Willowbrook league (Byron)

[discow]

Here is a question for everyone within walking or driving distance of a course. How many people would indulge in a weekly doubles leageue at a golf course, namely the Willowbrook in Byron? Give me a shout and tell me what you think, PLEASE.
The golf course is very interested in starting a disc golf league and would like to know what knd of league everyone would be interested in playing.
Have you ever heard of a league where just for playing the league, you are put into a drawing for a Chainstar? Or a league where at the end of the league , during the league fun night 2 Chainstar baskets are given away?

Looking for input.

[DSproAVIAR]

Weekend or weekday?

[Mark_Stephens]

I would think weekday just because weekend would not work out good for the tournament player.

I could not be out there every week with other leagues out there. Once every two weeks I could do.

[DSproAVIAR]

Well, I wouldn't be able to make it out to Byron before 6:15 or so on a weekday. If it was a weekend league, I would attend depending on tournaments that are going on that day. If there were no tournaments going on, I would make it a point to play. That course is sweet.

[janttila]

I think a Willow Brook league would bee great. The key to success is choosing the right week night to hold the league. I think Thursday would bee a good night.

[bruce_brakel]

I don't know if Tracy posted this previously but the course is making serious progress towards installing a permanent course. We are hoping to do some kind of grand opening event in late March or early April and Big D Doubles on July 12. It is not too early to pre-register for Big D Doubles. We filled for the one we did in hideous weather in the fall. How hideous can it be on July 12? If we get a lot of Oakland County players pre-reging, I have a sponsor interested in throwing some money at this.

Same cashless pre-reg protocals. Head on down the page to the Waterford Junior Girls Club section.

Tracy, the Grand Opening weekend we were talking about is Bowling Green Ams. We gotta look for a different weekend. Call me.

[bruce_brakel]

Well, I wouldn't be able to make it out to Byron before 6:15 or so on a weekday. If it was a weekend league, I would attend depending on tournaments that are going on that day. If there were no tournaments going on, I would make it a point to play. That course is sweet.

LOL! You're saying we'll see you on Christmas, in other words! :D

[Mark_Stephens]

I don't know if Tracy posted this previously but the course is making serious progress towards installing a permanent course. We are hoping to do some kind of grand opening event in late March or early April and Big D Doubles on July 12. It is not too early to pre-register for Big D Doubles. We filled for the one we did in hideous weather in the fall. How hideous can it be on July 12? If we get a lot of Oakland County players pre-reging, I have a sponsor interested in throwing some money at this.

Same cashless pre-reg protocals. Head on down the page to the Waterford Junior Girls Club section.

Tracy, the Grand Opening weekend we were talking about is Bowling Green Ams. We gotta look for a different weekend. Call me.



I TOLD Tracy that was BG AMs weekend! LOL

[circlek13783]

Just don't make it Tuesday. :)

[janttila]

That kinda sounds like an invite.

[Mark_Stephens]

This is just a guess...

I don't think that it will be a Tuesday or a Thursday as those are FTF League nights. Of course, I could be wrong!

[janttila]

Friday!? The rest of my week is booked up with Leagues. Monday-country club, Tuesday-several options, Wed-dirty dollas/A3, Thursday-sort a open, Friday-is BRATS running this spring/summer?

[lacey17429]

This course is a pretty long drive for most who would be interested. I live in Hartland (which is closer than most people), and it's still like 30-35 minutes for me (good weather, no traffic, high speeds).
I think anybody willing to drive much further than that (regularly) will expect to play the course the 'right way' - a full round of long tees.

It would be tough to run it this way on a weekday at a time when most players could get there (regularly) without running out of daylight. I think there are a lot of players who don't tourney on a weekly basis, like to play a lot of golf, and are good enough to enjoy the Byron layout.

I might be wrong about this, but my gut says it would be more successful on a weekend, where time and format quality are not such a huge obstacle.

What do you folks think....what is the bigger obstacle to getting a solid turnout on a regular basis? Tourneys on Weekends, or Time / Round Quality on Weekdays?

p.s.....this has nothing to do with protecting my Friday league....golfers never show anyway :mad:, and I would cancel mine in a second if Byron had a league I could make it to on time! :cool:

[DSproAVIAR]

I share your feelings Lacey.
I don't enjoy playing 2 tournaments per weekend, so with the amount of options we have in MI in the summer, I think I could find time to be there most of the time, whether it's on Sat or Sun, and still play a tournament on the other weekend day if I wanted to.

[Phantom]

I would make it there most of the time if it were on friday, or the weekends. Would love to see it happen !

[Phantom]

it would be sweet to have it be and early morning league.

[discow]

As of right now prices for league or normal rounds of disc golf have not been set. The Willowbrook plans on updating their website sometime nest week with disc golfing information. All of the input is greatly appreciated. Any news on the installation of baskets and start of the 08 season, I will post asap.

[jHarr]

could look at an every other weekend type schedule and see if it jives better with tournies in the area...

how about fridays at 7pm, finish with glowsticks on &/or rotate the front and back 9 every week...

maybe sunday mornings when all the ballgolfers are at church is a good time?

[Mark_Stephens]

Go to http://www.mdgo.org/schedule.htm

After May you are going to see multiple tournaments on every day of the weekend.

[lacey17429]

could look at an every other weekend type schedule and see if it jives better with tournies in the area...

how about fridays at 7pm, finish with glowsticks on &/or rotate the front and back 9 every week...


maybe sunday mornings when all the ballgolfers are at church is a good time?




I think you would have a hard time getting people to make this drive to play only 9 holes, or to play glow golf. Also - I'm not sure they would let us use carts after dark, and I am assuming carts would be necessary if playing the true layout.

Good point about Sundays. 1 round of 18 should only take about 4 hours with carts, right? 10-2, maybe 11-3 on Sundays could work. Allows people to get up, eat breakfast and make the drive.

[circlek13783]

I agree with Matt, with the exception of tee times starting @ 8. C'mon, I know you sleep a lot, but you can't get out of bed for this?

Trying to convince people to just play 9 holes (most work until 5 unlike me on Tue & Thur) for that far of a drive (for the majority), just doesn't seem like it's going to fly.

[lacey17429]

I agree with Matt, with the exception of tee times starting @ 8. C'mon, I know you sleep a lot, but you can't get out of bed for this?

Trying to convince people to just play 9 holes (most work until 5 unlike me on Tue & Thur) for that far of a drive (for the majority), just doesn't seem like it's going to fly.



Being ready to start at 8 means getting up before 6. I figure 30 minutes to S,S & S and get dressed. 15 for breakfast, 10 more to get ready(discs, bag, clothes.....), 30-60 minutes(or more for some) to drive, at least 30 to stretch(it IS early!) and warm up. That's like 2 1/2 hours of prep time. Besides...It's the weekend, man....we're not supposed to be up at 6:00AM.
Let us sleep 'til 8:00 on our day off.

morning people....I tell ya. :D

[janttila]

[QUOTE]


High maintenance people....I tell ya. :D

[Phantom]

i honestly dont think it matters when you start this league day or time! you will have people there just because it is at byron. plus if it goes in permently they course is going to end up having its own locals. then you would be less dependent on people traveling to play. I will be there. just tell me when

[bruce_brakel]

Right now we're looking at Saturday April 5 as the Willow Brook Disc Golf Grand Opening event and Saturday July 12 as the 2008 Byron Big D Doubles.

Big D Doubles will be the format we've always used, BYOP Best Shot, 18+9. [I'm trying to figure out how to choreograph 18+12 but the concept is eluding me so far.]

We [Tracy and I] are open to ideas for the Grand Opening format.

We are also open to input about course design from those of you who have played the course. Ideas we have heard and plan to implement include,

1. All holes will have a blacktop cart path tee.
2. Make some of the par threes easier to birdie.

Changes we have in mind:

Hole 3: This is that dogleg right par three. We might shorten it and make it more to the right.

Hole 8. This is the one with the elevated tee, you throw a righty annie over a creek. The basket is out there about 450. We're thinking of bringing the basket in quite a bit closer to make it more of a lefty hyzer/righty forehand.

Hole 9. This one used to be 425 or so downhill into a grove of young trees. They removed the trees. Not sure what we're going to do here.

Hole 14. Recently this one has been a left dogleg and up on a weedy hill. We like that position but management doesn't like that position for maintenance and safety reasons. We may have to bring the basket down to the edge of the pond. We might get them to cart rope the hill for a walk-up green.

15. This is the par three that has had a dirt tee. There are two options here. One would be to create a traditional disc golf hole in the schule on the left. If they don't want to pour a tee for option one, we'll have to see where we can go from the black top.

16. This is the par three with the basket behind and to the right of the golf green. We're going to shorten this one to make it more deuceable.

[janttila]

I would like to see the course layout continue to bee played similar to the stick golf layout. I'd love to go out and throw discs and ride in the same go-cart as my stick golf buddies.

[Phantom]

for an opening format i would like to see a two day tournament. where you play one round of 18 each day. I think that would be sweet with tee times!

[discow]

That sounds pretty cool! We'll see what we can do.

April 5th is the Grand Opening, right now we are just waiting for warmer weather and the frost to leave the ground, so that we can start the installation process.
We'll keep you posted as to the prices and format. There will be an announcement coming soon.

[Phantom]

Tracy if you guys need any help give me a shout more than willing to help!

[bruce_brakel]

for an opening format i would like to see a two day tournament. where you play one round of 18 each day. I think that would be sweet with tee times!

This would be fun, but we'd wind up stepping on too many toes. There are tournaments both days every weekend during this time frame in Michigan, except for Bowling Green weekend. Also, it would make for a really high tournament entry fee. When we run tournaments at Willow Brook, we pay green fees for every player.

[Phantom]

I dont have a problem with tournament entrance fees being high. I hate hearing about stepping on toes, this stops the growth of the sport. what is wrong with having choices of witch tournament you want to play! either way i will be there

[Mark_Stephens]

I dont have a problem with tournament entrance fees being high. I hate hearing about stepping on toes, this stops the growth of the sport. what is wrong with having choices of witch tournament you want to play! either way i will be there



Because 95% of the TDs/Clubs all get together to work out a state wide schedule so that there are a minimal amount of conflicts and this tournament is now being scheduled after that date. You don't want TD/Clubs beginning to have fights over dates and players. That is not conductive for disc golf on a state wide level. We all met on several dates this winter to move around dates to help to accomodate people from all over the state. So, that is why I think that you should try to "not step on toes". ;)

[Phantom]

yeah I know how it all works been watching it for years. I will be no matter what the formant is

[Roosta]

opening day for Byron is my birthday. i expect you to buy me drinks DJ.

[janttila]

Nice Rooster! You'll bee turning 21?

[Phantom]

really rooster, what is your poison? nothing better then a stumbling rooster

[Roosta]

i enjoy hops or the porter/stout agenda. also patron silver is always permitted in my system...

[NewDude]

tru dat