After wrapping up all of my “To Dos” in Wisconsin and saying goodbye to family while enjoying some delicious pancakes, I hit the road for home this morning…trying to sneak in a few more courses if the rain wouldn’t get too heavy.
My first stop on the day, in the rain and standing water about 2-3 inches deep in spots (just when I thought my feet might be dry for a day…sigh), was at Christmas Mountain Village near Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. This was a course I HAD to play, no matter the weather, as it is one of the ~150 courses where I personally have worked with DGA and the property owners to create the tee signage for their course! The course is short, and fairly open with few trees. That said? It is the only course I have ever played where the property owner has designated holes as “Par 1.” Two Par 1s, and five Par 2s, make this course incredibly difficult to par! I managed a +2 (21) in the rain, which wasn’t too bad. An estimated round rating of 960. But to me? Unless a hole is shorter than MAYBE 30-40 feet? I’m not sure how it can have a par of one. And the two Par 1s on that course measure-in at 140 and 170 feet, respectively.
After finishing up my round at Christmas Mountain Village, I made my way up to Fawn Creek Winery a bit North of Wisconsin Dells. I really wanted to play this one too, as I had heard rumors of the course not potentially remaining at the property in the future. The people I talked with on-site said there are no plans for the course to disappear, which is great news! Still, I wanted to make sure I played it, “just in case.” And I am so glad that I did! It was a fun nine hole course that was surprisingly more difficult than I had thought it would be. Only 2,430 feet over nine holes, but lots of trees, alleys and technical precision required to have any chance at deuce. I managed what I thought was a sub-par -1 (26) in the rain, but Disc Golf Course Review estimated that round with a rating of 978, which made me feel better. 🙂
After finishing up at the Winery (which had a nice selection of beverages and a comfortable indoor seating area, for what it’s worth), I made my way up to Castle Rock County Park in Mauston, Wisconsin to sneak one more course played in the rain. I didn’t play my best there, juggling a headache and both socks and shoes that I could wring the water out of. And my -1 (26) off the short tees generated a measly estimated round rating of 864. But a course played is a course played, and I was happy to add my ninth course played on this weekend trip to my Collection.
I had thoughts of stopping in Sparta, Wisconsin to try and get Big Brother played (another course long on my To Play List!), but the closer I got to Sparta, the harder it rained. So I decided to live to fight another day. One of these months, Justin Trails, one of these months….
Magic Number = 490 (1,510 Courses Played)
About Tonn’s Travels
How it All Got Started: Tonn’s Travels >>
A main purpose of this blog will be to share information, helpful tips and tricks (everything from health and fitness to methods for saving money while you’re out “bagging courses” of your own), and ideas for better, safer course design. But I am also hoping to inspire others with my passion for the sport, via the stories I can share about all of the interesting experiences I have. All of the interesting people I meet. All of the amazing courses I am blessed to have the opportunity to play. If I can inspire even a handful of individuals to get off the couch, get “out of their bubble” or “security blanket” and explore more of this big, beautiful planet we all call home? Then I will consider this effort a success.
About Derek
Derek Tonn is a member of the DGA’s Ambassador Team. His company, Mapformation, LLC, has been DGA’s partner in the development of disc golf tee signage since 2012. The longer our two companies have worked together, and the more Derek has gotten to know all the great folks at DGA, the more he has wanted to formally sing the company’s praises. The more he has realized that “Steady” Ed the father of disc golf and the modern day Frisbee vision for the sport and his company perfectly describes his own interests and priorities related to disc golf, and the more Derek has recently been encouraged to share his story.