Minnesota Frisbee Association
Volume 34 Issue 1
A Hearty Welcome to the New MFA Board By Mike Snelson
The membership meeting on November 14th set records for the Minnesota Frisbee Association (MFA). Over 50% of our current membership was able to cast a vote for your new Board of Directors (BoD). Todd Erickson won his Presi dential seat handily, defeating Jordan Sorenson for the posi
tion. Todd’s platform includes better communication between the BoD and MFA members, a new MFA website, and more transparency with operations. “We do need to improve our outreach efforts to people who don’t presently participate in disc sports and with those disc golfers who don’t compete in
tournaments or leagues,” stated Erickson in his online campaign platform. Todd has been the West Side Zone Coordinator since 2005. Jake Schramm won a hotly contested battle against Jayne Snyder in a triple-checked (and then checked again) run-off for Vice President. The remaining positions were uncontested. For the first time this year we were able to offer an on line absentee voting capability. The 2009 BoD agreed to contract with Votingplace.net, which allowed for 31 votes to be cast by absentee ballot. Multiple members sent this reporter kudos for finding and setting up this service. “It was simple” and “easy to use” according to some of the online voters. The BoD will be able to use this service for one year on this contract, which can be renewed. Judging from the positive response from everyone this will probably happen.
Your 2010 Minnesota Frisbee Association Board of Directors (From left to right) Chris Cook– East Zone, Ben Peterson– West Zone, Jake Schramm– Vice President, Char Majeski– Secretary, Todd Erickson– President, Tom Hammes– treasurer, Brian Gustafson– South Zone. (Not pictured, Tim Mackey– North Zone)
???COMPLEX??? By Timmy Gill
is located 30 minutes south of 494, between I-35 and Hwy 52, just south of Farmington. The property sits atop one of the highest points in Dakota County with breathtaking vistas. Designed by Timmy Gill and Team Par 72, Castle Rock Disc Golf will offer a minimum of 63
• January 10: Fairway Freezer Ice Bowl Event at Acorn, Contact Mike Snelson at 651484-5035 • January 10: MFA BoD meeting at Fairway Flyerz, 4:00PM • January 16: Saint Cloud Ice Bowl at Millstream, Contact Rick Rentz at 320-293-0844 • January 23: Winter Warmer w/ Chilly Dog League at Kaposia, Contact Brian Donahue at 612-827-0444 • January 23: St. Paul Winter Carnival Ice Bowl at Como, Contact Charlie Hutchinson at 763-593-7690 • February 6: Hibbing Ice Bowl at Hibbing, Contact Anton Tomonovich at 320-420-6542 • February 6: SMDGA Ice Bowl at Cedar Creek, Contact Dustin Theobald at 507-399-1008 • February 20: MFA BoD meeting at GGGT, 5:00PM • March 7: Spring RIP It, the first MST of the season at Lakewood Hills, Contact Rick Sanders at 651-493-8984 • March 14: Mulligan Stew at Blue Ribbon Pines, contact Timmy Gill– 612-281-3192 • March 14: MFA Full Membership Meeting at BRP immediately after Mulligan Stew
Did you say I have a DISC GOLF
Spring 2010, the Disc Golf hot bed that is the Twin Cities, will boil over! The town of Castle Rock, Minnesota will be home to the first multi-course, pay-to-play, disc golf complex in the greater Twin Cities area. Castle Rock
Upcoming Events
holes, all designed in 9-hole loops, so a player can pick and choose which layout to play. Two of the 9-hole loops comprise one of the longest, hardest courses in the World, playing a “true Par 72.” (continued on page 2)
Inside this issue: Mider Cup Report
2
President’s Report
3
Zone Reports
4
Beginnings ...
5
Dude, Where’s the Basket?
5
Schedule of Events
7
You Tell Me
8
East Siiide! The East Zone Wins Again at the 16th Annual Mider Cup
December, 2009 Todd Erickson, Disc Golf reporter The East Metro zone won its second MFA Mider Cup in a row with a narrow two point victory over the West Metro zone, 60-58. The North and South zones tied at 49 points. This was the closest Mider Cup since it was changed to the Match Play format in 2007. The Eastside and Westside teams both started out hot in the first round with victories over the South and North zones. They tied at 18 points in the second round setting things up for a
close finish in the third round against the greater MN zones. Both the North and South stepped up their play in the final round. The South tied the Westside, 18-18. The Eastside barely edged out the North, 19-17 to seal their MIder Cup win. The South zone put emphasis on the Am divisions and made most of their Pro divisions players "sacrficial lambs" based partially on the lack of turn-out of their best Pros in their South zone. Despite this strategy, some of the Sout players slotted in the Pro divisions, had good 3rd rounds and surprised people.
Castle Rock Complex (continued) All the loops consist of rolling terrain with woods and open areas. Castle Rock will have camping on site with a full on pro shop. Golf carts will also be available for those who wish to ride. Stay tuned to www.castlerockd iscgolf.com for Castle Rock’s money shot. All the loops consist of rolling more info. terrain with woods and open areas.
Thanks to the East Metro Zone Captain Jordan Sorenson for TDing the 2009 MIder Cup at his home course of Lakewood Hills, White Bear Lake. Thanks to Brad Junnila for his assistance in running the event. The newly elected MFA East Metro Zone Coordinator, Chris Cook, will select the course the MFA will use for the 2010 MIder Cup held at 10am on Saturday, October 16, 2010.
Year End Awards The 2009 Service and Competition Awards were presented at the fall meeting held at Kelly’s 19th Hole in Brooklyn Park. Mover & ShakerShaker-—Jordan Sorenson Visible Volunteer— Volunteer—Rick ‘Viper’ Sanders Quiet Contributor— Contributor—Mike Snelson Links Master— Master—Tim Mackey
Got Game? Join the Club! Become a Member of the MFA Today ·A subscription to the FLOATER, published at least once a year and packed with Minnesota disc sports news, articles, pictures, calendar of events and even your tournament results ·The right to earn points at tour events, to help you qualify for year-end prizes ·Voting rights in club Spring and Fall membership meetings ·Personalized membership card ·Club member discounts at select local and statewide retailers
Membership Dues New member $20 · New family $30 Renew member $15 · Renew family $25 New Student $15 (under 18) · Renew student $10 (under 18) Register at Fairway Flyerz Discs or GGGT, on line at www.mfaonline.org, or at any tour event.
Page 2
MINNESOTA FRISBEE ASSOCIATION
Promoter Extraordinaire— Extraordinaire— Timmy Gill Rookie of the Year– Year–—Christian Olsen Shooting Star— Star—Tom Marcus Higher Flyer, Pro Division– Division–— Chris ‘Critter’ Meyer Higher Flyer, Amateur Division— sion—William Hansen-Begg
2009 Mider Cup Results ROUND 1 WESTSIDE 22, NORTH 14 EASTSIDE 23, SOUTH 13
ROUND 2 WESTSIDE 18, EASTSIDE 18 NORTH 18, SOUTH 18
ROUND 3 EASTSIDE 19, NORTH 17 WESTSIDE 18, SOUTH 18
TOTALS AFTER FIRST ROUND EASTSIDE 23 WESTSIDE 22 NORTH 14 SOUTH 13
TOTALS AFTER SECOND ROUND EASTSIDE 41 WESTSIDE 40 NORTH 32 SOUTH 31
TOTALS AFTER FINAL ROUND EASTSIDE 60 WESTSIDE 58 NORTH 49 SOUTH 49
From the President’s Desk: I'm excited about the upcoming 35th anniversary for the Minnesota Frisbee Association (MFA), and I am pleased with the newly elected MFA Executive Board (EB) members I get to work with. It should be a great year for the MFA and disc sports. My top ten goals for the MFA are: 10. See that the MFA does its part to promote two huge national events coming to our area: a PDGA National Tour event —the MN Majestic (June 25-27) and the 2010 US Open Overall Flying Disc Tournament (July 11-17). Please contact Tim Gill (612-281-3192) and Paul Thompson (612-920-1547) to volunteer. (Note: Volunteers will receive a volunteer package and will see plenty of great competition)
A MESSAGE FROM TODD
6. Have online MFA EB meetings from April to October, 2010 so that these meetings are more accessible to MFA members across Minnesota. This will help build transparency to the decisions and discussions of the MFA EB. 5. See that membership packages are sent out once a week so that MFA members receive what they have coming in a timely fashion.
when they are not a current MFA member on the day they compete in a MST or MDS event. 3. Increase the value of a MFA membership by getting retailers, who sell disc golf products, to offer a discount for MFA members. 2. See that some of the MFA funds are dedicated toward course infrastructure improvement projects across the state so as to build more value into a MFA membership for disc golfers. ...And my #1 Goal is to improve MFA communications with the disc sports community in Minnesota with things like an improved website and the publication of three Floaters in 2010.
9. Do a better job recognizing all the disc sports volunteer work done across the state of Minnesota with articles and photos on the website and in the Floater that talk about specific volunteer efforts. Todd Erickson (foreground) overseeing the Moosehead calling competition at the
The MFA can't do everything with our limited financial resources but by working with hundreds of volunteers across the state of Minnesota we can accomplish a lot. I hope each of you will consider doing your part in 2010. WE NEED YOUR HELP!!
2008 Mider Cup. Brad Junilla (seen here in mid-call), won the contest with his patented 8. Build a statewide course “Here beer, here beer, here beer,” bringing the big bottles out of their cases. contact list similar to what Thanks for all of the volunteer the SMDGA (http:// work that has been done in the southernmndga.ning.com) has past 35 years on behalf of the MFA and 4. Promote the CASH BENEFITS of done in the South zone so that lead volunthanks in advance for the volunteer work being a MFA member for BOTH Pros teers and organizers have a list of potenpeople will do in next 35 years to grow and Ams who finish high enough in the tial volunteers to contact for assistance. disc sports. Minnesota Summer Tour (MST) and the Minnesota Doubles Series (MDS). TOO 7. Make sure we have transparency with Best wishes to ALL for a successful and MANY disc golfers who compete well in our MFA financial annual reports so that fun 2010 year of disc sports!! MST events leave money on the table MFA members can see the numbers for themselves.
MINNESOTA FRISBEE ASSOCIATION
Page 3
Zoning Out Reports from your Zone Coordinators South Zone Update By Brian Gustafson
The South Zone is in the process of finding course contacts that play their home town courses. These contacts would greatly improve the flow of information that is out about tournaments and special events to the local course players. If you would be interested in being a South Zone Course Contact please visit the website and contact Brian Gustafson. South Zone tournaments coming up: December 5th in Springfield is the Second Annual Disc Golfers for Christmas Joy—a Charity Fundraiser for local families. On December 12, the SMDGA Winter Championship will be held in Austin at Todd Park.
The South Zone is having a Fantastic year with the anniversary of the SMDGA website—www.smdga.com. The website is hosting 237+ members in the 4 state area. The SMDGA members voted online this year in selecting their 2010 Board of Directors. Thanks to Derek Tonn, the elections went without a hitch. The SMDGA election results for 2010: President/MFA South Zone coordinator: Brian Gustafson; Vice President/ Points Race Coordinator: Dean Anderson: Treasurer: Nik Johnsen; Counselor: Jason Linnett; East Zone Check out the website at Contact: Jared Pittman; & West Zone www.SMDGA.com Contact: Claire Nelson. I would like to thank Derek Tonn for running such a smooth and easy website for Disc golfers to have access to and be able to communicate with players in the far reaches of the south zone. I would also like to thank Jason Kloskin for the help in setting up the East zone contacts and interest in running more East side DG Tournaments for the 2010 schedule. Congratulations to the 2009 SMDGA Cup winners: the Austin # 2 Team of Chris Schmidt, Nik Johnsen, Dave Holder, Darin Finley. This SMDGA Cup winners at the Mankato Open. Jake year’s SMDGA Cup was held at the Schramm (in back) failed get the notice for the proper Land of Memories DGC in Mankato. dress for the occasion. East Zone Updates Ben Kiest and Jake Schramm ran a By Chris Cook smooth tournament. With the new layout of the course and new cement Exciting times are happening in the East tee pads, a three-way-tie was inevitathis year with the addition of the Castle Rock ble. Teams participating in this year’s complex, the massive rework at “THE ValSMDGA Cup were: New Ulm – The ley” (including the introduction of disc golf Flat Ball Bombers; Adrian; Austin # to South Valley), the Red Oak upgrades, and 1; Austin # 2; Owatonna; Jackson; at least 11 MST’s in the zone. Springfield; and Mankato. My vision for the East Zone Mider team includes a try out tournament late in the year. ICE BOWL EVENTS Come visit us at one of the 7 food Contact me if you’re interested in being on drive fund raisers in the State the team. The location of the Mider Cup 1/10 Fairway Freezer at Acorn event is yet to be determined. 1/16 1/23 1/23 2/6 2/6 2/6
Page 4
St Cloud Ice Bowl Winter Warmer at Kaposia St Paul Winter Carnival Red Oak Ice Bowl Hibbing Ice Bowl SMDGA Ice Bowl
MINNESOTA FRISBEE ASSOCIATION
Words of Wisdom
You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give. -- Winston Churchill
North zone Update By Tim Mackey
In 2009 the North Zone saw a number of new and upgraded disc golf projects. The cities of Albany and St. Augusta installed 18 hole championship courses. The St. Augusta course will be used as part of the 2010 A tier event in St. Cloud. New cement tee pads were installed by the SCDGC at both Riverside, and Calvary Hill. In spring of 2010 phase 3 of cement tee pads will begin at both courses. Potential new courses in the North Zone for 2010 include Sauk Rapids, Fertile, Bemidji, and Carlton. The Foley High school course has been pulled due to new building construction. No timetable set for re-installation. North Zone jamming nights will be Thursday evenings at SCSU gym or field house. Golfers are welcome to bring a practice basket to putt. The SCSU Indoor Frisbee Championships are in the process of being finalized for January 23-24. Ultimate, freestyle, SCF, DDC, and putting will be on the list of events. Club Officers for 2010: President—Amanda Henry Vice President—Rick Rentz Secretary—Matt Howard Treasurer—Steve Gradin 2009 SCDGC Awards Rookie of the Year—Andy Olson Most Improved—Matt Howard Sandbagger of the Year—John Meller Female Player of the Year—Maria Ferschweiler Sportsman of the Year—Rick Rentz
Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun CONGRATULATIONS 2009 MDS Champions Advanced: Nate Morton/Ben Peterson Intermediate: Cory Zappa/Zach Zappa Pro: Mike Chatelle/Terry Parson
Beginnings . . . If you ever have the chance to play a round of golf with Jumpin’ Joe and the Bangstad, you’ll soon realize that word play becomes an integral part of disc play. Some of the banter has evolved over years of playing together, while the rest comes from a simple love of language. I came across a word the other day that caught my eye—ABECEDARIAN. I vaguely remembered first encountering the word in my poetry studies as a type of poem where the form follows an alphabetical pattern; however, the word can also mean one who is a BEGINNER. Do you remember when you were a flying disc beginner? Your first FRISBEE experience? Your first plastic purchase? My beginnings with the flying disc have grown more mystical than whimsical over the decades, but disc play still brings out the whimsy of my youth. A little more than 50 years ago my father, who was quite proficient at sports that required “underhand pitching” (read: horseshoes and softball), brought home a Pluto Platter for my brother, Craig, and I to toss around in the Jensen backyard. As a kid in grade school, I was fasci-
Lightnin’ Lyle nated with the flight of the disc, and my brother and I spent countless hours experimenting with the platter. None- theless, we were just beginners, but in the 50’s all but a small handful of disc handlers were novices... n’est-ce pas? Fast forward some 18 years to a fatefilled phone call from a guy I had worked with at a part-time, seasonal job inviting me to join him and some other guys who liked throwing a FRISBEE around at Thomas beach on Lake Calhoun. Soon after that first gathering some of us discussed formalizing these sessions and starting a club. This gathering of guys and gals was the beginning of our club—, the venerable and legendary Minnesota Frisbee Association. To some degree we were just a bunch of young, hapless but hopeful, ABECEDARIANS. Flying disc clubs were something very new, so we had no choice but to be beginners. There very few footsteps to follow, guid-
ing principles to mandate, or success stories to mimic. So, we did the best we could with the few resources we had. Were we always successful? Well, quite frankly, no, but we all tried to chip in and help the MFA become an organization that tyro and expert alike would be proud to join. As we enter into our 35th year as a vital and viable club, I think the MFA has had a highly successful run—a welldeserved, legacy-in-the-making, if you will. As we look forward to an exciting 35th anniversary year, words cannot adequately express just how proud I am of the many volunteers who have helped sustain the vision of a few of us old guys over the years. My hat comes off and my hand goes out to the newly-elected BoD. Good luck and Godspeed my friends; you have an event-filled year ahead of you. To those of you who have never taken the time to help run a major event, make this your ABECEDARIAN year as a firsttime, neophyte volunteer at the Majestic or the Overalls. Let’s all work together to make 2010 a year of fun, fraternity and new beginnings for the mighty MFA!
Dude! Where’s the BASKET??? By Mike Snelson
I can only imagine the adrenaline rush that one gets when taking a target out of a park. The planning involved prior to actually planting the basket in your back yard must be excruciating. First you need to figure out which basket is the most vulnerable and easiest to snatch. Checking out the prospective target that day before, wriggling it to make sure nobody fixed your ‘work’ from days before, making sure you’ll be able to make a clean get-a-way, …all comes with a sense of accomplishment once one buries that basket in one’s own back yard. But at what cost? During one of our latest target recoveries I had an opportunity to discuss this with a police detective over the Mounds View hole 9 basket find. A month after this target was cut off and whisked away, I got a call. Thanks go to Dean Anderson for spotting this target on EBAY and alerting me. I promptly spoke to Mounds View maintenance and police about the opportunity to recoup the loss. There were some behindthe-scenes ‘conversations’ that were done with EBAY, there was a warrant served at this individual’s address, the target recov-
Update from the Basket Committee
ered, and as the court case finished this person became a member of the chain gang for a short while as well as being fined, (after being charged with possession of stolen property). His story was that he found the target in the woods… on park property. Disc golfers (and Mounds View), were lucky on this one. Someone was shortsighted enough to try to sell this target and they got caught. But this is the exception. Every year we have lost targets to individuals that feel their own practice basket would really be cool, not realizing that if they invite their friends over to practice that disc golfing buddies may become suspicious of where the basket came from, or that if caught with this target that they could be charged with a felony. In speaking with the police I was told that another option that may be happening is that the target is brought in and sold as scrap metal (oh, the shame of it all). Manufacturers of targets are as concerned about this as we are. Innova and Discraft have both contacted me to gain knowledge of additional measures we have resorted to in the process of installing targets locally, spurring the idea that ours is not an isolated
problem. Being that Minnesota is a hotbed of disc golf, our designers and installers are being forewarned and forearmed with advanced measures of assuring a good solid install. They are looking to us to help stem a National issue by becoming more attuned to this continuing issue and are counseling others because of our additional measures. You can help. Keep eyes out for targets popping up in neighbor’s yards. Alert the MFA Basket committee if you come across a suspicious looking target—one that seems like its being worked loose. If you see someone actually trying to loosen a basket, DON’T HESITATE TO CALL THE POLICE. If there’s a bunch of kids vandalizing the park call the police. Don’t get yourself in a position of being harmed but try to ascertain specifics: license plate #, description of cars, etc. because the park patrol can only be as effective as the manpower they have available. We need to help out as much as we can to stop this activity from happening to keep disc golf available for all to enjoy.
(As a side note, the same target has been stolen twice since this article was written)
Page 5
MINNESOTA FRISBEE ASSOCIATION
Page 5
2009 MST & MDS STANDINGS (Top of the card, anyhow) "I would personally like to thank every MST Tournament Director for their time in running our state tour! Without volunteers such as yourselves, this tour wouldn't be able to pay out roughly $1,400. I'm sure 2010 will be even bigger and better, thanks again," said Brad Junilla, Mider Coordinator. Here are your divisional winners. For more statistics, visit the MFA’s Yahoo group at http://www.mfaonline.org
MASTER PRO DIVISION
OPEN PRO DIVISION Chris Meyer Timmy Gill Christian Olson (ROY) Brian Walli Alex Burchard Bob Lauritzen Buzz Saathoff Brad Junnila Joe Hegge Jason Krebsbach
700 677 674 639 527 483 447 445 426 422
INTERMEDIATE DIVISION Darin Finley Jeremy Novalany Dion Erbes Nick Letendre Nate Morton Jeremiah Jones Steve Erickson Luke Donovan Travis Ramsey
689 469 440 389 372 296 293 248 188
ADVANCED WOMEN DIVISION Ellen Kline Missy Erickson Ilisa Anderson
Page 6
478 201 188
MINNESOTA FRISBEE ASSOCIATION
OPEN PRO WOMEN DIVISION Jayne Snider
100
502 494 476 472 470 457 444 440
GRAND MASTER PRO DIVISION Rick Rentz Chris Porter Todd Erickson Tim Mackey Jumpin Joe Feidt
301 278 195 92 90
MASTER ADVANCED DIVISION
ADVANCED DIVISION Kris Kapitan Jake Schramm Jade Oberg Scott Ryther Brandon Day Pete Scholl Dave Holder Trevor Boehne Tom Marcus Brian Kohout
Terry Parson Geno LaForge Bruce Novak Mike Chatelle Mike Misakian Rich Snyder Troy Iverson Alan Hansen Begg
693 690 685 676 668 653 643 641 630 618
Brian Gustafson Mike Snelson Dave Becchetti Mike Bruns Ted Haff Pete Hazen Bob Prenot Chris Bratsch John Solberg
395 348 284 273 191 191 182 178 178
Minnesota Frisbee Association
Volume 34 Issue 1
P.O. Box 16394 St. Paul, MN 55116 MARK YOUR CALE DARS! 30th Annual
Moir mystery
Madness Sunday, May 16, 2010 Be a part of the oldest, longest– running, alternative format disc golf tournament in the world! (as always, costumes are optional)
Visit the MFA website! Go to www.mfaonline.org to renew your membership or see the latest updates and schedule changes.
2009 Bag Tag Report We sold a total of 320 bag tags in 2009 out of 350 purchased, raising over $1700. Be sure to pick up your 2010 bag tag, available through your zone coordinators, Fairway Flyerz and GGGT. $6 and you’re in the hunt!
YOU TELL ME What hole do you think this is? Which course in this fine State of Disc Golf, Minnesota? Email your answer to discindude@comcast.net to win the ATTA-BOY of the day!*
Vo lu me
3 4 / I ssu e
1
The FLOATER is the world’s longest running flying disc club newsletter and is published by: The Minnesota Frisbee Association P.O. Box 16394 St. Paul, MN 55116 Editors Mike Snelson Lightnin’ Lyle Jensen Contributing Writers Timmy Gill, Todd Erickson, Chuck Kennedy, Tim Mackey, Brian Gustafson, Derek Tonn MFA CO TACTS President: Todd Erickson 612-789-4400 todd9500@msn.com Vice President: Jake Schramm 507-327-4400 jakesmsu@hotmail.com Secretary: Char Majeski 612-766-9599 char@gottagogottathrow.com Treasurer: Tom Hammes 612-781-7283 thammes@mn.rr.com East Zone (& Mider Cup): Chris Cook 651-402-9435 cookstar1050@yahoo.com West Zone: Ben Peterson 612-391-8493 pete2178@umn.edu orth Zone: Tim Mackey 320-255-0966 mackeytim@yahoo.com
NAME THAT HOLE! (*first correct emailed answer also receives a mini from Lightnin’ Lyle’s historic collection.) Page 8
MINNESOTA FRISBEE ASSOCIATION
South Zone: Brian Gustafson 507-451-9088 bmgband@charter.net E HEADS PDGA State Coordinator: Mike Snelson 612-781-7283 mike@fairwayflyerz.com