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[johnrock]

No new records for the BLUE tees @ Disc Creek. Eric McCabe tied it with a 50 in the second round Sat. I thought for sure we would see at least one round in the 40's.

I think this was my first ever event that I had the lowest PDGA number of all players in the PRO divisions

[FrankWhite]

Great Job! Thanks for another great Shootout Matt and crew! I'll let you know when I am out of the dog house completely Matt! LOL

[FrankWhite]

Oh yeah, I wrote that idiot newspaper reporter, and challenged him to educate himself on disc golf before he opened his mouth about it again. Thought you might want to know Rock. Thanks for everything dude.

[johnrock]

You're welcome! I think you're not the only one in the doghouse because of Disc Golf. These kind of events seem to go hand-in-hand with domestic troubles. Most players don't realize the stress it puts on families who often put a lot of effort into making something good happen for very little return on their investment. I know I've witnessed it many, many times over the last 21 years of disc golf tournaments.

I've checked every day since Saturday, and the newspaper hasn't printed the letter I sent them about their idiot reporter who wants to label all Disc Golfers as users of the "wacky weed". I hope more players will send a letter to them (or the idiot reporter himself) and express their concerns about his under-handed, short-sighted comments about this game we are trying to grow.

[FrankWhite]

The fabulous 'THUNDER JUNK' aka Fabian and I are heading to the GTO. Should be a great time. We will try to represent, but if we don't, I am sure I'll find and excuse in my bag somewhere! LOL

[johnrock]

Good showing yesterday! Come on Frank, you're only 3 off the pace. YOU CAN DO IT!!! Fabian's got some extra ground to make up but don't ever count him out!

[johnrock]

Well you guys that went to Tulsa (or somewhere else yesterday), you missed another first at the Disc Creek course. We got treated to a pre-[censored] Pride Day show. That's right, between hole 18 and hole 1 an inflatible pool was the venue for lesbian oil & mud wrestling. And a water/baby oil balloon toss! Plus a giant water/baby oil slip&slide. [img]/msgboard/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img] [img]/msgboard/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img] Lots of cell phones out trying to capture the action, probably already posted at youtube or some adult sites.

Wow, you just never know what's going to happen around here. There's no end to the mayhem.............

[Jroc]

That is crazy!!

You just cant make that stuff up...incredible

Can you point me to the article? I would definitly like to get involved with that.

[Jroc]

nevermind....found it. And, sent in a comment...both to the site and to the newspaper. Ignorant, condescending statements like that really burn me up

[FrankWhite]

Thanks for the encouragement, but I guess second will have to do for this year. I will be back next year! We had a great time. Sounds like there was some wacked out stuff going on here. I hope Thompson Park returns to normal.

[johnrock]

I wonder why the newspaper won't print the letters to the editor about Lanhert's dumb comments? I bet they've received several by now.

[johnrock]

And this weekend we got to witness a chick on a Harley try to turn around in the parking lot, then dumped the bike over and pinned her foot underneath..........
No blood but she sure looked like she was in pain.

[FrankWhite]

I can't believe she wouldn't trade her Harley for my super cool car. LOL

[Jroc]

I can't seem to get my comments posted. I tried a few times and it wont post. I sent my comments directly to the paper twice. Probably will do that once a week until I at least get a response back.

The thing that burns me up the most about that is he intentionally set that up to make disc golf look bad. He titled the article "3 must see events..." What, did he have something else besides disc golf in mind, then forgot about it and couldnt think of anything else to insert as the number 3 thing? (which doesnt make it right either) NO, he purposfully set that up and delivered disc golf at the end as "the punch line" to his article. Piece of doo-doo

[johnrock]

Here's the message I sent the paper the day I saw it:

Lahnert on the Wacky Weed?‏
From: john stewart (johnrock900@msn.com)
Sent: Sat 5/10/08 10:59 AM
To: letters@amarillo.com

In response to Lance Lahnert's 2 cents (05/08/08 - Section D) about the Budweiser/DisCrazy Shootout Disc Golf Tournament, it appears that you are the one that's doing the wacky weed. That event happened LAST weekend! If you go out there this weekend to watch, you're going to be very dissapointed. Take another hit of your "wacky weed" (or whatever you put in your pipe), and try to understand that this isn't your college life anymore. Almost 150 players from several different states attended the event and there was no evidence of your "wacky weed" that I saw (maybe because you weren't there?). I'm sure the sponsors of the event (Budweiser, DisCrazy, Monster Energy Drinks, Amarillo Parks & Rec. Dept., and many others)and the many local players that put in a lot of effort to get the facility ready for our guests do not appreciate your take on our sport.

You should check your facts before you start stereotyping everyone that enjoys playing Disc Golf. This game appeals to a very wide range of folks, from youngsters to the older generation. It is a very economical past-time since there are no greens fees, and the discs used for play cost less than $15.00 each. The course in Thompson Park is one of the best in the state, a very challenging lay-out that will test your skills with a flying disc. As a professional Disc Golfer for 18 years, I have been trying to grow the sport in this area, and stupid comments like yours do not help. If you need to get the correct facts on this rapidly growing sport, you can check with the Professional Disc Golf Association (www.pdga.com), or you can find me at the course and I'll provide you with enough facts to help you see the short-sightedness of your comments.

John "ROCK" Stewart
Professional Disc Golf Association member #4693
Texas Panhandle Flying Disc Association President

[Jroc]

Heres what I sent:

Wow. Now, I'm sure you're an educated person. But, that was a very uneducated statement.

First mischaracterization:

Do people that play use "the wacky weed"? Sure do. Does the Texas Panhandle Flying Disc Association promote, encourage, or condone the use of "the wacky weed"? Absolutely not. Nor does the PDGA. People that use "the wacky weed" are going to use no matter where they are. Its extremely disappointing that an educated member of a local media outlet chooses to make ignorant statements that make disc golf look like a "wacky weed" haven. If you had taken just a brief amount of time to do some research, you might have discovered E.D.G.E, which is dedicated to promoting disc golf as a fun, easy to learn, lifetime activity to kids. You might have learned about the Ice Bowl, a national initiative that raises about a quarter of a million dollars annually for hundreds of local charities (including the High Plains Food Bank). Instead, you drew on your limited knowledge and attached a very negative connotation to a sport that has tried to rid itself of that very connotation for a long time. Thanks for nothing. The Amarillo chapter of Woodman of the World sponsors a disc golf tournament every year. Does that mean they promote or use "the wacky weed"?

Second mischaracterization:

Is Disc Golf a sport? More than you obviously know. Who knows how many interested individuals or families you turned away by making disc golf out to be nothing more than a "wacky weed" infested recreation. Had you come out to that disc golf tournament, you would have discovered some of the highest caliber play our "sport" has to offer. Disc Golf is a fun, low-impact, recreational activity that anyone of any age can enjoy. But, there is most certainly a competitive side to it. It combines many of the same physical and mental skills needed to be competitive in any sport. Come out and try it before you knock it.

I challenge you to go watch a tournament. The next big one in Amarillo is in August. There are plenty of videos on the Internet and other resources on www.PDGA.com to draw from as well. My name is Jerry Kingston and I am a proud member of the PDGA (#23837). Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments. 325-829-6579. The next time you comment about disc golf, reign in that condescending attitude and let people go out and judge disc golf for themselves.

[johnrock]

Another ACE Sunday! $124.00 goes to Tom G. again! From the White Tee - Hole 15 (short).

Ace Pot from the Blue Tees is around $180.00

[johnrock]

Thursday Handicap round from the BLUE TEES today! Come get that ACE POT!!

Supposed to be not as hot and a LOT less windy today. I bet our daily windspeed average for May & June is going to be over 20mph

[Jroc]

You said it...been very windy here too so far....we had a strom blow through here early this morning and I bet there were gusts over 60mph

[johnrock]

It's on! The BAD weather has past I think, starting to clear up. It was pretty nasty for about an hour and a half, with the wind getting up around 70mph .

Come get the ACE POT!

[johnrock]

Ok! We're sort of set now. We got some new sleves put in to replace the torn up ones on #9 and #14, and a new LONG position for #7 (it really needed it to be more of a PAR 4). So the old LONG #7 will now be the new SHORT #7, making this hole the other PAR 4 on the Front 9 (#5 is now a PAR 3, thanks to the new "temporary over-flow parking lot").

Now the next project is to find a way to get #7, #10, and #17 locks un-stuck. Even with the good high quality locks we're still having problems keeping them in good working condition. Any suggestions?

[Jroc]

Is the sand the main issue? The caps on the key holes should help that...but, your right. I twisted 3 keys trying to unlock 7 baskets at the shootout. Besides putting grafite in the locks, I dont have any answer for that one

[johnrock]

Manuel Rodriguez (from Irving, TX) helped us get these locks through his locksmith sales job. He suggested visiting one of his clients here (Ace Lock & Key) about any problems we might have. They recommended using Carburetor Spray cleaner. It works on most of the locks, but a few are stubborn. It seems the trouble is our crazy wind (sand and dirt get in tight spots when blown around constantly) combined with a little moisture gums up the interior of the lock body to the point they just don't want to work properly. I thought these new locks with the protective caps would do the trick, but we need something else. Possibly something like they did in Albuquerque when Roosevelt was rennovated.

[frisbeeguy]

Howdy Amarillo - Just want to give big props out to the people of Amarillo.
Sunday night I was driving from Durango to Lubbock. As we were approaching Amarillo a huge storm was brewing. It was a bit late and the crazy weather stopped any chance of a playing a round.
Then it HIT! As soon as we entered the city...hail & heavy rain.
A bit tired & driving too fast - I hydroplaned & spun off I40 onto the median. Lucky not to have been crushed by the two 18 wheelers we had just passed...also missed the light poles & guard rail & other traffic! Whoo-hoo!
Only my ego & a tire were flattened.
We ended up in front of the Rudy's BBQ. I sent the family in to eat while I installed the spare.
One of the managers at Rudy's (Robert) came out to make sure we were alright. The entire staff rallied around & made us feel completely at home - they fed us, plied us with desserts and were instant friends.
So...Eat at Rudy's!
Robert plays DG and moved to Anarillo from Waco. If you see him on the course - please mention our gratitude for their hospitality.
We were also assisted by a young guy who gave me a ride to a gas station around the corner in an attempt to repair the tire. (Jason, I think) He also plays a bit of DG.
I do hope to make it for one of y'all tourneys some day. Something tells me the courses will be quite humbling.

[johnrock]

Hey Alex, Thanks! I'm glad your accident didn't have a tragic ending, bad enough with just the tire problem.

This is the kind of tourist report that helps build bridges, instead of the dumb, rude comments that some tourists prefer (some of you know what I mean).

We have definately been getting some nasty evening storms lately, making up for the dry winter & spring. I'm glad the folks at Rudy's were helpful, maybe I can hit them up for sponsorship for the Top of Texas Open. I like Rudy's BBQ, it's new here but we've been to one in Albuquerque several times. Did "Jason the Good Samaritan" drive a little red pick-up truck?

We would sure love to see you and your crew here for tournaments or even just for fun. The course in Thompson Park should provide plenty of fun for the golfers in the gang and plenty of other activities in the park for the others. Give us a shout if you're ever this way and I'll try to meet you for a round.

[frisbeeguy]

Yea man - it's good to be alive!

Jayson (?) did drive a spotlessly clean p/u - a red F150 I think.

Rudy's may be good for potential sponsorship...pop on in!

I'll make the trip some day to play up there.

Peace - ah

[johnrock]

We saw a Suburban hydroplane once outside of Oklahoma City. Scary! It had been raining lightly for most of our drive (coming home from 2004 Worlds in Iowa) when it started pouring hard. Just as I slowed down, this Suburban passed me on the left. When his back tires got even with my front tires, his front wheels suddenly turned left and he took off across the median. The last I saw he was in the opposite lane facing oncoming traffic! We did not see the end result but it couldn't have been good. Sure made me drive slower the rest of the way home

[keithjohnson]

Ok! We're sort of set now. We got some new sleves put in to replace the torn up ones on #9 and #14, and a new LONG position for #7 (it really needed it to be more of a PAR 4). So the old LONG #7 will now be the new SHORT #7, making this hole the other PAR 4 on the Front 9 (#5 is now a PAR 3, thanks to the new "temporary over-flow parking lot").

Now the next project is to find a way to get #7, #10, and #17 locks un-stuck. Even with the good high quality locks we're still having problems keeping them in good working condition. Any suggestions?

In Tucson, which had the same wind/fine sand you seem to have, I would spray them with silicone spray and cover the entire bottom and sides of the lock with Duct Tape. I was moving the baskets every month and NEVER had any issues with the locks after using this method (which took me 3 keys and lots of effort before I switched)

Good luck to you!

Keith

[johnrock]

Thanks Keith. We might try that. How did you get your locks unstuck before putting the duct tape on them? Did you have to take them to a locksmith to clean them out? Maybe use a skinny pick to clean them out while they are still in place?

[keithjohnson]

Thanks Keith. We might try that. How did you get your locks unstuck before putting the duct tape on them? Did you have to take them to a locksmith to clean them out? Maybe use a skinny pick to clean them out while they are still in place?

I sprayed silicone spray in them with the straw nozzle that is on the can right against the opening, let it sit, then sprayed some more into the shackle side hole, and then put the key in the lock, and sprayed with the nozzle right up against BOTH sides of the key(letting the spray get into the tumblers with the key in it), then turned the key gently back and forth while spraying some more until it popped out. You can also place a straight screwdriver in between the shackle to help pop the shackle(while holding the key turned to unlock it) if they are REALLY stuck..

good luck!

Keith