 |
|
|
|
| 8/15/2008 1:53:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
|
| juniors show skills
Bailey junior-class players Nick Huels (left) and Cory Borst (center) practice putting with Justin Pratt (right) of Colorado Springs. All three discs are in the air as these youngsters warm up prior to the first round of 18 holes. Cory finished fourth in the junior division. The Innova Traveling Basket was awarded to top finishing amateur Danny Austin, who shot eight under par for 36 holes. (Photo by Mike Quaintance/The Flume) |
|
Flying saucers seen near Rosalie Road
By Mike Quaintance
Disc golf tournament draws 34 participants to new Bailey course
It's true. Flying saucers hit Bailey last Saturday - in the form of discs of many colors and sizes that were sent sailing through the air near Rosalie Road.
The Platte Canyon Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the 4th annual "Bailey Invitational Disc Golf Tournament." A total of 34 players went two rounds of 18 holes spread out on the Platte Canyon School District property north of Rosalie Road in the Burland area.
"It was a tremendous success. It was a hoot. Everybody just adored the site," said Mary Sasser, who worked, along with Michael Jackson, to pull the event together.
People liked the terrain variety, with open meadows, wooded areas and outcroppings, said Sasser, and the weather cooperated fairly well, with rain coming in after the first round, when people were taking a break for lunch under a 40-foot by 20-foot tent, and after the second round.
In fact, the site was so well-received that there is some talk about approaching the school district to see if the land could be used for a state championship, Sasser said.
Rudy Gorke, a Bailey resident and member of the Foothill Flyers Disc Golf Club, said that his group is in talks with state championship organizers to see about having a state championship in the fall of 2009 at Beaver Ranch in Conifer and the Rosalie site in Bailey. It takes two courses to have a state championship, he said, with pros playing on one more difficult course, and amateurs, women and juniors on another course. A state championship would draw about 150 participants, he said.
Eventually, the group would like to have a world championship in metro Denver, which would use six or so courses, including perhaps the ones in Conifer and Bailey. World championships would attract a couple of thousand people, said Gorke.
At the Bailey Invitational this year, the field included five professional-class players, 20 amateur-class entrants, three women's-class participants and six juniors. Bailey disc golfers were joined by fellow players from across several Front Range communities, including Arvada, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Conifer, Evergreen, Pine Grove and even Pueblo. Several players came out for a single round in the morning or the afternoon and had to leave to attend to business commitments.
Kurt Blackwell, owner of Zoka's Restaurant in Pine Grove, got in a round in the morning and had to hurry off to open his business.
Disc golfers carry a kit bag with as many as 10 specialized discs.
Similar to a conventional golf bag full of specialized clubs, the various discs are used for long "drive" shots, short range "chip" shots and even "putting" into the "hole" baskets. There is even a tiny disc used as a "marker" so that the disc in use can be cleaned or exchanged for the next shot.
Many of the regular rules of golf apply, and there are even separate longer-range tee boxes for professionals.
A "shotgun" style start mixes pros with amateurs and juniors on the course. There is quite a bit of friendly coaching offered by the more experienced players to enhance the skills of the novices.
Contestants started the first round of 18 holes by mid- morning. Lunch was included in the entry fee and consisted of sandwiches from the Bailey Country Store. Refreshments, cookies and snack chips were sold to benefit the Bailey Drop-In Center. Players were in from the course and eating lunch just as a brief thunderstorm passed over.
The second round of 18 holes was completed under cloudy skies and light breezes.
Cash prizes were awarded for the top three pro-class finishers, with the first place finisher receiving $150, second place $100 and third place $50.
Amateurs, ladies and juniors were awarded a variety of disc golf accessories, including kit bags and selections of specialty discs. Ladies also won some potted flowers. The award ceremony was completed during a driving rain storm, with contestants sheltered under the large event tent.
Gorke was one of the tournament judges and course advisor to most of the junior players. The prime mover on the Platte Canyon Area Chamber of Commerce team was Sasser, who, along with Jackson, worked to pull all of the parts of the event together. The Bailey Invitational promises to be a regular summer event. The property used was one of the most challenging seen on the disc golf circuit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The Web Site contains material which is protected by international copyright and trademark laws. No material may be copied, reproduced, republished, broadcast or distributed in any way or decompiled, except that you may download one copy of the materials on any single computer for your personal, non-commercial home use only, provided you keep intact all copyright and other proprietary notices. On-line publication, Copyright 2008,
The Park County Republican & Fairplay Flume.
Office: 5138 County Road 64, Bailey, CO
Mailing address: P.O. Box 460, Bailey, CO, 80421-0460.
Phone: 303-838-4423 or Fax: 303-838-8414
Web page design, Copyright 2008, Arkansas Valley Publishing.
Software © 1998-2010 1up! Software, All Rights Reserved
|
|
|
|
