Vote Borelli for NEFA MA representative!

Just a quick request to all MA NEFA members to vote for me for MA State rep. Right now state reps only determine the state's double NEFA points event, but word on the street is that they will be given more responsibilities next year as the organization continues to grow.

I've got a bunch of ideas to help grow disc golf in our region and would appreciate your vote!

Cast your vote by Nov 21 by emailing current officers Gary and Rick. You must be a NEFA member and you must email your choice to both men. Thanks!

Thank you

Today is Veterans Day. To all military personnel who have passed through Fort Devens and to all who continue to serve on base, thank you for your service. You are a huge part of why we can freely chuck plastic on Shepley's Hill and everywhere else in the USA!

Veterans Day is an annual American holiday honoring military veterans. Both a Federal holiday and a state holiday in all states, it is usually observed on November 11. It is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, falling on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice. (source: Wikipedia)

The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery. At 11:00 a.m., a color guard, made up of members from each of the military services, renders honors to America's war dead during a tradition-rich ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The ceremony takes place inside the Memorial Amphitheater. (source: US Dept of Veteran Affairs)

The Hill brings 'em in from far and wide

A few weeks ago, Ernie Davis from Seattle sent me an email looking to play a round while he was out here on vacation. I met him Friday and had a great time showing him around the Hill. Ernie's been playing a while and had a few interesting stories about playing with Nate and Feldberg when they were younger. Good times!

While we were playing, we bumped into a guy from Wyoming also out visiting family. "I've been to a couple courses in MA and so far this one sure is the most challenging," he said. He must have liked it because I saw him out for a second round later.

We also bumped into a group of new players. They weren't from any exotic place like Seattle or Wyoming, though. They lived in Groton and NH and the kids went to Lawrence Academy. They looked like they were having fun and asked a few questions about rules and technique.

The Happy Locals


Both Ernie and I impressed them with lucky park jobs on hole 1 (but we didn't tell them that of course). If you guys read this, be sure to email me and I'll hook you up with some real disc golf discs like we talked about.

With this warm weather this week, I'm sure Hill will be hopping. Get out there and chuck some plastic!

Ernie fires away on Hole 1

Eight Hillfolk finish in top of NEFA Points standings

Can I get a huge "Hill Yeah" for eight of the finest disc golfers at Devens?!

Congratulations to Daniel Marcus, Ken Gary, Mike Connell, John Borelli, Ed Hovestadt, Alan MacLean, Marcy Buchanan, and Sam Misuraca for finishing at or near the top of the 2009 NEFA Points standings in their respective divisions!

I normally don't brag, but damn, what an impressive showing. We had someone place in the top three in 7/10 divisions. Not too shabby for such a young course, eh?

• Daniel Marcus: 1st, Pro Masters
• Ken Gary: 2nd, Pro Grandmasters
• Mike Connell: 4th, Pro Grandmasters
• John Borelli: 2nd, Advanced
• Ed Hovestadt: 2nd, Advanced Masters
• Alan MacLean: 3rd, Intermediate
• Marcy Buchanan: 3rd, Women's Intermediate
• Sam Misuraca: 1st, Recreational
• Full results
  

Throughout the year, NEFA members compete in several tournaments throughout New England and earn points depending on their finish in each tournament. Depending on the division, the top three to five finishes for each golfer are totaled to determine the overall Points Champion at the end of the season.

More success at Finals
The season concluded with the NEFA Points Championship tournament in Maine a few weekends ago. Despite horrible rainy and cold conditions, Pro Grandmaster Ken Gary earned top honors for the second year in a row! Atta boy!

Daniel Marcus also had a great run in Pro Open, but lost in a heartbreaking playoff, while Ed Hovestadt played good enough to take home second place. So close!

The rest of us? Well, let's just say we had as much fun as we could playing in that miserable weather.

Congratulations on a great year, Devens! Hill Yeah!

> Don't forget about the Bag Tag Bonanza for all 2009 bag tag holders Nov. 21. Please RSVP now.

Locals make Disc Golf Monthly episode at the Vibram Open

Check out this great coverage that includes some of NEFA's finest from the 2009 Vibram Open at Maple Hill. Be sure to watch the other 8 clips from this episode, including the lead card for all 18 holes. Pretty nice!

Welcome Disc Golf Station

Please welcome our new website sponsor, Disc Golf Station. They are a new online store, so give them a try! Free shipping!

Happy Halloween!

Devens Speed: Coming to a theater near you!

Steve Walker created a short video of this year's Speed round at the Thrill on the Hill. Here's the trailer!

Save the date for the '09 Bag Tag Bonanza

Open to only 2009 Devens bag tag holders, this annual end-of-year tournament officially concludes the Wednesday Weekly bag tag league.

• Sat. Nov 21
• 9:00 mtg
• 9:30 tee off
• 2 rounds
• Please RSVP (email)

• FREE
• Potluck lunch
• Lots of one-of-a-kind prizes, including a special 2009 AM Worlds limited edition Sparkle disc
• Bring a CTP to share!

Who will end 2009 as King of the Bags?

• Registered players

Photos & video from Thrill on the Hill & Speed

Click above to see the full-size photos.

Gary/Phillips repeat! Speed record set!

Thank you everyone for coming out today. We lucked out with another beautiful Fall day - sunny and crisp.



Congratulations to Ken Gary and Donnie Phillips for winning the AM1 title for the second year in a row (47,49; 96). Ben Stevens and Kevin Fox won AM2 (55, 51; 106).




Kevin Fox also won the Speed round with an astounding time of 2:47 by shooting par (12) and running really fast.



More later.

Make that snow or shine!

We got the season's first snow this morning. Break out the snowsuit!

Don't worry, it has already melted and is a balmy 37 degrees outside. See you tomorrow!

Dubs & Speed -- rain or shine

Looks like it'll be a little damp this Saturday for the Thrill. That's okay, though. Every event we've ever had at the Hill has been on absolutely beautiful days (even in the winter), so I guess we were due. See you at 8!

• 8:00 - Sign in
• 9:00 - Players meeting
• 9:30 - Shotgun start

• Bring your own lunch

Stealing is bad

Today I called and emailed a few people with discs in our Found box. Most people never respond. I don't know why. Even if you don't want the disc back, just do me the courtesy of telling me so that I can stop tracking it and give it away to a new player.

Today was different though. I called Jeff whose orange Hawk had recently been turned in. About 20 minutes later he called back and said, "Where was it found? Devens? Huh, I've never been there." It turns out he is from Maine and lost that disc at Enman Field. Some loser evidently found his disc, ignored his name and number written nice and big on the back, and kept it for his own. Bad, bad, bad.

As a reminder for you newer players out there, keeping a disc that has contact info on it is stealing, pure and simple. Be a good human and contact the person. Many times they will tell you to keep it. Sometimes they will buy you a frosty adult beverage just for returning it. In either case, you will get the warm fuzzies and have the round of your life the next time out. It sure beats getting caught using it by the guy's friends who will be more than happy to reclaim it from you and throw you into the nearest pond.

Same goes for you. If you want your disc back, write your name, email address, and phone number on each of your discs. And be sure to write legibly! I must have about 10 discs in the Devens L&F that I cannot make out the info. You'll be happy you did when you lose your favorite driver that your dearly departed great-grandfather gave to you on his death bed.

That's all for today's public service announcement.

Who's in for Speed?

So, who is doing Speed this year after Doubles on Saturday (spots still available)? Any new victims -- er, contestants?

I am in and I know Donnie is. Adam Dodge said he was probably going to do it. How about you young 'uns, or are us old folks the only ones brave enough this year? Meow.

To review:

• It is only four holes: 13, 14, tee 15 to basket 9 (just short enough for you to catch your breath or lose your lunch), and 10. Then you sprint to 11's tee to the finish line.
• Speedsters go off in 1 minute intervals.
  
• There are spotters on each hole who point out your disc and then record your score. All you have to do is drive, run, putt. Repeat. Easy.
• Time is kept along with your score. Time penalties and bonuses are assessed for +/- par.
  
• Lowest score wins.

I did it last year and even though it sounds brutal, it really wasn't too bad. Sure, you feel like death when you are heading down 10 and sprinting to 11, but the hoots and hollers from people watching makes up for it. Honestly, it's a ton of fun. Young, old, even pack-a-day smokers do it.

As far as strategy, you can go fast and erratic and risk getting penalized for being over par. Or you can go slow and steady and get a bonus for being under par.

Last year, we had Speedsters use both techniques with varying results. Second place finisher Ken Gary took his time and shot under par, but winner Pete Nevius did the opposite and won by 35 seconds at 3:07. So, who knows? (2008 results)

Props, dubs, and chili

Luke is the man!
I have to thank Luke Adolph for having his own pre-mini-workday mini-workday this morning. Luke actually showed up before Dubs and did a bunch of trimming so we didn't have to go out after Dubs and do it ourselves.

There are a few holes that Luke didn't make it to, so I'll hit those later this week.

Luke is one of the few Devens locals that regularly volunteers his time and supplies to help with the course. The next time you grab a scorecard out of the box at the kiosk, say, "Thanks Luke," because he is the person who fills it regularly. We need more Lukes at Devens.

Dubs
Dubs was fun this morning with six of us showing up for a pre-Thrill round. Adam Dodge and Luke won with a 52, followed by Ken Gary and John Rodenhizer with a 54, and Marcy and me with a 55.

Doug Callaghan found us as we were finishing 18 to help with the workday. Even though we didn't go back out, he still gets credit and a bit of karma for showing up! John R gets some too since he had planned to help out. Hope it comes in handy next Saturday, guys.

Chili Cook-off -- uh, where were you?
Donnie Phillips and Phil Vilmorin stopped by to say hi at the Chili Cook-off and pick up their shirts. It sure would have been nice to see some more regulars there to support the course and spread the word. (See above about how we need more Lukes.)

If you had showed up, you could have seen the Bounce House collapse. Children screaming, parents running, newscopters hovering. What excitement.

A terrified ghost flees from the carnage



John R approaches on 6



Adam putts on 10



Adam launched a great drive on 18 that made the turn and went down the Hill



This little guy couldn't miss from this spot



Phil, John, Marcy, and Donnie show off their new duds

Hill Yeah! Get your Devens shirt now!

Yes, it is true! The first Devens fashion apparel has hit the market. Get yours while they last!

There's only about 20 left out of the first batch that went to Devens Bagtaggers. Available in Texas orange, tan, and steel blue (like the blue in the Devens logo). Heavyweight, long sleeve, $20. Help support your course and look super cool doing it.

Email me or stop by the Sunday Social, workday, or Chili Cook-off this Sunday.

Mini workday this Sunday after Dubs, before Chili

I'd like to do some quick cleanup of the course this Sunday, Oct. 11 after the Sunday Social. We will do an hour or so of work and then head over to the Chili Cook-off at 1.

If you bought a Devens shirt, you'll also be able to pick it up then.

To Do List

• Trim the sprouts that have sprung up from stumps and pick up any fallen branches from this week's windy weather. Gloves, hedge trimmers, and loppers are the tools of choice.
• Cut up and clear that downed tree on hole 7/8.

If you play the course often, here is your chance to show your appreciation for the course with a little elbow grease and earn some good karma at the same time. Last year, after helping at the workday Marcy hit her first ace, proving that good deeds bring forth good karma in the disc golf world.

Still looking for people to help at the Cook-off. Bueller? ... See you there for dubs at 9:30.

Watch the pros live at the USDGC now!

Support disc golf and the PDGA. Log in now to set up your free account to watch the live webcast of the 2009 United States Disc Golf Championship in Rock Hill, SC.

• USDGC website (lots of great stuff, including live tracking of top pros throws!)
  

Tune in for six hours a day Oct. 7-10. Watch the world's best players compete for a purse of nearly $100,000 on the famed Winthrop Gold Course. It's free!

• Donate and watch here
• Rely on the generosity of others and watch for free
  

Coverage starts at 11:15 EST, but there currently is a random live feed on different parts of the course. Something tells me that productivity for disc golfer cube-dwellers around the country will be at an all-time low this week.

Here's what went on earlier this week:

Dubs and chili cook-off this Sunday

Like the past few years, we've been asked by course sponsor the Devens Grill to set up a basket at the cook-off. So, after this week's Sunday Social we'll head over to the Common, introduce some more people to disc golf, and eat us some chili!

• More info
  

We are looking for volunteers to explain what the heck those metal contraptions are all about (and make sure no one gets bonked on the head). It's a fun way to spend the afternoon, plus the Patriots aren't on until 4:00. Let me know if you can help.