The Majors and The Minors

Like any hack of a blogger worth his salt, I’ll open by talking about how long it’s been since there was a Circle Three post.  Man, it’s been a while since there was a Circle Three post!  And now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I’ll launch into an all out barrage of information.  Although, information is probably a strong word.  So, an all out barrage of opinion.  Starting now.

*The Green Mountain Point Series.  I, for one, am burned out on slow tournament play, rainy disc golf, and long travel days.  So, I’m shooting for, maybe, two or three tournaments this year.  But that’s not true for everyone, especially for you, my loyal reader.  But, my second and third hand information tells me that tournament turnout has been low.  (Not for the BRO, of course, but that’s a whole other story for another day.)  I think I know why.  And I might even know what to do about it. 

*Eleven events with 6 scores counting for the totals is too much.  I don’t think it’s a sustainable season for many disc golfers.  I mean, if Sean Bleything isn’t playing, does it really even count as a real tournament?  Of course, for some people, like my favorite AMs, Jon Moorer and James Sweat, 11 tournaments is just right.  But they’re real, avid disc golfers.  For the rest of the field, I think committing to 6 scoring events is too much.

*Well, you might ask, am I just going to complain, or do I have a solution?  It’s just like me to complain away with no solution in sight.  But, for once, I actually have a solution to propose, instead of just sitting here complaining.  So here it goes.  Like everything else, this certainly isn’t my original idea.  So, if you’ve contributed to this, then please let me know.  And if you’d like to keep quiet and let me take the blame, then keep on doing what you’re doing.

*The Majors and Minors Plan.  I propose the GMDGC changes the approach of tournament scheduling to major and minor tournaments.  I’m suggesting that we have 6 majors each year and only 10 total events.  Five of your top scores count.  Why 10 events, you ask?  Well, 10 is my favorite number, it sounds good, and it’s less than 11.  Plus, it’s not 12 or 13.

*The Majors.  So, here’s how it works and here’s how it gets interesting.  Each season, 6 events get to be counted as Majors.  The other four events are filled up by other courses and tournaments that fit into a rotation.  Those are the Minors.  

So, Major #1 is New Hampshire.  That’s right, New Hampshire, the state.  Those friendly fellows get one Major tournament per year.  Spencer, James, and Nicky Blue Eyes can have some sort of pissing contest to see who gets to host the yearly Major, but one way or the other, the state of New Hampshire is guaranteed one Major per year. 

Calais obviously gets a Major.  Obviously?  Yes, obviously.  I didn’t stutter and my words were pretty clear.  When you have the oldest, biggest, baddest course in the land, you get a Major.  Johnny Betts also gets a Major.  He can host it at Black Falls, Cherry Hill, or whatever concoction his far Northern mind can come up with, but Johnny Betts is guaranteed a Major.

And that accounts for 3 Majors so far.  And now we’re getting down to it, so we’ll see what happens next.  Because Jeff Spring gets a Major.  Sure, sure, it’s really Brewster Ridge who gets the Major, but I’m awarding this one to Jeff Spring by name.  If you can pull off a course that costs more than my student loan debt, then you too can get a Major.  Otherwise, just keep reading.  That was Major Number 4, and only 2 remain. 

Waterbury gets a Major.  It’s home to most of Vermont’s disc golfers, the most played course in the state, and generally a pretty nice place.  Waterbury gets to host a Major for as long as the course exists.  Which, if you ask me, might not be that long.  But, for the time being, Waterbury gets a Major.  And now we’re down to one. 

Don’t worry, Mike Miller, I won’t forget about you.  In the business, we call this building suspense.  Base Camp Outfitters gets the 6^th and final Major.  They’re the heart of Southern Vermont disc golf, they have a great course, and they’re dedicated to the sport.  So they get a Major.

*The Minors.  Oh, boy.  This is the point where people get pissed.  What, Wrightsville doesn’t get a Major?  What, you didn’t even mention White River?  How can Cow Hampshire only get one Major?  Those questions are all valid.  But I had to choose and some feelings were bound to get hurt.  Plus, I’m pretty sure Colin at Wrightsville doesn’t like me as it is, so I’m not really doing a disservice. 

Anyway, the Minors plan.  Each year, 4 different courses or tournaments get to vie for the Minor tournaments.  Now, Minors would score the same as Majors, they’re just not guaranteed a spot in the rotation each season.  So, yes, Wrightsville, one of the other New Hampshire courses, Storrs Pond (whatever the fuck that place is), Sugarbush, The Timbers of Fennario or whatever new course pops up, can get in the rotation. 

Think about it, on the PGA tour, not every fancy course gets to host a tournament on the schedule every season.  And as Vermont (ahem, and New Hampshire) disc golf continues to grow, then we’re going to need a plan for making the schedule work.  And this is a plan.  Now, I doubt you’ll like my plan, but I do.  And if nothing else we’ve again opened up the debate.  So, make some comments and let the world know what you think.

*The final word goes to the whispered-about stroke shaving comments.  Seriously, how pathetic can people be?  Is counting to 5 (or in my case, 9) really that hard?  Or do you want to “win” a tournament so badly that you’ll cheat?  Man.  That really makes me mad.  Imagine how the people who actually played in the tournament feel.  And some ridiculous technology that someone mentioned on the forum isn’t the solution.  Old fashioned accountability is.  So, disc golfers, make it known now and forever.  Cheating won’t be tolerated.  For once, I’ll agree with the federal government… if you see something, say something. 

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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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