After many months of negotiations, planning, and considering the ramifications of our decision, on behalf of Steve Brinster and myself, I would like to officially announce that the 12th and final National Tour event of 2007 will be the Sugarbush SuperBravo to be held at the Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont on September 21 thru 23, 2007. This NT event will replace the Skylands Classic at Warwick in 2007.

Located in the gorgeous Mad River Valley of north-central Vermont, the Sugarbush Resort is one of New England�s premier all-season resorts, featuring a Robert Trent Jones Sr. ball golf course, sensational ski hills, a great health club with all sorts of indoor activities, and awe-inspiring scenery.

The highlight of this tournament will be the opportunity to play on 1 or 2 18-hole Disc Golf courses that will be designed on the Robert Trent Jones Sr. ball-golf course, similar to the manner in which the Japan Open is held. (Steve Brinster and Lesli Demark are actually traveling to Japan tomorrow and will be doing some design research on their RTJ course in preparation for our event.)

The Sugarbush SuperBravo (or another name to be determined) will actually be a combination NT (Pro) and B-Tier (Amateur) event in order to allow players of all abilities to participate in this extraordinarily unique event. Our goal is a full field of 180 players.

There are a combination of factors that will make the Sugarbush event an event you absolutely will want to be a part of:

COURSES: This event will be contested on 3 or 4 courses:
Base Course - beginning and ending at the base of the main ski hill, adjacent to the gorgeous brand new ski village
scheduled for its grand opening in 3 weeks.
Peak Course - requires a chairlift ride to the 1st tee at mid-mountain. The course will be predominantly cross-hill and downhill using open ski trails and gladed ski trails (ski trails carved into the woods, perfect for disc golf holes). The 18th hole will end at the ski village.
Robert Trent Jones Sr ball-golf course - at least 1 and possibly 2 18-hole disc golf course layouts. We are still considering various event formats and design options and haven�t decided yet if we�ll design 1 or 2 18-hole layouts on the RTJ course.

We are still considering various formats but most likely ALL entrants will play at least 2 rounds on the RTJ course(s). ALL entrants will most likely play at least 1 round on each of the 3 or 4 18-hole courses / layouts.

Accommodations and meals packages are being worked on. Accommodations will be available on-site, ranging from beautiful rooms at the world-renowned Sugarbush Inn 1-mile from the ski village and the RTJ course, to slopeside and village condos that will be reasonably priced for players that want to group together in 4-bedroom condos. One interesting coincidence is that one of the 3 PDGA national sponsors
that PDGA Marketing Director John Duesler has acquired is based just 20 miles from Sugarbush: Green Mountain Beverage in Middlebury, Vermont. The folks at Sugarbush apparently have some familiarity with them as well. Sugarbush has been made aware that I intend to raise the bar for NT events and we will be working together to bring some major New England sponsors on-board. All of my contacts at the Sugarbush Resort are extremely excited to be part of the PDGA National Tour. They are very excited to have Disc Golf at their resort. The RTJ ball golf course is a piece of property all disc golf designers would salivate over. The scenery is spectacular in this part of the Mad River Valley, and we'll be holding the event pretty darn close to the peak of Autumn leaves changing color.

Part of the appeal of this event at Sugarbush is that we want to make attending the event as attractive for families and non-playing spouses of players as it will be for the players. We want to sell this event as not only a spectacular NT and Amateur event, but also as a destination for a family vacation. We're working on having a Kids Camp with activities for kids. The beautiful health club with an indoor pool and hot tubs and fitness center is just yards away from the Base Disc Golf course. Horseback riding and mountain biking is available nearby. Tours of the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream factory just 15 minutes away can be arranged. Sugarbush is a 5-hour drive from NYC, 20 miles from an Amtrak stop, and 45 miles from Burlington Airport that JetBlue services.

The Skylands Flying Disc Club is a bit bummed that I've decided not to run the Skylands Classic at Warwick in 2007. I want to publicly acknowledge all of my friends, club members, and local sponsors in the local Warwick area that helped make this event one of the PDGA's best events 2 consecutive years. We're taking a year off from running a major national event in order to re-charge our individual and collective energy levels. The silver lining is that in 2007 we'll focus on finishing up the amazing Wolfe Woods course and the Campgaw course just 45 minutes away, which will give us an even better situation for future major events. Perhaps we'll come back with a bigger and better Skylands Classic in 2008.

My intention is to further raise the bar for what an NT event is all about. I wouldn't be biting off an NT event at a location that
as of this moment doesn't even have a course unless I was confident I can make it happen. I am thankful that the PDGA has enough faith in me to allow me to run with this opportunity. If we do it right, the entire Disc Golf community will be raving about Sugarbush. That's my vision. In the months ahead we�ll have a website with all the information you�ll need. In the meantime make sure you mark on your calendar the weekend of September 21 thru 23, 2007.

Thanks!!!

Dan Doyle
PDGA #310
Warwick, NY (and now Sugarbush, Vermont)

Cannot wait, I am so there, thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OUTSTANDING!!!
When can I sign up?

Hope I can make it.

As i consider various format options, it would be somewhat helpful to get opinions from those that might consider attending our event.

It will be 3 days. Our maximum is 180 players total for the NT and the B-Tier.

We'll have 2 courses besides whatever layout(s) we have on the Robert Trent Jones Sr ball golf course.

Here are 3 considerations:

Option 1:

Maximize the number of rounds players play over the 3 days, which would conceivably mean 6 rounds playing 5-somes. This would allow NT players to play 4 18-hole rounds on the RTJ layouts.

Option 2:

Play a less strenuous, more relaxed pace and perhaps just play 4 rounds over the 3 days, which would mean playing only 2 RTJ rounds and play would be in foursomes.

Option 3:

On the final day (Sunday) we could play 2 shotgun-start rounds on RTJ layouts, or 1 trickle-start round on a longer variation of the RTJ layouts played the first 2 days of the event.


What it really comes down to is whether players prefer to maximize their number of rounds on a Robert Trent Jones Sr. ball golf course, requiring play in 5-somes and having little down time, or having a more leisurely event format playing 4-somes, having a little more time to yourself, but only getting to play on the RTJ layouts a maximum of 2 times. Some amateur players might only play 1 RTJ layout over the 3 days under this scenario.

When you express an opinion, let me know if you are an NT player or an Amateur player.

Thanks.

Dan Doyle

Hi Dan, I am a NT playa, more rounds the beTTer for me. Especially if the quality of the courses are great, more fun for everybody.

I can't wait to throw some of those ski hill shots!!! :cool:

i'm looking forward to doing some design research for the Peak course on my little ski-boards sometime before Christmas, and once there is a bigger snow base of natural snow i'll check out the RTJ course on my x-country skiis.

any excuse to get in some new england snowplay....

I've been very silent over the past month with regard to the Sugarbush Mad River Valley Open because I've been ridiculously busy at Brakewell and because I've been working out a lot of the event details with my Sugarbush contacts. This National Tour (NT) and PDGA B-Tier event is scheduled for the weekend of September 21 thru 23, 2007.

I'm accustomed because of my Brakewell business to dealing with bureaucracies. As the sport of disc golf continues to evolve, many of the interesting opportunities I come across unfortunately involve levels of bureaucracy and hierarchy we previously haven't had to deal with to any great degree, other than a town board or local recreation committee. The Sugarbush Resort is a monstrosity of an organization and I'm learning under fire how to deal with politics and obstacles.

An obstacle presented itself last week. Due to some rather questionable behavior by the head of golf operations at Sugarbush, his employment was abruptly terminated. The new director of golf operations is completely unwilling to allow Disc Golfers on the Robert Trent Jones course for our tourney unless we are able to replace the greens fees that he'd otherwise receive from ball golfers. At $75 per round, that isn't possible. We made attempts to do an "end-around" by appealing to the owner of Sugarbush to understand that commitments have already been made to the PDGA, and to consider the goodwill he might lose as a result of this stance, but to no avail.

We will therefore not be able to use the Robert Trent Jones (RTJ) ball golf course for our event in 2007. That is the bad news.

However, because I am a passionate Disc Golf optimist, I believe there is a silver lining with regard to this decision, and my 2 main Sugarbush contacts share this belief with me.

Here is the good news: We are now even more determined to pull off such an amazing event so that the head of golf operations and the owner of Sugarbush can see what they missed out on by not making the RTJ course available. Perhaps in the years to come that will open up the RTJ course to a greater degree than we might otherwise have had.

Here is good news item #2: Under the original event scenario, the Peak mountain course was going to be kind of a "throw-in". Because we won't have the RTJ course available now, Sugarbush intends to make the Peak course the centerpiece of the event. And although the RTJ course would have offered disc golfers the opportunity to play on an incredibly gorgeous, manicured "lawn", the Peak course blows away the RTJ course in terms of the opportunity to offer elevation change and spectacular mountain views. Typically every September, Sugarbush brings in a 20-person mowing-and-wacking crew from Ecuador to manicure the entire mountain in preparation for ski season. This will happen just weeks before our event so the mountain will be in super condition for our event. Steve Brinster and I ought to be able to design one incredible, spectacular course that begins with a chairlift ride up the SuperBravo express and plays cross-hill and downhill, finishing adjacent to the brand new amazing ski village just built at the base of the ski hill.

Given that I as Tournament Director and Sugarbush as the host of the Mad River Valley Open recognize that not having the RTJ course is a disappointment, we are even more determined to make this one of the best events on the 2007 PDGA schedule. Look for more details about the event to follow over the next month.

Dan Doyle
PDGA #310

optimism in the face of adversity. that is what I like to see.

I have to make this tourney. When does registration start?

My intention is to have a lot more of the details ironed out by the first week of February. I'd like to open up registration during the month of February.

This Friday evening, February 9th, any Disc Golfers in the greater Sugarbush area are encouraged to join PDGA Marketing Director John Duesler, Sugarbush Events Coordinator Laura Worthen, and myself at the CastleRock Pub in The GateHouse at the base of Lincoln Peak in the new ski village at Sugarbush. We'll be gathering beginning around 6:30 PM and will hang around for the evening to meet and greet all the local players that come out.

John and I will be meeting with as many key people at Sugarbush on Saturday as we can. John's major task as the Marketing Director for the PDGA is to bring more major corporate sponsors on board as Disc Golf partners. That will be the emphasis of our Saturday discussions.

I've recognized since I started working on this project that a huge factor in terms of the success we ultimately have at Sugarbush is what kind of enthusiasm and support we get from the existing base of clubs and Disc Golfers in Vermont. Friday evening is the start of getting as many of you on board with this project as we can. I've received a lot of emails and phone calls from Vermont Disc Golf folks, and this thread has seen a lot of feedback from local players as well. Friday evening will be a great opportunity for Laura, John, and me to fill everyone in on Sugarbush's vision for Disc Golf being a huge part of their warm weather activities.

Sorry for the late notice but our trek up to Sugarbush just came about today.

Please let all your fellow Disc Golfers know about this gathering. I hope to meet many of you Friday evening !!!!

Fondle Plastic....Play well with others.....

Dan Doyle

Hey Dan,
I think that I might be the only Vermonter who checks this board on a regular basis. I will pass your message around to the VT crew and gather the troops.
BP

sounds super, Ben.....

i think the sugarbush folks have finally seen the light that steve brinster and i have been shining in their direction for awhile now.

the potential for something quite special at sugarbush is around the corner. gather up as many vermont disc golfers as you can. we can wow the sugarbush folks with a great local turn out for this informal gathering. the momentum is building.....

dd

It is official....

The 2007 Sugarbush Open will be a combination NT / B-Tier event to be held the weekend of Sept 21 thru 23.

NT entrants will play 3 rounds over 3 days beginning Friday.
B-Tier entrants will play Saturday and Sunday only, with the number of rounds to be determined within the next several weeks.

Very appealing rates for accommodations have been negotiated, with most of the accommodations being within walking distance of both courses. Restaurants in the ski village mean that if you stay in a resort property within walking distance of the ski village you really won't have to use your car the entire time you are at Sugarbush.

All guests that stay in the Sugarbush accommodations are entitled to free unlimited usage of the Sugarbush Health and Racquet Club with indoor pool, saunas, hot tubs, etc.

Within the next several weeks more information will be made available, including how and where to register, information on formats and entry fees, and the Sugarbush website should be up and running with basic tournament information.

Everyone at Sugarbush, from the owner on down, is excited to have Disc Golf and a big event be part of their warm weather activities.

Lots is starting to happen at the Sugarbush Resort in anticipation of the 2007 Sugarbush Open NT and B-Tier event. Registration thru www.sugarbush.com (http://www.sugarbush.com) is almost ready. We've set some lofty goals for ourselves with regard to the quality of this event and the added cash component. I would like to offer a nice bonus to the FPO division, especially in light of some less than desirable scheduling that has the top women in vermont and at the women's nationals back-to-back weekends. maybe having a nice added cash component can help soften the snafu.

following is the low-down on some pretty spectacularly reasonable rates and multiple options for sugarbush accommodations at the sugarbush open. these are special rates not available to the public and are only for the sugarbush open the week of the event.

i don't believe they are quite ready to take accommodations reservations for tourney attendees quite yet but most likely will be very very shortly. when they are ready reservations will be made directly thru sugarbush, separate from tournament registration. i'll post when they're ready.

Sugarbush Inn
$98 mid-week; $112 weekend
blocked out for the weekend of our event for a wedding, but most likely not all rooms will be reserved by wedding guests. therefore, there will be a rolling release of blocked rooms not booked 120 days, 90 days, 60 days, and 30 days prior to the event weekend


Snow Creek
2 bedroom, 2 bath sleeps 6
$132 mid-week; $156 weekend

Center Village
Suites $89 mid-week; $113 weekend

The Glades
1 bedroom sleeps 4
$99 mid-week; $122 weekend

Clay Brook
Hotel Room sleeps 2 $280 / nite
2 bedroom sleeps 6 $523 / nite
4 bedroom sleeps 10 $725 / nite
(Clay Brook is 200 feet from both courses and is very upscale)

South Village Condos
4 bedroom sleeps 8
$208 mid-week; $232 weekend

Notes on Accomodations:
Rates are per nite (not per person) for that accommodation.
Rates include all taxes and fees
Guests get free use of Health and Racquet Club
Sugarbush Inn rate includes amazing buffet breakfast
If staying for 5 or more nites deduct 5% from above rates
Most accomodations within walking distance of both courses, although South Village Condos are a longer walk (maybe 1/2 mile to 3/4 mile)
All accomodations within 2 minutes drive of both courses
Book reservations thru Sugarbush, not thru event registration
All above non-public rates. Call Sugarbush & mention Disc Golf

Registration thru www.sugarbush.com (http://www.sugarbush.com) is now ready! Feel free to register now for the 2007 Sugarbush Open NT and B-Tier event.

folks.....

although the actual registration for the Sugarbush Open is open if you want to go thru the back door or spend 10 minutes trying to find that entrance at the Sugarbush resort site, my intention is to make the Disc Golf banner or entry point on the Sugarbush site far more obvious before I am ready to officially announce registration is open.

i try and hold off on making announcements until the presentation is there in a way i am happy with. i will make sure the Sugarbush site has a Disc Golf banner to make the entry easier by the end of this week. i hope.

dan doyle

P.S. we have 17 entrants already registered !!

Current Pre-reg list:
http://www.pdga.com/tournament/tournament_results.php?TournID=6274

hey all.....

Despite 72" of snow at Sugarbush so far this month, the entire resort staff and local disc golfers are starting to think DISC GOLF.

The official Sugarbush Resort website (www.sugarbush.com) now has a lot of information available about the 2 new courses that will open for play this summer, plus all you need to know about our National Tour / B-Tier event scheduled for September 21 thru 23. Click on the "More Fun & Events" tab and then select "Disc Golf". That will bring you to a page that provides general information about the 2 Sugarbush Disc Golf courses. If you click on "Sugarbush Open 2007" that will get you to registration links. At the bottom of this page if you print out a downloadable registration form you'll get all sorts of format and schedule details.

We can now guarantee a minimum of $10,000 added for the NT event and we're not done securing sponsorships. We also plan to have nice players packs for all B-Tier entrants.

Hardware is being ordered, course maps and scorecards are in initial design phases, and before we know it we'll have 2 amazing, fun, and challenging courses in the ground.

What makes coming up to Sugarbush for a long weekend of family fun, recreation, and Disc Golf or coming for a tournament unlike any other Disc Golf experience is the amazing list of resort facilities adjacent to both courses: the brand new ski village with a disc golf pro shop, restaurants and pubs; an incredible array of accomodations within walking distance of the courses; free use of the health club with indoor pool for all resort guests that book accomodations; mountain biking that starts halfway up the ski hill after a chairlift ride; a zip line that will send you soaring on a spectacular 600' ride; and the scenic Robert Trent Jones course for all you ball golfers.

Because the accomodations packages and rates that we have negotiated with Sugarbush are not available to the general public, they can't be posted on their website. I have made a previous post on this site that outlines all the available accomodations. To book a reservation for the Sugarbush Open in September please review those options and phone Sugarbush Lodging at 1-800-53SUGAR. Tell them you want to book a room for the Sugarbush Open and those rates will be available for you.

Don't miss the Sugarbush Open 2007 for an unprecedented Disc Golf experience.

Dan Doyle
PDGA #310
Warwick, NY

It will be beautiful here with fall foliage at or about peak. This tournament will be a memorable experience for everyone. Register now to reserve a spot.

Register now to reserve a spot!

http://www.sugarbush.com/funandevents/cm.asp?pn=discgolf&pid=228

hey Jeff are you gonna par take in some Magic Hat drinking and Ben and Jerry's eating up there ????

Magic Hat? Not on your life. Magic Hat may very well be the worst beer made in Vermont. That, and Long Trail.

The best beer made in Vermont comes from McNeill's in Brattleboro and Trout River in Burke, and I'll be sticking to just those. Although there is a small pub brewery in Waterbury called The Alchemist whose beers I have enjoyed in the past.

don't be such a beer snob! I am willing to bet that back when nobody heard of Magic Hat, you tooted their horn until they became mainstream!

Magic Hat makes some good beers - they also make some junk, but by and large, they brew good beer!

You'd lose that bet. I never liked Magic Hat. EVER. And I'm proud to be a beer snob, not ashamed of it! :D

I too enjoy good beer - different strokes for different folks I guess but I have always enjoyed #9 among other Magic hat selections!

i also enjoy good beer and bad beer sometimes also. nice to see someone giving mcneils props, i am from brattleboro and have enjoyed mcneils my whole life. anyhow, i am moving back to vt. after being out west for ten years and am pumped a nt event is coming through. i will be settling into the burlington area and look forward to seeing you all there! until then,cheers! -chris.

all beer snobs are welcome to check out ratebeer.com (http://www.ratebeer.com)

Now, tell me which Magic Hat beers are so bad, I've tried about 6-8 and enjoyed them all, not really able to complain.

Consider how lucky you are that you're actually able to talk badly about a quality brewing company like Magic Hat. Try living in Florida and having to beg distributors to bring in a better and bigger variety.

With all this noise, I wonder if Michigan is the best state for good beer? Here in Ann Arbor (a city of around 200k ppl) we have 3 breweries that also bottle off-site for sale in stores and other bars. I can think of 6 different MI brands of brew that I can get at most liquor stores. And yes Magic Hat sucks.

And yes Magic Hat sucks.



Thank you. :D

^ Bells is my personal favorite, I know it's brewed in MI somewhere...............I agree with you on Magic Hat (there are maybe 1 or 2 that I enjoy but the other 4-5 I've tried ) but I drink the King most of the time so what do I know.

.

Magic Hat? Not on your life. Magic Hat may very well be the worst beer made in Vermont. That, and Long Trail.





Jeffrey, are you on drugs? Double Bag Long Trail is one of the tastiest beers out there (and one of my favorites!)

Magic Hat's also got a few gems mixed in with duds..

tsk, tsk..beer snob my rump.

Bells Hopslam is one of my favorites - had a 6 pack shipped from MI around christmas time and it was wonderul! good stuff indeed!

Check it out:
Beer finder (http://www.bellsbeer.com/beerfinder.asp)
Looks like Bell's is now available in both Florida and Pennsylvania.

OK sorry about the drift.

I am thinking of coming out for the Sugarbush. I need to scrounge up 1-3 travel partners tho. It should be a sweet event, it's too bad we couldn't get the RTJ courses.

they now have bell's at total wine right down the street from my work in fred vegas, va. good stuff- i like the stout with the licorice.

green flash out of san diego is a new fave as well for me.

magic hat sucks- the hipa is the only one i care for at all.

Green Flash is outstanding, as are Alesmith beers, and Stone offerings are likely best of all. There's certainly more to love about San Diego than the weather.

My apologies about the drift as well. I've looked at the link for the event and the Sugarbush website and what we don't have here is any event or course in a setting that is that spectacular. In the fall no less. Wow.

magic hat sucks



Thank you. :D

All beer made by a Beer company that sponsors the Sugarbush Open is the world's best beer. Well maybe not Budweiser.

The entire Sugarbush Resort (staff and locals) is very excited about Disc Golf coming to their resort. All spring late-season skiiers were practicing their putting in the ski village. The Sugarbush website (www.sugarbush.com) has been updated and there is lots of information about Disc Golf and the September Sugarbush Open. (The slide show on their home page has a photo of MADC Disc Golfer Angie Martin putting.)

Steve Brinster and I will be up at Sugarbush this weekend finalizing tee and pin placements for the Base Course. All fairways have been cleared and baskets have been ordered. Course maps and scorecards are being designed. Tee signs are being fabricated on-site. All activity is geared towards opening the Base Course for play sometime during the month of June. Steve and I will also be designing the Peak Course this weekend, with a scheduled opening date for that course of June 30th.

A reminder that the first tournament at Sugarbush will be held on Sunday, July 29th. This informal, non-sanctioned event will be the day after the Vermont States that will be held at North Calais. You don't want to miss either event. For the Sugarbush event, we'll play one round on each of the 2 courses, which will give us a great idea of how they'll play in the September event.

Also a reminder that this Friday nite at 6:30 Steve and I will walk the Base course with anyone that wants to get the very first look at the course. We'll do some informal celebrating afterwards in the ski village.

Hope to see you at Sugarbush this year!!!!

Dan Doyle
PDGA #310
Warwick, NY

its going 2 be 2 def

wow

friday nite may 11th.....

walk-thru of Sugarbush Base Course: 6:30 PM

meet and greet and celebrate: 8:00 PM
at the Local Folk Smokehouse (corner of RT 17 and Rt 100 in Waitsfield)

WOOHOO!!!!!!

dd

36 holes are in the ground and the courses are open for play! Check out the Sugarbush webpage for information, operating hours, and to sign up for the Sugarbush Open!

http://www.sugarbush.com/summersports/cm.asp?pn=discgolf&pid=228

i am committed to the cause.

the cause being the growth of our sport.

i crawled into bed with sugarbush because i believe that Disc Golf at a high-profile resort can do things for that growth that can't be accomplished with most of the other design projects i am contemplating.

as our sport grows, it will provide more opportunities for players to make a living off the sport; help spread the sport at the grass-roots level; and offer more fun playing options with more courses and more events for the existing Disc Golf community.

my theory.

i recognize thru my own experiences with sugarbush over this past year and via the experiences others in vermont have had with sugarbush that at times it is disheartening and frustrating that the vision and the great ideas don't pan out as fast as one would have imagined or hoped for.

but i don't take no for an answer very easily, especially when it is something i am passionate about. i am determined to do whatever it is in my control to make the sugarbush project successful for both sugarbush and for the disc golf community. i have some pretty outrageous ideas for our sport going forward and the success of specific courses will help me make bring those ideas to fruition, perhaps in your backyard.

Please keep in mind when looking at the sugarbush situation that steve brinster and i were very close to having the Sugarbush Open take place on their Robert Trent Jones ball golf course. going forward, that option is still on the table, but is very dependent upon the success of disc golf in its first yeat at sugarbush. a big part of the way they will measure success is how many players play in the 2 2007 events.

i am asking all of you to help me with this vision any way you can and to whatever degree you're comfortable with putting your energy out there.

specifically you can help right now by registering for both the Sugarbush Summer Celebration (Sunday July 29th) and the Sugarbush Open NT / B-Tier (September 21 thru 23) if either or both are events you are considering playing in. If Sugarbush sees the interest and the enthusiasm they'll be far more likely to go out on a limb that they otherwise might be uncomfortable perching upon.

here's just one example: should sugarbush invest $$$ in players packs with dated logos for the july 29th event when we can't guarantee them a certain number of entrants? by registering we show our commitment to this project and in return you help increase the value and appeal of the players packs.

so please please please....get your registrations in.

thanks for helping !!!!

dan doyle

From: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070720/LIVING/707200326/1004


<font size=5>Discovering disc golf</font>

By Maggie Hibma
Free Press Staff Writer

July 20, 2007
WARREN -- If you are looking for something to put on your summer to-do list, add this: Sugarbush. There might not be any snow, but with its true Vermont colors and relaxing atmosphere, the mountain in the Mad River Valley is a great place to spend a summer day.

Especially if you like Frisbee golf.

Regular golf isn't my thing (but apparently is it for a lot of other people at Sugarbush -- the golf course is busy). I can't think of anything worse than trying to hit a teeny ball into what seems to be an even smaller hole in the ground 18 times over. But I went up to Sugarbush recently, in 110-degree weather, with an open mind, ready to try disc golf.

J.J. Toland, communications director of Sugarbush Resort, met me at the bottom of the Lincoln Peak Village. As we walked, he in his mountain boots, I in my flip-flops, we talked about Sugarbush's new additions to the resort.

"Our goal is to make Sugarbush a true four-season resort," Toland said. "With the new Lincoln Peak Village, which opened in December, we are hoping to bring the resort into the 21st century."

Apparently, disc golf is the wave of the future. With two courses and two tournaments on the agenda, Sugarbush is becoming the disc golf destination. Honestly.

For those unfamiliar with Frisbee, or "disc" golf, as I was, it varies only slightly from regular golf. The course is equipped with 18 holes, two sets of starting tees (one for professionals, one for newbies) and different types of discs for each kind of throw. Discs come in different weights, just like golf clubs. Some are designed for distance, others for accuracy, and some are designed to lean to the right or the left -- hook or slice.

Just like golf, you can go way over the suggested number of attempts. I did. Par on most of Sugarbush's holes is between three and five throws, but I definitely had more bogeys than birdies. The resort offers two courses: The first one is called the Peak Course and players play downhill after a ride up on the Super Bravo lift. The one Toland and I played on is called the Base Course, which doesn't always keep you at the base -- the course winds around the mountain, sometimes uphill.

As we began to walk the course, I was struck by how interesting the mountain was. I had never been to Sugarbush without snow, and I had forgotten how the different shades of green filled out the terrain against the blue sky. Sometimes, living in Vermont all your life lets you take for granted what there is to see. As we began the first hole, Toland explained why the Base Course was positioned so close to the Village.

"Sugarbush is really a family place. We designed these courses with kids in mind. So, if the kids are getting rambunctious, mom and dad can sit by the pool and relax while the kids tire themselves out playing Frisbee golf."

And tired they will be. The Base Course is by no means a leisurely walk. The "holes" -- standing baskets with chains hanging down -- are positioned in trees, around the corner and sometimes even out of sight.

However, all skill levels can play. I had never played before and, after getting the hang of it, had some pretty good shots. Toland claimed he had never played before, but if we had been keeping score, there is no question that he would easily eclipsed my less-than-perfect score.

Next time, I'll wear sturdier shoes, bring some bug spray and bottles of water. I will also bring along 10 other friends, some of whom I know I can beat.

As Toland and I walked down the mountain after playing, I realized that this is what I had been looking for this summer -- something to do with my time that wasn't sitting on the couch watching MTV reruns. It might have been hot, and I might need to refine my throwing skills, but Frisbee golf reminded me that Vermont, after all these years, still has a lot to offer.

Contact Maggie Hibma at 660-1860.

Want to play?

Sugarbush's two disc golf courses are open all week for players of all ages and abilities. "Greens" fees for the Base Course are $5 (adults) and for the Peak Course they are $15. For more information, call 583-6300.

Tourney time


The inaugural Disc Golf tournament on the Sugarbush Resort's new Base and Peak courses will be held July 29. This non-sanctioned event will be played with baskets in the tournament setup that will be used for the 2007 Sugarbush Open National Tour/B-Tier event to be held in September. One round will be played on the Base Course, another on the Peak Course.

Entry fees range from $20 to $50, depending on ability, and the field is limited to 104 players.

For more information see www.sugarbush.com (http://www.sugarbush.com)

if you haven't yet registered for the Sugarbush Open, PLEASE do yourself and the TD a favor and get yourself registered.

This will be an awesome awesome event for players of all skill levels...

This is not an event or a pair of courses you want to miss out on.

Between the amenities, the awe-inspiring scenery during prime leaf-changing season, accomodations within walking distance of the 2 courses, some of the world's best players including newly-crowned world's women champion Val Jenkins and multiple-times champion Des Reading, the amazingly fun Base and Peak courses, wonderful players packages, beer within walking distance to both courses for after-rounds survival stories, plenty of activities for non-golfers that travel with you, and a format that should be convenient for everyone, you just shouldn't miss this event.

if there is one event you travel to this year, make it this one....Major airlines including JetBlue fly into Burlington Airport just 45 minutes from Sugarbush ( and we might be able to arrange to retrieve you from the airport at no charge so you wouldn't need a car once you get to sugarbush).

Sugarbush is doing everything they can to make this a world-class disc golf experience....

Dan Doyle
PDGA #310
Tournament Director

if you go to www.sugarbush.com (http://www.sugarbush.com), the first photo on their home page slideshow shows Hole #8 on the Peak Course !!

We've got top billing over ther Guillermo Vilas Tennis Camp; the Robert Trent Jones ball golf course; and their amazing real estate....!!!

Incidentally Hole #8 is one of the cooler risk-reward holes on the mountain and as the photo shows has spectacular views of the entire Mad River Valley.

Please check out the site and while you're there get info and register for the Sugarbush Open.

I hope to make it, I'm sure it will be an awesome experience

looks like most top pros won't be making it, which should make it the easiest NT to cash in of the year(great for mid level pros).

We will be adding a minimum of $10,000 cash to the event. Top pros will be missing out on a major chance for some decent cash if they don't come up to Sugarbush.

We also seem to have pretty significant support from sponsors in terms of having some pretty cool stuff in the players packs.

So no matter your skill level, we hope to make giveaways very very appealing.

Don't put yourself in the position where you miss this event and then have to endure listening to all of the talk for the next year about the amazing event you missed.

if you've attended any Skylands Classics at warwick you know what kind of event we know how to run...

dd

The excitement is building for the Sugarbush Open just 6 weeks away. Check out the list of registrants and note some of the names that have just confirmed:

Val Jenkins
Avery Jenkins
David Feldberg
Des Reading
Jay Reading
Carrie Burl Burlogar

Looks like we're on our way to a very impressive field.

Players packs look like they will be awesome. A lot of the sponsors in Vermont are very willing to donate merchandise.

This event will have it all: on-site amenities like restaurants, luxury but heavily discounted accomodations within walking distance of both courses, and tap systems with cold beer for after-round hydration, 2 amazing, diverse, challenging courses including the Peak course that begins after a chairlift ride up the mountain, awesome scenery at prime leaf-changing season, and a super players party.

Get your registrations in.

Dan Doyle
Tournament Director

Players packs and added cash seem to be growing in quality and quantity every day. I hate when that happens.

I can't say enough that you don't want to miss this event !!!

Awesome players packs; ski village players party; the beauty of the Mad River Valley when autumn leaves are at almost peak colors; riding a chairlift up a major northeast ski mountain; fun and challenging courses; some of the top players in the world; and accomodations within walking distance of both courses......WOW !!!!

we're up to 50 registered. not bad for a first-time event. but i suspect we'll see a LOT of registrants in the next 2 weeks so get your registration in by going to www.sugarbush.com (http://www.sugarbush.com)

you also need to book your accomodations soon! sugarbush gets crowded during leaf-changing season as people flock from all over the northeast. just call 1-800-53Sugar and tell them you're coming for the Disc Golf event. that'll hook you up with heavily discounted rates.

see you in 5 weeks !!!!!!

dan doyle
tournament director

If you are considering traveling to Sugarbush for the Sugarbush Open, it is a great place to bring the family. There is a lot of activity within a 45-minute drive from Sugarbush, as well as a gorgeous health club on-site with an indoor pool.

The following was posted by Ben Parker from the Green Mountain Disc Golf Club:

The Ben &amp; Jerry's factory is a great place to visit for anyone who is not lactose intolerant. They have the ice cream, tours, b&amp;j gear and they typically have fun stuff going on during foliage season. This is a must hit for the family crowd.

Shelburne Farms, Shelburne (45 minutes) - Shelburne farms is a 1500 acre working farm on Lake Champlain. This is not your grandpa's farm. It was built in the 1800s with a lot of Vanderbilt money and you will not believe the landscape and the architecture. There are tours, a working farmyard where kids can play with the animals, you can also sample their award winning cheddar cheese. There is also an inn which serves some of the best food I have ever had. You will need to make reservations for breakfast or dinner if you plan on going.

Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, Shelburne (45 minutes) See where the world famous bears are made, and make your own. What could be better if you are a kid?

Echo Center, Burlington (40 minutes) This is a science museum on the waterfront of Lake Champlain. Recommended by my third grade teaching girlfriend: "They usually have terrific hands-on activities such as grossology, forecast the weather, and explore the sunken pirate ship." Once you are on the waterfront, you can also use the bike path or walk 5 minutes up the hill to Church St.

Church St., Burlington (40 minutes) Amazing shopping, street performers and more amazing food options than you can shake a stick at. Great place for bigger kids or adults.

For more info about what to do in VT, check out http://www.travel-vermont.com/

i would like to throw in my 2 cents being a local burlington resident, father of a 2 yr old and a avid disc golfer. first of all i have played mtn. courses all over the west and would like to thank dan,the locals and sugarbush for all they have done to get 2 18 hole courses in that are top nothch. the national tour event will not disappoint and a lot of travelers are beginning to sign up. having grown up in vermont this is very special to me to have a national tour come throught vt. there are probably a lot of golfers that have never been to vt. and i hope they will be rewarded with good times. there is no better place in the fall. there is so much to do for families. i have a close friend that runs the animals at shelburne farms and would love to give anyone any info they may need about the farms. it is well worth the trip, i go out there once a week with my daughter. the teddy bear factory is just down the road, as is the shelburne museum. burlington is a must! there is so much to do! again if anyone needs any info please feel free to contact me(chriskyoung@hotmail.com). ben and jerrys is always a good treat,stowe is not far, maple sugaring and apple cider is prime time too! so whether you are travelling alone,with buddies or bringing the family the schedule for the tournament allows for lots of time to see the local area. like i said dont hesitate to email me with any questions i have spent most of my life in vt. and have spent over 5 years in burlington, it is a very beautiful and special place and i hope you make the trip to support disc golf in the Green Mtn. state. oh and i forgot to mention the gazillion local breweries for after round beers! hope to see you soon! again my email is chriskyoung@hotmail.com. take care.

All players will recieve the Vermont Vacation Guide and the Official VT Road Map &amp; Guide to Vermont Attractions in their players packages. These two items will tell you of the many non-disc golf activities in the area. Plus you can get lots of info from us "locals". We love VT and are sure you will too!

anyone looking to split lodging or have room for one more?

also: anyone headed up there from MI/OH area? I live in western NY(buffalo) and would be interested in sharing a ride. I can drive there.

Luke....

do you have contact with some of the folks in the Rochester area like doug corea and doug blighton? they came downstate for the skylands classic. they always seem up for a good road trip. i don't see many posts on this site from rochester folks. maybe they'd be good to hook up with....

hey luke, dont know if you know andy difronzo but i met him in vegas this year and have been in touch with him. if he doesnt have work conflicts im sure he would be up for the trip. he lives in the buffalo area. look forward to seeing you in VT! if you need his phone number let me know,chriskyoung@hotmail.com. take care.

hey luke, dont know if you know andy difronzo but i met him in vegas this year and have been in touch with him. if he doesnt have work conflicts im sure he would be up for the trip. he lives in the buffalo area. look forward to seeing you in VT! .



yes I play with Andy a lot. however our club/league end of year tournament is a huge deal, and its that weekend. I am pretty sure no one else from Buffalo/Niagara Falls will be coming.



Luke....

do you have contact with some of the folks in the Rochester area like doug corea and doug blighton? they came downstate for the skylands classic. they always seem up for a good road trip. i don't see many posts on this site from rochester folks. maybe they'd be good to hook up with....



I will let them know the details of the tournament, they aren't doing too much traveling these days though,


I will be up there regardless, too much fun to miss.

just got back from my latest inspection of the 2 sugarbush courses and they look fantastic !!

The Peak Course just had the front 9 mowed, and even the unmowed back 9 was looking sweet.

Chris Mayonne and I tweaked the newly designed #17 and #18 Peak holes and they are a huge improvement over what we had for the Sugarbush Summer Celebration. They will both be Par 3's but by no means gimme's. They both require you to work your disc or else be looking at a bogey or worse.

The Base course is playing wonderfully. It's really matured and is so much fun because of the huge variety of shots required.

Get your registrations in if you plan on attending. This will help us offer players more definite timing and help us get our player pack merchandise set.

See you in 4 weeks.!!!

Everyone asssociated with the Sugarbush Open is excited that Ken Climo has registered for the Sugarbush Open.

here are some of the "name" players signed up:

Climo
Jenkins (Avery and Val)
Feldberg
Brinster
Reading (Jay and Des)
Burl
Demark

Details about payouts and other event stuff to follow in the next week.

As I have information and details about the Sugarbush Open available for public consumption I'll post it as fast as I can, given we are less than 4 weeks away....

I've played with a number of different format options and all have advantages and downsides. I have to consider operating times for the SuperBravo chair that takes riders to the start of the Peak Course halfway up the mountain. I want to maximize play for all players in all divisions, given how special I now realize these 2 courses are. I would like to have formats that maximize the opportunity for players to watch the top NT cards play. I'd prefer to not have players have to begin play at the crack of dawn and to not end until sunset. No combination of formats is perfect.

Here's the updated format information for the Sugarbush Open:

National Tour:

Friday: Trickle Start Tee Times 10:00 AM thru 1:25 PM on the Peak Course
Saturday: 2 shotgun rounds on the Base Course, times TBD
Sunday: Trickle Start Tee Times (times TBD) on the Peak Course.

Therefore, NT players will play 2 rounds on the Base Course and 2 rounds on the Peak Course.

B-Tier:

Friday: No tourney play. Base Course will be available all day for practice or watch the NT players on the Peak Course so you get a sense of what the Peak Course looks like and how to best play it..
Saturday: Trickle Start Tee Times on the Peak Course. First tee time TBD.
Sunday: 2 Shotgun Start rounds on the Base Course. Tee time TBD.

I'll keep you posted as more info is available.

Dan,

There are two sets of tees on both courses, correct? Which divisions will play which tees?

*hopefully* it's from the longs on the peak course for AM1 and AM2, and one of each (long in the morning!!) at the base course.

It is correct that there are two sets of tees on both courses. It is also the case that on the Base Course there is one hole with an alternate longer tee; 2 holes with longer alternate sleeves; and 2 completely alternate holes with temporary tees and temporary baskets (both Par 5's) for tourney use.

I have not decided yet what divisions play what layouts. I have a number of scenarios in mind and how some variables play out will affect my decision (e.g. numbers of entrants and hole playability). I probably won't make a final decision until early in the week of the event.

dd

This is an official beg-and-grovel post.

The Sugarbush Open is 3+ weeks away. I have to make some critical TD decisions within the next 9 days with regard to format, layouts, players packs, players party, added cash and total purse, B-Tier prizes, and other event details important to the players and for Sugarbush.

Many of the decisions will be different if we have 60 players or 90 players or 120 players. We currently have close to 60 registrants with many many more players telling me they'll be signing up.

I THEREFORE BEG, IMPLORE, REQUEST, AND OTHERWISE WHINE THAT YOU REGISTER ASAP SO I CAN MAKE DECISIONS IN EVERYONE'S BEST INTERESTS.

The more we have registered and the sooner I know the sweeter the perks for everyone.

PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for ingesting my whine.

Dan Doyle
Tourney Director
Sugarbush Open 2007

it may be the case that some pros are not current and dont want to spend the money to become current just to attend a national tour event. well, if you sign up before sept.1st you get the rest of this year and all of '08 also. so if your on the fence about renewing and signing up for the sugarbush open mabye this will help!? hope to see you in VERMONT!!

Link to Sugarbush (http://www.sugarbush.com )

Go to Summer Sports Tab

Go to Disc Golf

Register

DO It, you know Dan doesn't disappoint :D

Dan, Looks fun. I knew Warwick was sweet. Was curious of the Resort and if they still got deals like your previous post?
Just checking into availability and pricing. If all is good then i will online register tonight. Thanks.
Floyd

the housing discounts sugrabush is offering are insanely good.

call 1-800-53Sugar. tell them you need pricing on accomodations for the sugarbush Open Disc Golf event. have the previously posted rates handy so you know what the rates should be.

it is close to Peak leaf-changing season in vermont in 3 weeks so it becomes a tourist hotspot. makes your resrevations for accomodations NOW.

dd

Ok, so i'm waffling on the format after making what appeared to be a formal format announcement.....

my dilemma is attempting to balance the desire to maximize play for all tourney entrants on 2 fantastic courses with a desire to maxmimize spectating opportunities for players that have completed play.

Many vermont local players want to play in the event (the B-Tier) and also are salivating at the opportunity to watch the world's best players play in their backyard. It's making their decision tough and I don't want to lose participants for the sake of them being spectators if I can create the best of both worlds.

So i am considering a few format alterations.

The only givens that will not change are that NT players will play 3 days while B-Tier entarnts will only play on Saturday and Sunday.

I think i have a solution. Give me a few days to poke holes in the solution.

Ok then...........Im in!
Floyd ;)

yeah Floyd !!!!!

there are only 4 U.S. States with more entrants in the event than California has. (VT, Mass, CT, NJ)

California has as many entrants in the Sugarbush Open as Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island combined.

Come on MADC and NEFA and Skylands folks !!! Where are you?

Another NJer just signed up.

Another NJer just signed up.



Good call, Fats! See you there. :cool:

i've analyzed format options ad nauseum by now.

i'm convinced it'll work.....

here's the plan:

NT:

2 rounds on the Base Friday.
Peak round Saturday with tee times approx 12:30 thru 1:30
Peak round Sunday with tee times approx 9:00 thru 11:30.

B-Tier:

Peak round Saturday AM with tee times approx 8:00 AM thru 9:00 AM
Base round Saturday PM shotgun start approx 2:30 PM
Base Round Sunday AM shotgun start approx 9:00 AM

The key to making this possible is using the world-famous Split Event Modified Multi-Group Shotgun Trickle Start Format on the Peak Course on Saturday.

Dan the Waffler has been banished.

Count on this format.

Now get your registrations in to make us all happy. Especially you.

This allows for B-Tier folks to play 3 rounds, while also allowing those who have a longer trek home Sunday to leave at a reasonable time.

I'm convinced this will work out amazingly well.

Dan,
Amazing job sifting through all of the format options on the NEFA forum. I think that this looks like a great set up.

I am officially wicked psyched for this tourney.

I recognize that an NT / B-Tier event in Vermont (not very geographically convenient for most disc golfers) at the end of September (not incredibly convenient time-wise) may be a tough choice for many players.

However, I'm doing everything I can to woo players....

If you've come to a Skylands Classic at Warwick you know I run a quality event.

The amenities at Sugarbush are second to none.

Awesome ski hill accomodations within a putter throw from both courses are available at heavily discounted rates.

We'll have appealing Players Packs for ALL entrants.

We'll have a Players Party free to all entrants Saturday nite in the main Sugarbush ski village with a live band, food, Woodchuck Cider, and beer from some fine Vermont microbreweries.

We'll have an added cash component for the NT players that will be somewhere between $10,000 and $15,000.

We'll have some fun contests for all entrants.

I'm thankful that some of the world's best male and female players are registered (See the current list of registrants by going to the PDGA Tour list).

NT players will play 4 rounds in 3 days.
B-Tier players will play 3 rounds in 2 days.

And most of all you'll be amazed at the fun and challenge of playing on the Sugarbush Base and Peak Courses. They offer exceptional variety and the spectacular scenery of Vermont's Mad River Valley.

The worst thing that can happen is that you'll miss this event and have to listen to everyone talking about it and beating yourself up for missing out on what should be one of the more enjoyable PDGA events of 2007.

Get your registrations in before it's too late.

Dan Doyle
TD, 2007 Sugarbush Open

In addition to all of the great things that will happen associated with the tournament, you will be able to see the amazing fall foliage that makes Vermont such a special place this time of year!

wants to come, but teleportation hasn't been invented yet.

mattttttt.......

can you fly into burlington airport inexpensively?
we could arrange for a local VT'er to retrieve you from the aiport.....

dan doyle

i live about 5 minutes from the burlington airport and may be able to help out some golfers if it works into my schedule( which is fairly flexible). let me know i would love to help if i can. chriskyoung@hotmail.com. peace.

reason I need a teleporter is I have no fam vacation time left.

The pre-registration list has been updated. Click here to view the current registration for this tournament: http://www.pdga.com/tournament/tournament_results.php?TournID=6274

If you have not already done so, if you plan on playing in this tournament please click on my signature file and register As Soon As Possible!

apparently our 2 alpine / wooded courses are being immaculately groomed, chipped, weed-wacked, mowed, and otherwise cleared of extraneous debris.

this will make for an even more beautious experience for all, and helps with improving landing areas on the Peak Course.

Yeah! A groomed course, way to go Sugarbush and Dan for making it nice!!!!!

So wheres the place to put that Vermont syrup on a fine set of hotcakes?
Floyd

Just sent in my registration and made my reservations. 6 of us staying at Snow Creek. Can't wait.

Hey Alan.....

got your pre-reg....

great choice on Snow Creek. i've stayed there a few times during my visits up to sugarbush. very very nice units with full kitchens, living rooms, big entrance lobby in each unit for all the disc bags and footwear, decks....

and best of all no Snow Creek unit is more than a Wraith's throw from the main village.

yeah Snow Creek !!!

dd

Last time I was there the courses looked great! Chris M., Laura and Matt have been working super hard to get them ready for the tournament. Come on up and have an experience you won't soon forget.

BTW - Snow Creek is very nice and it's also at the beginning of the Zip Line!

looks like registration activity is starting to pick up a bit.....

6 registrations today including Craig Cutler, Markus Kallstrom, Joe Mela, and Jim Myers.....

we're approaching 70 entrants, with room for 120 total combined for the NT and the B-Tier....

come on...join in the fun.....

Looks like Dri-Fit shirts will be part of everyone's players packs.....along with a plethora of other goodies....

and best of all no Snow Creek unit is more than a Wraith's throw from the main village.

yeah Snow Creek !!!

So is the Glades condos relatively close to the courses?
Floyd

The Glades are close, also. They are within walking distance.

The Glades are 2 Wraiths throws away for you or me, or one Wraith throw away if you are Brinster or Avery.

Niiiiiice! The resort sounds cool. Much thanks to the locals getting the course ready. Glades here we come...........
Dang, if i could throw like Avery or Brinster i wouldnt be worried about what place i stay at, its all good!

Seriously now, people. Looking at the set-up, resort, the beauty of the state, dri-fit shirts in the players pack (by the way i wear a large /msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif) you should be signing up to play this one..........around 50 spots left, Just Do It!!!!!!!
Floyd

I'm crawling further out on the limb but I have a philosophy as a TD that I call "Perceived Value". I'm not satisfied running a prestigious event unless I can look myself in the mirror at the end of the event and admit to myself that players received value for their time and expense. They have come to "my event" and satiated my selfish desire to accomplish; the least I can do is to give them value in return.

So here's one way I will offer perceived value:

All players in both divisions will receive an event-specific "non-stinking-when sweaty" Dri-Fit short-sleeved collared Polo shirt with multi-colored embroidered logos on the front and the back.

These will be sweet shirts !!!!!!

This is along with other perks, classy amenities, and 2 alpine courses in the gorgeous Mad River Valley at prime Vermont leaf-changing season that will make this an event you just don't want to miss.

get your registrations in !!!!

dan Doyle
TD

nice.

if you're planning to enter the Sugarbush Open but have not registered yet it would still be helpful to know that you will be registering.

i have to get my order in for the awesome event Dri-Fit shirts on monday and i'd like to project how many i need as much as possible.

are you coming?

Dan, can you please make sure to order XXL Dri-fit shirts for us fat guys. Thanks. :cool:

lagrassa....

please don't tell me you're progressed to a 2XL???

wow.

I could get away with a XL, but baggy is better. The "tight look" hasn't been in style since the late '80s. :D

jeff....

a few years back when you were svelte and the epitome of studliness an XL would have been tent-like on you....

Hey Alan.....

got your pre-reg....

great choice on Snow Creek. i've stayed there a few times during my visits up to sugarbush. very very nice units with full kitchens, living rooms, big entrance lobby in each unit for all the disc bags and footwear, decks....

and best of all no Snow Creek unit is more than a Wraith's throw from the main village.

yeah Snow Creek !!!

dd



Hey Dan, just a quick question for you. I'd heard that some of the "sleeps 4" rooms only had 2 beds. Do you know how many beds are in Snow Creek? Is it actually 6, or do we need to be bringing some air mattresses?

Also, there should be another 2 or 3 guys coming up with us who are not yet signed up, if that helps with shirts. BTW, I second the call for XXL. Unlike Jeff, I haven't fit in an XL since maybe my freshmen year in high school...

Thanks!

Pre-registration list updated!

Pre-registration list (http://www.pdga.com/tournament/tournament_results.php?TournID=6274)

Markus "I Throw Far" K�llstr�m is in the hizzy! :cool:

biggs.....

i have stayed in snow creek a few times. i believe there are various snow creek options (1,2,3, bedroom). i suspect there are various options within various size units. the units are actually owned by individuals who put them into the sugarbush rental pool. so one family that owns a condo might want a 2-bedroom unit with a king bed in each bedroom. maybe another owner has kids and wants 2 twin beds. i know in the 2-bedroom units i stayed in one room had a king bed and one room had 2 twin beds. it's possible the living room couch turned into a bed as well.

i'd suggest you phone 1-800-53sugar and inquire so you get what you need.


i'll make sure we procure a 2XL for you.

dd

<font color="blue"> The PDGA and The Sugarbush Open National Tour Present:</font>

A World Class Clinic
Thursday, September 20th
5:00-7:00 pm
Sugarbush Resort courses @ Lincoln Peak

Directions (http://www.sugarbush.com)

Presenters include:
-Ken Climo (12X World Champion)
-Valarie Jenkins (Women's World Champion)
-Steve Brinster (US Distance Champion)
-Markus Kallstrom (European Champion)

Please come help support this tournament and National Tour clinic. I am working to make these clinics a part of entire National Tour as it is a natural promotional and marketing link between the touring players, the tournaments and the local disc golf community.

Help get the word out and be there :p

jeff....

a few years back when you were you were svelte and the epitome of studliness an XL would have been tent-like on you....



Dan, are you speaking of the same LaGrassa that I know?

I'm in 2XL denial..some shirts i have to go 2XL, but for others I'll try to squeeze myself into an XL..thx.

<font color="blue"> The PDGA and The Sugarbush Open National Tour Present:</font>

A World Class Clinic
Thursday, September 20th
5:00-7:00 pm
Sugarbush Resort courses @ Lincoln Peak

Directions (http://www.sugarbush.com)

Presenters include:
-Ken Climo (12X World Champion)
-Valarie Jenkins (Women's World Champion)
-Steve Brinster (US Distance Champion)
-Markus Kallstrom (European Champion)

Please come help support this tournament and National Tour clinic. I am working to make these clinics a part of entire National Tour as it is a natural promotional and marketing link between the touring players, the tournaments and the local disc golf community.

Help get the word out and be there



WOO-HOO! Finally a clinic I'll be able to attend. :cool:

Very Important Info:

NT entrants need to know that Friday's format was officially changed from one round beginning at Noon to two rounds, with the first round being a 9:00 shotgun start.

The players meeting was and is scheduled for Thursday evening so hopefully all the registered Pros were planning on being at Sugarbush thursday nite anyway.

But perhaps there were some new england pros planning on driving up at a leisurely pace friday morning because the friday round was going to be a Noon start.

Not any more.

Again, NT folks will tee off at 9:00 sharp. players will head to the tees at 8:45.

sorry for the format change. it will result in a much better event for both NT and B-Tier entrants.

dd

Are you pumped for this event yet?

If not, watch this and you will be!

http://www.dgflicks.com/sugarbushcommercial.html

jeff / jen.....

what can we do to allow EVERYONE to view this promo? it currently requires software that many folks don't have.

dd

we are at 78 entrants for the NT and B-Tier.

OK but not great.

I want 96 players.

Get your butts up to Vermont. You won't regret it.

This is a can't miss.

Be there or be sad.

"Players Packs Gone Wild"

Look for a special announcement in the next 24 hours regarding a VERY ridiculous late addition to our already sick Players Packs, courtesy of Innova Discs....

Now you'll be really sad if you don't sign up.....

"Players Packs Gone Wild"

Look for a special announcement in the next 24 hours regarding a VERY ridiculous late addition to our already sick Players Packs, courtesy of Innova Discs....

Now you'll be really sad if you don't sign up.....



<font size=4>Indeed, people are going to be TOTALLY STOKED when they hear what they are getting!

Don't miss out! Register now! </font>:cool::cool::cool:

GO HERE TO REGISTER
V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V </font>

I am very pleased to announce that Innova will unveil their new Pro Destroyers at the 2007 Sugarbush Open.

This is the first time these hot new discs will be available.

These Destroyers will have a special Sugarbush Open hotstamp.

My thanks to Harold Duvall, Zeb Campbell, and the rest of the Innova crew for letting us have the opportunity to unveil the new Pro Destroyer.

Oh, by the way..........

All entrants will receive a FREE Sugarbush Open Pro Destroyer as part of their tourney Players Pack.

Can you say "WOOHOO"????

Get your registrations in NOW....

NO FRIZZAKS??????????

On-line registration (at www.sugarbush.com (http://www.sugarbush.com)) will close at 12:00 Midnite Monday nite September 17th. After that time if you want to register you'll need to Fed-Ex or UPS overnite a downloadable registration form with payment to the attention of Laura Worthen at Sugarbush or physically register at Tournament Central at Sugarbush.

If you want to mail in registration rather than register on-line I need to have your registration in my hands by late afternoon Tuesday Sept 18th. I leave for Sugarbush early on the morning of Wednesday Sept 19th.

It is a major hassle to have to process registrations at Sugarbush unless you are paying with green cash. I can't cash checks once i'm there and can't take a credit card registration once i'm there.

Anyone wishing to register for any NT divisions needs to be registered by Thursday, September 20th at 4:00 PM.

Anyone wishing to register for the B-Tier portion of the event needs to be registered by Friday, September 21st at 7:00 PM.

These are more than generous registration closing times, and as always registering sooner rather than later is extremely helpful for those of us with tourney administrative tasks.

Thanks.

Dan Doyle
TD

All entrants will receive a FREE Sugarbush Open Pro Destroyer as part of their tourney Players Pack.

Can you say "WOOHOO"????



<font size=5>WOOHOO!!!</font>

Looks like Sugarbush will be the first event in the East to unveil the Pro Destroyers. Evidently the US Masters Cup this weekend has first dibs.

OOps.

Looks like Sugarbush will be the first event in the East to unveil the Pro Destroyers. Evidently the US Masters Cup this weekend has first dibs.

OOps.


Nice, will get one this weekend at Masters and break it in for Vermont, THe Destroyer heads east to Destroy chains! :mad:

From Phil Vilmorin on the NEFA site:

"Only 79 players signed up so far... whats up with that? There should be a waiting list for this as long as the ride to Vermont.

The Champ, Peak Course, Pro Destroyers, embroidered shirts... what more do you want? What more does Dan have to do to get you all to Sugarbush.com and sign up! Dan said at Campgaw that Sugarbush is the best venue for disc that hes ever seen. Thats gotta mean something coming from PDGA member 310!

I met a lady last weekend who almost didnt go to Woodstock because she didnt have $20! But she went anyway and found a way in and saw Jimi Hendrix from the front row! Sugarbush is only $125 which is like $20 in 1969 dollars... youll spend at least that drinking away your misery if you miss Sugarbush! "

------------------------------------------------------------

great post Phil Vilmorin......

i couldn't have said it better....

the list of reasons why this will be an amazing event goes on and on, as do my pleas to register. i'm pleading for YOUR sake.

the sugarbush event merchandise i have ordered will be second to none so make sure you bring along extra cash to purchase some of the goodies we will have on hand.

dd

<font color="blue"> The PDGA and The Sugarbush Open National Tour Present:</font>

A World Class Clinic
Thursday, September 20th
5:00-7:00 pm
Sugarbush Resort courses @ Lincoln Peak

Directions (http://www.sugarbush.com)

Presenters include:
-Ken Climo (12X World Champion)
-Valarie Jenkins (Women's World Champion)
-Steve Brinster (US Distance Champion)
-Markus Kallstrom (European Champion)

Please come help support this tournament and National Tour clinic. I am working to make these clinics a part of entire National Tour as it is a natural promotional and marketing link between the touring players, the tournaments and the local disc golf community.

Help get the word out and be there :p



BUMP------------&gt;Hooray :cool:

Click below to read and hear the official Sugarbush Open Preview!

http://www.pdga.com/news/articles/a-025.php

Is this a big arm course?

Not at All!

Base Course (http://www.sugarbush.com/images/summersports/DiscGolf_BaseCourseMap.pdf)

Peak Course (http://www.sugarbush.com/images/summersports/DiscGolf_PeakCourseMap.pdf)

I think the holes are pretty close to scale, but without a legend, I don't know what that scale is. I think the longest hole on the peak course from the Blue basket is 1200' (keep in mind this is also severely downhill, so distances are heavily skewed.)

A big arm will save some strokes on the open holes on the Base course, but there are plenty of wooded holes to even out the field.

The Peak course is all about risk/reward. Distance can park many holes, but the safest plays are often Rocs and putters off the tee, as the rough is treacherous..

Is this a "big-arm course" ?

My opinion is that although there are holes where having a big arm will provide some advantage, either because those folks can throw farther or use a more predictable disc (i.e. an approach disc rather than a driver), my opinion is that the big arm is not as much of an advantage as it would be on a typical course.

The Peak Course more than anything else requires a sharp mental game, confidence, knowing your discs' flight characteristics very well, and being very very smart about shot selection. There is also a HUGE risk vs reward factor.
Also, having a great forehand is HUGE because it means you can throw forehand rather than trying to throw an anyhzer backhand and know that the disc will break in the right direction rather than having the wind take the anhyzer out of your anhyzer throw.

The Peak Course is mostly downhill. It is a different kind of Disc Golf than most people are accustomed. Gravity does funny things to discs.

My recommendation to players will be to stay on the fairway at all costs. Distance is meaningless if your shot catches a wind gust at 3500 feet and travels to New Hampshire.

The Base Course is not as much of an alpine course as the Peak Course is. It is more traditional. I would call it a technical course rather than a big arm course. It will be a Par 65 for the Pros, but only 3 holes are "long". I think it's a good mix requiring a good all-around game.

Anyone else that has played here want to comment?

Bear with me as I hit you with my cosmic spin as to why the Sugarbush Open will be so unique / special....

There is something "cosmically magical" about the Mad River Valley of Vermont. I've done my share of traveling and the only places I've been to that compare to the "feeling in the air" that I get when I'm at Sugarbush were Squamish in British Columbia and Taos, New Mexico. The air is crisp; there is natural beauty and serenity all over the place; and WE OWN IT.....

When the disc golf community invades the quaint / cozy ski village at Sugarbush we'll feel like we've found Disc Golf heaven and the place is ours. As you drive the last mile towards the main village, the mountain stares you in the face and you will say "WOW.

Hanging outside of Timbers (an architecturally amazing restaurant in the village) at their outdoor seating area staring up towards the Base and Peak courses and being surrounded by some of the best Disc Golfers in the world at prime leaf-changing season at a spectacular event watch for me just sitting back and smiling and thinking "Thank You for coming to my party"....

If you're on the fence about coming, quickly leap off the fence and register and be a part of a very special event....

Dan Doyle
TD and seeker of cosmic therapy

A reminder that on-line registration closes late Monday nite.

We're up to 82 players and looking for 96.

question to the TD: is it possible to acquire a pro destroyer if im not in the tourney? lmk
-ben :)

Pro Destroyers will be available on a first-come first-served basis for folks visiting sugarbush. There will be a maximum of 2 discs per person until Saturday evening, at which point the remainder can be scoffed up.

If you are not attending you might want to speak with someone that is that can pick one up for you.

A few special conditions worth contemplating......

1. Cell phone service is virtually non-existent in the Mad River Valley. If you have Uni-Cell or Sprint you will most likely have service. Otherwise forget about cell phone service. Plan accordingly if you are cell phone dependent. There are public phones and phones in the condos that might be best used with a pre-paid phone card.

2. It could be in the 30's at night and early morning on the mountain so plan for coolness. The extended forecats shows fairly warm weather with no likelihood of snow.

3. Tee pads are a compacted stone-and-gravel surface, similar in feel to asphalt. Plan your footgear accordingly.

For those of you waiting until almost the last minute to register, I am extending the deadline for on-line registration to 12:00 midnite Wednesday nite sept 19th.

i'll float some funds to cover the late-minute entrees.

We're up to 86 entrants.

Players Packs and amenities getting sweeter every day.

I've run events for over 30 years. I've never had excitement butterflies as a TD 4 days before the event. This one is going to top them all.

dd

A few special conditions worth contemplating......

2. It could be in the 30's at night and early morning on the mountain so plan for coolness. The extended forecats shows fairly warm weather with no likelihood of snow.




lol

<font size=4>ATTENTION ALL SUGARBUSH TOURNAMENT GOLFERS:</font>

http://www.mediafire.com/?8ms09danydm

Please click the above link to download a Microsoft Word document which outlines the Sugarbush Notes, Formats and Layouts.

It is HIGHLY imperative that you read this document and become familiar with the format, especially in regards to tee times and special relief options. Rounds on the Peak Course particularly require a lot of planning and the flow and speed of play is dependent upon players understanding the following information. The TD has taken great care to write this document up for you so that you clearly understand the necessary information. The TD and tournament staff take absolutely no responsibility for high scores & unnecessary strokes taken due to failure to understand the special relief options and drop zones, nor do we accept responsibility for penalty strokes assessed after missed tee times due to failure to read this document. You will NOT be able to process all this information simply by attending the Player's Meeting!

It is in your absolute greatest interest to download this document, print it out, and read it several times.

Please keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of this information is basic tourney stuff and nothing to lose sleep over.

This info will be given out when players register on-site and pick up their players packs, and will also be discussed at Players Meetings.

I wanted to have this info available before the players meetings in case anyone wanted to get up to snuff with event info before they arrive at sugarbush, or in case anyone thought they'd miss the players meeting.

If our scoring director scared you, please don't be too scared.

Thanks.....

Dan Doyle
TD

The extended forecast for the next 6 days for sugarbush looks fantastic !!!

the forecast calls for sunny days with highs thru saturday in the low 70's and a bit cooler on sunday with a high in the low to mid 60's.

low temps should be in the upper 40's to low 50's but by saturday nite and sunday morning it could dip into the upper 30's.

with leaves changing colors the views on the Peak Course will seriously distract you from your disc golf chores.

we're at 90 players. still plenty of room for more. don't miss out.

Pre-registration list updated!

Pre-registration list (http://www.pdga.com/tournament/tournament_results.php?TournID=6274)

We are up to 90 competitors now. :cool:

You forgot to mention that we lost someone over the cliff the other day! Maybe he'll come out of the woods by the time the tournament starts.

Besides having awesome players packs, we will have some really nice items as door prizes at the players party. Dan doesn't even know what they are yet!

Can I get a WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!?!??!

no. but I will give you an AMEN!

This has to be on the calendar for next year.

Peace

diTTO.
and, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

here I come b-teir

Hey DOME, I found a 148$ one way to Charlotte...You can fly with me, and drive back with BARD.

Just got back from the World Class Clinic. The pros did a terrific job and the 50 or so golfers who were there all had a good time.

The players packs are outstanding and I love the dri-fit shirts. The tourney has not even started and I know that this will be a truly amazing weekend. Dan Doyle and crew know how to put on a world class event.

Thanks, Ben. :cool:

I played both courses today and they looked AMAZING. The Peak course was all about throwing mid-ranges down the middle of the fairway and the base course plays through some absolutely beautiful hardwoods. It's gonna be a great weekend for disc golf!

Good luck to all, Have play hard and Party Safe.

Round one has begun for the NT participants.

Markus K�llstr�m aced his third hole of play (hole#18, 235') with a Piranha. If he misses the the basket, the drop-off behind the hole is some 50 feet or more. Great shot Markus! :cool:

If all goes well, we're planning on having live scoring for the lead Open card starting around 2:15 PM EST or so. Look for a link to be posted later this afternoon. :cool:

Is it 2 rounds of the base course today?

Is it 2 rounds of the base course today?



That is correct. All NT participants play two rounds on the par 65 NT Base Course layout today.

<font size=4>NT BASE COURSE LAYOUT</font>

<table border="2"><tr><th colspan=1> Layout </th><th> 1 </th><th> 2 </th><th> 3 </th><th> 4 </th><th> 5 </th><th> 6 </th><th> 7 </th><th> 8 </th><th> 9 </th><th> out </th><th> 10 </th><th> 11 </th><th> 12 </th><th> 13 </th><th> 14 </th><th> 15 </th><th> 16 </th><th> 17 </th><th> 18 </th><th> in </th><th> TOTAL </th></tr>
<tr><td> Distance </td><td> 480 </td><td> 300 </td><td> 260 </td><td> 570 </td><td> 290 </td><td> 640 </td><td> 530 </td><td> 390 </td><td> 210 </td><td> 3670 </td><td> 230 </td><td> 330 </td><td> 325 </td><td> 660 </td><td> 900 </td><td> 210 </td><td> 205 </td><td> 430 </td><td> 235 </td><td> 3525 </td><td> 7195 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Par </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 34 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 31 </td><td> 65 </td></tr>
</table>

thank you.

<font size=4>NT BASE COURSE LAYOUT</font>

Here's a brief description of the holes: <ul type="square"> Hole#1: Tees from the base village up underneath the Gate House Express Quad chairlift. The elevation gain is significant.
Hole#2: Throws across the trail and then uphill through heavy woods, with again a very significant elevation gain. Hole#3: Beautiful downhill par 3 from an elevated tee. The drive must negotiate a gauntlet of trees initially but then it's wide open to the basket. Hole#4: A fun par 4 that crosses trails through a narrow keyhole and plays slightly downhill. Hole#5: A fairly straightforward uphill par 3 with the basket tucked into the woods; a must-deuce. Hole#6: Long uphill par 5 with the basket tucked left on a cat track. Competitors must take care to stay well right on the trail and not drift left towards the wood line which will block off the approach. Hole#7: Possibly the signature hole on the Base Course, it plays 530 feet down a gentle and wide fairway. I predict some big arms will eagle 2 this hole. Hole#8: A very steep uphill par four through heavy woods. Hole#9: Gorgeous over-the-valley shot from an elevated tee to an elevated basket. Hole#10: Gentle left-to-right shot with a huge drop-off behind the basket Hole#11: Another pretty valley shot through magnificent old growth hardwoods. Hole#12: Tees from an elevated tee out onto the Sleeper trail, and plays left-to-right and uphill. Hole#13: Plays straight uphill an intermediate trail. The elevation gain is perhaps 100 feet or more. You'll throw several drives as hard as you can, and get winded just trying to walk up this hole. Hole#14: The hike was worth it, as this is a spectacular downhill hole. From the tee, the drive must fly down the ski trail, then duck right into a narrow opening to an access road. The hole then follows downhill on the access road some 500 more feet to the polehole. Hole#15: Uphill par 3 through lush woods. Hole#16: Very short downhill "pooch shot" where most will throw a putter off the tee. Another must-deuce on this layout. Hole#17: Fairly flat, but a very pretty access road shot with the basket perched up on a ridge. Hole#18: A short hole through woods and on a "hogback" where the terrain drops off on all sides. The basket is perched between a cluster of trees with a very steep drop-off to the base lodge past the polehole. [/list]

Many first round scores are in. Markus K�llstr�m and Ken Climo with amazing rounds of 50 and 51! :cool:

YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHH Markus... PA represent!!!

Is the theoretical "perfect" score a 47 or are any of the par 5s regularly eagleable by top players?

Many first round scores are in. Markus K�llstr�m and Ken Climo with amazing rounds of 50 and 51! :cool:



Was that RD on the Mtn.?? :eek:

PLEASE tell me NO........ :p

I'm surprised that the Am divisions aren't shown as a separate B-tier (or A-tier) event like every other NT?

Is the theoretical "perfect" score a 47 or are any of the par 5s regularly eagleable by top players?



When I get some time I'll see if I can put some hole statistics together. A quick glance revealed that the par 5 sixth hole yielded several eagle 3s, and there was one score of eagle 3 on the par 5 14th hole (Climo) and one score of eagle 2 on the par 4 seventh hole. (K�llstr�m) Markus also had an ace so he had two eagles that round. :cool:

will the am tee times be posted somewhere online tonight?

Looks like the scores coming in have an SSA and distribution similar to Open Round 5 at Worlds on Granite Ridge.

I was going to say that a 300 ft par 4 is very over the top eaglable by the Markus man.

Maybe we'll have a Markus/Marcus sweep?!

will the am tee times be posted somewhere online tonight?



Yes, they will be posted both at tournament central and online.

Chuck,

Here are some hole statistics for some Open and Masters golfers with scores of 64 or below, and a likely player rating average around 990-1000. <table border="1"><tr><td> Hole# </th><th> 1 </th><th> 2 </th><th> 3 </th><th> 4 </th><th> 5 </th><th> 6 </th><th> 7 </th><th> 8 </th><th> 9 </th><th> out </th><th> 10 </th><th> 11 </th><th> 12 </th><th> 13 </th><th> 14 </th><th> 15 </th><th> 16 </th><th> 17 </th><th> 18 </th><th> in </th><th> TOTAL </th></tr>
<tr><td> Distance </td><td> 480 </td><td> 300 </td><td> 260 </td><td> 570 </td><td> 290 </td><td> 640 </td><td> 530 </td><td> 390 </td><td> 210 </td><td> 3670 </td><td> 230 </td><td> 330 </td><td> 325 </td><td> 660 </td><td> 900 </td><td> 210 </td><td> 205 </td><td> 430 </td><td> 235 </td><td> 3525 </td><td> 7195 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Par </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 34 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 31 </td><td> 65 </td></tr>
<tr><td> K�llstr�m </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 26 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 1 </td><td> 24 </td><td> 50 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Climo </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 28 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 23 </td><td> 51 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Jenkins </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 28 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 25 </td><td> 53 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Brinster </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 27 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 27 </td><td> 54 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Alberghini </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 29 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 26 </td><td> 55 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Patterson </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 26 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 29 </td><td> 55 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Myers </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 29 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 27 </td><td> 56 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Feldberg </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 26 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 30 </td><td> 56 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Soleng </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 27 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 29 </td><td> 56 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Reading </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 27 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 6 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 29 </td><td> 56 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Schneider </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 30 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 27 </td><td> 57 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Johnson </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 31 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 26 </td><td> 57 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Cutler </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 28 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 31 </td><td> 59 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Walsh </td><td> 5 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 30 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 29 </td><td> 59 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Mela </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 30 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 29 </td><td> 59 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Sonderfan </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 29 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 30 </td><td> 59 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Oullet </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 31 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 6 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 28 </td><td> 59 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Howard </td><td> 5 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 30 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 6 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 29 </td><td> 59 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Murphy </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 31 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 29 </td><td> 60 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Pfeiffer </td><td> 4 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 34 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 28 </td><td> 62 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Lyons </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 31 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 6 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 32 </td><td> 63 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Marcus </td><td> 5 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 34 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 29 </td><td> 63 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Flores </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 31 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 6 </td><td> 6 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 33 </td><td> 64 </td></tr>
<tr><td> Young </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 33 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 31 </td><td> 64 </td></tr>
<tr><td> average </td><td> 3.75 </td><td> 3.50 </td><td> 2.88 </td><td> 3.54 </td><td> 2.50 </td><td> 4.17 </td><td> 3.08 </td><td> 3.54 </td><td> 2.46 </td><td> 29.42 </td><td> 2.63 </td><td> 2.54 </td><td> 3.00 </td><td> 4.58 </td><td> 4.67 </td><td> 2.50 </td><td> 2.71 </td><td> 3.29 </td><td> 2.42 </td><td> 28.33 </td><td> 57.75 </td></tr>
</table>
Looks like the par is blatantly off on holes 6 & 7. There are also some borderline gold par 2s in there.

With such a new course, it will be interesting to see if they do better in the second round. It's interesting the SSA matches the second round Open played Granite Ridge which was set at par 60. Did you type these scores into the Forecaster to see what the distributions look like, too?

Any chance of marking the qualified players...

Nobody on the lead card took a score of eagle 3 on the sixth hole, which is listed as a pro par five. It's really just a tough par four though with the scoring average only slightly more than 4.

WOW....Kenny deuces the 530 ft hole 7, very Nice.....can you say Bonus deuce.

So did Kallstrom, so I guess they are even.

yeah but KC does not throw near as far as Karkus Mallstrom

Wow, nobody deuced hole#11 and Brinster took a 4. :eek:

Kenny lost a stroke to the whole group on both 12 &amp; 13. Ken, Steve and Avery are now all tied at 3 strokes behind Markus.

yeah but KC does not throw near as far as Karkus Mallstrom



Mallstrom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maelstrom)

good research

Karkus Mallstrom



Isn't it pronounced Sharkus?

<font size=4>[b]THREE WAY TIE FOR THE OPEN WOMEN'S LEAD!!![b]</font>

thanks jeffrey

thanks jeffrey



You're quite welcome, it's my pleasure. :cool:

YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHH Markus... PA represent!!!

:cool:

link does not go to scores - what up?

<font color="blue"> any AM scores available? </font>

link does not go to scores - what up?



Click on the link in my signature file and it brings you straight to the scores.


<font color="blue"> any AM scores available? </font>



Not until they finish their morning rounds.

<font size=4>ACE!</font> About 30 minutes ago, John Borelli nailed the 180' third hole on the Peak course with an Aviar putter. :cool:

<font color="blue"> oh yeah, only a 2 dayer
sorry buDDy </font>

Here's the payouts from TD Dan Doyle. This is likely one of the richest NTs this year, and the women's payout is especially awesome.
<table border="1"><tr><td> <u>Place</u> </th><th> <u>Open</u> </th><th> <u>Masters</u> </th><th> <u>Women</u> </th></tr>
<tr><td> 1 </td><td> $2,700 </td><td> $425 </td><td> $1,125 </th></tr>
<tr><td> 2 </td><td> $2,350 </td><td> $275 </td><td> $775 </th></tr>
<tr><td> 3 </td><td> $2,000 </td><td> $135 </td><td> $450 </th></tr>
<tr><td> 4 </td><td> $1,650 </td><td> </td><td> $150 </th></tr>
<tr><td> 5 </td><td> $1,300 </td><td> </td><td> </th></tr>
<tr><td> 6 </td><td> $1,000 </td><td> </td><td> </th></tr>
<tr><td> 7 </td><td> $800 </td><td> </td><td> </th></tr>
<tr><td> 8 </td><td> $600 </td><td> </td><td> </th></tr>
<tr><td> 9 </td><td> $500 </td><td> </td><td> </th></tr>
<tr><td> 10 </td><td> $400 </td><td> </td><td> </th></tr>
<tr><td> 11 </td><td> $300 </td><td> </td><td> </th></tr>
<tr><td> 12 </td><td> $225 </td><td> </td><td> </th></tr>
<tr><td> 13 </td><td> $170 </td><td> </td><td> </th></tr>
<tr><td> 14 </td><td> $122 </td><td> </td><td> </th></tr>
<tr><td> total </td><td> $14,117 </td><td> $835 </td><td> $2,500 </th></tr>
</table>

Nice payout, wish I could have been there, but too many Great Tournies in a short period of time is just not possible to hit them all and still keep a job.

Click here (http://www.pdga.com/tournament/tournament_results.php?TournID=6274) for live scoring for the Saturday afternoon round for the lead Open card of the 2007 Sugarbush Mad River Valley Open National Tour event!

Markus takes the only birdie 3 on the tough uphill 475' pro par four 2nd hole on the Peak course. The hole shoots straight, then doglegs sharply left on a ski trail, and even a safe shot from the blue tee to the landing zone near the white tee leaves a tough 280' uphill approach to a fast green. There's death to the left off the trail, and the headwind on this hole can be brutal.

Markus has birdied 5 out of the first 8 holes and is tearing up the course. His lead has now grown to 6 strokes over both Climo and Reading through 8 holes.

The lower course is where things could get interesting. Hole#12 is a par 5 that plays some 1200 feet straight down a narrow intermediate ski trail. Playing from the 'short' tee of 900 feet this morning, there were quite a few 6s and 7s in the Advanced division. I can't wait to see what the pros score on it from the long tee. Hole#14 is a 910' pro par five that could separate scores as well.

Apparently Yeti had three roll-away putts on the uber-fast green of hole#11, and he cards a triple bogey 6. The monster hole#12 is next, which Jay scored an eagle 3 on during practice on Wednesday. Let's hope Jay can duplicate the feat - go Yeti!

Only Climo takes a par 5 on hole#12, and everyone else on the lead card records a bogey 6.

Climo is etching slowly into Markus' lead, gaining two strokes over the last two holes to pull within 5.

Quite a spread on the 910' par five 15th hole which plays down Lower Jester. Markus bagged an eagle 3, Avery and Ken scored birdie 4s, and alas, Yeti took a bogey 6.

Markus is pulling away yet again. Through 16 holes, his lead is back up to 7 strokes over Ken Climo.

Black Bean in Tie for the Lead after 1st round........FriZZak!!!!!!!!

Karkus on his way to his first NT title and his 1st win of the year. Could it possibly be his 1st ever win in the US.?

How long has it been since an international player won an A Tier or higher in the US?

Anybody ? Anybody? Bueller...

I dunno, but that is going to end tomorrow.

He's playing some mad golf!

GO Markus!!!!

<font color="blue"> oh okay </font>

the shirt is being made.....ahhhh Ok

Womens update? That is a close race!

i picked brinster in fantasy and ALMOST picked Markus....


second guessing sucks....

Womens update? That is a close race!



<font size=4>[b]DES AND VAL STILL TIED FOR THE OPEN WOMEN'S LEAD!!![b]</font>

strong.

Markus and Marcus looking to cruise to wins.

KEEP IT UP ZZ!!!!

Markus and Marcus looking to cruise to wins.



Markus K�llstr�m has a 9 stroke lead, but was seen hobbling towards the end of his round. Will his injured knee hold out?

did he tweak iTT during the Tourney?

Lets go Bard and Domepiece!!!! Keep poppin, finish strong.

Lead Card, Bard. Woot Woot!

<font color="blue">will there be live scoring for the ladies? </font>

did he tweak iTT during the Tourney?



He thinks he did it at the YeTTer.


<font color="blue">will there be live scoring for the ladies? </font>



Absolutely! We'll have live scoring for both the lead Open Women and Open Men's card. :cool:

Brinster spikes the pole with his drive on hole#1 despite the reportedly severely gusty winds on top of the mountain. He gets the only deuce.

Through four holes, it's a three way tie for second in Open! Frizzak movin' on up...

Climo reportedly missed a 30-footer for an eagle 2 on the 525' pro par fifth hole. On hole#6, which is 495' downhill and mostly open, Bard parked his drive for the only deuce, and the fast green claimed some victims in the other competitors.

Final results and payouts have been uploaded.

To say that I am extremely disappointed that the PDGA website went down halfway through a National Tour event would be the understatement of the year. Disc golfers from all over the world were unable to follow the live scoring, with Ken Climo and Dave Feldberg trimming Markus' nine stroke lead at the start of the last round to a final margin of only two. They were also unable to follow the see-saw battle between Des and Val where the lead changed several times. I was unable to post commentary on the DISCussion Board, and at the conclusion of the event I was unable provide player ratings to the competitors who asked, nor post results on the PDGA website until 11:15 AM the day after.

I guess as one of the only blemishes on an otherwise awesome disc golf tournament experience, we made out okay. But it was still highly disappointing.

sickkkkkkkk payouts

I guess as one of the only blemishes on an otherwise awesome disc golf tournament experience, we made out okay. But it was still highly disappointing.



*coughcoughSKILIFTcoughcough*

*coughcoughkleenexcoughcough* ;-)

greetings sugarbush attendees.....

as Fats half-cryptically mentioned we did have a hiccup that affected 3 or 4 foursomes on saturday afternoon. the other 95 competitors weren't affected.

here's what happened:

the TD didn't ask one very important question and my sugarbush coordinator didn't catch me on it.

i spent weeks planning the format we used on the peak course on saturday, but spaced when it came to contemplating what time the lifts normally stopped running. i found out at 1:00 that afternoon that the lifts were supposed to stop running at 4:00. i was able to do a major beg-and-grovel and get them to agree to run them until 5:00. based on how long i estimated rounds would take to complete it looked like we might get everyone that finished up top downloaded before then. when 3 or 4 groups took longer than my projection they were caught on hole #5 with no ride home. we were able to round up a mountain operations vehicle and Matt from sugarbush took a huge chance by going up the mountain to pick up those folks. unfortunately there were a few routes down to choose from and he didn't take the same route up as some groups that walked down. he did manage to retrieve one foursome and 4 spotters.

i take full responsibility for the mental mishap. i am happy that i at least was able to get them to keep the lift open one hour later (I was told this is the 1st time they've EVER kept it open late) and happy that Matt at least got some people off the hill. i am also thankful that everyone had finished play before that quick rainburst hit. thankfully we didn't have thunderstorms to deal with.

i apologize to those that had to make the 45-minute walk back down. hopefully you drowned the agony at the players party.

i've been running events for 30+ years but i still am in a learning curve evidently. hopefully we made it up to the competitors in other ways.

dan doyle
TD

Although the Sugarbush Open was generally a success, the TD did make one bonehead mistake. Despite weeks of strategizing and creating what appeared to be a very unique but workable format for playing the chairlift-fed Peak Course, he somehow forgot to contemplate the chairlift shutdown time. woops.

evidently the chairlift doesn't stay open later in non ski season simply because there is still daylight. the normal 4:00 PM shutdown time wasn't considered by the TD and his Sugarbush contact failed to spot that when she looked at the format being planned.

When the TD realized at 1:00 PM that the lift was due to shut down at 4:00 he immediately went into fix-the-problem mode. for the first time ever the lift was allowed to stay open an extra hour (until 5:00 PM). because some of the groups were playing slower than anticipated, however, that extra hour wasn't going to be enough. it looked like a few groups would finish their round on Hole #5 and would have to do a 45-minute walk back downhill.

we were able to illegally send a mountain truck up the hill to pluck players off the hill and did retrieve one foursome and 4 spotters. but there are multiple routes down the mountain and those that chose to walk down evidently took different routes down than the truck that went up.

I am the bonehead TD.

i apologize for the misery and hassle that those that walked had to endure. it probably wasn't a pleasant experience, especially since it started raining during that walk.

i've run events for 30 years and this was probably my biggest error. i'm on a lifelong learning curve and this one resonated. believe me i didn't plan it this way. it was just a glaring planning blunder.

Dan Doyle
TD
Sugarbush Open

Some pictures can be found here:

www.esoderek.com/blog/ (http://www.esoderek.com/blog/)

Nice pics, Fats.

Hole#7 was my vote for signature hole on the Base course, and you got a real nice shot of it.

http://www.esoderek.com/data/Image/Sept07/Base1.jpg

please everyone, do yourself a favor and check out the amazing photos Derek has made available. they really capture the essence of what sugarbush was all about.

dd

as i said at the awards ceremony most marathon runners swear an hour after crossing the line that they'll never run another one, and then a month later they're scouring the internet to plan the next one.

5 days after the conclusion of the Sugarbush Open i have very mixed thoughts about the event and what i should do in 2008. i hold myself to very high standards and as a result this event knocked the heck out of me in many ways.

i'd like feedback as far as what you think would be best for this event if it were to be held in 2008.

here are a few of my thoughts:

1. the overwhelming majority of the added cash was brought to the table by me. i was fortunate to be able to leverage my relationship with various steel suppliers and other steel-related vendors at the time when i was seeking event sponsors. but it is highly unlikely that these funding sources will be available again in 2008.

2. Sugarbush brought zero added cash to the event, either from the resort itself or from any of their sponsors. i won't get into why, but they did provide thousands of dollars worth of manpower and discounts and that paid off handsomely. I believe they will be in a better position to bring added cash to the event in 2008.

3. My main Sugarbush contact (Laura Worthen, Sugarbush Events Coordinator) terminated her employment with Sugarbush as of the end of the tournament. She was an awesome ally in the months prior to the event and i can't imagine a replacement being as helpful.

4. The venue itself is about as good as it gets for a tournament. having gorgeous accomodations within walking distance of tourney central and the players party (for worry-free drunkenness as one player put it) and the 2 courses; the amazing Gatehouse right there for tourney central and the pro shop; and the 2 fun and challenging courses makes for a perfect set-up.

5. i have to question whether the nature of an alpine ski-hill course makes it suitable as an NT venue. it's fine with me but i know there was a good deal of grumbling about the less-than-ideal tee pads and the brutal nature of the Peak Course. there will never be state-of-the-sport tee pads on this mountain and it is billy-goat golf, which not all players enjoy. is there a place for 1 NT event of this kind of style? that's up for discussion.

since i'm still internalizing all aspects of this event now might not be the best time to come to any major conclusions and decisions about 2008.

certainly it's not just up to me what happens next year. sugarbush has a say and so does the pdga. if i were to make a decision today, my conclusion would be that an event at sugarbush should be a SuperTour event (A-Tier) and not an NT event. this would take the pressure off of having to come up with major added cash; would make it more OK to have less-than-ideal tee pads; and because of the unique situation with the Peak Course and chairlifts would make running the event smoother. i also believe that it would make sense to make this a 3-day event for all divisions and run the event in the summer (perhaps late august) so that it is easier for families with kids to make a vacation out of it.

again, feedback is very much appreciated.

thanks.

dan doyle

For starters, I think you need to limit the event to just Saturday and Sunday. A 3-day tournament is just too cost prohibitive for many people.

Next, I think you need to adjust the Peak course a bit. 4-5 hour rounds to play the Peak course was just too long, especially considering that despite the gusty winds the weather was actually quite decent. I can only imagine what would have happened in the case of inclement weather.

The changes needed are to remove some of the lost disc and spotter-intensive holes on the course, such as: hole#5, hole#12, hole#18, and possibly holes 8-9 and 13-14. With extreme elevation change, a narrow fairway, and three different drop zones, hole#12 was a logistical nightmare. I think the Peak course needs more holes like 3,6,7 and 16 which are so open as to make it almost impossible to lose a disc except for only the worst shots. Additionally, more holes like #17 which actually bring woods into play would make for a better design and faster disc golfing experience.

My $.02