Mail Bag!

Which disc is the Vermont favorite?

If you saw my forum post, you know that I’m avoiding pre-season predictions and am instead opting for our first ever Circle Three Mail Bag post.  That means I’ll respond to some reader questions.  And, it really works well because I don’t have to come up with topics for the website.  Or do any real writing.  

          Which disc is king/queen of the Green Mountain 
          Disc Golf Club?  Meteor?  Wraith?  Monarch?  
          Challenger?
        -Jspring

Jeff, really?  It’s pretty impressive how you can dominate disc golf in Vermont but then be so oblivious to something like what other players are throwing.  Challenger?  Monarch?  C’mon, I don’t think you’re even close on those two.  Everybody and their brother carries a Buzzz in the bag.  Unless you’re a bit older and you throw a Roc or you’re a bit like James Sweat and can’t stand doing what everyone else is doing.

So, yes, everyone has a Buzzz.  But, I don’t think it’s the king or queen of the GMDGC.  Not too long ago there was a One Disc Round at Twin Falls and I think that gave us a pretty good cross sample of what folks liked.  Only one driver was thrown that night, of course thrown forehand by Jon Moorer.  Somebody, like Frothy or Todd Holmes, had a putter.  But, it was overwhelming the Meteor that most people threw that night.  So I’d have to say that the Meteor is the King/Queen Disc of the Green Mountain Disc Golf Club.  

Oh, right.  So maybe you weren’t too far off base on that one.  Meteor was your first guess.  Sorry.  I’ll read the question more carefully next time.  

          Which event do you think represents the Green 
          Mountain Disc Golf Club best and why?
-Klazer

I think I know who Klazer is, but I’m not sure.  That kind of bugs me a little.  But, the question’s great so I’ll just go ahead and dive in.  Plus I read it fully this time so I can be accurate in my answer.  

First, let’s think about the Green Mountain disc golf scene and what it’s all about.  As Emmitt Cosgrove will tell you, the scene is a little exclusionary and people are pretty standoffish to new folks in Vermont.  Now, we do get spoiled with good amenities (great beer, great views, relative seclusion from the rest of the world).  However, it’s still a little rugged in Vermont sometimes.  Our tee boxes aren’t always the best and the elements can mess with you.  Also, in the GMDGC scene, we’re a little old school and we don’t care that much about touring pros and big names.  One last thing about the representative event is that it’d have to be in Vermont.  Vermont represents the club so much better than New Hampshire does…

And that means to represent our club, we need a tournament (and course) that’s a little exclusive and maybe a bit standoffish.  It has to be in Vermont.  It has to have great amenities but still retain some ruggedness.  Plus be old school and not give a shit about the rest of the world.

Which means, the tournament that best represents our club has to be The North Calais Open.  

          What’s a Bro-Rett, and why does James look so    
          cute wearing one?  Please keep my name private.
 -Christian

Goodness.  I’m not sure where to start with this one.  I used to think that my least favorite disc golf phenomenon was shorts over tights.  But that was before the male hair barrette came on the scene.  Now, I’m sure I’m breaking this exclusive story because I don’t think the male barrette has made it into the wild yet.  But I’ve seen it.  And I don’t like it.  

So, Christian, I’ve chosen not to protect your anonymity.  And I’m refusing to answer your question directly.  Call it what you want, but that male barrette idea is no good.  

          Who is your current favorite Professional Disc 
          Golfer?  (Besides JSpring).
-Klazer

So, in the time I’ve taken to write this post, you think I would have investigated who Klazer is.  But I haven’t.  So I’m still curious.  And he asked me a lot of questions, many of them personal.  Like why I play disc golf.  And how far I’ve traveled to play disc golf.  And when the next time I’ll be out of town is.  And what time I go to work in the morning.  Which is a little weird.

Plus, he’s picked up on the Jeff Spring Bias that happens on this website.  

So, Klazer, let me tell you this, before I answer your question.  We like to talk about Pros around here at Circle Three.  Like Spring and Youngbucks and Frothy and so on and so forth.  And I really like to play up how much I love the Pros.  Shit, I’ve written an article called To All The Pros I’ve Loved Before.  But that’s all in good fun and very tongue-in-cheek.

When you talk about Pros, though, I suspect you’re not talking about our locals, but you’re talking about Touring Pros.  Touring Pros are guys (or, of course, ladies) who travel the world playing our lame little sport, barely making ends meet but having the time of their collective lives.  Touring Pros would destroy anyone of our Pros on any given day on any course anywhere ever.

So, I’ll take it to mean that you’re asking me who my favorite Touring Pro is.  And my answer is no one.  Of course not.  Jesus, I’m a grown ass man.  I don’t collect autographs and I certainly don’t have another “favorite” adult.  That’s weird.  Just like it was weird seeing full grown men swoon over Avery Jenkins' autograph when he was in Vermont.  Give me a break.  

Like Jay-Z said, “I don't wear jerseys, I'm thirty plus.”  

I couldn’t agree more.  

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Dear Readers, thanks for contributing to and reading the first Circle Three Mail Bag.  We can do this again if some questions come this way.

C3

Reunited and it feels... alright

Reunited at last.  

No doubt it’s been a long time since the Circle Three blog has been active.  For some folks, that’s probably just fine.  The endless speculation and continued disappointment involved in following this blog isn't for everyone. 

But I’ll be damned if people don’t keep telling me that they want to read more.  Posts made online, conversations in real life, text messages to my cell.  It just doesn't stop.  I guess, like me, many of you have covered every inch of the internet.  Let’s admit it, it’s boring out there.  We've seen it all, maybe twice.  At this point, if you’re going to spend your time reading some useless drivel, you might as well read the guy who might at least mention your name. 

Since the last time we all got together, a lot has happened.  It’s not really because things are happening fast, but mainly because I haven’t written about disc golf in a while.  So, to make up for it, I’m just going to run down things one by one.  I might cover something you've been thinking about, I might not.  Feel free to let me know if I've missed something you want to talk about.

1.  Jeff Spring.  I say god damn.  There was a time that Jeff Spring was just a pretty regular guy, kind of like you, but just a little better at disc golf.  He was clean shaven and his feet touched the ground when he walked.  Now, he’s the King of the Vermont Disc Golf World.  He’s won everything in sight during the past year.  The Lincoln Peak Open, the Twin Falls Money Game Point Series, multiple Money Game events, the Green Mountain Point Series, the best beard contest, everything.  Spring had an epic year in 2012 and really deserves credit for holding back the attacks of Previous Champ Chris Young, the Up and Coming Mike Habets and the Money Game Final Day Winner Sean Bleything.  Spring stayed cool and hung on in seemingly every single round of the season.  Long, smooth throws and clutch putting will win you lots of tournaments, and money, as he proved this year. 

2.  And let us not forget that two years ago this blog started its life with a long shot, two-years-in-advance (now perfectly accurate) prediction of the Year of the Spring.  I predicted it and then we all lived it together.  You’ll be telling your grand kids about where you were during the YotS.  Hopefully when you tell them the legend of the Spring you’ll be kind enough to mention to them your favorite blog. 

3.  I saw Matt Idol hit a Circle Three during a Twin Falls round during the early March thaw.  You won’t believe me, but I predicted that too, right before he threw it in.  Unfortunately, he doesn't use the internet, so he won’t be able to verify this for me.  Whether or not you believe that part, it was still a pretty glorious shot and I’m glad I got to see it.  Idol joins a pretty heady group of folks to Circle Three that hole.  Jeff Spring (of course).  This Guy.  And now Idol.  That’s good company.  Lest I not forget, James Sweat has hit a legendary, filmed ace on the same hole, which is pretty serious bidness.

4.  This blog was named after the famous (and unique) ace-like re-tee Circle Three shot on Hole 18 at Twin Falls, in case you didn't know.  Now you know. 

5.  Who do you think is a bigger hippie, by the way, Mr. Sweat or Spencer Weatherholt?  Feel free to let me know your answer in the comments section.

6.  Those of you who know me in real life know that I've lived in a Disc Golf Fraternity House for the past two years.  It’s been a legendary run of disc golf, company business, website writing, poker, pool, backyard putting contests, a garage and living room filled with disc golf merch, and disc golf bags lining the entrance way.  But it’s all coming to an end very soon.  So, tip a bit of your FiddleheadSecond Fiddle double IPA for your fallen brethren.

7.  We’re going to have to talk a little bit about the 2013 season.  At this point, I’m not really sure if the Circle Three Blog is really in the elaborate prediction business.  Frankly, I don’t even know if Circle Three is really in business that much.  But maybe in the next week or so we can all talk about our 2013 thoughts.  I’ll see what I can arrange.

8.  Right off the top of my head, though, here’s what I bet.  No one can touch Spring this year.  I think he might be ready to challenge Betts for the consecutive wins streak.  I’m probably ahead of myself, but that’s what I think.  At this point, he’s still getting better every year.  Soon, he’ll be like Young Bucks and myself, and he won’t get better any more.  But for now, until he proves otherwise, Spring is still on the rise.  And if he’s rising none of us will be able to beat him.

9.  At the same time, Mike Habets play is really, really on the rise.  He’s also gotten better every year.  Plus, he’s younger and hungrier than Spring.  But, I have to think that the Point Series is still Spring’s to lose.  And he doesn't seem like much of a loser right now.  Habets will contend again this year, but he won’t be winning a Point Series.

10.  Personally, I think playing in a full season Point Series is a very expensive undertaking.  Even at $25 a tournament, that's $250 to play the full series.  That's not taking into consideration that some tournaments cost more that $25 and it's not taking into consideration that Pro is even more expensive.  It's certainly not taking into consideration the $30 lunch at the tournament at some unnamed ski resort tournament that we have in mid July.  So, iff someone's looking for a Circle Three internship, I'd love to know what it costs to play Pro for the full 2013 season.  Feel free to apply for an internship via email.  

11.  Wow, that’s been a lot of Circle Three for one night.  My fingers are sore from typing.  I can’t really remember anymore why I sat down to write this.  So it’s probably time to stop.  So, until next time, make sure to check the forum and see what Spencer has to say.  He’s on a roll right now and you should read it all before someone deletes it.  God bless the First Amendment. 

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