Super Nature Walk Sunday

I'm thinking about having a Super Nature Walk this Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 4. Meet at 8:45, start walking at 9AM sharp. Random doubles. Are you ready for some disc golf? (I know, it's not as catchy as "Are you ready for some football.")

Who's in? Email me or post here.

UPDATE: About 6 or so golfers have penciled themselves in. Anyone else?

Back in the Day

Saw this on the NEFA boards. Enjoy!

At Least It's Sunny

So, who's playing today or this weekend!? Brr....

Welcome Rebekah Grace The Neighbor!

I'm happy to announce the birth of the 2022 Jr. Girls National Champion, Rebekah Grace Sylvester, to Devens disc golfer Bill The Neighbor and his wife Lisa. Yay! Rebekah checked in last night at a delightful 10 lb 3 oz. Congratulations!

Ayer Kiddie Depot Nails an Ace!

A huge thank you goes out to Jonie Latimer-Brady, owner and director of the Ayer Kiddie Depot, our latest $500 Ace sponsor. Yahoo!

The AKD believes that an effective education for young children includes social and emotional awareness education as well as curriculum that includes science, math and literacy. They promote a safe and nurturing environment that allows each child to succeed in these areas.

They also implement the second-step violence prevention program for preschool children, Baby Sign for infants and toddlers, and a peer leadership program for their school-aged children who demonstrate excellence in character.

I can't wait to get over there and introduce the kids to disc golf! Should be a lot of fun!

Almost

I almost got an ace today. The closest I've every come. Right off the top of the basket on hole 11. So close. Ack!

It was a sunny 14-degree morning when I met up with ArtyG, ChrisG, EdH, and MikeC who were just finishing up their first round. We played a pretty competitive round with each of us going on hot and cold streaks at one time or another. When we were done, it was a balmy 24 degrees and time to go home and watch some football!

Arty absolutely owned hole 18 today with two awesome drives all the way down to the pin. Simply amazing. And we were all inspired to try the famous Mike Connell hammer a few times too. Don't know how that guy consistently throws such accurate shots with that thing!

Let's go Pats!

Freeze Your Buns on Sunday

A few of us are playing this Sunday morning. Arty and Chris will be there at 7:30, while more sane people will meet at 9:30. Join us, won't you?

I'm anxious to see how the course held up against this week's ice storm and today's high winds.

Flying Disc Entrapment Device

I came across the patent for disc golf guru Ed Headrick's flying disc entrapment device from back in 1976. I like the illustrations. It all makes sense now!

Be sure to check out the different sections from the menu on the left. You'll also need to view this page using Internet Explorer. (Firefox didn't seem to want to display the good stuff.)

Rhode Island Frostbite Classic

I'm headed down to RI next month to play in TM's annual winter tournament. His course has been closed for a while and is now once again ready for business. Who else is coming?

If you don't remember, TM and his Implements of Destruction did a lot of work on our course this summer, so it'd be nice to pay him back with a good showing from Devens. Let me know if you want to carpool.

____________________________

Rhode Island Frostbite Classic

Saturday, February 10
Ninigrit Park, Charlestown, RI (map)
PDGA-sanctioned XC tier event


Weather or Not - No Wimps, No Whiners!

That means it won't be cancelled for any reason!

• 3 rounds of 18 holes; short, medium, and long tees
• Entry fee: $20 ($5 one-day fee if not a PDGA member)
• All monies collected (less expenses) go toward the pole-hole fund
• Registration opens 8:00 a.m.
• Players meeting 8:45 a.m.
• Plus Mystery Doubles

Please bring a few cans of food to donate to the Food Pantry.

Any questions? Contact T.M. Dyer: email, 401.789.9005, or 401.255.3747.

Russ Cohen Nails an Ace Sponsorship!

Russ Cohen is the latest generous soul to sponsor a hole with a $500 donation! Russ sent me an email a few weeks ago saying that he had played the course, loved it, and wanted to contribute. And as an added bonus, he wanted to sponsor at the Ace level! Nice!

Russ is a professional environmentalist and wild foods enthusiast and is in his 33rd year of teaching courses about wild edibles. He has had numerous articles published and in 2004, published a book called Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten.

Visit Russ's website to learn more about his book and upcoming lecture schedule and try a recipe for Go Anywhere Knotweed Squares. Yum! Thanks again, Russ!

Russ definitely put the "nature" in our Nature Walk this past Saturday by pointing out a handful of edible plants on the course. Now we'll never go hungry during a round!

Rob Cries, I Supply

Rob: Wahh, there's no video of me on the blog!

John: So sorry. Here you go!

All Walk Photos

Have been posted here. Enjoy!

Nature Walk

Nature Walk

We had a record turnout today -- 10 golfers -- including a few new faces too (Russ, Mark, Chuck). We played a pretty competitive round of doubles followed by a round of singles with the guys that could stay. Matt Stroika and Rob Curtis won dubz with a 50 and I won the singles by a stroke at 63. Great day overall.

We also bumped into the honorable NEFA president John Hart and his relatives on the course too. Thanks for coming out everyone!

Dubz:

• Matt/Rob C - 50
• Rob W/Chuck - 52 (won playoff)
• John/Arty - 52
• Mark/Dave - 55
• Russ/Pete - 66

Singles:

• John - 63
• Rob W - 64
• Arty - 64
• Chuck - 67

The Nature Lovers (minus Russ)





The gallery watches Matt on 3





Chucks lets one rip down 3





Chuck flicks down 6

Arty nailed this monster putt on 6!




Chuck drives 12

Nature Walk Videos

Here are a few videos from today's action. Nothing too exciting, but it's fun to watch other player's technique.


Matt S on 5





Chuck, Rob, and Arty on 5





John on 5





Rob W hits a tree on 7





Chuck and Rob on 10





Arty on 10





Chuck and Rob W on 18





Matt putts on 18

Nature Walk This Sat, 9:30?

A few of us are meeting this Saturday morning at 9:30. Ultimate Pete is in, City Boy Rob is probable as are Arty, Moge, and Gags. Don't be afraid of a little light rain, now.

Join us before the snow comes and blankets the Hill. It's bound to happen one of these days -- it's only January after all.

Looking For a Green Disc?

This guy has over 1000 different green discs for sale.

Another web gem courtesy of our good friend, Mr. Internet.

Arty Graustein and Mark Moge Donate a Basket!

After a tournament at Pyramids last April, I was talking with Arty Graustein about how Devens was progressing. He told me that he was going to save any winnings he earned this year and buy the course a basket at the end of the year. I thought he was joking and said, "Yeah, okay, Arty. Whatever you say."

Well, it turns out he wasn't kidding! Over the holiday break Arty gave me a call and said he was on his way over to drop off a new Chainstar basket! I couldn't believe it.

Turns out that he and his friend Mark Moge split the cost and wanted to donate it in the name of ARC Community Services in their hometown of Fitchburg, MA. They are a private, not for profit organization providing advocacy and services to families and individuals with disabilities. Wow! How great is that?

Again, thank you very much, Arty and Mark. You are yet two more examples of why disc golf is a great sport filled with awesome people!

2-4-1 NEFA Memberships

Once again, NEFA (New England Flying disc Association) is offering its two-for-one deal on memberships. An existing member can join or renew along with a brand new member for $25. Two brand new members can also join for a total of $25. The deal is good until the end of January. A renewal will be extended one year from your current expiration date.

NEFA is a sponsor of our course. It's a great value and you'll be helping us support the growth of disc golf in New England and beyond. You get a few newsletters a year, a bag tag with your name and NEFA number, and your scores from NEFA Points tourneys are tracked for the year-end NEFA Finals tournament.

If anyone wants to join, post a comment or email me and we'll see who can help each other out.

Thank You, Shoppers!

Thank you to the latest Devens DG supporter who ordered from Marshall Street by clicking on our affliate link. Five percent of your rather large order will come back to our course. Thanks again and thank you MS for your support!

Everyone else, please use this link if you plan on buying some new disc golf gear for 2007.

Can You Say "Tight"?

I came across this photo on the PDGA discussion boards about course design. I thought some fairways at our course were tight, but this one is brutal (unless you have no problem throwing straight, of course!).

Friends of John Campos Donate to the Course

What a great idea! Instead of asking for Christmas presents this year, John Campos asked his friends and relatives to donate money to our course. So far we have received $100! Thank you and Happy New Year to you John Campos, your friends, and your relatives!

Sure beats the alternative! ;-)

Another Reason Disc Golf Is a Great Sport

Last week I unfortunately had to travel to my wife's hometown of Parkersburg, WV to attend Grandpa Roy's funeral. Before I left MA, I sent a quick email to Dave Buck and his son John, two golfers I had met at Mountwood Park down there two years ago (we keep in touch with the occassional email). I said I'd be in town for a few days and maybe if I had time we could meet for a round or, at the least, a few minutes to catch up. I figured time would be tight but it was worth a shot.

The next day at the wake, I pass a guy in the lobby who I sort of recognize and we both stop and say, "Hey, are you ...?" Yes, it was my disc golf friend Dave. I couldn't believe he took the time to come to the service and I really appreciated him coming, even though we barely know each other. We chatted a bit about our games before he had to leave and he invited me for a round with John the next day at Forked Run disc golf course in Ohio. Unfortunately family stuff took precedence, so I had to say no. Too bad too, because it turned out to be beautiful warm sunny day.

During the 12-hour drive home yesterday, I thought about what a really nice thing Dave had done and it reaffirmed what I already knew -- disc golf is not only a great sport but is also filled with great people.