USDGC 2011: The Nielsen/Ollis Perspective

[sol]

Day 1 (9:25 AM PT):Roc

Just chilling with Craig N. in PDX getting ready to board our flight. With all the scandal about the handicapping and no prize money I think its important to remind folks that there are at least two extremely excited disc golfers about to head to Rock Hill, SC for the week. In many ways I feel the course, Winthrop Gold, is the prize, the true test of a disc golfer. People tend to forget the game of golf is a game of you versus yourself and the course. It seems to me that this years' USDGC exemplifies that premise.

Will try to keep y'all updated to the comings and goings of some local discers in the far off land of Rock Hill!

[NWDiscer]

Originally Posted by sol

Day 1 (9:25 AM PT):Roc

Just chilling with Craig N. in PDX getting ready to board our flight. With all the scandal about the handicapping and no prize money I think its important to remind folks that there are at least two extremely excited disc golfers about to head to Rock Hill, SC for the week. In many ways I feel the course, Winthrop Gold, is the prize, the true test of a disc golfer. People tend to forget the game of golf is a game of you versus yourself and the course. It seems to me that this years' USDGC exemplifies that premise.

Will try to keep y'all updated to the comings and goings of some local discers in the far off land of Rock Hill!

Have a great time guy's!!!

[snap7times]

Win the darn thing...

[sol]

Originally Posted by snap7times

Win the darn thing...

Day 1: (10:30 PM)

Craig and I touch down in Charlotte, NC, and after having some delicious grub immediately decide to test the true skills of our GPS unit in the car. Instead of rolling on I-77 we kicked it through the rising metropolis of Pineville, NC, and took some backroads into South Carolina. Hard to believe there are so many great disc golf courses within a half hour of Charlotte. Worlds next year is going to be phenomenal! Early day tomorrow, Winthrop Gold awaits...

[Magilla]

Originally Posted by sol

Day 1: (10:30 PM)

Craig and I touch down in Charlotte, NC, and after having some delicious grub immediately decide to test the true skills of our GPS unit in the car. Instead of rolling on I-77 we kicked it through the rising metropolis of Pineville, NC, and took some backroads into South Carolina. Hard to believe there are so many great disc golf courses within a half hour of Charlotte. Worlds next year is going to be phenomenal! Early day tomorrow, Winthrop Gold awaits...

Yea Boi............. Got to play Renny if you have the chance. Charlotte Disc Golf ROCKS!!

[sol]

Day 2: 5:22 pm

Craig and I are just decompressing watching some nice afternoon NFL in the Econolodge. Gotta admit them East Coasters got us beat for Sunday

football schedule. One can have a nice leisurely morning, and enjoy some fine NFL action from 1 PM to midninght. The beer drinker in me likes that schedule...

Anyway, we enjoyed a blustery, amazing, humbling, soul-searching session on Winthrop Gold, which by the way, is everything it is cracked up to

be. Its amazing how a bit (1000s of feet) of yellow rope can create a mind blowing disc golf experience. However, as Craig so astutely

mentioned, a couple of seconds ago, "we were lucky to have the wind on a practice round..." It is true, if it is windy and you need to throw an

anhyzer, you are playing Russian Roulette on Winthrop Gold. Suffice to say, it was a fruitful practice round, got to see some crazy skips and

some insanely lucky breaks, but mostly justice for well-executed or poorly thrown shots.

Second brilliant perspective from Nielsen for the hour: "The trouble about Winthrop Gold is not the 17 holes you play well, its the other hole on

which you take a 12. You kind of have to Tin Cup it..."


My advice for any that have not played this course is this... Anytime you throw a shot you think you can execute, you are asking for trouble.

Only throw shots you KNOW you can execute. All in all, a great test for any who get the privilege to play this course.

[snap7times]

As someone who spent several years on the east coast and goes there every year for my wife's side of the family. Waiting all day for a game that starts at 1PM, 4:30, or 8:15 and having to work or go to class at 7 or 8am the next day, FLAT OUT SUCKS. The west coast is way better, you wake up and Football starts and ends at reasonable times... Same applies to basketball, hockey, baseball, and the list goes on. My brother in law loves sports and just hates it when he has to miss the 2nd half of games cuz he needs to go to bed... Anyways enough defending that argument, i am just covering up all the jealousy I have of you playing those courses out east right now... Next year?

[The Ombudsman]

Originally Posted by snap7times

As someone who spent several years on the east coast and goes there every year for my wife's side of the family. Waiting all day for a game that starts at 1PM, 4:30, or 8:15 and having to work or go to class at 7 or 8am the next day, FLAT OUT SUCKS. The west coast is way better, you wake up and Football starts and ends at reasonable times... Same applies to basketball, hockey, baseball, and the list goes on. My brother in law loves sports and just hates it when he has to miss the 2nd half of games cuz he needs to go to bed... Anyways enough defending that argument, i am just covering up all the jealousy I have of you playing those courses out east right now... Next year?

:roc kon:

[emmarose]

Originally Posted by sol

... Anytime you throw a shot you think you can execute, you are asking for trouble.

Only throw shots you KNOW you can execute.

this is brilliant no matter what course you are playing.

keep the insights coming and loving where you are and what you are doing... super cool...

[sol]

Originally Posted by emmarose

this is brilliant no matter what course you are playing.

keep the insights coming and loving where you are and what you are doing... super cool...

Day 3: 8:27 pm

Finished up Day 2, with some fine tuning on holes 11-15 on Winthrop Gold with the wiley vet and formal World Champion, Lavonne Wolfe. A fine Alabama gentleman, with a blistering backhand and some good advice. Fished an ill-advised practice shot, from the round earlier, out of a small watery cove right on the dogleg of hole 5. Craig and I then had a rousing putting duel as the gloaming sank to darkness on the green of hole 5. Props to Craig for beating me with a sweet turbo putt. Day 3 began a bit later, as the aforementioned late football games kept us up way past the witching hour. Good thing we are on vacation! We traveled 20 minutes north to Renaissance Gold in the late morning. After a brief delay for a Chicken Biscuit at BoJangles (we missed the chance to brunch at Billy Graham Library cafe), we started haggling like Istanbul merchants on how many strokes I would give Craig as we battled for the all vaunted currency of an ice cream cone. After settling on what seemed to me, after the putting display of the previous night, as five strokes too many, we began our onslaught of the mighty Renny Gold. A mighty battle ensued, and as one might imagine, as many brave warriors before us,
the machinations of the Gold were too much. We did have a fantastic time, and I am having a hard time deciding whether Winthrop Gold or Renny Gold is the more impressive. Any thoughts from anyone that has played both?...

I tend to think that each is great in it own way. Renny for its raw, majestic, stan McDaniel enhanced landscape that can rattle even the most technical of golfers, or Winthrop for its clean, swift, hangman justice-doling holes shaped diabolically within yellow rope. One thing they both have in common that us Northwest course designers can learn something from is GREAT GRIPPY teepads (by the way Bob Horning has already got a jump in this area). These teepads grip shoes like a Portlander grips their beer, with purpose and not a chance of a slip. On courses of this difficulty, the ability of the driver to feel as if any mistake on the drive will not be due to a slip, makes the experience infinitely more enjoyable. Too me, this aspect of the game seems to be an easy thing to control for course designers who are seeking to create an elite disc golf experience.

Stepping down off the soapbox...

After some divine, and timely smoked beef brisquet sandwich and pastrami on wheat at Firehouse Subs, Craig and I made for our second disc golf mecca of the day. Elon park, home of the Eager Beaver and the Angry Beaver. As one might imagine, the Eager Beaver is the more tame of the two layouts. Both are potentially going to be used at Charlotte Worlds next year, but after the shellacking of body and soul that was wreaked upon us by Renny Gold, we decided to take it easy and test our wits and skills against the course more likely to give up some birdies.

Eager Beaver gave up many birdies, chainy ace runs, and one ace in the two rounds Craig and I played on it today, all in all, just what we needed to get our confidence up. A fun extremely tight Carolina-style course that was exacting, but imminently scorable. Imagine if you will, playing the spiral (1st five holes on Milo East) for eighteen holes with couple of holes from the Canyon course at Horning's sprinkled in. Yet another great day!

Carolina dreamers signing out.

[JMittl]

Gentlemen! Have a Great Time!!

I'll be reading...

[Scott]

Loving the updates. Keep 'em coming, and have a great time!

[emmarose]

you said "gloaming"!!! i love the gloaming... one of the very best things in life and it happens every day... putting in the gloaming... awe-some!!!

totally can't wait for tomorrow's update... thank you for the opportunity to live vicariously...

[Darr]

Yet another reason John was a great pick. Keep it coming and good luck!

[sol]

Day 4: 5:13 pm

Took some photos, but had a difficult time posting due to new computer-itis and size restrictions for photos on the forum. I made the album (October 4, 2011 Winthrop Gold) viewable for the public on my Facebook page (I am the John Ollis from Portland, OR with disc golf pictures all over his site), please let me know if you have issues seeing the pictures. My apologies for not keeping to just one media source, but y'all are probably more tech savvy then I.

Updates on experiences from Day 4 coming soon...

[Fridgecat]

I, like the rest of you have been enjoying the narrative from John O and our experiences at the USDGC. I thought I'd provide a sub narrative to this amazing journey and offer some realizations about what has been, and what awaits me in the coming days. Indeed, on the cusp of the biggest disc golf tournament of my life, I seek to sort out the jumble of feelings that has flooded my being. First off, I realize that Winthrop gold represents the most challenging disc golf course of my short career...It is clear to me that it will exact swift punishment on any weakness in my game. As I played the course in practice, I am reminded of my high school days when I was cramming for an exam for which I was woefully ill-prepared. Winthrop is the teacher patiently waiting with my score card and red correction pen in Hand.
At the same time, I find the setting serene, peaceful and calming..I'm having trouble sorting out the contrasts.
I am grateful that I have been able to share this experience with John.. He has been like a older disc golf brother, providing great tips, patient advice all keeping it light...Without a doubt, he was the correct choice for the Oregon State representative..
It is clear that the USDGC folks care a great deal about this event - it shows in the most minute details, and pleasant smiles...I thank all of the sponsors and volunteers.
I embark on the most important day of my DG career tomorrrow.. I sense that I will grow as a Disc golfer, but more importantly, as a person. I am so honored to be here and look forward to coming days...

-craig

[sol]

Day 4: 6:49 pm (Part 1)

I awoke this morning, to yet another beautiful sun ray licking my face like an eager puppy. I am sure South Carolina would not miss a couple sunny days if us Oregonians wanted to borrow some...

Gotta nice early start today and headed back out to The Hallowed Grounds Of Winthrop Gold (what will henceforth be referred to as THGOWG). As one can probably surmise from the aforementioned photos I posted on my Facebook site, the weather was truly sublime. While Craig set out to work on some of shots and enjoy the pure ecstasy of playing disc golf on a beautiful South Carolina day, I set out with his fine Nikon digital camera.

Though my skills as a cameraman are limited to say the least (see shaky testimonial of a caffeine addict), THGOWG gave up some scenes that would melt the heart of even the sourest ne'er do well. In my stroll around the park there were sightings of some of the all-star cast one might expect: Phil Arthur, Barry Schultz, Dave Feldberg, Champ. But really all about were murmurs about new legends of the everyday type. The 916 rated Brett Burgess (-13), 855 rated Mike Hamuka (-6), 889 rated Kevin Tritten... These overachievers were noticed, and the heroes of the Monday qualifying rounds along with some top golfers who last minute decided to try and test their own skills against the field.
Chuck Kennedy stopped by the balcony outside the pro shop where I was languidly enjoying the view and the attempts of the golfers to stay in bounds on the drive on #18. We chatted about the correlation between player rating and success in this year's format; and his thoughts about how the "stroke and distance" rule would play out in the ratings of the rounds. Since I know that he is watching this thread, I would not dare to summarize the eloquent reasoning he shared with me about ratings and their validity when pertaining to the application of the "stroke and distance" rule, but I do hope he will share a first-hand account with the folks on this forum, as I found his insights fascinating. After bidding him luck on his round, I felt grateful that such dedicated people that exist to make the sport I love, thrive. (to be continued)

[Chuck Kennedy]

What we don't know about the "Throw & Distance" rule (note the word "stroke" has never been used in the rulebook) being relevant on almost every hole is whether it's just a slight deviation from our game or whether it's a significant enough departure such that the ratings of the players are not suitable to do our usual calculations with their scores. For example, it's unlikely that player ratings for minigolf would be in the same rank order as regular player ratings if we did them for minigolf the same way.

So even though the USDGC is using player ratings to determine projected scores (handicaps) for players, I believe we'll see a bigger scrambling of the final finish order than one might expect with a more normal format and course. Of course there's no other way to provide handicaps than ratings so they're giving it a try to see how it goes. Some players will naturally play better than normal in this format and others will struggle going beyond what we would normally expect based on their rating.

[sol]

Day 4: 10:13 pm (Part 2)

OK, before I wax further about the existential fruits tasted by attending this year's USDGC, let's have a moment of good ole fashioned American materialism. THE PLAYERS PACK!! All I have to say is WOW!

Fair enough, so its not all I have to say (big surprise). I have never seen a player's pack or perhaps even won anything as valuable as these player's packs. USDGC jerseys personalized with yer Last Name printed on the stripe on the right side, black zip hoodies with Huk wings in front, seven discs (for those who are afficianados: sparkle candy USDGC TL plus and Archon, Yeti Pro Aviar, Champion Rancho Roc plus, first run Tee-Devil, Discmania DD2 and TD). A veritable cornucopia of coupons (including a Keen 50% off coupon), a super shammy, a stainless steel water bottle, some amazing caramel corn, and various other stickers and knick knacks. All in all I feel like Alexander the Great after conquering the mighty kingdom of Schwagville.

The banquet was an homage to Southern hospitality and grace. The honoring of the previous Golden Rake winners (kind of like a volunteer Hall of Fame) and the previous champions was appropriately rousing and touching. The barbecued meats (pick yer favorite) and sweet tea were highlights, although the sweet potatoes were also amazing. By the way, overheard a story Henry Childress was relating about Will Schusterick coming back last year from the serve yerself southern feast with a plate only filled with the sweet potatoes, and proclaiming "Now I am gonna win." By the way I do not know if that was some sort of sly pitch by the sweet potato farmers of South Carolina, but I did notice that everyone within earshot took at least a second scoop of the golden ambrosia. There was a cool moment when they announced that "Everyone should look under your seat! If you find something staring back at you, come up to the front." A small, young lady sheepishly crept up to the raised platform. After which they informed her that a Chainstar basket that had been set on a table 35 ft away (in the middle of everyone), presented an opportunity for her to win back her entry fee. She made two great bids, which chained and rimed out consecutively, and as she was lining up the third, she was informed that she could "phone a friend" in "Who wants to be a millionaire?" parlance. She looked dramatically to the crowd, considered putting it herself, and then called up "Champ". Climo gamely and grinning widely casually walked up and accepted the challenge. After the entire place started drumming on the tables and the old timers were knudging any brash teenagers that were not paying attention. The Champ let go a prototypical hyzer pitch putt right at that Chainstar. But somewhere in the Carolina evening the disc golf gods forgot who was putting and the Champ chained out.

The announcer stepped up proudly and would it be okay to just take home the basket and the putters instead, and everyone's disappointment turned to glee, and the Champ still gracious in defeat, gave a wistful shrug, and smiled just as broadly. A modern happy ending.

Then the tee times came out and scores of names came out by fours, splitting the hours between 8 am and 12:20 pm. What an experience! I felt like I was part of something big, something new and old at the same time, something people care about. I cannot wait for my name to be called
only two names before my friend Craig as we challenge THGOWG tomorrow at 9:20 am.

[Portland Rebel]

Ollis! I can't say this any better and won't even try after reading your works of art: this shit rocks! Keep 'em coming...

We are all vicariously living through you guys; we cannot wait to read the next account.

May the Carolina gods be good to your XCal's and Firebirds!!