Join us for the inaugural event at Stoney HIll Disc Golf Course on JUNE 9TH, 2007! This will be a 1-day, 2-round tournament on Chris and David Sauls' private course, located on 46 acres near Newberry/Prosperity, SC (between Columbia and Greenville/Spartanburg).

Only $20 for Pros, $10 for Ams.
We are offering the following divisions:
* Pro Open
* Pro Master
* Pro Women
* Advanced Open
* Advanced Master
* Advanced Women

No intermediate, recreational, or junior divisions are offered, as the course is not designed for beginners. Better intermediate players can play Advanced, of course, if they wish.

For more information on the tournament and registration, click here (http://www.saulsinsurance.com/stoneyhill/challenge.htm)

For more information on the course, including directions, click here (http://www.saulsinsurance.com/stoneyhill)

<font color="blue"> [edited by request of David Sauls] </font>

Although this is a 1-day tournament, folks are more than welcome to come up Friday afternoon, play a round, and stay....or to stay Saturday after the tournament, hang around, and play some casual rounds Sunday. I can offer a little bit of floor space (and one sofa)....a travel trailer with a couple of beds....and plenty of room to pitch tents. If you chooose the latter, remember this is STONEY Hill; don't forget your air mattress! So feel free to make a weekend of it.

We hope that, as time goes by, we can fill the shoes of Still Waters Farm (Govan), with 2-day events on a great course, in a great setting, with the opportunity to stay on site for the weekend. This year's challenge will be a shake-down of the course under tournament conditions in preparation for bigger things in future years.

Flyers were given out this weekend at the Seneca Spring Sling and also flyers were given to Zack Rogers to bring back to Greenville, SC! Some other players at the tournament also took some to hand out at there home course and to make copies of.

For those who don't know (and haven't clicked through to the course website), Stoney Hill is a private course that longtime disc golfers Chris and David Sauls have built. It is located near Newberry &amp; Prosperity, SC, somewhere between Columbia and Greenville, deep in the beautiful, and hilly, Carolina piedmont.

We modestly believe that most Pros and Advanced Ams will find it challenging, but quite fun. We have tremendous hills and two creeks....a variety of uphill, downhill, level, open, tight wooded, left, right, short, medium, and long holes, almost incessant high winds affecting 13, and O.B. on 9. We have strived to make every hole memorable---"18 signature holes" is our goal, or at least as close as we can come---and to give every disc in your bag a chance to get out and play.

If you click through to the course website, you'll find dozens of photos to give you an idea of what we're up to. Just remember that elevation is deceptive in photos but, trust us, we may have more elevation than any course this side of the Appalachian Mountains.

Is it June or July 9?

JUNE 9th................not July as posted.

Got so excited about our first tournament I couldn't type.

Yes, JUNE 9, not July 9.

All information I provide is guaranteed 89% accurate, and the reader assumes responsibility for figuring out which part is the other 13%.

Thanks for the sharp eyes.

Wonderful, it's JUNE 9th!! I have to work that weekend!! Change it back to July 9th please! :mad:

Original post has been corrected, with kind help of one of the board moderators.

Sorry, July 9 is a weekday. I could always take off that day and you could come up, and surely get your first Open Pro win in a 2-man event.

More that should have been included in original post---

* Practice rounds can be scheduled through the course website contacts, for weekdays after 6:00 or all weekend long.

* John &amp; Christine Wright will cater this event, and we recommend you take advantage of their services, or bring your lunch with it. It's a long drive to limited services from the course.

(For those who know the course....) We're hoping to have ready for the tournament the long-planned move of #18 basket to the top of the mound overlooking the quarry. Travis &amp; Coral helped us accomplish a significant amount of clearing behind the mound, with the intent of moving the basket. Just to add even more drama to a treacherous finishing hole---especially if the usual high winds are present.

Just to add even more drama to a treacherous finishing hole---especially if the usual high winds are present.



Just hope that you don't slip off the hill or you'll have a hard 20 foot fall to the bottom of the quarry! I'd put a 10 to 1 bet that the dog can climp to the top of the shear cliff parts of the quarry before any of you.

Plans include a ledge to keep clumsy golfers from falling all the way in one fall. We're only looking to injure egos. Of course, a signed release will be required, and sobriety highly recommended.

Plans include a ledge to keep clumsy golfers from falling all the way in one fall. We're only looking to injure egos. Of course, a signed release will be required, and sobriety highly recommended.



Just as playing at Brookesville just not AS treacherous although still has many dangers if you slip on that one stick u may get a nice strawberry on ur butt after the 50 foot slide down the hill.

With great weather and some assistance from Coral &amp; Travis, not to mention---sadly---not playing the Crooked Creek Classic, we were able to get a great deal of work done on the course over the holiday weekend. Most if it is looking great...by tournament time, it will be in its best condition ever.

We are considering some sort of bounty for anyone who can break the course record of 49. It was set by a kid, so how hard can it be? Details to be worked out.

For Scott, Matt, Mike, and anyone else from the Augusta area who may be coming up, the course website has been updated with directions for the backroads route to the course, which will save you time and is scenic, to boot. Should take about 90 minutes.

If anyone lives closer to Edgefield or the IDGC, there is yet another route through Saluda. Contact us and we'll help you find it.

We still recommend you keep all our phone numbers from the website with you, to call if you get lost. At the tournament, David's house will be HQ, so best chances Saturday morning are to call there at 803-364-3999.

WARNING:

WORK DAY THIS SATURDAY @ 10 am. Any help we can get will be greatly appreciated. Otherwise, if your coming to play, show up after 1pm.

Still plenty of spots available. John and Chris Wright will be making lunches and need a head count. If you are eating at the course, please let us know by next week. Call David @ 803-364-3999. Otherwise, Prosperity is about 10 mins. away with very few lunch options.

Connor has two gigs that day, one parent needs to stay and chauffeur him around (.... why doesn't it seem that isn't the way it is supposed to work?!?) and Greg is working. But I think one Thompson or Chambers will be showing up. Just not sure which one!

We'd all like to be there ...

We'll be happy to have whoever makes it.....someone we can send stories back with, to help us spread the word about the course. Hopefully next year we'll be sanctioned and SCDGO series and on the PDGA calendar well in advance, and you can all make it.

For everyone, we have a few surprises in store, including completion of the long-anticipated move of basket #18 to the top of the dirt mound overlooking the quarry. So now it's perched up in the sky, ready to catch aggressive putts with the wind or roll timid putts into O.B.

Big thanks to Ed Garris for coming out and helping us clear up the tree islands on #16 Saturday (especially since the tropical storm hit just as we started to play, so he only got 3 throws in reward for all his hard work)....and Coral &amp; Travis for their earth-moving assistance to build ledges on the mound on #18.

For good or bad, I believe that we have created the most frustrating course in South Carolina. Every round begins with aspirations of a new personal best record (the actual course record is out of my reach) and then ends with me wondering "what happened?"

Everyone needs to bring their mental game and their backup mental game for Saturday...It's not about distance and putting, it's about accuracy..If you have ever played "The Canyon" in Brooksville, you'll know what I mean.

oh yea, first weather reports states that it might be warm.

$50 on 50. We have a bounty on the course record. $2 buy in for chance at $50 to the lowest score below 50.

CTP on 16 (below)

http://www.saulsinsurance.com/stoneyhill/Photos/Hole%2016%20through%20window%20(2).jpg

BULLSEYE!

49 or better is very do-able and once you play the course you'll say man that's an easy score to get, but you WON'T...but good luck trying. There are many birdie holes out there, BUT you probably won't get most of them even though they seem so easy and the most of the hard holes are easy 3's, but most likely you won't do that either even though that seems like an easy feat! I'm gunning for the 40's since my best is 55! (i'm sure I missed 10 putts or more, well that's what I tell myself) As David stated, ACCURACY, ACCURACY, ACCURACY. If you can do that and throw 250-300 you should excel very well. But don't throw too high or hizer too much because you're what looks like a good round will not look so good anymore after that 6 or 7!

Breaking 50 may be "doable", but it's almost never "done".
Or, more specifically, it's only been done once.

There's lots of trouble---O.B. on 9 holes, crazy winds, a few devilish pin placements---where a good round can blow up. But I don't know about that 250-300' idea....you're talking MY range, and I have trouble getting past the mid-60s. It is a 6,000 course, with 4 par-4s and one 580' par-3.

I like Chris's description---bring your mental game, and your backup mental game.

And all of your discs.

But I don't know about that 250-300' idea....you're talking MY range, and I have trouble getting past the mid-60s. It is a 6,000 course, with 4 par-4s and one 580' par-3.





Yea, but how accurate are you with those shots? If you were extremely accurate then you could shoot MUCH better. If you can throw 300 accurately you can reach the following holes for a 2 :

Hole 3, 4, 7, 8 (Maybe), 9, 10, 11, 12, and 16. So that's 9 holes that you can birdie if you're as accurate as I'm talking about. Then on these following holes a 3 would be easy:

1, 2 (possibly could get a 2 with a good shot), 6, 13, 14 (possibly could get a 2 with good throw and good wind), 15,

Holes 5, 17, and 18 would be the toughest to 3 with only a 300' max drive. But one of the hardest to 3 on the course is hole 15 even though a person who can throw 425+ can get to the basket with an impossible shot that may never be seen because it has to be PERFECT and stick on the peninsula. My thoughts but probably not thoughts of others.

Ah, perfection....

With the accuracy you propose, even a weenie-arm like myself can shoot a 39 (-15) at Earlewood.

In actuality---we've had a 49 and a 50....three approximately-975-rated regulars have generally scored in the 54-58 range....one 900-rated owner generally shoots around 64, has shot a 60 twice but also mid-70s....if that gives any perspective for new players as to what to expect.

Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow at the TOURNAMENT DEBUT of what we hope you will find to be a great course.

We're continuing to plan some suprises and enhancements---you may go home having seen a half-dozen or more things you've never seen on a disc golf course, or at a tournament.

Weather is looking a bit warm (but not the 101 degrees the long-range forecast had originally called for), but the course weaves in-and-out of shaded areas and the open areas tend to be breezy---nay, windy---so it shouldn't be too bad.

The course looks great, aided by some good weather the last two weeks, willingness of our equipment to not break down during this crucial period, and lots of labor---including a huge amount of weedeating by Travis and Coral, whom we thank greatly for their efforts the last few weeks.

Okay David, I am taking Saturday off to play at Stoney Hill, and really looking forward to it. Hopefully lots of loose grapes and other tasty morsels too eat too! :eek: ;)

Looking like a BEAUTIFUL weekend to play some GOLF! This course really is wonderful and there is NO course like it in SC so for you who like to see something new, this will be the one for you. I can vouch for David's comments, David, Chris, Travis, and Coral have put in hours everyday after work until 9 or 9:30 at night for the past 2 weeks doing pure labor to make this the most enjoyable place for you to play.

I can say that buy the time you get to your 15th or more hole, that last hill will seem impossible to climb or you're really not going to want to play your last hole. Really if you end on 17!

Hopefully lots of loose grapes and other tasty morsels too eat too! :eek: ;)

[/QUOTE]

James,

No grapes yet but blackberrys are getting close to black...I believe we have the state's largest blackberry farm. We lost the plumbs to the late freeze. Persimmons and apples still growing.

Glad your coming. You might have to play pro since you own the 2nd best score ever shot at Stoney HIll.

Great to hear it!

(For those who don't know, the "grapes" reference is to another discussion thread about tournament amenities. Not recommended reading for the squeamish).

For everyone who has not come before, keep my phone number on hand to call if you get lost. My house will be HQ

(803) 364-3999

We'll try to balance lenience for those running late with a strong desire to start on time, to use as much cool of the morning as possible, and get it over with before possible afternoon thunderstorms.

For early arrivers---I should be up and about by 7:00 a.m., and can give you maps to play some of the course if you wish.

For Mike.....yes, it was a bit cruel, after all the hill climbing, for the 17th hole to go straight up....then up some more....then up one more time to the green. We gave Travis and Coral a grant to design one hole, and that's what they came up with.

treacherous, and purely "meanness"...with a Heat Index of 100+ possible, i'm going to try and keep my bag light but the 8 bottles of gatorade it will take to complete the course may be heavy....maybe I can get one of those beer helmets with a chin strap and put my drinks up there... A nice players pack would be those fans with a squirt bottle attached. But entry fees would have to be 30 and 20 to compensate (5 for the squirt fan/ and 5 per fan for the gas it takes to get to a store from your house that may carry one)

Thanks Mike...Not exactly the words of encouragement for new players that we're looking for...It will not be that bad.
It's not like this is the first time we've had a summer in South Carolina....AND THIS IS A BYOB EVENT. That should help keep players cool.

This was a very cool event. We had a few Team Chuck members in attendance and we thought the course was tough but fair. Just when I thought I would melt away a little angel would sprinkle ice cold birdie dust on me.

Thanks for having us out on your property, thanks to Dave for letting us all cool off inside and lastly thanks to the Wrights for their extreme efforts to feed and hydrate us all. That was some delicious tea.

Ok, I know I said the heat would not be bad and I was wrong. Even though I live on the course, this was the first time we've played in the heat of the day. Definately the first time I played it when it was 97 deg. Too bad we didn't hold the tournament on Sunday. Thanks to everyone for coming, especially Team Chuck for making the 2 hour plus drive.

Thanks Jonas.

And thanks to everyone who came for visiting and helping us with a "test run" for bigger and better things in the future. I know it was short notice and a non-sanctioned, non-SCDGO event. And, of course, a big thanks to the Wrights for making it so much better with the lunch (and for Olivia &amp; her crew, for the concession stand midway around the course).

Sorry for the heat....average high on this date is 91 in Columbia, which should translate into upper 80s at Stoney Hill. In fact, Sunday was quite nice, plus the winds returned.

With this done, and proving to ourselves that we can get the course ready even in the heaviest plant-growth season, we will look towards having a 2-day, sanctioned, SCDGO event next year. We'll just have to figure out when is best---perhaps in April or May, when everything has leafed out but the grass hasn't started growing....or during Worlds, which a few players travel to and the rest have few oher options....or during the fall, when Stoney Hill is beautiful.....or maybe the same weekend. (If we have it in summer, though, we'd like to offer VIP registrations that allow access to the house, with its air conditioning and icemaker. Should be able to raise a bundle with that scheme).

We hope we're building a course that Pros and top Ams will find challenging, interesting, exciting---and most of all, fun. If you felt that way, please pass along the word to other disc golfers in your area. If you hated it, keep it to yourself. But we are very interested in opinions of all who played---which holes you liked the most, which holes you liked the least---to guide our future efforts.

Once again---thanks to everyone.

RESULTS

PROS
Zack Rogers edged Pat Husted by one stroke, with an exciting finish on an exciting finishing hole.
Cashing:
111 Zack Rogers
112 Pat Husted
119 Travis Sauls
119 Darrell Lambrecht
119 Matt Stockton

ADVANCED
Cashing:
120 Mike Doyle
121 James Stevenson
125 Jay Korybski (or something like that)
125 Jay Jacobs
127 Rick Stepp
131 Paul Martinez

The $50 bounty went unclaimed. We offered a chance at $50 for anyone who could break 50 and set the course record, held by a kid, but no one came particularly close.

The ace pool went unclaimed as well, despite half the holes being aceable and 3 being under 200'.

Danny Marks won the "longest putt" contest on #18....it wasn't a terribly long putt but the rest of the crowd lacked the skill, or perhaps the courage, to beat it.

Of Mike's two characterizations of the course---one that it's full of birdies and easy 3s and even a 250-300' thrower could break the record, the other that it's full of meanness and trouble---the latter seemed to play out, for Mike and much of the crowd.

more complete results available at

http://www.saulsinsurance.com/stoneyhill/challenge.htm