10Down Disc Golf

2012-02-01T14:03:00.001-08:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Future's so Bright

2011-08-22T06:46:00.001-07:00

Our vision of disc golf drives us. We see the potential for a challenging and thought provoking disc golf hole everywhere we look. It's an illness, but one that we keep in check with regular practice, play, and study. This vision is of the future of our sport and the field of play, as well as understanding modern golf disc technology and how it should relate to course design.
Although still a fledgling alt sport, this is an exciting time for disc golf. PDGA membership continues to grow and the number of sanctioned events is at an all time high. Due to the fact that most DG courses reside in public parks and are free to play, it's difficult to get a firm grasp on the number of casual players and rounds played. However, judging by the exponential growth in course numbers as well as the growing number of equipment manufacturers, DG seems poised to explode. One could argue it has already.
Why is DG so popular? The short answer: it's fun, it's challenging, and there's a very short learning curve. That last part is important as most new players see massive improvements within their first few rounds. This in turn keeps them coming back.
In the beginning, golf discs were slow, small diameter objects, loosely based on the Frisbee design most people are familiar with. The early courses, especially in the northeast, were often short, tightly wooded affairs, resembling hiking trails more than golf holes. Today, golf discs go much faster and farther than their predecesors, not to mention the dizzying array of molds to choose from, each possessing a unique speed potential, flight path, and roll pattern.

On the other hand, DG courses have largely remained the same. Disc technology, in a sense has relegated most courses to "pitch and putt" or "mini golf" status. As flight distance increased, most designs couldn't hold up, their intent lost.
We believe "pitch and putt" courses are vey important for the growth of our sport. In fact, every venue should have one. They serve as a great place for beginners to hone their skills as well as casual players in search of a quick round. These short courses should always be considered when introducing new people to the game. However, 18 par 3's in a row fails to provide the intended challenge.
The game is golf, one of the greatest games ever invented. Disc golf borrows many of its rules and although there are obvious differences, the goal is the same in both games: get the object in the hole in as few shots as possible. The difficulty lies in linking shots together to finish each hole. That being said, you'll find most holes on a ball golf course to be two (or more) shot affairs, needing an adequate drive and accurate approach to have a chance to putt for a birdie. The idea is to force the player to link shots in order to score well. As it relates to a championship caliber course, par 3 holes present the player with less of a challenge overall and should represent no more than a third of the course.
In designing DG courses, our goal is to present the player with challenging, strategic holes that keep step with, if not compliment modern disc technology. We want to liberate the golf shot, let it air out, let it breathe. The flight of a golf disc can be a beautiful sight. It's a shame to see good shots cut short because the designer had the wrong idea of what should make a hole difficult. We subscribe to the school of thought that suggests reasonably good drives (in reference to wooded courses) shall make their way down the fairway, relatively unimpeded. Near-impossible gaps and low ceilings, while being important design elements, shouldn't be the pervasive theme of a DG course, especially off the tee. The difficulty with this sport should lie in hitting landing areas and linking shots together, while also considering the proper speed, angle, and rpm.
In the end, players want to see their discs fly, their potential realized. This makes them happy. I trust that someday ample fairways and more par 4's become the norm but until then, we're taking it one shot at a time. As we look toward a future so bright, as you design and build new courses, let's keep these ideas in mind because happy golfers play more golf.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:10DOWN HQ

BDF Championships

2011-08-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

The 7th Bennett Disc Farm Chmpionship has come and gone. Per usual it was three days of friends, family, music, good food, camping, party, and relentless Disc Golf in all capacities!

I had a number of out-of-state folks make a point to let us know this is on their can't miss events of the summer... Awesome! Hope to see some of the peeps who had to skip out to hit up worlds back next year.

Doubles on Friday, Two Rounds on Saturday, Glow on Saturday Night, Putting and Driving competitions both days, Final Round on Sunday, and beyond...

A lot of different people but tons of effort into getting the course in top notch tournament shape and proving a fun atmosphere for the weekend. Too many to thank. You know who you are and it does not go unnoticed. Big Ups!

40 plus acres mowed twice over by the relic monstrosity of a tractor you see to your left. 5000 ft. plus of OB rope. New holes. New Pin locations. New Clubhouse. SFS

A special thanks to the Conant Family for keeping tournament central sane and safe the entire weekend. Of course, utmost thank to the Bennett family for their continued support and the opportunity to use this beautiful land for the game of Disc Golf.

Also gotta give props to 10Down's own, Benny D. Bruised his ankle pretty

bad (those close could heard a loud snap as he hit the ground.) Anyway... he rested up and came out Day 2 to take second with a late round charge on Jimmy B How we Do!

Here's a link to some great photos by Mike Martin and full results below.
Jason Dore takes open for the 4th year running.

Day 1 Photos

Day 2 Photos

Place Name Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 total
OPEN
1 Jason Dore 50 52 55 157 $260
2 Ben Dunlap 52 53 58 163 $155
2 Jim Bouffard 54 53 56 163 $155
4 Mike Fyfe 63 53 52 168 $95
5 Bobby Brooks 59 55 55 169 $80
6 BrianHarrington 56 54 60 170 $65
7 Derek Libby 59 52 63 174 $25
7 Alex Foley 57 61 56 174 $25
9 Mike Dow 59 58 59 176
10 Daniel Marcus 55 60 62 177
11 Ryan Keefe 60 58 61 179
11 Bryan Jordan 62 57 60 179
13 John Monty 61 59 60 180
14 Pat Roy 61 58 62 181
15 Joe Yaskis 62 60 60 182
15 Jeff Conant 61 65 56 182
17 Justin White 60 62 63 185
18 Ian Beaupre 64 63 61 188
19 Kory Roy 66 58 67 191
20 Randy Dore 64 62 70 196
21 Tyler Cass 59 61 999 1119

PRO GRANDMASTERS
1 Pat LaFlamme 69 65 68 202 $30

AM1
1 Brendan Johnson 57 58 60 175 $135
2 Jeremy Angel 57 61 61 179 $90
2 Zack Jellis 60 60 59 179 $80
4 Jeremy Brooks 60 64 56 180 $80
5 Dave Tbo 57 58 66 181 $40
5 Jason Toothaker 58 59 64 181 $40
7 Jon Sellers 58 63 64 185 $30
8 Jim Tufts 66 58 62 186 $12.50
8 Jon Borenstein 66 59 61 186 $12.50
10 Mike Cole 59 63 69 191
10 Ryan Payzant 65 62 64 191
10 Chris Leclair 64 69 58 191
13 Nick Boulette 63 67 63 193
14 Brad Harris 62 67 65 194
14 Caleb Biggers 66 63 65 194
16 Jim Smith 65 66 63 194
17 Jacob Fowlie 62 69 64 195
18 Damien Morris 67 65 66 198
19 Bobby Harris 69 70 62 201
19 Timber Patrick 64 69 68 201
20 Jon Paul 70 68 65 203
21 Rick Smith 65 70 69 204
21 Paco Jones 66 70 68 204
23 Chris Harrison 75 64 66 205
24 Eric Mason 62 65 999 1126

AM Women
Christie Reynolds 72 76 81 229 $35
Sam Pease 75 77 79 231
Alicia Villnave 78 76 77 231

AM2
1 Scott Poland 67 58 63 188 $45
2 Drayl Hooper 61 66 64 191 $30
3 Josh Weed 64 63 68 195 $20
4 jon fraser 70 63 65 198 $15
5 Justin Foster 69 66 64 199
6 Bill Tapley 72 63 69 204
7 Dave Fiorentino67 69 70 206
8 Gabe Hinds 69 70 75 214
9 Dennis Benard 70 77 74 221
10 Ed Weddington63 64 999 1126
11 Jeff Skillin 68 67 999 1134

Putting Champion - Jon Sellers
Long Drive Champions - Alicia Villnave - Women Zack Jellis - AM Jason Dore - Pro
Ring of Fire - Bryan Jordan $50 LL Bean Gift Card
Jason Dore - Ace Hole 7 Gold $120

Gagne nearly crowned KING OF THE LAKE

2011-07-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

I got a call last April from Nick. He told me that he wasn't available to play in the upcoming NEFA Team Challenge Finals... he had to work. I said work... you're 17 yrs. old, why are you working? Little did we know that in a few short months, Nick would be staring a NT victory square in the face. The story of how a starry-eyed kid from rural Maine shot the hot 1st round, slept on the lead going into the final round on Sunday, and came within 2 throws of a PDGA National Tour event victory awaits.

http://www.pdga.com/tournament_results/61921

Gagne took dead aim at a NT Title on the shores of picturesque Lake Tahoe

10Down Disc Golf: Aiight...I gotta ask right off the bat... What did it feel like shooting the hot 1st rnd and then sleeping on the lead going into the Final rnd?

Nick G.: It was sick shooting hot rnd at Tahoe Vista. I really liked that course, lots of clean lines and birdie opportunities. Didn't miss a putt that rnd, it was a great start to the event and gave me lots of confidence. We played Turtle Rock in the morning on Saturday, which was my 2nd favorite, although it was a bit rough. Zephyr Cove had mad elevation changes on every hole. I threw a lot Wraiths, Beasts, beat Destroyers off the tee and Rocs for placement.

courtesy of PDGA Tour

(left to right) Shasta Criss, Ricky Wysoki, Devan Owens & Nick

Nick G.: I gotta say there is a different level of stress being the leader the whole weekend. Lead card on Sunday was sweet, though. Not just because I didn't shoot well, but Bijou Park my least favorite of the four courses. There was a definite lack of fairways. I got off to a slow final rnd start with the huge crowd watching our every move, but got used to it by the back nine and got back to within a few shots.

Bijou Community Park - Hole 18

10Down Disc Golf: Share with us a highlight from your final rnd.

Nick G.: One of the highlights of the final rnd was here on Hole 18. I carded a 2 while the rest of the card all got 4s. I really wanted the NT title, but it wasn't my time. Hopefully next time.

courtesy of PDGA Tour

Nick holding hardware and a $740 check

10Down Disc Golf: What did you do to celebrate your weekend's efforts?

Nick G.: Hit up all the casinos. Lots of famous people where in town for the American Century Celebrity Golf Championships. Michael Jordan, Ray Allen & Aaron Rodgers and a bunch more, so that was pretty cool.

Hangin at the surf of San Fran

10Down Disc Golf: What are you up to this week?

Nick G.: This week I'm chillin on the beaches in San Francisco. I played a league at the safari course last night. Shot -14 in Random Dubz, took first and split $120. I'm playing San Francisco safari this week, We'll see how that goes...

Nick Gagne's DG Tour vol. 2

2011-07-14T05:18:00.000-07:00

Verdugo Hills, CA DG course

Nick has been soakin up the Cali sun since we last caught up with him.

10Down Disc Golf: What's been crackN in Cali?

Nick G.: Well... I played Canon Ball Run, a three day, three course, C-tier event last weekend.

Played a solid weekend of DG. My game felt pretty comfortable. I'd like to thank the Tulas for letting me stay with them for this event. They are great people.

Nick grabbed third place and tied 1031 rated and event winner Steve Rico for low 3rd round honors with a 68.

http://www.pdga.com/tournament_results/72050

10Down Disc Golf: Who are you traveling with now?

Nick G.: I've been traveling with Ricky Wysoki, 2010 PDGA Rookie of the Year who is from Medina, OH, Catrina Allen from Phoenix, AZ and Carman Grisham from Winfield, MO. It's been real cool having good people to hang with so far. They have helped me out a lot.

The iconic Hollywood Sign

Nick G.: After Canon Ball we had a few days off so of course we had to go to Hollywood. Hollywood was cool. We went to the Hollywood Sign and took some pictures.

Hard Rock Cafe on Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA

Nick G.: Then we went down to Hollywood Blvd. It was crazy down there. Mad limos pulling up to the clubs and stuff. We saw the sidewalks with all the stars on them and the famous Chinese theater.

Roosevelt Hotel (left) home of 1st Academy Awards in 1929

I would suspect that the atmosphere Nick experienced on Hollywood Blvd. was a little different than that of downtown Sidney, Me on a normal saturday night.

10Down Disc Golf: With the recent ratings update you are now rated 1001. What's your reaction to becoming a 1000-rated player?

Nick G.: My goal was to come on tour and by the end of the year become 1010 rated or higher. Being 1000 rated looks good. And feels good. A lot of sponsoring companies look to see if you are 1000 rated and I'm definitely excited about that.

10Down Disc Golf: Describe a typical day for you right now?

Nick G.: A typical day for me is either playing some DG, checkin out scenery, goin swimming at lakes and pools or maybe some fishing. I've been shopping at some stores and catching plenty of sun. Pretty much living the life, at least for me.

10Down Disc Golf: What is next for you?

Nick G.: Right now I'm in Lake Tahoe, CA getting ready for the KING of the LAKE PDGA NT event this weekend. I'm here practicing the courses. We are staying in the Super 8, which is the host hotel for the event. The air is crazy here. You throw a roadrunner and it flies like a stable destroyer because the air is so thin and we are at such elevation. It's definitely taking a few adjustments.

Lake Tahoe

(left to right) Steve Mills, Ricky Wysoki, Nick, and Tommy Eckman

Follow Nick's performance at the King of the Lake event.

http://www.pdga.com/tournament_results/61921

Keep the discs flying straight and the stories coming.

Make sure to check back for the KOL recap.

Nick Gagne's DG Tour vol.1

2011-07-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

Nick Gagne - Hole 1 Vibram Open 2010

After back to back wins at local Maine Disc Golf events (DDGC and Troll Valley)

Nick Gagne, a recent Messalonskee High School graduate

packed his bags in the middle of June and headed out on the PDGA tour.

This is the first documented installment of his adventure.

Putting at Lavallee Links Fall 2010

I recently caught up with Nick while he had some down time

before heading to Pier Park's weekly league in Oregon.

10Down Disc Golf: What kind of expectations did you have as you began your DG tour?

Nick G.: Try to shoot 1020 rated rounds, learn new courses and play against the best DGers in the world.

Nick has done just that.

His first tournament stop came in Twin Cities, MN at the Minnesota Majestic

a PDGA A-tier, with 192 players and over $11,000 in prize money.

http://www.pdga.com/tournament_results/67419/Open

He had a few stumbles during rnd 1, but played strong enough on the weekend

to take 5th place and $600 while competing in a field that included

Nikko Locastro, Cale Leiviska, Bradley Williams, and Paul Ulibarri,

some of the elite DGers in the world.

Pit stop in Montana

10Down Disc Golf: Off da course, where are some of the places you've visit so far in your travels?

Nick G.: Well...I been to Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon & California.

10Down Disc Golf: What have been some travel highlights?

Nick G.: I've visited Yellow Stone National Park which was amazing. Seeing beautiful views everywhere with so many different wild animals walking freely. We saw 20 ft snowbanks in the middle of June. But being able to throw a roc off a cliff and watch it go for a mile and see it flip and hyzer about 6 times in that one flight, was pretty cool.

Nick has also made stops at Mt. Hood (pictured above) and Mt. St. Helens

Nick's second tournament for was the Beaver State Fling in Estacada, Oregon.

This was a PDGA National Tour event with 150 players and close to $40,000 in prize money.

http://www.pdga.com/tournament_results/61922/Open

Nick G.: I didn't feel like I played up to my standards at BSF.

The course had some shots that I didn't have in my bag, but I'm learning a lot.

He finished 26th and took home $430 for his efforts.

At his most recent event,

the PDGA A-tier Fort Steilacoom Open in Lakewood, Washington

Nick felt like he really had a shot at crackin the top 3.

Although he fell a few strokes short of that,

he finished a very respectable 5th to take home $330.

http://www.pdga.com/tournament_results/62467

Nick G.: Obviously competition is always tough on tour cause your playing against the best. You gotta maintain focus at all times on the course. Watching most of the competition execute throw after throw, you just gotta trust your talents and make your throws. The courses out here are much larger and different from the east. Discs fly a little farther and tend to be a little more stable. It takes a little getting used to.

10Down Disc Golf: What do you feel is the most important thing for you to concentrate on while touring?

Nick G.: For me it's getting in enough practice on all these new tournament courses.

10Down Disc Golf: What advice would you give someone that wanted to get out here with you?

Nick G.: Well... you'll need discs, clothes, money, friends & places to stay. You need to play your practice rounds seriously. If you really want to compete you need to work on learning good form and throwing accurate shots.

Shores of the Pacific Ocean in Washington State

Coming up on a month on the road, Nick has seen and done quite bit already.

Keep checking back periodically as we catch up with Nick and his journeys on the PDGA tour.

SHERWOOD ISLAND OPEN Westport, CT.

2011-05-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Heather Eng

The sky was still dark and

the fog had rolled in

as we pulled up to the Sherwood Island State Park gates.

Under the supervision of Whit Cooper

this PGDA C-tier event

on a temporary course overlooking Long Island Sound

at Connecticut's oldest state park

is gaining popularity

and spurring serious discussions

of a permanent course there in the future.

Photo courtesy of Heather Eng

Mother nature was not so kind

as the rain fell steady throughout the morning

This sweet pavilion provided shelter for some practice putting

and a spot to dry off.

The inclement conditions and lengthy layout,

some 1000+ feet longer than last year,

put birdies at a premium and pars a necessity.

Highlights of round one included

a two-way tie atop the AM1 field

with fellow Mainers Alex Foley and Joe Roy

both posting scores of 58s.

Vibram's own Greg Wintrob, R.I.

shot the hot first round with 53

and held a 1 throw lead over Norwalk native Jeff Cahill

in the Pro Open division

Photo courtesy of Heather Eng

The weather was more forgiving after lunch

and round two was dry at least from the sky.

Alex Foley shot 58 54 112 (pictured above)

held on in his 1st out-of-state PDGA event

to win the AM1 division.

Photo courtesy of Heather Eng

WINtrob shown here with WHIT COOPER TD

Wintrob continued his solid play as the weather broke

carding a 2nd Round 50 to finish 53 50 103.

That bested 2nd place Cahill's 54 52 106

and five throws better than CT's Matt Buono's 57 51 108

and Mainer Jason Dore 56 52 108

who tied for third

for complete results:

http://www.pdga.com/tournament_results/67195

Photo courtesy of Heather Eng

Farwell for today

Sherwood Island State Park

you are truly a gem piece of real estate

and if to only play on you once a year

would be a honor

but to not have year-round DG

would be sad.

Keep up the Great Work Whit & Co.

& hopefully more will be able to enjoy

what we did at

the 2011 Sherwood Island OPEN...

playin Disc Golf

on a soggy saturday

along the Long Island Sound.

Tank of Gas, Sunny Day, playin Two New DG Courses...Priceless

2011-04-22T22:48:00.000-07:00

Packed up the car at 10am friday morning

pointed due south

with warmer skies, greener grass and DG on the mind.

Sherwood Island Open PDGA C-tier, 2x NEFA Pts event

a temporary course

on the oldest State Park in Ct.

was the headliner of the weekend's festivities

but as with most road trips...

its the journey to and from

that many of the memories are born.

First stop was Fairfield U.

Our Maine brethren, now Brooklynite Dlibzz

seen here releasing a big roller 2nd shot

after clippin' a tree off da tee

to get him a putt for 3... he missed.

But he did take down the most skins in our match.

The Fairfield course traversed the hillside campus

with every step a perfect place to

launch a disc, or create a safari hole.

A variety of baskets provided a unique challenge

and added mystique to this hidden gem in Fairfield County.

KRE saved his best drive for the 2nd to last hole.

That flick got 'em within 10 feet of the hole on 17...

for the push.

questionable foot placement, Kyle.

met up with this guy in a macDs parkin' lot

Dome was our noble navigator

not only showed us around

but also hit a 70fter 2 snag a few holes as well.

Word has it that several new baskets and tee signs

are on the way to FU.

Rumbles of a fall tourney r ripplin.

Thank You Fairfield U.

We said goodbye to Dome

as he headed off to work

but it was only 10 of 5 in the eve

so we meandered thru several residential side roads

to get in a late day round at Cranbury Park.

Heart of Frizzak nation.

Cranbury offered many technical shots off the tee

where safe got ya 3s but aggressive got

scores from 2 to 5.

12 ft fly pad tee boxes

and regal cranbury-finished baskets

made the round all that more comfortable.

A big dinner, Celtics win, and a good night sleep

seemed the perfect recipe.

tomorrow...

Sherwood Island Open, Westport, Ct.

Burnsboro sets bar high in MPT opener.

2011-04-17T16:20:00.000-07:00

95 golfers competed against each other and the chilly, overcast day

at Burnsboro Disc Golf in Vassalboro, Maine,

to kick off the 2011 Maine Players' Tour.

David "Gippy" Gipson (shown here) and Jim Bouffard

shot their way to the early 1st round lead at -12

on the par 60 twenty hole layout.

Kevin Bechard, shown here with TD Greg Hinkley

not only finished 4th in AM1

but also was one of the 2 (Joe the Mason) ace winners

splitting a cool $225 each

NH native Drew "the Hitman" Smith

took down the Pro Master field

shooting 2 solid 53s to best

Randy Dore and Caveman Clements by four strokes

Relative newcomer Christie Young shot 62 67 129

to better a very competitive field of 8

in the Advanced Women's division

Despite hard 2nd round charges

by Jdore 53 51 104 and Nick Gagne 54 48 102

Gippy earned his first PRO division victory with a 48 53 101.

The fantastic Burnsboro staff provided a top notch

halftime spread complete with homemade baked beans and cole slaw

Both rounds started on time and payouts were ready before

everyone could polish off a tasty bevy.

For complete results check out

http://www.mainediscgolfers.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1031#p10030

check back for a full length DVD in the upcoming weeks.

2011 King of INDO

2011-04-17T08:13:00.001-07:00

17 entered but only one was crowned... the KING of INDO 2011.

Bennett Disc Farm had over 400 peeps play it's 9 hole INDO Disc Golf course during the winter months of 2010-2011. This is the trailer for the Finals. stay tuned for the full action video in the upcoming days until then... Enjoy sum INDO trailer action.

2011 King of INDO

Sound Science From the 10DOWN Laboratory

2011-03-22T16:20:00.000-07:00

As another long, cold winter begins to ease it's icy grip from the northeast, our team of aerochemists are on a mission here at 10DOWN headquarters.

We want to know how to be the best. We want to share that knowledge with you. We're running the numbers, testing solutions, and dialing our trajectory into the 2011 season.

Being aerochemists, we of course study the brain chemistry of disc golfers during heightened awareness in the cerebral cortex, or while "in the zone".

Years of research led us to one important question. How does one achieve this state on a consistent basis?

Natural ability can only get you so far. Is it superior strength? A knack for eluding mental tangle? Divine intervention? And then it hit me...

Carl Sagan once said, "in order to make apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe".

Of course! These players have spent a long time laying the foundation for success. Gamers don't just get up off the couch and shoot 10DOWN. They pour love and dedication into building their world, their game. They win because they put themselves in position to win. That's right, I'm talkin' bout practice.

Confidence is born of repetition. Achieving "the zone" consistently is a product of practice, practice, and more practice. So, hit the field often and make it fun. If you put in the time, you WILL reap the benefits on the track this season.

It's not magic, just sound science. Have fun, go low.

Location:Science Lab

Woodland Valley's 7th Annual Ice Bowl

2011-02-21T06:13:00.001-08:00

The first Ice Bowl was held 25 years ago in Columbia, Missouri. Since then, this great tradition of charity and winter disc golf has blossomed into a nationwide effort with more than $225,000 and nearly 56,000 lbs of food going to foodbanks and other charities last year alone.

Howard and Linda Burham, the owners of Woodland Valley have been participating in Ice Bowl since they've been open, with the well groomed Black Bear course serving as the ideal winter testing grounds. If you've never been to Woodland, you have to check out their two fun courses and huge pro shop.

Big props to Howard as the tee boxes and fairways were in excellent condition. I'd also like to give a shout out to Mother Nature.

The playing conditions were immaculate with crystal blue skies, only a gentle breeze, and temps warm enough to be comfy gloveless yet cool enough to keep the footing firm on the fairways.

Winter golf always comes with a dose of humility as skips, slips, and slide-aways can leave even the most serious golfer smiling and shaking their head. Not surprisingly, the 1st round scores reflected the season and no one broke into the 40's. The Open field saw 3 players knotted at -4 at the break while John Sellers came in with a 50 of his own and a 2 stroke lead in AM1 at the half.

Lunch break at Ice Bowl is always a highlight and this year was no exception. A deliciously hearty chili and Beefy brisket with all the fixings warmed the players' souls before the 2nd round battles ensued.

The 2nd round saw more relaxed play overall and as the day warmed up, so did Nick Gagne. Nick shot a smoking -7 front and never looked back, capturing the Open title despite a late stumble.
Jon Sellers continued his good play and took down AM1 while Tex Long grabbed the AM Masters' top spot and Arcel Molina fought hard for his 1st victory in AM2. Congrats guys!

The big winner of the day though, was Sam Pease. Not only did she best the women's field, she also took home $155 for her ace on hole 5. Great job, Sam!

A big thanks goes out to the TD's, Bryan Jordan and Jon Borenstein for a super smooth day. Also, thanks to Linda and Howard for hosting and all who attended, donated, and made this event special.

The 1st rule of Ice Bowl is that the event can never be cancelled due to bad weather, "no whimps, no whiners". Winter disc golf in Maine can sometimes be brutal, but this time we couldn't have asked for a better day.

Location:Limerick, ME

Bellamy Park Ice Bowl Feb. 5th, 2011

2011-02-14T04:41:00.001-08:00

True to its namesake, New Hampshire's first ever Ice Bowl met its 41 participants with snow, rain, sleet, and freezing rain!

Throw in 2-3 feet of snow, including over a foot falling just a few days previous, and you've got yourself, well... Disc Golf in the middle of winter New England!

Huge ups to first time Tournament Director Rob Feeney and all the peeps who helped out with the course and the event. A warm Clubhouse, healthy players packs (including a disc to every player) dope CTP prizes, nifty Winners Trophies, hot coffee and cider, and complementary lunch = just what the Dr. ordered.

Other TD's - the bar for clearing T-pads in the icy Tundra has been raised. Time to get yourself a FLAME THROWER... both effective and Wicked Cool! Can also be used for fighting crime.

In the open division Jim Bouffard got his groove on with 4 consecutive birdies (14,15,16,17) to take a two stroke lead over Tyler Cass after the first 18.

Jimbo continued the charge with back to back birdies to start round 2. After an early second round DNF by Cass, Josh Connell put some solid pressure on Bouffard shooting the hot round of the day with a 51. With dueces on 16 & 17, Connell managed to bring it within one. In the end Jimmy B kept it together on 18 and secured his first PDGA victory.

The AM I division also saw a nice second round comeback as Jason Toothaker outlasted fellow Mainer Brendan Johnson for the win

Full Results Here

Bellamy Park's second ever Disc Golf tournament no doubt lived up to the ice bowl spirit of fun, community, and charity. Much thanks to the TD, volunteers, and all the sponsors.

The course has def come a long way in recent years and it's fantastic to see more New Hampshire Disc Golf action.
Looking forward to the 2011 NH NEFA 2x Event this Summer (06/26/2011)!!

Also of Note:
• $624 was raised for the New Hampshire Food Bank
• Advanced Master's, the only age protected division, was also the only division without a DNF.

2010Down Vibram Open Polo Week

2010-07-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

News release: Steve Dodge, Vibram Disc Golf

Vibram Open polos are available for one week each year.

Wear what the pros wear.

Every shirt is custom embroidered with your name.

Special thanks to 10Down for co-branding their top polo for this year's shirts.

Help make 2010 our best shirt fundraiser year ever!

Order yours today: http://www.maplehillopen.com/10vopolo.html

MPT - Blowing Up!!!

2010-05-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

A record setting 104 players showed up to play at the 2nd MPT event of the 2010 season!

Straight up crazy how much this sport had grown over the past few years in Maine. Wouldn't be suprised to see TD's using Pre-Registration to accommodate masses. That being said... Good vibes, beautiful weather, good peoples, and a fun day of disc overshadowed the grind of a Really long challenging day.

In classic Dave Enman fashion, every well-manicured fairway is carpeted with a healthy layer of wood chips. The course features a mix of shorter putter shots, a few longer deucable holes, and a handful of challenging Par 4 holes. Orrington rewards a player who is heady, clean off the T, and has a variety of shots in the bag to get outta trouble, if need be.

After 36 holes, three players (Billy Schreiber, Matt Enman, & Bobby Brooks) stood tied with a 115 total. Highlight of the day included B. Brooks smokin 53 2nd round, setting a new course record... Nice shootin Bobo!

In the end, Matt Enman took care of Bizness, defending his home turf with a birdieon the first playoff hole for the win. Good to have ya back!
A Fat Ace Pot of $650 was split between Ryan Bourque (hole 18) and TD Ryan Enman (hole 16)Huge props to Dave for the added cash to the pot!
Check Results Here http://www.mainediscgolfers.com/phpBB3/page.php?p=orrington-results&sid=289317fc85d25428c833ad906b7ebdb5
Thanks to all involved in securing a course in the greater Bangor area... Much needed!Next Stop on the MPTour... Creative Rec.

Brinster TDs, Wins NY State Championships

2010-04-28T11:39:00.001-07:00

The promise of a stunningly challenging Disc Golf setting and some of the top Disc Golfers in the Northeast landed us in Warwick, NY for the 2010 NY State Championship. A far cry from the hustle of Manhattan, Warwick has a country stillness that was unexpected.
Although the course overflowed with plenty of beautiful vistas & serenity visually, the playing experience was anything but.

The multiple tees created distinquished layouts while using essentially the same land, just more of it. The short tee to alt. baskets was ripe for many deuce opportunities with precise drives while the long tee to alt. baskets demanded considerably more distance with similar precision.

10Down's J.Dore finished 11th in a very stout 38 person Pro Open field with a two round total of even Par. The PDGA C-tier event was also the USDGC qualifier for NY and was won by Bobby Jones from the Rochester area. See you in South Carolina Bobby!
Results: http://www.pdga.com/tournament-results?TournID=10222&year=2010&include_ratings=1#Open

Mainahs climb Mighty Gaw

2010-04-27T10:38:00.001-07:00

Sixty-three Disc Golfers from all over the Northeast converged on rainy Campgaw Mountain Reservation to compete in the 2010 Mighty Gaw PDGA C-tier.

The famed Mighty Gaw layout which is only in the ground for the spring & fall season offered everything you'd ever want in a snow mountain Disc Golf course.

Extreme elevation changes, long challenging woods holes, & tricky basket placements made for a terrific Disc Golf challenge. The 6365 ft. par 57 white layout and the 9283 ft. par 70 blue layout left everyone begging for an advil after the day's competition.
Results: Results: http://www.pdga.com/tournament-results?TournID=10079

10Down's own Ben Dunlap continued his comeback from knee surgery last season with a very respectable 3rd place finish. Three Mainahs cracked the Top 10 in Pro Open and everyone slept well on Monday, we didn't get back to Maine until 3:45am.

MPT kicks off in record fashion

2010-04-20T06:06:00.000-07:00

Under the shaken snow globe skies of Vassalboro, Me, the 2010 MPT got off to a record start. 98 playas started the day at the 15th Annual Before the Bugs Bite Tourney, tying the Maine Disc Golf Attendance Record set last year at Acker's Acres MPT event.

The first round saw Jason Dore shoot a super fresh 40 outdistancing the nearest Pro Open competitor by 7 shots. Dore held on with a 46 2nd round to win the MPT opener and $180 for his efforts. Mike Fyfe Jr. aided by a hot 43 2nd round, finished in 2nd place...while small Paul Babb finished in 3rd with 95.

Other divisional winners...

Pro Masters - Chris "caveman" Clement 49 50 99 $100

AM1 - Bryan "ganstaface" Jordan 50 47 97 $151

Adv. Women - Alicia Marceau 60 63 123 $40

Adv. Masters - Pat Laflamme 55 54 109 $50

Int. Women - Melissa Payzant 87 81 168 $18

Int. Men - Ben Lombard 50 49 99 $30

Rec. - Tyler Roberts 59 60 119 $6

CTP winners...

Hole 1 - Dann Flagger -signature disc

Hole 16 - Ben Dunlap - 10Down goodies

Hole 18 - Nick Blouin - hat & mini

$475 ACE POT split 3ways - Damien Morris Lee Alexander Jeremy Angel

Lee, Damien & Jeremy came up all ACEs. Smile boys!

Many Thanks goes out to Burnsboro DGC, Greg H. TD, Melissa, Quaker Lunch, & everyone who came out making the tourney & the day historic.

10DOWN Crown unveil soon...

Dore captures 2010 USDGC spot

2009-10-20T14:41:00.000-07:00

The 2010 USDGC Maine Qualifier had so much drama
it needed an additional day to decide the winner.
When dawn broke on day two Jason Dore bested Jeff Kozaka 4 & 3
to cap a very competitive match play weekend.
Dore began the weekend with a bye in the first round.
A second round matchup against Kozaka awaited him.
Kozaka handled Jason quite easily

5 & 4 sending Dore to the losers' bracket.
The first losers' bracket round was against JConant.
After swapping some long putts we entered hole 7 (silver dragon)
three holes to go, all square.
On hole 8 Jason carded a birdie, taking a one shot lead.
He immediately stepped to the final tee and unleashed
a swooping TL which nestled under the basket for the win.
Next up Kyle.
They battled back and forth captializing on each others' errant shots.
Kyle and Jason came into the final hole tied.
Jason flipped his drive and landed well short
after brushing the right mando tree.
Kyle threw his stable driver anny
and was within 24 ft of moving on to the semis.
Jason laid up and Kyle composed for the putt.
He released the rpro Pig and it floated high
skimming the top of the basket and scooting out of bounds.
Jason moved on again.
This time Josh stepped up and battled even
with Jason thru nine holes.
Jason played a little smarter down the stretch against Josh
and earned a rematch with Kozaka.
Unfortunately for Jason he would have to beat
Kozaka twice for the title.
They played conservative thru the first 10 holes
on the Pro Gold layout. Jason then took a couple holes
and carried a two shot lead with four holes to go.
Kozaka fought back and tied him on the 18th,
forcing a sudden death playoff,
which Jason took at dusk of day one
with a three on hole one.
Day Two had Kozaka jump out to a one hole lead after seven.
Jason rebounded taking a few holes and went up two after hole 13.
On 14, Jason got an impressive three from the long location
and sealed the title with a monsterous two on hole 15
going over the trees and nailing the putt.
Congrats Jason Dore. You earned it.

FINAL Two

2009-10-18T04:39:00.001-07:00

One day was not enough to decide the 2010 Maine USDGC spot.

We started at 8am with six competitors and by sundown we

were down to two. After an exciting day filled with fantastic

or not so fantastic finishes, depending on your point of view

it all comes down to one 18 hole

match play final this morning at 8am.

Two-hander Kozaka breezed through early rounds

and almost completed the sweep until J.Dore finished with

a three on hole one of sudden death.

Opening round

Kozaka def. Tyler Cass 6&5

J. Conant def. K. Enman 2&1

with J.Dore and Josh Connell receiving first round byes.

Round Two

Kozaka def. J.Dore 5&4

J.Connell def. J. Conant 4&3

K. Enman def. T. Cass 1up

Round Three

Kozaka def. J.Connell 6&5

J.Dore def. J.Conant 1up

Round Four

J.Dore def. K.Enman 1up

Round Five

J.Dore def. J.Connell 3&2

Round Six

J.Dore def. Kozaka 1up xtra holes

Final Round

Kozaka v. J.Dore

J.Dore wasn't smiling until the final hole

as he had to play five matches to get back to

today's final matchup v. Kozaka

JOUST decides 2010 Maine USDGC rep

2009-10-15T05:54:00.000-07:00

Six enter, one will claim the title.

The 2010 Maine USDGC spot is up for grabs this saturday

at Pleasant Hill Disc Golf course in Scarborough.

The double elimination match-play event wraps up

an exciting summer season and for one player

entry into next year's USDGC.

JOUST Qualifiers

1. Josh Connell

2. Jason Dore

3. Jeff Kozaka

4. Kyle Enman

5. Jeff Conant

6. Tyler Cass

Goodbye to USDGC '09

2009-10-13T10:07:00.001-07:00

Michael Johansen uncoils a drive on Hole 5 at the USDGC.

The North Carolina native was super smooth finishing tied for 14th.

As we wave goodbye to our first USDGC experience,

there are many things that will be forever with us.

Prestige and amazing players aside, the USDGC is so much more.

The USDGC is the past, present, and future of Disc Golf.

The inspiration this event provides

exhibits not only the exciting direction that disc golf is headed,

but also the possibilities this game possesses

to unite communities, foster stewardship

and generate healthier, more passionate people.

Tyler and I can attest after being in the greater Rock Hill area

for the better part of a week, that Disc Golf is more than a game,

it's part of their culture.

From the waitresses we encountered at meals,

to the children that were bused in to watch the action everyday,

Rock Hill has embraced Disc Golf and positive things are happening.

This weekend the Joust decides who will represent Maine

next fall and a chance to be a part of USDGC history.

NEFA at USDGC Final Results

2009-10-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

Craig Cutler, NJ used some hot putting to post two rounds under 70.

USDGC Final results

21. Steve Brinster NJ 65 62 66 62 255 $870

108. Craig Cutler NJ 69 74 66 75 283

115. P. Johnson MA 73 74 69 70 286

136. Kyle Enman ME 74 70 77 221

152. J. Johnson MA 80 78 70 228

173. Tyler Cass ME 78 87 75 236

176. J. Pedrick VT 89 78 75 242

Great representation from our NEFA brethren.

Hopefully all the New England states

will have representatives next year.

If you've never been, you need to go.

Contact your Rep and get onboard.

Nikko Wins The 2009 USDGC

2009-10-12T07:10:00.000-07:00

Surging into second and two strokes back from David Feldberg with a Stellar 58 second round,
Locastro's momentum was relentless. Catching up to the leader on Hole 7, Nikko fought off Feldberg's mid-round charge, and after a birdie on 11 he never looked back. With two consecutive Bogey free rounds, Nikko's 57 gave him a two stroke victory over 2005 Champion David Feldberg, becoming the 2009 United Stated Disc Golf Champion!

Check out this article from the USDGC web-site for the full story http://www.usdgc.com/10/11/locastro-hits-the-big-time

USDGC Day Three

2009-10-10T04:46:00.001-07:00

Although I fell well short of the cut, I played by far my best disc of the Tournament. After a birdie on hole one.

I finally got into a groove of playing solid and negotiating ob's and buncr's, sitting -2 after 11 holes. Highlights included a birdie on the 1053 hole with a 370 ft shot over open water, followed by a birdie on hole 6 and finally found success on hole 9 with a three as well.

Alas, the course got the best of me as I took an 8 on 13 and a 10 on 14.... Withrop Gold shows no mercy! A bad toss, an unfortunate roll, combined with a bad decision or two = absolute punishment.

I ended up +7 with a 75. The pic below was my final put on 18 and the 2009 USDC, but hopefully not my last at this event as I plan on finding a way to get back!

10Down Disc Golf
10downdiscgolf@gmail.com

NEFA at USDGC Day Two

2009-10-08T20:15:00.001-07:00

Day Two results
19. Steve Brinster NJ 65 62 127
108. Craig Cutler NJ 69 74 143
114. Kyle Enman ME 74 70 144
124. P. Johnson MA 73 74 147
163. J. Johnson MA 80 78 158
174. Tyler Cass ME 78 87 165
178. J. Pedrick VT 89 78 167

10Down Disc Golf
10downdiscgolf@gmail.com

USDGC DAY TWO

2009-10-08T19:43:00.001-07:00

After perhaps the most mentally exhausting round of my life, I am extremely dissapointed with my score. I stand humbled by the integrity of the Winthrop Course and the players that have gathered from across the globe to compete on it.

After shooting a solid 35 front nine, the downward spiral of the back nine culminated on Hole 17. As seen above, this island hole demands an accurate drive into a relatively small landing area. Buncr rules require a retee on all OB drives. Long story short... It took me 8 drives to land on a green that I birdied the day previous... Ouch!!

Tomorrow is a new day. I'm actually shooting and putting well... Just hope to stay in between the yellow ropes and play some steady golf.

Regardless, I plan on competing for the spot again next year and encourage everyone to the same. The USDGC provides a glimpse of Disc Golf's future and it's an exciting time to be in the midst of that progress. Thanks to everyone that has passed on their regards and continue to follow our blog as the rest of the weekend unfolds.

NEFA at USDGC

2009-10-07T20:39:00.001-07:00

Day One results
24. Steve Brinster NJ 65
100. Craig Cutler NJ 72
115. Pete Johnson MA 73
123. Kyle Enman ME 74
154. Tyler Cass ME 78
164. Jason Johnson 80
188. Jimmy Pedrick 89

10Down Disc Golf
10downdiscgolf@gmail.com

Day one - USDGC 09

2009-10-07T17:38:00.001-07:00

The 2009 USDGC kicked off promptly at 7:35am under rainy skies and windy conditions. With over 13 different countries represented and all but a handful of the best players in the world in attendance, day one got underway.

We started the morning off with breakfast in the hotel lobby then
made our way to the course to warmup and prepare for Tyler's 9:12 tee time.
The rain thankfully subsided before tee off and the skies cleared to provide all that teed off after 9am a distinct advantage over the early risers. Tyler played solid early starting off at +2 thru 7 holes. The stretch between holes 8-12 was not so kind as the OBs and non-forgiving buncr cost him several strokes.
In true Cass form he fought back to finish par, birdie, par, birdie before dropping a couple strokes on hole 18 due to an unfortunate OB.

Not overly satisfied with the results of his first USDGC day one performance, Tyler vowed to improve his scores heading into day two and beyond.
Leaders after day one are Brian Schweberger and David Feldberg both posting narly 59s.
10Down Disc Golf
10downdiscgolf@gmail.com

2009 USDGC players' meeting

2009-10-06T21:02:00.002-07:00

The World's best Disc Golfers converged on Rock Hill, SC and the Baxter Hood Center for the official welcome from Harold Duval and staff. We were treated to true southern BBQ, green beans, sweet potato and vanilla pudding. Over 200 folks were all fed and back in their seats in 19 minutes, true artistry.

As everyone finished up eating, they presented Nate Doss his champ ring for his victory last year. Photo above is of the past champions. There are only four champs in the 10 history of the event, with Ken Climo winning five times. Ken actually was in the group behind us this morning during our practice round, so we got to see why he's a 12x World champ, up close.

Tyler holding his players' pack,
Which included a huk hoodie, dri-fit tshirt, many minis, $100 cert for new Keen DG shoes and much more. He was like a kid at Christmas as he open the box back at the hotel.
As the event wore down the morning tee times were announced... Tyler Cass 9:12 tee time with Harold Duval creator and USDGC mastermind. Sleep now, as tomorrow will come soon enough.
10Down Disc Golf
10downdiscgolf@gmail.com

Innova warehouse

2009-10-06T21:02:00.001-07:00

After finishing the practice round, we headed across
town to the Innova warehouse.
Home base for Innova's East Coast operations.

Two hours later, we touched more plastic than the head clerk
at Macy's on the day after Thanksgiving. Leaving with smiles and a stack of plastic, we headed back to the hotel to clean up for the player's meeting @ 7:30.
10Down Disc Golf
10downdiscgolf@gmail.com

Winthrop Gold practice day

2009-10-06T19:45:00.001-07:00

Pizza, Red Stripe & MNF was the perfect end to a fantastic Monday. We woke early this morning with the anticipation of our first look at Winthrop Gold, the tourney course and we weren't disappointed.

Hole 4 requires a low straight tee shot (350ft) to give you a peek at the two large mando trees (which must be split & not
thrown over) before a well placed anny or flat flick second shot can be executed with a favorable skip to sneek into a 30ft green guarded by a ring of 2 story evergreens.

Hole 18 starts with a tough uphill drive with the fairway that narrows as you reach the crest of the hill. Lay up short on the hill here and you got a blind upshot into the photo above, which drops off behind the basket to the lake below. Overall Winthrop Gold provides Plenty of OB, water and risk/reward shots that could end in double digit scores or solid pars. True test. Do you know your game? We'll see.

Renny's Gold

2009-10-05T20:06:00.001-07:00

SICKNESS!!!
Met up with Kyle and played and an absolutely amazing course. At 9407 ft this place has a lot of everything...

The entourage of elevation, tight wooded holes, HUGE field shots, ravines, thoughtful

OB lines, appropriate mandos, precarious but FAIR greens, and major risk reward decisions, all play out on this sweet piece of NC land. This place is a true challenge of all your disc golf skills and a testament to the future of bigger and better courses.

Check the course map http://charlottedgc.com/images/renaissance/renny_maps_ob.pdf , or do yourself a favor and Play It!

Hole 2 basket perched on the edge of big ravine & ob protects the next teebox in the woods.
Monday. 3pm

10Down Disc Golf
10downdiscgolf@gmail.com

Charlotte, NC

2009-10-05T06:30:00.001-07:00

We slid into Charlotte after 5pm and got a room at Days Inn for the night. After a few scenic loops of the city, (look rusty big ben, parliment) we found a Japanese steakhouse and finished off the night with saki, sushi & good natured ribbing with the chef on how bad the Carolina Panthers are playing. 10pm Sunday
10Down Disc Golf
10downdiscgolf@gmail.com

Staunton Disc Golf

2009-10-05T06:20:00.001-07:00

After a beautiful, uneventful ride thru the rolling hills of Virginia we pulled off I81 in Staunton, Va.

The course is located on a hill surrounded by ball fields. The mixture of elevation and tight woods holes makes this course worth a look if you are ever in the area. There are several tee locations and two baskets for each hole for every level of Dger.

Tyler gives a pull on Hole 1. A tight line out of the box opens up hill with the basket nestled next to the tree line.

Hole 3 is only 220 ft but the fairway shrinks as you go down the fairway and you must negoiate the downhill elevation change as well. After a much needed stretch, we continued south to Charlotte, NC. 2:30pm Sunday

10Down Disc Golf
10downdiscgolf@gmail.com

No sleep til Rock Hill

2009-10-05T05:55:00.001-07:00

As the sun began to peek above the Virginia skyline we pulled into a rest area, reclined the seats and got a few hours of shut eye. 6:20am Sunday
10Down Disc Golf
10downdiscgolf@gmail.com

Horizon is a beltway & skyline is on fire

2009-10-03T23:36:00.000-07:00

A rain-soaked departure was
the perfect southern send off.
Made it thru beantown with little fair. Picked up Tyler in Dot & met two fine ladies, Tyler's mom & godmother. Just north of Philly 2:45 Sunday. It's pretty clear from here.

10Down Disc Golf
10downdiscgolf@gmail.com

We're getting close...

2009-10-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

With only two loads of laundry

and 980 miles between us

and the USDGC,

the excitement is getting palpable.

We've received several different

sure-fire routes to get to Rock Hill

and twice as many courses

that are "can't miss" along the way.

Our next blog will be from the road

via the iphone.

stay tuned.

10DOWN headed to the USDGC

2009-09-30T05:11:00.001-07:00

On Sunday Morning Tyler and I will be heading

to Rock Hill, South Carolina for the 2009 USDGC.

Tyler won the Maine spot last year

and will be playing in his first USDGC.

We are excited to not only get a chance

to see the famed Winthrop course,

but also catch up with some of our DG friends

from all over the globe.

Stay tuned to our Blog as we document our entire trip.

10Down Grid Logo

2009-09-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

Our Graffiti Grid logo can be found

on our supple Anvil Ts

and sweet supercolor minis.

Also check out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ryROtaPJCE&feature=channel_page

as the image comes to life at the Disc Farm.