during middle of week.
"Also, try out this event up in Florence Alabama in late spring. It's usually held around the 23rd of March at Veterans Memorial Park. It's always well run, and has nice amenities for travelers."
Here is Rocky Russell, known as Mr. Close -- that is, his upshots always close, and his putts are always solid metal. He's one of top pro Masters in the nation, and ran a major SuperTour for over a decade.
Rocky Russell:
"There's one in Summerset Kentucky, usually in mid-September, a B-tier," says Rocky. "They have a Lower course that is real nice, and a new Upper course is tight with a lot of different shots. There's a campground right on courses, with a lake, nice facilities, showers, and the payout is usually excellent with added cash. They get great support from park. As always, southern hospitality at it's finest. Bring your own alcoholic beverage, as it's a dry county. Brock Woodall runs this one; he's a longtime pro and a super guy. I guarantee that if you show up, you'll be glad you did."
Pat Govang, PDGA Financial director:
"I have two: one is self-serving, it is my own event on my 18-hole object course in Ithaca New York, come on out for some great golf. The more substantial gem that might not have been talked about yet is the CanAm Finals in St. Thomas, Ontario. They put together a beautiful temporary course at Pinnifore Park. Great tourney, great time."
The Lizard's hidden gem:
"The Michigan State Finals in Ludington is truly fabulous. It's the end of a seven tournament series, and the MDGO final takes over an entire massive park on an idyllic spot on Lake Michigan that contains two 18-hole courses. It's on Labor Day weekend, and we bring in a bunch of kegs and have a great time. It's really cool, really special."
