2011 Birdie Awards Nomination Extravaganza

1^st Annual Circle Three Birdies

The year 2011 has been an amazing one for Vermont Disc Golf and Circle Three has been proud to bring you continuing coverage of the happenings. Just like Tracy Jordan's highly sought after EGOT, the Birdies hope to represent all that is good and proper in the world of Vermont Disc Golf.

The best part is, you decide the winners. So, without further ado, the 1^st Annual Birdies Nominations. Also, you should know that the nominations are made in no particular order. There isn't a front runner or a favorite or any bias from me. I listed them, changed the order, and changed it again just to add some randomness to the whole situation.

2011 Most Improved Disc Golfer

You know, we've seen some really amazing disc golf in 2011. From Pinnacle to the Finals, there have been some amazing tournament aces, come from behind wins, and examples of complete domination. Now's your chance to pick the Most Improved Disc Golfer of 2011. There are probably lots of worthy candidates, but the Circle Three Blog has come up with some nominees.

The nominees for 2011 Most Improved Disc Golfer are:

*Jon Moorer: Last year wasn't something to write home about for Jon Moorer. He did win the 2010 R4B, but it wasn't a GMPS event. Other than that one, he recorded tournament points in the 50 to 60 range. And that was all in AM 2. This year he's been at or near the top of AM 1 all season. The guy who no one really knew last year came on strong this year. He finished second in AM 1 this season and was the only person with a chance to catch Rang Duce at the end of the season. Going from the middle of AM 2 to the top of AM 1 definitely gets you nominated for Most Improved.

*Matty O.: You should know that this guy thinks he gets no respect in disc golf. Maybe its because his game is a little boring and he thinks no one fears him during tournament days. But, have you seen the distance Matt added to his game in 2011? Wow, it's a serious improvement. Last year his putting and approach carried him, this year his distance has made him into a real contender. He's nominated for this category because of his strong jump from AM 2 to AM 1.

*Seth McQuade: Seth's always been a super nice guy who not only likes to play disc golf but is also really committed to practicing his skills. His schedule allows him plenty of time to work on improvements. Last year he was a part of the AM 2 crowd but didn't make too many waves. This year he started in AM 2, despite the mass exodus. He won the first 2 tournaments of the year and then made the scary, scary mid season move to AM 1. Even being 2 tournaments behind he still finished in 4^th place in AM 1. Guts and skills like that get someone nominated for Most Improved.

*Ira Divoll: Ira started played disc golf competitively in 2010. When he started he wanted to play in the Rec division, but his friends convinced him to play in AM 2. He did it reluctantly and played in 5 tournaments with a high score of 44.4. Then, he played at Maple Hill one day and showed the promise of his future. This year he's a serious AM 2 competitor (plus, the nicest guy you'll meet). He finished in 4^th place for the season and has his first win under his belt, a play-off at Wrightsville.

2011 Biggest Disappointment

Just like in the real world, some disc golfers exceed their expectations and others fall flat on their faces. Let's decide together who fell the hardest.

The nominees for 2011 Biggest Disappointment are:

*Justin Kaulius: Where to begin with this guy? He finished the 2010 season as the AM 2 champ. Throughout the 2010 campaign he was prodded to move up to AM 1. When he finally made the move in 2011, people had high expectations. He is the “People's Champ” after all. However, 2011 didn't bring for Justin what he expected. His highest tournament score this year was a whopping 64.7 and he's got other jaw-droppers of 17.7 and15.8. I think the reason for his nomination is pretty clear.

*Emmett Cosgrove: A few weeks ago, you would have laughed me off if I suggested Emmett would be a nominee for this year's Biggest Disappointment. He rolled the rest of the field during the Money Games and was in the top 3 of the Pro point series race for most of the season. But then he had to move and took off almost immediately. How disappointing is that?

*Mike Habets: Well, most of you know Mike. And most of you know his story. I'm not going to get into the details here. It's disappointing though, isnt' it? Don't get me wrong, Mike has handled things well recently. He's given back to the community and made some amends. You understand the nomination though.

*Andy Powell: Andy won the AM 2 division, which should be viewed as a real accomplishment. However, he must have missed the memo that all of his old division from 2010 was moving up to AM 1. Instead of going along, he decided to stay back in AM 2 and beat up all the remaining players. So, while Andy Powell and his legions of NEFA-land fans are celebrating his success, I'm saying we should go in the opposite direction. Staying in AM 2 was a big disappointment.

2011 Biggest Bagger

Listen in on conversation with our club members at a tournament and the most often heard word (other than Bachnein) is probably “Bagger.” People love to throw it around in all sorts of ways, usually as a putdown. Even for a guy like me, it often becomes a bit too much. But, there are some real baggers out there. So, once and for all, let's figure out who bagged it the most this year.

The nominees for 2011 Biggest Bagger are:

*Murray Junod: This guy was such a bagger that he was given the name Sissy Pants on the forum. I mean, there's a lot of smack talk that happens on the forum, but this was an organized effort from the Powers That Be to make a name change for a registered user. It's unheard of. On the other hand, people liked to call Murray a bagger because he won three events in AM 2. The crazy part is that he didn't even win the division.

*Andy Powell: And Murray Junod didn't win the division because Andy Powell is a bagger. I mean, like all the others, Andy is just a nominee, so decide for yourselves, but I've made it clear that Andy's done his fair share of bagging. I know you think I pick on Andy, but I like Andy and I think he's a really good guy. In the winter, I love going to Sugarbush and getting the “Powell Park,” but this guy gets nominated because he's done some bagging.

*James Sweat: He's gotten a lot of positive publicity on this blog and he really deserves what he's gotten. An article that featured him remains the most trafficked article on this website. He's the Best Amateur Disc Golfer in the State of Vermont, for Christ's sake. But, he was at the top of the division last year and he was the winner of the division this year. Ian Thurston has a set, he moved up, but James didn't. Jim Conroy also should have moved up, but he kind of sucked this year, so we won't worry about it. But James was good, and that probably makes him a bagger.

*Mike Habets: You probably think I'm picking on Mike too, don't you? He's had a rough year, it's true. To be honest, he and I have never even been formally introduced, so I feel bad bringing his name up again, but I can't deny it. He gets nominated because he won at Killington in AM 1 and had a good enough score to win Pro that day. He also won Burke View and would have finished tied for 2^nd in Pro. Mark my words, this kid is good and will be a real contender in Pro for a long time, but you probably understand why he's nominated for the Bagger Award.

2011 Biggest Story

This year was a pretty big one for disc golf in the Green Mountain State. I had a blast, on a personal level, despite my poor performance. I'm sure most of you had an enjoyable experience. Only one story can be the Biggest Story of the Year, so help decide which one it is.

The nominees for 2011 Biggest Story are:

*The Rise of Bachnein: I'm not sponsored by these guys, but you'd probably find that hard to believe. I have a ton of respect for both Taylor and James, having taken a small idea discussed over a round of disc golf and turning it into an actual company. Along the way they've sponsored a Fundraiser Doubles Tournament at Waterbury, outfitted most of you in choice gear, and donated to various tournaments and events. 2011 was certainly the year of Bachnein and the future looks rosy for this little start-up.

*The Legend of Rang Duce: So, he's probably nominated in more categories than any one else, but its been that kind of year for James Sweat. He won AM 1 in a hotly contested division, so that's one reason why he's considered for the Story of the Year. He's also a crucial part of the Bachnein empire, so he's technically been nominated in this category twice. Additionally, he helped us get baskets and half of the tee pads that we needed. (Plus, he's kind of a bagger, so he's in that category also.) But, James has had an amazing year. If you agree, simply pick him for Biggest Story and let him know how much you appreciate his 2011 campaign.

*Young Bucks: Chris Young has had a great 2011. You remember that he's the first person outside of Montgomery to have an Open Title. I said he would get hot and fall off, but he proved me wrong on that one. Instead he won at Killington, The Lincoln Peak Open, and at Burke View. He held off the likes of Emmett Cosgrove and Dave Frothinghman. He won the division fair and square. He's cashed in some Money Games, as he did last year. This guy is no joke. Oh, and he's unquestionably The Best Disc Golfer in Burlington. You can see why Young Bucks could be the Biggest Story of 2011.

*Money Game Emmett: Money Game Emmett played the kind of disc golf you always wanted to play. He hit long, straight drives, he turned over that Roc, and he made big, big putts. In tournaments this year, it seemed like Emmett couldn't necessarily put two good rounds together this year, but he was electric during the Money Games. If you didn't witness one of his performances this year, you might not see something like this again in Vermont any time soon. In 2011, Emmett just couldn't lose during the Money Games. That kind of dominance could easily be the Biggest Story of the Year.

2011 Biggest Contributor

I'm not going to lie to you, Chris Young sort of ruined this category for me. I planned to have this award long before he came up with Volunteer of the Year. I mean, his award is a great idea and I hope it goes on to become a main stay for the GMDGC, but he did steal my thunder. I mean, couldn't it have been the Circle Three Volunteer of the Year Award? I'll have to petition for that next year. In the mean time, vote for Dave Frothy or vote for someone else. It's up to you.

The nominees for 2011 Biggest Contributor are:

*Dave Frothingham: He does everything for this club. He's been the President for as long as I've been around. He is the tournament direction for nearly every tournament we play. He and Anne run Triples. He's the Hardest Working Man in Disc Golf, period. He was also just awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award, which you may or may not have known about. I think he makes for a good candidate.

*Rang Duce: Now officially the Most Nominated Man in All of Disc Golf. What hasn't he done in disc golf this year? He outfitted you in the dopest gear you could have hoped for. He organized the Rang Duce Doubles tournament in order to get some baskets in at Waterbury. He founded Bachnein, which brought you the Twin Falls Point Series and lots of Funny Money. He helped us get some Fly18 pads in at Center Chains. This guy is quite a big contributor and in 2011 he really shined.

*Matty O.: This guy might not get enough respect in the world of disc golf. Who else do you know that started a disc golf course on his own property so he could win a bet? Who else hosts a summer-long disc golf point series extravaganza? Who else does it on about five well organized acres right outside of Burlington? Who else has a family willing to host the entire GMDGC community throughout the season? My god, this man is quickly becoming a legend in the world of Vermont Disc Golf. It's easy to see why Matty O. is a nominee in this category.

*Al Rosa: In his off-time he's a Thunder Chicken, but when he comes to our community he's a really, really hard worker. Al's the guy who does all the work you don't necessarily know about. He's been instrumental at Wrightsville. He has a bench that he built at Calais. If you have a work day, he's guaranteed to be there. He'll probably also bring his kids, who inevitably will work harder than you do. He directed a tournament this year. He's constantly helping out at Waterbury. Al's a really, really nice guy and he'd do anything to help out if you needed it. He's a very worthy candidate for Biggest Contributor.

So, there you have it, the 2011 Birdie Award Nomination. Follow the Survey Monkey link and vote before Saturday, October 22, 2011.

When you follow the link, you'll also be able to write in your favorite for the 2012 Pro Open Points Series Favorite, our final category.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JX5525H