A little early notice to let folks know about this year's Stoney Hill Challenge.

For the first time, we'll be going to a 2-day format. We're hoping for a good contingent of campers on the hilltop overlooking the pond, and planning for a bonfire and other festivities. We'd like to take up where Govan left off with a full weekend experience.

Those who haven't been out since last year's Stoney Hill Challenge will find some big and exciting changes to the course. And even those who came out for the Chris "Mess" Bash will be surprised---Hole A is already undergoing a major change, and who knows what else may change by April?

Those who've never been out, well, we think you'll enjoy the course. If you don't know, it's a private course near Newberry, SC, with a tremendous variety of shots, geared towards Advanced & Pro players (though we welcome Intermediates as well).

The current layout is 20 holes, but we can't be sure this far out what it will be come tournament time. Stoney Hill's a constantly evolving course.

It'll probably be February before we get a flyer out, but in the meantime, just wanted to let folks know.

The flyer's now posted, and registration open.

www.saulsinsurance.com/stoneyhill/challenge.htm

The course website has a link to options on lodging.

We invite folks to camp out on the course, and it includes some information on that.

For the less-than-hardy who require a solid roof, we don't have a host hotel but have listed the various options available.

Of course, there's always the tried and true crash-with-a-friend lodging.

It looks like Coral canned the putt on the logo. Nice

how can you tell it's him??? We figured it was only fitting since he ownes just about every record set at Stoney Hill...including getting a 2 on #15 back to back, driving past the green on 18, nearly driving the basket on 9 from the #1 teepad. Need I say more?

It looks like Coral canned the putt on the logo. Nice

I took 6 pictures, 3 from each side of the mound, just intending to catch the disc in mid-flight where it wouldn't matter if he made it. Being Coral, he made all six! Which I later realized was a problem, since 4 of the 6 pictures included discs laying in the basket in addition to the one in flight. (Very luckily, I'd caught the disc hitting the chains on the 1st photo from that side).

how can you tell it's him??? We figured it was only fitting since he ownes just about every record set at Stoney Hill...including getting a 2 on #15 back to back, driving past the green on 18, nearly driving the basket on 9 from the #1 teepad. Need I say more?

The logo is AWESOME! Can I get a list of these records? I have til the Challenge to beat them and take a top spot in the family disc golf affairs...I can't let little cuz take my glory...not yet atleast! :)

http://www.saulsinsurance.com/stoneyhill/Photos/Logo%20-%20Circle%20-%20Stoney%20Hill%20Challenge%20-%202010%20(400x400).jpg

Now we can't REALLY expect a Pro player to miss putts that close can we? We're supposed to be 10 for 10 on those! I bet if you gave coral 50 putters when he's in the groove he could make all 50...One of the few people I know that could do that!

The logo is AWESOME! Can I get a list of these records? I have til the Challenge to beat them and take a top spot in the family disc golf affairs...I can't let little cuz take my glory...not yet atleast! :)

It's more a list of incredible feats. Your challenge?

The aforementioned
---Drive #18 past the basket (only 492')
---Park and get a "2" on Hole 15 ("the peninsula") in consecutive rounds.

In the "No longer possible" Category
---Park and get a "2" on the old Hole 17 that went straight up, then up, then up onto the tier for the basket.
---At age 13, drive #1 over the creek. First try, no warm-up.

In the "Insane" category
---Hole 5, throw a forehand left off the tee and over the woods to come back and land in the narrow fairway WAY up towards the basket.

..and throw hole 15 from the tee location on the dam , fly over the basket and land on the hill below the #11 basket. Of course he was OB but it was impressive.

BIG, BIG, and even BIGGER changes to the course took place this weekend. It's amazing how much work 1 experienced bulldozer operator and 1 very large bulldozer can accomplish in 10 hours of work.

Hole 14 as you previously knew it -GONE! The entire hill between the 14 basket and 13 fairway has been cleared.

Hole A- No longer the scary 285' foot anhyzer with water on the edge. It now turns right and up a perfectly groomed 250' fairway. OR you can reverse this shot by throwing from above the road with the pond on your left all the way to the dam. 700' of excitement. Travis put 5 disc's in the water and loved every bit of it. It is unbelievable.

Hole 1- Right side of fairway and old road are completely groomed. This includes the entire landing area of hole 18.

The unofficial layout of the course for the Stoney Hill Challenge may include 2 rounds of our 20 hole "Quartz" layout and 2 rounds of our 18 hole "Diamond" layout. (with Diamond being the only harder than quartz)

I'll post some pics when available.

Update- We will be offering a women's advanced division this year. The women will be playing from the intermediate tees around the pond and normal tees on all other holes.

I think this is a good call.

Would have been a better call if we'd made it before the flyers went out.

So we're asking folks, especially the Am women, to spread the word.

Over the years the course has become, uh, less brutal for those who don't throw terribly far. Fewer thorns off the fairways, and the huge debris piles you once had to clear on the peninsula hole are gone now. I'm probably guilty of being slow to acknowledge this and lighten up on the warnings I issue.

The layout is starting to come into focus. Things constantly change at Stoney Hill, of course, so there's no guarantees. But....

Saturday - Quartz layout

For those at the Chris "Mess" Bash, this is the same 20-hole layout with 2 major exceptions:

Hole A extended from around 320' to 490'.
Hole 14, the pasture, replaced by a 223' uphill hyzer shot. Much improved.

Sunday - Diamond layout

This is shaping up to be an 18-hole, 7200' layout with a couple of very cool, 700+ foot holes. Not exactly wide open---there's still plenty of danger---but more open than the current long holes.

Intermediate Men & Advanced Women

There will be shorter tees on the throws over the pond, to avoid long forced throws over water. Same tees everywhere else.

New hole #14 from tee. Replaces shot from the pasture. Basket on left is in the short position "Quartz" layout. Landing zone in middle sets you up for the 2nd shot down to the penisula for the "Diamond" layout

Hole 17 and 17a

Drive across water then dogleg right up hill another 250'. "Quartz" layout. 490'

Diamond layout uses the same fairway but reverse by throwing from up above road to the basket on the dam. 726'. The yellow basket is on the edge of the dam in the distance.

* We will not be playing the same fairway for the same round so you will not be crossing fairways. We will play hole 16 across the pond to the oak tree in a long position. Then walk up the road to the tee for the 17 "Diamond"

Course updates- This week's agenda are correcting some of the poor tee pads we have. Hopefully, no more up hill, down hill, side hill tees for those who like to complain (myself included) Here's the update.

Hole #2 is now raised and dry.
Hole #3 is level
Hole #7 is now 12' long.
Hole #13 will have a new tee by weeks end.
Hole #14 - New tee
Hole #15- will have a new tee by weeks end.

3 weeks to go.

For anyone interested in coming out this Easter weekend, to practice the course or check out the new holes or just to play:

The weather looks fabulous, and course should be pretty much dried out.

There is a workday planned and a bulldozer present Saturday, so there may be a couple of places under constructed. Feel free to join in on the workday.

If you're interested in playing Easter, check with us. We'll probably be around later in the afternoon.

The lunch and menu dinner has been set.

Sat and Sunday lunches - Hamburgers and hotdogs from the grill, and turkey sandwiches.

Saturday night - Spaghetti dinner plates for those camping or hanging around.

*lunches should be $6.00 with drinks and other goodies
*dinner $8.00 - Complete menu will be on display in the Stoney Hill Clubhouse.

Since my wife is handling all of this, the menu is subject to change without notice. (If your married, you will understand)

If you're camping, let me know how loud you plan to be late at night. This will probably affect how close your campsite is to the TD's house, since the TD aspires to get enough sleep to count the payouts correctly on Sunday.

There'll probably be a couple of places to camp: David's front yard, for the early-to-bedders and the just-chillin' crowd; around the hole 1 tee and/or around the camper, for the hey-it's-the-weekend bunch; the loudest might get banished to Chris's yard, since he claims he hasn't slept for 4 years, anyway, since his small children came along

Just a little encouragement to pre-register:

---We're limiting registration to 72 players. Foursomes only, no fivesomes. We currently have 30 pre-registered, and typically have a large last-minute registration.

---Pre-registration entry fees are $5 less than Saturday-morning registration.

---Pre-registrants get one free raffle ticket in the $50 merch raffle (details subject to change, but that's the plan).

---It'll be a long way to come if it turns out we're full by the time you arrive.

Correction - Raffle ticket for $100 in mech. bucks.

If you keep letting Travis and Coral design and redesign EVERY hole this course will be 8000+ ft in no time...AND in my mind, MUCH LESS interesting to play...I love the course and the many chances at birdies for the chance to put up a hot round...It's going to be Govan, in the woods, thorns, and mud before you know it. I loved Govan but it was on pasture land.

Chris gets the credit---or blame---for 75% of the design.

When we first bought the property we said we would build a gold course. Didn't turn out that way. As long as one of the owners is a 280-foot-driving, 920-rated old man, it won't. On the Quartz layout, 11 or 12 of the 20 holes can be reached if you can drive 300'.

Our goal is as much variety as possible. That includes 167' threaded through the woods, and 726' with lots of O.B. (Diamond layout), and everything else we can think of.

Travis and Coral have contributed an unbelievable amount of work this year, not to mention a bulldozer. Our guests next weekend should greatly enjoy the results.

.....now, the real danger Travis & Coral present is to trees. Have to keep an eye on them or they'll create a desert. With lots of O.B.

We don't have any holes that are long for long's sake. #1 is the closest to being able to just air it out. I am a fan of multi-shot holes, par 4s & 5s, where you're trying to hit the sweet spot on the landing zone on your drive, and where you can't learn to groove the 2nd long shot because it's always different.

Though it may not surprise that Still Waters Farm in Govan is one of my 5 all-time favorites.

If you keep letting Travis and Coral design and redesign EVERY hole this course will be 8000+ ft in no time...AND in my mind, MUCH LESS interesting to play...I love the course and the many chances at birdies for the chance to put up a hot round...It's going to be Govan, in the woods, thorns, and mud before you know it. I loved Govan but it was on pasture land.

and this comes from someone who only plays it twice a year. The redesign of hole 14 is now shorter than the old 14. We added 2 holes to make it a 20 hole layout but one of the holes is only 272. Keep in mind that the course in 6900 feet but that is for 20 holes. 90% of the work we have done to the course is to make it easier and more friendly.

The diamond layout is only 18 holes but a longer layout. It is an alternative to the shorter 20 hole layout we have. I've never thought our course resembled Govan in any way other than it's private and challenging.

Unlike in years past, this year we will be offering a players pack to all ams.

Pros like free stuff too...

XL for me please

Where do i pre register at? I couldnt find any links or anything on who to contact.

www.saulsinsurance.com/stoneyhill or www.scdgo.net. You can also register over the phone with a credit card by calling 803-256-8983 . ask for David or Chris

Don't let him confuse you....there is no online registration.

You can download flyer and mail it in through those links. Go to course website, events, and follow link.

Or call if you want to register by credit card.

Don't have paypal.

We previously posted that Intermediates will be using a shorter tee on hole 16.

A group of Intermediates out yesterday was campaigning to use the regular tee, which involves a 250' water carry.

Any Intermediates out there should be aware that we're considering their request.

We're close enough now to start believing the forecast for fabulous weather this weekend.

For those who've practiced the course recently, on Sunday a new green was cleared from the "Diamond 16" hole. The Quartz 16 is the throw from the dam, across the pond to the basket under the large dying oak tree. On the Diamond layout, that's the landing area, and your second throw is back across the pond. Enjoy.

We previously posted that Intermediates will be using a shorter tee on hole 16.

A group of Intermediates out yesterday was campaigning to use the regular tee, which involves a 250' water carry.

Any Intermediates out there should be aware that we're considering their request.

Upon reflection, we will stick to the original plan. Intermediates will use shorter tee on Hole 16. Longest water carry for them will be about 200', but there'll be three of them and one is bound to be facing a headwind.

Rarely does anyone else play the course multiple times a year correct? Any regulars than the family? I can't wait to see it. I hear a lot of hype about it. I just hope my injury incurred last night @ softball game doesn't keep me out of the tournament...If I can walk and climb the hills then I'll play even if I throw standing still with no run up. By the way David, I didn't hear from anyone so did Travis give you the $$ for me? If not, slap him and say I told you to do so! I have no problem with longer holes as long as you keep some of the signature birdie holes like the 7-12 stretch. I love that stretch of holes...I'm still waiting for the hole from davids yard to the island basket...if you can't carry the shot thne lay up to waters edge and throw it across (can't be that far right?)...If you can't carry the water there then I guess it's a par 12 and you gotta throw it all the way around :)

Not a lot of people other than family play it a lot. There are a few non-tournament players who have come out multiple times, and a bunch of Charlestonians who visit fairly often while making trips to Clemson, or elsewhere. Two weekends ago, partly in preparation for the tournament, about 15 people came out. That definitely constitutes a crowd.

The shot from my house to the island will have to remain a post-tournament contest. A very cool shot, but it cuts the pond in half and destroys the routing, wiping out several other cool holes.

There'll always be plenty of short holes. A person who can throw 300' can reach a dozen or so holes on the Quartz layout. Most won't, though.

No, I don't have your entry fee yet. I'll need your info (PDGA #, division, etc.) also.

Course redesign to accomodate the shot from your living room to the island with triple mando?

I can't wait to get there, leaving early Friday for a practice round. Thanks for letting us stay on your property.

If the upper windows could be opened, we could tee from from loft.

You're very welcome. Thanks for being our guests for the weekend. I'll be around and about the property Friday for those coming up; if you call me at home (803-364-3999) and leave a message as to about when you'll be arriving, I'll be on the lookout for you.

I take it as you got my registration today...Travis called and got my division and PDGA # (I guess us who are on this website, typing on this forum don't know how to use member search :) ) I can't wait to play if I can...Update on bum knee is I decided to try out 9 holes of Golf (real Golf) today. Knee didn't like the torque on it so I found myself lifting up my left leg/foot during follow thru unwillingly. I think it's going to be all abbrasion (sp) pain come the weekend. Still has tenderness all around from the initial impact on it. Kept pants leg on work pants all up today to try and speed up the heeling and scabbing process. Have a 1 hr meeting tomorrrow for work then a bunch of us from the meeting are heading to Frankies Fun Park so I hope to test it a little more. Where there is a will, there is a way and I hope I have enough will to find the way to Stoney Hill... Myself and brother paul will be hosting a grilling party behind tee pad of hole one for lunch each day if you wanna join us or get the lunch meal from the tournament and come over to hang out. Will have music going and having a great time. We had a blast filling the grill full of goodies for the Chris Mess Bash... If you wanna grill I highly advise to bring a grill b/c we're using a charcoal grill and already have 12 people committed on it.

Hope I can make it,

Mike

Try a knee brace. They work great.

Yes, I have your registration. Should be posted this morning.

The grill party is fine, of course. It is a reminder that everyone should bring lunch or buy lunch at the tournament, since there's nowhere nearby to eat.

We would like to encourage folks to buy lunch at the tournament, as it helps support your hosts and the private course, and the effort Amanda's made to prepare 100-150 meals (2 lunches, 1 dinner).

So, as Mike mentioned, let us cook for you....then go hang around the #1 tee with them.

Mike,

I found the best way to heal an injury is to REST the injury, not test it. You might want to lay off of it, eat a ton of advil, invest in a knee brace (or I can give you mine) and rest it...or did I already mention that. I played a year with a brace and it made a hugh difference. I hope you can make it and more importantly, all the people that are committed to your grill hope you can make it.

Camping: We have a camper set up - with power and water for anyone interested.


Forecast for Sat. and Sunday - BREEZY!!!

I played yesterday morning. Hole 16 over the pond was into a stiff headwind. SCARY! 2nd shot to the diamond pin location was with a stiff cross wind. VERY SCARY! Bring lots of discs. With that being said, the cold front coming through Sat. could reverse the winds which would be better. We'll know tomorrow.

Of course, we'll be selling replacement discs (as long as the supply holds out).

I will shortly be offline, heading up to Stoney Hill where it's still 1955 and I have no internet access. Those registering tomorrow may or may not appear on the pre-registered list, depending on the quality of the instructions I've left behind. In the meantime, Chris will still be posting info.

I'll be at Stoney Hill tomorrow for those coming out to play, register, set up camp, etc. I suggest calling my home at 803-364-3999 and leaving a message as to when you expect to arrive, so I can be on the lookout for you.

I had it wrapped in non stick pad with Neosporin and an ace bandage but it limited a lot of mobility. It's now all abbrasion pain. I had a meeting this a.m. and then went to Frankies Fun Park for the day with the male managers. Everything went fine. I will be fine to play as long as I don't hit my knee where it's sore. I also cut grass today up and down hill with no issue. It's not my grill as well, it's pauls so either way they're good...Hope all make it and hang out @ the #1 tee party!!!

Thanks to all our guests who joined us this past weekend.

Please be patient with us as it will take a few days to recover and get the scores posted.

From memory, subject correction---

Coral Sauls won Open by 1 stroke over David Monteith. His first pro win.

Mel Shuman won big in Pro Masters, posting the best score of any division.

Scott Wallace won big in Advanced, posting a better score than any Open divisions players and second only to Mel.

Craig Wrenn came from 8 down in the final round, and on the second card, to win Advanced Masters.

Tabatha Simon came from 6 down in the final round to force a tie, and won the tiebreaker.

Jeffrey Thomas took a 6 stroke lead in the final round, and held off Andy Masi to win by 1.

An rare north wind on Sunday made Diamond-16 a very treacherous hole, and many of us who couldn't master it took double-digit scores there. But there's no truth to the rumor that the pond rose 4 inches due to all the added plastic.

Researchers sent out on Friday & Saturday night reported that Newberry has more nightlife than we were aware of.

One of the more entertaining stories is of the nameless player who put 4 throws in the pond, then kicked his bag....which rolled into the pond with the rest of his discs.

Looks like Mike's knee healed--a 58 on the Diamond Layout was one of the best rounds thrown.

Oh, and thanks to the campers for allowing the TD to get his rest.

Friday night the chatter and laughter out there under the stars were kept at a respectful level until about 11:30. Oddly enough, after two rounds Saturday you'd think there'd have been more stories to tell, but it got awful quiet about 10:00. You don't reckon people were tired, do you?

Apologies for not getting to the bonfire or music or other plans for Saturday night. Cornhole and cold beers and crickets and a starry night were about the best we could do. But it was our first 2-day tournament and we'll plan better next year.

Scores and round ratings are now posted and can be viewed at

http://www.pdga.com/tournament-results?TournID=9818

I believe they are correct, except for the "to par" part. Correct par would be 252. I'll deal with that later.

Stay tuned---in a few days I'll publish hole-by-hole results, giving us an idea how the holes played out and how YOU did compared to everyone else.

Looks like Mike's knee healed--a 58 on the Diamond Layout was one of the best rounds thrown.

I missed WAYY too many putts this weekend! Oh well, better luck next time. What can I say, I play 4 or so times a year, only tournaments and never play practice rounds. I would say in the past 4 years I've played in the single digits of practice rounds. That last round was a good one. I had a plan hole by hole of where I needed to be. I still missed a few 15' and inners...BUT as Chris jinxed me all round and as I played 3 rounds with him, my 30 and outs were blazin! I must've made 20+ putts outside of 30 ft, up and down hills, headwinds, tailwinds, swirlin winds, it didn't matter, I was going for them. I wouldn't say they cost me many strokes either. The crazy puts where the basket is on the edge of the cliff that I didn't hit metal I would make my 30-50 footers, under trees, up hills, into the wind without issue, if only the 1st ones would've gone! I played hole 18 like a champ 3 of the 4 rounds but yet couldn't get it together on my 2nd shots costing me about 6-10 strokes for the tournaments. I was always about 40' from the quarry on the left side gap with an easy 100ft or less forehand to the hill but yet would throw it low into the quarry or completely miss the hill all together...My short game is seriously lacking with the lack of practice.

Results have been corrected to fix the "to par" error,
and to put Andy Masi back in Intermediate where he played
(which adjusted the round ratings a little bit).

Should anyone care, the hole-by-hole score spreads have been posted at

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

You can see how people in general did on the holes you played well (or poorly).

The oddest result---and I've looked over the cards numerous times, and still can't believe it---was hole 15, the spillway hole. The 235' respite on the final stretch. The first 3 rounds, the Pro & Advanced Men shot:

Score Number of Times
2 26
3 26
4 15
5 1

The final round, when the winds were settling down, we shot
2 0
3 28
4 0
5 0

This has GOT to be off the charts, odds-wise.