By Sean Warley / DiscLife.com
Tuesday, August 1

photo: Sean Warley

Over the hills and through the woods, the Toboggan course packs a punch. Day one of competition is over and many Amateurs can feel the pain after a tough day at the Toboggan. As I watched player after player pass by, I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous that I wasn’t out there battling it out with them. But then, the second round of the day came and I realized that it’s not so bad watching a bunch of golfers do the tango with Mother Nature. Actually, it’s pretty entertaining!

Pool L'sters were the lucky ones who got to experience the Toboggan first and I’m sure it will be a round they won’t forget soon. It took nearly four and a half hours to finish the grueling course! But the schedule said it would only take four! ;-) Despite the early setback, the staff kept the boat afloat and all rounds were complete with time to spare. Spotters were kept busy all day tracking down discs from the first card to the last. I think they had the hardest day of us all. Some holes need two spotters to help play move a little faster. Thankfully, the weather was cooperative which helped keep play moving.

Unfortunately, just as the 1st round was wrapping up, Mother Nature decided it was time to make the course a little tougher for the Advanced Men in pool H. Four different storms moved over the course during play and it took four hours to complete this round as well. Only four of the 72 players were able to keep their scores in the 50’s, and a snowman (aka an 8) was even recorded on the 469 foot double-dogleg hole 9 (but the unnamed golfer took the box on the next hole with a solo birdy). As the players left, they were happy that it was their only round of the day. They were also the only flight that had much rain.

Advanced Men from Dayton, Ohio show off their plastic. Photo: Sean Warley

As the final round of the day began, the skies seemed to clear up and rain bothered us no more. Pool K, consisting of Advanced overflow and Advanced Grandmaster, took the course with gusto, finishing in three hours under blue skies and soggy fairways. Seven Advanced players scored in the 50’s and Jeremy Gates shot the hot round of the day with a +1 55, only 4 strokes off the course record! Three Grandmasters kept their scores in the 60’s and most of the field fell behind the leaders Terry Calhoun (62), Dan Olendorf (66) and Billy Hensley (67).

Not a single par three was carded all day on the 666-foot hole four! Watching the play as it passed the Course Tent across hole one, up hole two and down the big birdy #3 was enough to entertain anyone. Hole one sent approach shots roll all the way from the pin to the bottom of the hill. The distinctive sound of “disc meets solid wood” echoed from hole two all day and watching the big drives come down to hole three was like having front row seats to the best game in town! Now if I can only find the beer man...