Wallace “Ron” Ronald had the vision long before he had the location.
Ronald, who has served as founder or general partner in a number of Hartford-area restaurants, pictured a laid-back, relaxing space that combined the offerings of a brewery with access to meals from popular food trucks, keeping the “menu” fresh and labor costs down.
He eyed locations across Connecticut, including one near the Connecticut River, but ultimately settled on a place closer to home: the former Tower Ridge Country Club in Simsbury, near where he grew up decades ago.
The old clubhouse has been extensively renovated and turned into the Talcott Mountain Collective, which aside from beer offers a deliberately limited menu of pretzels, chili and pizza — to not compete directly with the food trucks — and entertainment such as board games, cornhole sets and outdoor fire pits.
“It’s still a magnificent piece of property,” Ronald said, referring to the site’s panoramic view of Talcott Mountain and the Heublein Tower. “But it was never a proper golf course. Some people enjoyed the challenge of it, but to me it was always a goat pasture.”
Today, some of the former fairways and greens have been repurposed as a disc golf course by a separate business entity, Tower Ridge Disc Golf, headed by David Tolk.
Tolk, who co-designed the 18-hole course, said disc golf is an ideal use for the land, as it takes advantage of the old course layout without the significant expense typically sunk into constant mowing and chemical treatments.
“We’re keeping the recreational spirit of it without all the maintenance costs,” he said. “It’s more environmentally friendly. That is a huge benefit of converting the space.”
While still a fairly unique case, the former Tower Ridge site is one of at least four golf courses in Connecticut to come under new management over the last year.
And while real estate and golf industry experts don’t necessarily see a broader trend unfolding, they acknowledge that mounting costs and declining profitability could in some instances prompt existing golf course owners to offload or lease out their properties, which are typically large and hard work to maintain.
“Some of these golf courses are not as strong as they used to be,” said Tom York, principal of transactional and advisory services at real estate consulting firm Goman+York. “We’re not seeing a trend, but maybe it stands to reason that some property owners are seeing new opportunities now.”
Connecticut has seen little growth in its economy or population over the years, York noted, meaning that golf courses that thrived in better times may not have the financial resources to continue under their existing business model.
“You own a piece of land. It’s either profitable or it’s not, or it’s marginally profitable,” he said. “When you take a look at it — is there something else that makes sense? Is there a higher and better use for that land? Each site will be a little different, but that’s the question each of them needs to ask.”
Aside from Tower Ridge, which is being leased by its new operators, 2021 was a relatively busy time for golf-related real estate deals.
In May, Quarry Ridge Golf Course in Portland was sold for $1.7 million to Nexus Golf Properties.
Around the same time, voters in Southington approved the town’s $4.5 million purchase of development rights to the privately-owned Southington Golf Course, a move expected to prevent the construction of a 114-lot subdivision on the property.
The transfer means that while the land will continue to be owned by the Calvanese and Kastner families, they would give up the right to build on it or use it for anything other than a golf course or recreational green space. The same would apply to any future owners.
And in December, Tallwood Country Club in Hebron was sold by the local McDermott family to Dana Barnes, manager of Concord Golf Properties, for $1.5 million.
Mixed outlook
The idea of financial hardships plaguing golf courses would appear to fly in the face of reports from industry groups trumpeting a major resurgence in the sport during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For much of 2020, golfing venues, which naturally lend themselves to socially-distanced play, were one of the few recreational businesses still up and running. Courses reported a huge increase in players returning to the sport, and beginners just taking it up.
Some courses saw record-setting revenues as a result of the local golf revival, said Tom Hantke, executive director and CEO of the Connecticut Section of the PGA.
But those gains were not evenly distributed across all operators, Hantke pointed out. Municipal golf courses, as well as some private clubs, did well, but some private, member-owned clubs are continuing to struggle with economic factors that first came to a head during the Great Recession.
“The challenges for the private member clubs are capital challenges — bunker upgrades, irrigation systems, aging maintenance equipment,” Hantke said. “Historically the way they paid for that was a loan from the bank, and assessing higher prices on members, but if the membership is shrinking that’s difficult to support.”
According to the CT PGA, which oversees golf courses in Connecticut and western Massachusetts, its region has lost 17 golf courses since the early 2000s, and many of those fit the profile of member-owned clubs that couldn’t support themselves, or family-owned clubs that had no family members willing to take over the reins.
“I think right now, there are some private owners who are looking to exit their family business,” Hantke said, referring specifically to Tallwood.
Hantke said the PGA is aware of the developments at the former Tower Ridge course in Simsbury, but he doesn’t see conversions as the way of the future.
“I don’t see a lot of that repurposing taking place,” he said. “That would be the exception, not the rule.”
In general, Hantke said he’s optimistic about golf in Connecticut, because of the pandemic-inspired surge in interest, and private clubs are investing more money into their operations, making clubhouses amenable to weddings and outdoor dining, and setting up ranges and learning centers to help newcomers pick up the sport.
Barnes, who also acquired Twin Hills Country Club in Coventry in 2018, also sees the positive. There’s no rush to unload golf courses, he said, only “case by case” opportunities that come up as owners, for their own reasons, decide to exit the industry.
Barnes said his group, Concord Golf Properties, is currently in “acquisition mode,” looking to add more sites in Connecticut, southwestern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
New opportunities
Ronald, of the Talcott Mountain Collective, said he wasn’t initially concerned with using the golf course at Tower Ridge, as he only planned to gut and remodel the clubhouse and use some of the surrounding outdoor space for games. But business associates made the case for a disc golf course, pointing to the sport’s growing popularity and the appeal of an added draw for the Collective.
Now, players can golf for a round or two and then retire to the clubhouse for drinks and food.
“I knew it was not going to be a big expense,” Ronald said. “The truth is, this disc golf helps fulfill my vision. It really rounded out the Collective.”
So far, the conversion has gone off smoothly.
The disc golf course is bringing in a steady stream of returning players, Tolk said, and business is expected to pick up in the spring, as temperatures rise and more people gravitate toward outdoor venues.
The plan is to expand the course, with glow-in-the-dark night disc golf, a summer camp for children and opportunities for corporate events and team-building exercises.
“We want to be the gold standard for a pay-to-play course,” Tolk said.
A collection of the top professional disc golfers are coming to Steel Club in Hellertown for the Disc Golf Pro Tour Match Play Championship this weekend.
The tournament will kick-off with practice rounds and a skins match on Thursday, with head-to-head competition beginning on Friday. The event’s match play structure will feature one-on-one matchups between the golfers, with the winner advancing through the single elimination bracket.
“Match play is an incredibly exciting format and it is one that has a rich history in one-on-one competition,” a press release for the event reads.
This weekend’s Match Play Championship will be played on a special, 12-hole layout designed in part by Steve Braud, Steel Club’s disc golf professional.
The men’s bracket features 16 golfers, while the women’s bracket features eight. This weekend’s event comes at the end of the 2021 Disc Golf Pro Tour, and invitations were sent out to the top ranked men and women golfers on this year’s tour.
The men’s bracket features notable golfers including Eagle McMahon, Ricky Wysocki and Calving Heimberg. James Conrad, who won the 2021 Pro Disc Golf World Championships thanks in part to a miraculous throw on the 18th hole, is ranked seventh.
The full bracket is available on the Disc Golf Pro Tour Instagram page.
A purse of a minimum of $20,000 will be distributed among the field of 24 golfers. This weekend’s event will also be broadcast live on the Disc Golf Network, the press release says.
The event is the first of its kind to be hosted at Steel Club’s 27-hole golf course facility. A special, 12-hole disc golf layout has been arranged for the Match Play Championship.
Discmania, a well-known disc golf brand, is sponsoring this weekend’s tournament.
“Discmania founder, Jessin Meresmaa, is known across the globe for running some of the biggest and best events in the world, such as the European Open and the Presidents Cup,” the press release reads. “The Steel Club is just the type of venue that can accommodate another prestigious, high-caliber Discmania event.”
“We are looking forward to hosting the DGPT Match Play Championship at Steel Club,” said Steel Club General Manager Grace Spirk. “The sport of disc golf is growing exponentially and we are excited to be a part of growth.”
Steel Club has its own 18-hole disc golf course. An annual membership to the course costs $360.
“We have done our best to create a gold level professional course, not only to challenge the best players in the world, but to also allow golfers on all levels a place to test their skills,” Steel Club’s website reads.
Tickets to this weekend’s event are available through Eventbrite. General admission tickets are $10 for Thursday’s practice round and $20 for the rounds on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A 4-day general admission pass is available for $50. VIP passes are also available.
Steel Club is also in need of volunteers for this weekend’s event. More information about volunteering can be found on their website.
Spectator and event information for the tournament can be found on the Disc Golf Pro Tour website.
Below is the tournament’s full schedule:
Thursday
10 a.m. – Gates open to spectators
12 p.m. – Skins match
Friday
9 a.m. – Gates open to spectators
10-11:30 a.m. – Men’s match 1 tee times
2-4 p.m. – Men’s match 2 tee times
Saturday
9 a.m. – Gates open to spectators
10-11:30 a.m. – Men’s match 3 tee times
2-3:30 p.m. – Men’s and women’s Elite 8
Sunday
9 a.m. – Gates open to spectators
10 & 11 a.m. – Men’s and women’s Final Four
2 p.m. – Men’s and women’s championship
Parking for the event will be located at 2101 Wassergass Road, Hellertown, PA 18055.
Pittsburg Ice Bowl Benefit Tournament set for Feb. 26
The Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Department and Pittsburg Disc Golf Club are teaming up to host the Ice Bowl Benefit Tournament on Feb. 26 starting at 11 a.m. at the Schlanger Park Disc Golf Course.
Registration will take place from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the day of the event and the entry fee for the tournament is five nonperishable food items or a $10 cash donation, with all proceeds being donated to the Wesley House in Pittsburg.
For additional information regarding the Ice Bowl Tournament, contact the Pittsburg Parks & Recreation Department at 620-231-8310.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum added to U.S. Civil Rights Trail
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is the third site in Missouri to be included on the trail, which highlights individuals, events, and locations in 15 states and the District of Columbia that have been vital to the advancement of civil rights in the United States.
“The fight for racial equality in our country has taken on many forms, including marches, conflicts and court cases. The inclusion of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum adds yet another layer to the history that is preserved by the U.S. Civil Rights Trail,” said Stephen Foutes, director of the Missouri Division of Tourism.
MDT nominated the museum for inclusion on the trail, which was created through a collaboration of participating states in 2018.
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum opened in Kansas City in 1991. It tells the story of why the leagues were formed and how they ultimately contributed to social advancement in the United States. The Negro Leagues produced some of baseball’s greatest players including Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and James “Cool Papa” Bell.
The Negro National League — one of seven leagues nationwide — was established in Kansas City in 1920 and included the Kansas City Monarchs.
Robinson, a member of the Monarchs, was the first player to break baseball’s color barrier when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. Buck O’Neil, a 2022 inductee in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, was the first Black coach in Major League Baseball and was instrumental in establishing the museum.
“We are deeply honored to be part of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail,” said Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. “The Negro Leagues played a tremendous role in the social advancement of America. Our inclusion to the trail will undoubtedly help more people understand that the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is a Civil Rights and Social Justice institution that documents a powerful story of triumph over adversity as seen through the lens of baseball.”
Missouri’s other two sites on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail are the Old Courthouse in St. Louis, where the Dred Scott trial was heard, and the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum in Independence. Truman is recognized for his executive order to desegregate the military — a decision that helped pave the way for desegregation throughout society.
Learn more about Missouri’s sites on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail and other civil rights history in the state at visitmo.com/in-the-spotlight/missouris- civil-rights-stories. For more information about the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, visit civilrightstrail.com.
WGU Missouri launches new scholarship
In celebration of WGU Missouri’s ninth anniversary, the nonprofit, fully accredited, online university has announced it is awarding $450,000 in scholarships to new students who are interested in furthering their education. Since its establishment in February 2013, WGU Missouri has been committed to providing high-quality, convenient and career-boosting college education to residents across the state, including working adults who have some college experience but no degree. The WGU Missouri ninth anniversary scholarships, valued at up to $9,000 each, underscore WGU’s mission of helping make higher education even more attainable for adults across Missouri, especially those looking to strengthen their skill sets as the ongoing pandemic continues to impact the local workforce.
While many universities have experienced a decline in enrollment since the onset of the pandemic, WGU Missouri’s enrollment continues to hold steady and actually managed to grow over the past 12 months. The university, which was created through a partnership with the national Western Governors University and Gov. Jay Nixon, currently has 3,340 enrolled students, an increase of 2.8% over last year, and has conferred degrees to 6,011 graduates, a fifth of whom graduated in the past 12 months. In fact, WGU Missouri has shown consistent growth since its establishment nearly a decade ago. Across the state, WGU Missouri employs 191 staff members, has awarded more than $3.4 million in scholarships and has built partnerships with more than 85 businesses, institutions and organizations in an effort to create new opportunities for their employees to pursue higher education at an even lower cost and advance their careers.
WGU Missouri has been credited with helping individuals earn their college degrees who otherwise couldn’t easily complete or afford a traditional college program. The average student age is 35, with more than 65% of attendees coming from underprivileged populations or being first-generation college students. Additionally, 72% of students work full time while pursuing their degrees. These grads are quickly seeing a difference in their lives as more career opportunities become available. As a result, students earn an average of $21,800 more within four years of graduation, which is significantly higher than the national average of $11,500.
“As we commemorate the ninth anniversary of WGU’s establishment in the state of Missouri, we want to recognize our students, many of whom have previously faced challenges in completing their degrees through traditional means,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, chancellor of WGU Missouri. “We are proud to provide the 900,000 Missourians who have some college but no degree with an alternative, affordable pathway to earning their bachelor’s and master’s degrees — and, ultimately, advancing their careers and transforming their lives. We look forward to continuing to empower many more adults to go back to school and earn their degrees in the years to come.”
WGU Missouri offers more than 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business, information technology, K-12 teacher education and health professions, including nursing. Unlike a traditional college program, WGU caters to adults with previous or current work experience who are looking to further their careers through education. WGU Missouri’s competency-based education model allows adult students to take advantage of prior learning and experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn.
To be considered for WGU Missouri’s 9th Anniversary Scholarship, new and prospective students must be Missouri residents, be admitted to WGU Missouri, and submit a scholarship application by June 30, 2022. Scholarships will be awarded based on the student’s academic record, previous college experience, readiness for online study, current competency, and other considerations. The scholarship will be applied at the rate of $2,250 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms toward WGU’s already-low tuition of approximately $3,800 per six-month term for most programs. For more information about this scholarship, visit missouri.wgu.edu/9th.
Thank a Farmer week wraps up March 7
Farm Bureau’s presidents Lana Couch and Ben Fizette from Barry & Lawrence, join forces to co-sponsor a free-of-cost Market Outlook and State of Industry meeting featuring Kelly Smith and Sam Polly for farmers and future farmers in our area.
Following the chili dinner and dessert, we will begin the evening with Sam Polly, Missouri’s new state director of pesticide safety education with MU Extension.
“The greatest threat to modern agriculture is a negative public perception leading to over regulation. The ensuing runaway costs of regulatory compliance, lawsuits, and enforcement actions is stripping both our agricultural economy and heritage.” said Polly.
Sam will discuss the roots of this problem and what we can do about it while there is still time.
Then Missouri Farm Bureau’s senior director of marketing and commodities, Kelly Smith, will take the stage to provide an expansive summary of agriculture market outlook.
“Kelly will cover a wide range of topics that impacts our ag market including the pendulous cattle market, input costs, supply chain hiccups all the way to the impact of Russia stand-off’s on your feed grain flows,” said Ben Fizette, Lawrence County Farm Bureau president.
We hope you’ll join us for the opportunity to learn from these knowledgeable speakers on the final day of “Thank a Farmer Week” — Monday, March 7, 2022, at 6 p.m. beginning with chili dinner at the University of Missouri’s Southwest Research Center, 14548 Hwy H, Mount Vernon, MO 65712. Please kindly RSVP by Friday, March 4, by calling Tosha at 417-466-7679.
UScellular announces $70.3 million network investment in Missouri in 2021
UScellular announced that it made a $70.3 million investment in its Missouri network in 2021. This includes $11.3 million in general network upgrades, $24 million in 5G modernizations, and $35 million in 5G spectrum that will bring additional benefits in the coming years while advancing the company’s multiyear 5G network strategy.
Additionally, in 2021 UScellular provided $38,405 in funding to nonprofit organizations, teachers and youth organizations across Missouri, including $30,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia, $4,094 to teachers through donations to DonorsChoose.org and $4,311 through its Community Connections program. Three Boys & Girls Clubs in Missouri also received $316,525 worth of hot spots and service to help their members connect to the internet at the clubs or at home as part of the company’s After School Access Project.
“Connectivity is more important than ever right now, and at UScellular we are committed to keeping our customers connected to the people and places that matter most to them,” said Joe Cabrera, director of sales for UScellular in Missouri and Kansas. “We will continue to invest in creating a great wireless experience for customers, while also ensuring we provide critical resources for youth in our local communities.”
To help ensure customers have a great shopping experience, UScellular also invested $1.15 million in its Missouri retail store environments in 2021. This includes 12 new, relocated, redesigned or upgraded stores that better showcase the variety of products and services the company provides, making it easier for customers to find what they need.
For more news and information about UScellular, please go to newsroom.uscellular.com.
ENID, Okla. — Several years ago, Chad Nech was looking for an activity to lead a healthier lifestyle.
He caught the “disc golf bug” in 2016 and began traveling to various disc golf courses throughout Oklahoma and in Kansas and Texas to play in tournaments.
Then, Nech formed Enid Disc Golf Club and became a tournament director for Professional Disc Golf Association so he could organize and run events.
Nine disc golfers competed in the first tournament Nech ran in Enid. There were about 80 players in the most recent tournament.
“I wanted a community, so I built it,” he said. “Disc golf is just this inclusive thing that’s bringing all of these different people from all walks of life together.”
By 2017, EDCG was running tournaments and fundraisers, giving money back to nonprofits in the Enid area and helping fund additional courses and holes, such as the NWOSU-NOC Disc Golf Course and the 18-hole Meadowlake Disc Golf Course.
EDGC has grown in membership, reaching nearly 50 now, with the COVID-19 pandemic leading to an “explosion” in membership.
“(Disc golf) has given us an outlet in a time when we need it,” Nech said. “One thing I started to see — especially in 2020 — is that people just needed a good time.”
Chad Nech, founder of Enid Disc Golf Club, rings up a customer who purchased discs at Flight Farm. (Kelci McKendrick / Enid News & Eagle)
Kelci McKendrick | Enid News & Eagle
The cost to become an EDGC member is $50. Disc golfers who are interested in playing with EDGC get a free “First Flight.”
The 2022 season begins on Feb. 20 and will last for 10 to 11 months, depending on the weather. EDGC offers both sanctioned and non-sanctioned leagues, and players are awarded 1.5 points for every player they tie with or beat.
EDGC’s winter indoor putting league, which started on Jan. 9, will continue from 4-6 p.m. on Feb. 20 and 27 at Enid Axe and costs $5. Mulligans Over Meadowlake will begin at 11 a.m. on March 6 and costs $60 per team, with all of the proceeds benefiting Forgotten Ministries’ Youth Program, The Bridge.
Nech said the support from the community since 2016 has been great, adding he wants to keep seeing the sport grow in popularity, especially targeting youth.
“I definitely want to … focus on the next generation, because we obviously can’t hold the torch forever,” Nech said.
For more information on disc golf or to get involved with EDGC, visit Enid Disc Golf on Facebook or join the EDGC Facebook Group.
More information also can be found at Flight Farm, 1012 Hite Boulevard, which sells discs and other disc golf items and is open from 2-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
Two years ago, it was a dream, an idea that, if realized, would bring something new to Jefferson County as well as visitors to the county’s Ogeechee Crossing Park. That something new is disc golf. Players throw a flying disc toward a target. The number of throws a player uses to hit the target are tallied; and, the player with the fewest throws wins.
Henry Hamilton, owner of Adrenaline Heaven Sports, designed the course and will be the tournament director for the first disc golf tournament at Ogeechee Crossing. This inaugural match will be held Saturday, Oct. 30, and is a one-day event.
The targets at Ogeechee’s disc golf course are elevated metal baskets, the most common target.
As in ball golf or club golf, players must make consecutive throws from the point where the disc from the previous throw lands. Different obstacles such as trees and water challenge the players throughout the course.
Slipping into another “mild” week of trivia and beer dinners, with a new release or two. But we are coming up to Mardi Gras next Tuesday, and the weekend before, so keep an eye peeled.
This has only tangentally affected the Chicago beer world, but Portland, Oregon’s Hair of the Dog brewery has announced it is closing after nearly 30 years in business. Alan Sprints started the brewery to focus on strong, bottle-conditioned ales and lagers, and was ahead of the IPA curve. Its popular beers had a picture of a dog on the label, like Fred barleywine and Adam strong ale. Most of its ingredients were sourced from farms and hop yards withing 350 miles of the brewery. They don’t seem to have made it to the Chicago market, but I’ve picked up a few in trades and in Indiana on my way to Dark Lord Day. Sprints has said he has no interest in selling to a corporation, and will keep the doors open until all his supply runs out.
Monday, February 21
3:00 – 7:00 pm • Country Grill Chicken Truck Evil Horse Brewing Co., 1338 Main St., Crete, IL (708) 304-2907 Map Country Grill Chicagoland is a food truck company offering rotisserie chicken and ribs fresh from the spit, homemade salads and pretzels.
5:30 – 8:30 pm • Indoor Disc Golf Putting League The Church Street Brewing Co., 1480 Industrial Dr. Ste. C, Itasca, IL (630) 438-5725 Map This past January we finished our first Indoor Disc Golf Putting League Tournament! Want to be a part of the next league? Join us for the next event on February 21st. Sign-up starts at 5:30 pm and the team-partner draw starts at 6:00 pm. This tournament will go from February 21st to March 28th. Come play every Monday to win! For more details come to the taproom and check it out for yourself.
7:00 – 9:00 pm • Monday Night Trivia Une Année Brewery/Hubbard’s Cave, 6343 W. Gross Pointe Rd., Niles, IL (847) 635-0655 Map Free to play general trivia on the patio or in the taproom with Pub Trivia USA. Prizes to top teams! So much fun. We usually get a great turnout so reservations are always helpful!
7:00 – 10:00 pm • Weekly Trivia @ Pilot Project Pilot Project Brewing, 2140 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago (773) 270-5995 Map Join us in the Pilot Project Heated Tent for free pub trivia every Monday! Beer Special: Every player will receive one free 4oz taster of beer, booch or cider. Reservations Available on Tock
Tuesday, February 22
11:00 am – 10:00 pm • Two Brothers Fan Appreciation Day! Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, Aurora, IL 630-393-2337 Map & Two Brothers Tap House, 30W315 Calumet Ave., Warrenville, IL 630-393-2337 Map We really like 2’s here at 2 Bros, so it only makes sense that we should do something fun on 2/22/22! And we’re taking the opportunity to show our appreciation to you, our fans. With that in mind, we will be offering all year-round pints for $2.22 all day long at both Two Brothers locations on Tuesday, February 22nd. Plus, we’ll be releasing a brand-new beer: Double Domaine. Think the OG Domaine DuPage on steroids. We’ll also have a fan raffle, where you can win things like gift cards, t-shirts, signs, etc. It’s our little way to say thank you, so let’s celebrate a bunch of 2’s!
4:00 – 9:00 pm • Support Urban Farming Haymarket Pub & Brewery, 737 W. Randolph St., Chicago (312) 638-0700 Map Every Tuesday join us at the brewpub and order a Big Mick Burger + 12oz pour of Harold’s ’83 Honey Ale + a shot of Wolf Point Bourbon for $25 and we’ll donate $5 to Urban Growers Collective. Urban Growers Collective currently operates eight urban farms across 11 acres in the city of Chicago. On these farms, Urban Growers Collective’s job training and education, food access, and community engagement programs support health, economic development, healing, and creativity. The Green Era Renewable Energy and Urban Farm Campus in Auburn Gresham will serve as a centralized hub for workforce development, education, food access, and community well-being.
6:00 – 7:15 pm • Hops on Over to Flapjack Flapjack Brewery, 6833 Stanley Ave., Berwyn, IL (708) 637-4030 Map Head on over to Flapjack Brewery and learn all about brews! This upcoming Tuesday, February 22nd, Brewmaster Paul will teach you the 101 on beer pairing, and the art of craft beer. Snacks will be included! Questions? Call the Berwyn Park District at (708) 795 2892 Register Here.
6:30 pm • Tuesday Trivia: Shameless One Allegiance Brewing, 10215 S. Harlem Ave., Chicago Ridge, IL (708) 529-7067 Map Join us on Tuesdays for a night of trivia dedicated to various popular TV shows, movies, and themes! First Tuesday of every month is general knowledge trivia. Each game is free to play! First place winner will receive a $30 OAB Gift Card and other prizes include a beer to go. There is no entry fee to play trivia. Trivia starts at 7pm but come in to register at 6:30pm so you and your team can grab a couple drinks before the games start! See you soon for some fun, games and prizes!
6:30 – 8:30 pm • The Hangover Trivia Chuck’s Café Darien, 8025 S. Cass Ave., Darien, IL 331-431-4000 Map Join us on 2.22.22 for a special night of trivia all about The Hangover! This night will encompass all the Hangover films! Great prizes awarded to the Top 3 teams plus great drink specials all night long! Look out for some specialty priced margaritas as this event is happening on National Margarita Day! Reservations suggested: 331-431-4000. Drink specials: $2 Domestics | $2 PBR Drafts | $8 Flights $3 Imports | $4 Well Spirit One & One’s
7:00 – 9:30 pm • Trivia Night in Skokie Sketchbook Brewing Co. – Skokie, 4901 Main St., Skokie, IL (847) 588-0652 Map Trivia courtesy of Pub Trivia USA. No cards, teams will play on their phone apps. Prizes for the winning teams: $35 for 1st place, $25 for 2nd, $15 for 3rd. Pop up Latin American cuisine from Libertad from 5:30-8:30p!
7:00 pm • Brewery Bingo The Open Bottle Lockport, 16437 159th St., Lockport, IL (815) 293-6350 Map Brewery Bingo is back! Over the next 5 months, we’re partnering with a new brewery every Thursday at 7pm for our monthly Brewery Bingo! No more sneaking into bingo halls for you! Every week, we’ll have a draft beer on special and prizes from a variety of local breweries. Here’s who’s up: February – Half Acre Beer Co. March – Old Irving Brewing Co. April – Goose Island Beer Co. May – Mikerphone Brewing It’s Bingo with breweries you love & fantastic prizes for you to win! HOW TO PLAY: Imagine a Bingo card. Now replace the B-I-N-G-O with five breweries and the numbers replaced with their most popular beers. We’ll spin our bingo balls ’round and ’round until a random ball decides to set itself free. We call out a beer, you look at your bingo card, and then place a bottle cap on your card if you’re lucky. Get 5 in a row and win a prize! In between rounds, there will be penny pours, good music and even better times. Must be 21+ to play.
7:00 – 9:00 pm • Trivia Night at Black & Gray Black & Gray Brewing Co., 311 Barrington Ave., East Dundee, IL (224) 484-8200 Map Join us for weekly trivia! Questions cover all subjects (Current Events, Geography, History, Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Science, Sports), and you play as a team. No limit to team sizes, so bring all the friends you want. The top teams will win gift certificates to be redeemed on a future trivia night.
7:00 – 10:00 pm • Movie Night Pilot Project Brewing, 2140 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago (773) 270-5995 Map Bad Boys hosted by Funkytown Brewery ($2 off FT beer)
7:00 – 9:00 pm • Trivia Night at Alter Brewing Downers Grove Alter Brewing Co., 2300 Wisconsin Ave. #213, Downers Grove, IL 630-541-9558 Map Come out for our General Knowledge trivia night and join your host as they quiz your teams through two full hours of general knowledge trivia, including awesome themed bonus rounds and music rounds! While we’re testing your wit, Alter Brewing Company will be keeping you fueled up with craft brews all night, PLUS the top teams will win bragging rights and prizes, so bring your friends, family, and even your enemies (if they’re good at trivia) to increase your chances of winning. Feel free to order in delivery from one of the awesome local restaurants (we highly recommend Dan’s Pizza!) to enjoy during the event, as well. Due to limited capacity, reservations will be taken for indoor tables the time being – simply email trivia@alterbrewing.com to reserve a table for your team. Please follow ALL Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions put in place by the venue, and here are a few extra tips: 1) Please bring your own pen/pencil. Our host will have pencils just in case, but it would be best to use your own for everyone’s safety & comfort. 2) The questions will be read by your host over our PA system, but may not be displayed on a screen if one is not easily available. 3) Any and all rules/restrictions are subject to change.
7:00 – 9:00 pm • Breaking Bad Trivia Night at Pollyanna St. Charles Pollyanna – St. Charles, 106 S. Riverside Ave., St. Charles, IL (630) 549-7372 Map Been a while since you had your last fix (of trivia)? We can help with that…at Breaking Bad Trivia Night! Sean with Baig of Tricks Entertainment will be quizzing you through four increasingly harder rounds of questions over every season of the hit show while Pollyanna keeps you fueled up with craft brews all night, PLUS the top teams will win bragging rights and prizes, so bring your friends, family, and even your enemies (if they’re good at trivia) to increase your chances of winning. Feel free to order in delivery from one of the awesome local restaurants to enjoy during the event, as well. Be sure to get there early and snag your team a spot and fuel up with some drinks, see you soon! Please follow ALL Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions put in place by the venue, and here are a few extra tips: 1) Please bring your own pen/pencil. Our host will have pencils just in case, but it would be best to use your own for everyone’s safety & comfort. 2) The questions will be read by your host over our PA system, but may not be displayed on a screen if one is not easily available. 3) Any and all rules/restrictions are subject to change.
Wednesday, February 23
11:00 am – 9:00 pm • Give Back Fundraiser for Footlight Players Theater Zorn Brew Works Co., 605 E. 9th St., Michigan City, IN (219) 243-7157 Map Wednesday, February 23rd, Zorn Brew Works Co. will be giving back to Footlight Players Theater. Zorn Brew Works will be donating 20% of all food sales during Open Mic Night. The Footlight Players are an innovative group of actors from across the region presenting musicals, plays, concerts and special events year-round.
12:00 – 4:00 pm • Work From Here Weekdays Riverlands Brewing Co., 1860 Dean St. Unit A, St. Charles, IL (630) 549-6293 Map Wednesdays…the half way point to the weekend. Let us help make the work week a bit better with our Work From HERE Wednesday special! Each week, come by with your work team, laptop, paper work….or just your self…and enjoy $2.00 off full pours of any of our 16 taps. On occasion, we’ll have food trucks or pop-ups to supply your mid-day hunger cravings. Otherwise, bring lunch or order delivery from one of our local St. Charles neighbors.
5:30 pm • Abita Pint Night Chuck’s Café Burbank, 6501 W. 79th St., Burbank, IL 708-229-8700 Map Join us for Abita Pint night. Order a Pint of Abita and get to keep the glass! While Supplies Last, One per Customer.
6:00 pm • Church Street Brewing Tap Takeover at Shooter’s Taproom Shooter’s Bar Grill, 4007 E State St., Rockford, IL 815-399-0683 Map Join Shooter’s Taproom, above Don Carter Lanes, as we welcome Church Street Brewing Co. to our next Tap Takeover. Peace
6:00 – 8:00 pm • Ale Trail Night Rt 66 Old School Brewing, 110 Bridge St., Wilmington, IL (815) 476-2220 Map Join the heritage Corridor Ale Trail from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. for special giveaways and learn how to use the 2022 Heritage Corridor Ale Trail passport to win exclusive prizes by visiting local breweries.
6:00 – 8:00 pm • Brews Brushes and Besties – Sew Hop’d -St.Patrick’s Day Sew Hop’d Brewery & Taproom, One Union Special Plaza, Ste. 113, Huntley, IL (815) 701-8819 Map Your ticket includes a beverage, tax and tip. Click on event photo for all options to paint 12” Wood Tray- handles provided $45 Gnome on canvas or Wood choose Any design from St. Patrick’s Day, Easter or Spring $40 To register email paintpartybyabby@gmail.com Various payment options availability
7:00 – 10:00 pm • Half Acre Beer Pairing Dinner Sidecar Supper Club & Beer Garden, 12 N. River St., Batavia, IL (630) 406-9200 Map 5-course beer dinner featuring Chicago-style street food. $75 includes tax and Half Acre swag to take home. Tickets through Eventbrite at the Facebook event page. Join us for our 4th beer dinner of the season with one of our favorites! 5-course beer dinner with Half Acre Beer Co. featuring Chicago-style street food. $75 includes tax and Half Acre swag to take home. 1st Course – 12 oz can of Fader Elote – Fire roasted corn, taking, house crema, cojita cheese, lime, and a little bit of heat. 2nd Course – Tend IPA Classic Beef Pastie – Root vegetables, carrots, potatoes, rutabaga in a hand pie with house curry ketchup and truffle aioli. 3rd Course – Double Daisy Cutter Chicago Dog – Housemade Chicago Hot Dog inspired Crunch Wrap – SUPREME! 4th Course – Orin Italian Bao – 48hr Sous-vid short rib and gairdinera. Served in a boa bun with more gairdinera Dessert – Parfait Hut Bananabread Cake Shake( It is national banana bread day) made with Kimmers Chocolate ice cream
7:00 pm • SNL Alumni Movie Trivia The Brass Tap, 14225 95th Ave. Ste. 400, Orland Park, IL 708-226-1827 Map Saturday Night Live produced lot of funny and amazing actors. Join us for a night of SNL Alumni Movie Trivia. It’s free to play and prizes are awarded to the top teams. Call the bar now to reserve your table.
7:00 – 9:00 pm • The Office Trivia at Brothership Brewing Brothership Brewing, 18781 S. 90th Ave., Unit E, Mokena, IL 708-995-7014 Map We’re looking for Dunder Mifflin experts to join the fun in Mokena! Try to outwit other teams while enjoying a night out, beer, and trivia … sounds like a fun Wednesday night. Top teams win prizes.
7:00 – 9:00 pm • Trivia & Tacos @ the LV Taproom! Harbor Brewing Co., Lake Villa, 136 Cedar Ave., Lake Villa, IL Map General Trivia hosted by Chicago Trivia Guys starts at 7pm! Authentic Mexican Food from Mijo’s will be served starting at 5pm!
7:00 – 9:00 pm • Trivia Wednesdays at Black Lung! Black Lung Brewing Co., 2217 N. Illinois 83, Round Lake Beach, IL (224) 643-7204 Map We have trivia every wednesday with Dancing in the Rain DJ! Come have a tasty craft beer and win a cool prize, if you’re good enough;) This is free trivia!
7:00 – 9:00 pm • Stump Trivia Quiz Ten Ninety Brewing Co., 1025 Waukegan Rd., Glenview, IL 224-432-5472 Map IN-PERSON trivia is back at Ten Ninety Brewing Company! Wednesday nights have never been better! Join us for two free, fun, rounds of trivia beginning at 7pm & 8pm. We will be using our new digital scoring system. Each team will designate one person to submit answers on your team’s behalf. No need to write anything down by hand, no need to stand up, and no need to turn in a paper answer slip! Remember – venue capacity may be limited, so please call ahead to RSVP! More info: here.
7:00 – 9:00 pm • Trivia at Lo Rez Brewery Lo Rez Brewing and Taproom, 2101 S. Carpenter St., Chicago (888) 404-2262 Map Hosted by Paul Durica from the Newberry Library 1st place – case [ yes that’s 6 four packs ] of rotating beer 2nd place – gift certificate to share with your team next round 3rd place – round of drinks for your team! $5/pp to compete! Max of four per team. Trivia begins on March 23rd and will be every 4th Wednesday of the month. Brainstorm those team names to impress Lo Rez!
7:00 – 9:00 pm • Sneak Preview Beer Dinner Old Town Pour House, 1419 N. Wells St., Chicago 312-477-2800 Map In preparation for Friday’s Goose Island tap takeover, Old Town Pour House will be offering a 5-course beer dinner on Wednesday and Thursday, February 23 & 24. Guests will enjoy a dynamic menu paired with exclusive brews, and the chance to hear from Goose Island brewers directly. Tickets are limited to 40 people. Seating is at 7:00 pm. Beer Dinner Menu: Welcome Beer – Sofie First Course – 2020 Bourbon County Old Forrester Birthday Bourbon Stout Pork Belly: Bourbon County Stout braised, crispy pork belly, sunny side up egg, berry jam, brioche toast points Second Course – Matilda Baked Oysters: jumbo lump crabmeat, leeks, pancetta, pine nut breadcrumb Third Course – 2017 Gillian Wagyu New York Strip Carpaccio: egg, capers, red onion, baby arugula, mustard horseradish sauce, fresh cracked black pepper, Parmigiano-Reggiano, grilled ciabatta bread Fourth Course – 2021 Double Barrel BCS Braised Elk Short Rib: Bourbon County Stout braised, creamy Parmesan grits, fingerling potatoes, baby carrots, shallots, turnips, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, Bourbon County Stout au jus glaze Fifth Course – 2021 Fine Old Rum Barrel Stout Chocolate Stout Cake: Fine Old Rum Barrel Stout cake, peanut butter mousse, bananas, walnut crumb Tickets for the Tap Takeover and Beer Dinner are sold separately here.
Thursday, February 24
Monk’s Pub Tap Takeover Monk’s Pub, 205 W. Lake St., Chicago 312-357-6665 Map Join Funkytown Brewery at Monk’s Pub for a Tap Takeover.
2:00 – 6:00 pm • Twisted Hippo Taproom & Eatery Blood Drive Twisted Hippo, 2925 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago (708) 844-7768 Map Next Thursday (February 24th), our collective toil and trouble with the good people of Chaos Brewclub coalesce as a Chaotic Fantasy. The winners of a homebrew competition judged by the Hippo, Chaotic Fantasy is a new-fangled Cold IPA shining with all the alchemic intertwining of Vic Secret, Citra, & Cluster hops. Assertive bitterness, bright tropical citrus, and a tempered malt bill are all given the stage by a classically clean lager yeast. Thanks to the sweethearts at CHOAS for letting us scale and share this beer with you. It’s a true glass of gold. Available on draft and in cans.
3:00 pm • Revolution Tap Takeover RESCHEDULED Prestige 6249 Tap Room, 6249 S. Cass Ave., Westmont, IL (630) 963-9733 Map Update: We are rescheduling our Feb. 17 Revolution Deep Wood Series Tap Takeover to today at 3pm. Beers are enjoyed more when everyone had the confidence to get home safely. The Prestige 6249 Tap Room crew apologizes for this inconvenience. Come by and enjoy some of these amazing barrel-aged brews. Draft beer menu will include: 2020 Ten Year Beer 2020 Mineshaft Gap 2021 Blackberry Finn 2021 Dark Mode If you need a breather, we’ll also have Rev Pils Chicago Pilsner.
3:00 – 9:00 pm • Nashville Hot Chicken Thursday! Wildrose Brewing Co., 1104 E. Main St., Griffith, IN (219) 595-5054 Map It’s Thursday…..you know what that means. Due to popular demand we’re serving up Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches every Thursday. Topped with Chef Mike’s homemade slaw and pickles and paired with a side of fries for just $10! We are now also offering up a less spicy version for those who can’t handle all the heat. Both the spicy and less spicy will be available only while supplies last. These have been extremely popular the last few weeks so you don”t wanna miss out!
5:00 – 7:00 pm • Keep The Pint Night at Main Street Pub Main Street Pub, 466 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn, IL 630-790-1734 Map Swing through Main Street Pub on Thursday, grab yourself a pint of Maplewood’s finest and take the glass home!
5:00 pm • Barrel Aged Mania Half Day Brewing Co., 200 Village Green, Lincolnshire, IL 847-821-6933 Map Join us at 5pm for Barrel Aged Mania! Try our 2021 Barrel Aged Beer On Tap Or Take Home a 2-Pack! Featuring our 2021 Limited Release Warrior Paint, 2021 Double Coffee Warrior Paint & 2021 Barrel Aged Cake Double Pastry Stout. Available in 5 & 10 oz pours while supplies last.
6:00 – 8:00 pm • Rhythm n’ Brews Music Bingo On Tour Brewing Co., 1725 W. Hubbard St., Chicago 312-796-3119 Map MUSIC BINGO NIGHT, ANYONE? Test your music knowledge at our first ever “Rhythm n’ Brews” music bingo night Thursdays through February from 6 – 8 PM! From behind-the-scenes tour tickets to 4-packs of our delicious beers, there are a ton of prizes to be won. Grab a bingo-loving buddy, a beer and escape the cold weather for a guaranteed fun night. HOW TO PLAY: No sign-up necessary. If you’re itching to play, let a bartender know when you arrive and they’ll give you a bingo sheet. Rhythm n’ Brews Music Bingo is on a come-and-go basis but the longer you stay, the better the chance you have of winning!
6:00 pm • Cruz Blanca Tap Takeover Roots Handmade Pizza, 1924 W Chicago Ave., Chicago (773) 645-4949 Map Join us at Roots West Town for a tap takeover with Cruz Blanca on Thursday, 2/24 at 6pm featuring the following beers: Rey Gordo– Heaven Hill barrel-aged Imperial Stout El Train– American IPA Palm Shade– Tropical IPA Vamos– Vienna Lager We will also be raffling off a Cruz Blanca gift basket to lucky winner!
6:00 – 9:00 pm • Arts & Drafts: Justin Bickus Riverlands Brewing Co., 1860 Dean St. Unit A, St. Charles, IL (630) 549-6293 Map Arts & Drafts, our monthly local artist showcase and exhibit, finally makes its return this February with local artist and educator, Justin Bickus. Throughout the month of February, an exhibit of Justin’s work will be on display all over our St. Charles brewery. Come by, view his work, and get info on purchasing the pieces you like. On Thursday, Feb 24, stop by for a meet and greet with Justin here at the taproom from 6 to 9pm. He’ll be creating custom coaster art and discussing his work one-on-one with visitor as time allows. Attendees of ALL artistic levels are highly encouraged to bring their own art supplies and create coaster art while they’re here. We’ll include our favorites on our social media channels and perhaps even pick a few for a new collage we’re creating. We’ll also have live music by the New Vintage Strings Quartet and fresh Kayak Pils on draft and in can to-go.
6:00 – 8:00 pm • Dry City Trivia Dry City Brew Works, 120B N. Main St., Wheaton, IL (630) 456-4787 Map Trivia at Dry City! Themed trivia every Thursday!
6:00 – 9:00 pm • Take Flight Thursdays Riverlands Brewing Co., 1860 Dean St. Unit A, St. Charles, IL (630) 549-6293 Map Thursdays seem lame until you realize they’re really FRIDAY EVE. To celebrate come sample some of St. Charles’ hometown beers and SAVE. Every Thursday*, from 6pm to close, we’ll take $2.00 off flights of four 5oz pours. This is the PERFECT date night opportunity, or a chance to just try out some of our 16 taps all at once. We also have a rotating calendar of pub games each Thursday, including our monthly trivia nights, shuffleboard tournies, and (weather permitting) patio disc golf putting. Check our weekly events for more details. *Excludes holidays or other special events
6:00 – 9:00 pm • Revolution Tap Takeover Mackey’s Hideout, 2601 S. River Rd., McHenry, IL (815) 363-7040 Map Come out to Mackey’s Hideout to enjoy some Revolution Brews! You can find our classic styles on tap with several Deep Woods variations as well.
7:00 – 9:00 pm • Sneak Preview Beer Dinner Old Town Pour House, 1419 N. Wells St., Chicago 312-477-2800 Map In preparation for Friday’s Goose Island tap takeover, Old Town Pour House will be offering a 5-course beer dinner on Wednesday and Thursday, February 23 & 24. Check the event listing for Wednesday for full details.
7:00 – 9:00 pm • Schitt’s Creek Trivia Night Miskatonic Brewing Co., 1000 N. Frontage Rd, Darien, IL (630) 541-9414 Map Hello bebes…now is not the time for pettifogging! Hide your diamonds, hide your exes…Schitt’s Creek trivia is coming to Miskatonic! Joeyfrom Baig of Tricks Entertainment will be quizzing you through four increasingly harder rounds over every season of the hit show while Miskatonic keeps you fueled up with their fantastic selection of craft brews! Trivia is always free to play, but we’re not just playing for fun – the top teams each night take home some awesome prizes! Please follow ALL Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions put in place by the venue.
7:00 – 9:00 pm • The Office Trivia at Buckledown Brewing BuckleDown Brewing, 8700 W. 47th St., Lyons, IL 708-777-1842 Map We’re looking for Dunder Mifflin experts to join the fun in Lyons! Try to outwit other teams while enjoying a night out with beer and trivia … sounds like a fun Thursday night. Top teams win prizes. If you can’t make it to The Office trivia night. join us weekly on Tuesday nights for General Knowledge trivia. Emceed by Chicago Trivia Guys.
7:00 – 9:00 pm • Holzlager Trivia Holzlager Brewing Co., 150 S. Eastwood Dr., Woodstock, IL (815) 308-5901 Map Come test your knowledge with our weekly Holzlager Trivia Nights! Our Trivial Pursuit-inspired game focuses on 5 topics: Entertainment, History & Geography, Science & Nature, Art & Literature and Sports & Leisure. Stay tuned for our monthly special-themed trivia nights!
7:00 – 9:00 pm • Ted Lasso Trivia One Lake Brewing Co., 1 Lake St., Oak Park, IL (708) 434-5232 Map “Futbal is LIFE!” Come show off your knowledge of everything Ted Lasso! Join Sean with Baig of Tricks Entertainment as he quizzes your teams through two full hours of trivia over both seasons of the hit show! Top teams will win bragging rights and prizes, so bring your friends, family, and even your enemies (if they’re good at trivia) to increase your chances of winning. Gather your team and reserve your spot here.
7:00 – 10:00 pm • FeBREWary with Rock 95.5 Empirical Brewery, 1801 W. Foster Ave., Chicago (773) 654-1565 Map Join us in the taproom on Feb. 24th for a live broadcast with Maria Palmer of 95.5 Chicago Rock Station! There will be giveaways all night, including FREE BEER! It’ll be a night full of music, prizes, and a damn good time. Show starts at 7pm and will go until 10pm. Mark your calendars, folks. This will be a night you won’t wanna miss.
7:30 – 9:00 pm • Thursty Thursday Elephino Trivia Side Lot Brewery, 110 Slocum Lake Rd., Wauconda, IL 847-714-2584 Map Join M.C. Hill & Elephino Trivia every Thursday night at Side Lot Brewery for Team Trivia. Free to play & fabulous prizes to win.
February 16, 2022 by Jesse Weisz, Steve Andrews and Bogi Bjarnason in Interview with comments
Jussi Meresmaa at the 2019 European Open. Photo: Eino Ansio – EO.
This is the the beginning of our Q&A interviews in our European Re-Open series that highlights European disc golfers as international travel reopens in 2022.
Jussi Meresmaa is a man of many talents who laid the groundwork for much of the European disc golf scene back when Finland was still synonymous with hockey and the words “disc golf” drew blank stares anywhere south of Schleswig-Holstein.
He is the owner of Discmania, the man behind the European Open, and a marketing wizard, but he is foremost a guy who threw away a 1039 career-high rating to focus on the greater good of the disc golf community rather than chase individual glory across the fairways of the world.
With mere days until the US and European disc golf scenes collide anew, Meresmaa is the man with the skinny. Read on for a crash course in statistics, a roasting of European putting performances, and why he thinks MPO players from east of the pond don’t have a great chance to win US elite series events.
Ultiworld Disc Golf: We see many “corporate” and other sponsors from outside of disc golf support Finnish players, courses, and events. Does this mean that Finland currently has fully pro players competing within the European scene without holding down any sort of seasonal jobs?
Jussi Meresmaa: Finland now has six to eight full-time pro players. That is an amazing development over the last few years. All these pros are primarily supported and funded by the manufacturers, though. It’s true that more “corporate” sponsors are tipping their toes into disc golf, but we have not seen it yet on a bigger scale.
All things being equal, could players like Niklas Anttila and Oskari Vikström launch full tours this year without somehow supplementing their income?
Touring in Finland and Europe, yes absolutely. Touring in the US, not full-time yet. I believe most of these Finnish pros are making 1-2 trips to the US this season.
Going on a full tour in the US as a European is very tough. Fortunately, European events are also getting bigger and better.
Apart from COVID travel restrictions, what do you feel are currently the major hurdles for Finland developing a “1050 boy”?
This is an interesting question. If you look statistically, in 2020, PDGA had a total of 71,000 active members. There were four “1050 boys” in 2020 (McBeth, McMahon, Wysocki, and Heimburg). So, there was one 1050-rated competitor per 17,750 players. Finland had 3,300 PDGA members in 2020. So, statistically it’s understandable that Finland is yet to have their own “1050 boy.”
I think one big factor for this is also the fact that the sport is young and players are developing very fast. There are less rating points to earn, and at the same time there are masses of fast-improving players whose rating is “behind.” When this gets established in the future, we will see 1040 boys and hopefully also that 1050 boy. We can see that already on the FPO side. At the moment, Europe has three FPO players in top-4 per rating (Kristin Tattar, Henna Blomroos, and Eveliina Salonen)
When/if things return to normal, do you see Finnish players spending the off-season in Arizona (or similar US locations), or do you think places like Mijas, Spain, will emerge as off-season locations for European players as the sport spreads in Southern Europe?
I think both, but more Europeans will spend their off-season closer to their home, like Mijas. Some Finnish players are there as we speak.
Currently, we do not have the “perfect” facility in Southern Europe yet, but I’m sure this will happen in the next few years.
Disc Golf is so popular in Finland that it’s broadcast on TV and the European Open had the largest gallery on tour even pre-pandemic. Could that mean that DGPT events will be on Finnish TV in the not-so-distant future? If so, would that attract corporate sponsorship to the DGPT?
I don’t believe in TV as much as I believe in streaming. Broadcasting companies are of course moving to streaming, and that´s where disc golf´s opportunity will be. I can see DGPT finding distribution partners in Europe too, but that might take some time.
Finnish broadcasters could be interested in distributing DGPT events, once we get Finns (MPO and FPO) there to compete. Every country loves seeing their own athletes succeed.
How long do you think it will take for a European player to be promoted to the Discmania Sky Team?
I want to keep these highest levels of Team Discmania very exclusive. It needs to mean a lot to get into our Tour or Sky Team. Noteworthy is that this is the first real year when we have our Finnish team members fully committing to disc golf. I would estimate that in the earliest that could happen in 2023 to 2024.
The past two years have provided few opportunities for European players to travel and compete outside of Europe. At the same time, many players have been able to achieve great results and focus on their games. Do you think that this time has hurt or helped their chances of making an impact on the US Tour?
This is a two-edged sword: I think US players have gotten better quicker since they can play against the toughest competition every week. Every player needs the highest-level competition in order to get better. So, yes, time has hurt Europeans. But at the same time, Europeans have really increased their level of play here. I guess we will see when the season starts…
When you are looking at players competing in Europe, what aspects of their mindset, habits, or game makes you think they will find success in the United States? Are there different keys to success for competing in Europe versus the United States?
Europeans have always been great off the tee, and always quite poor on the green. I can see more Europeans having success on the green, so that will level the playing field. I think, in general, Europeans will do better on long and open courses against US competition. On a major level, I think US players have the biggest edge: they know how to win majors. After Jesper Lundmark, we have not seen a major winner.
We all expect the FPO big three to make a big impact on the tour, but which other players do you think will find success this year?
This will be very interesting to see! I would say two guys will make the biggest impact on the US tour this year: Niklas Anttila and Väinö Mäkelä. These guys have “it.” It will be quite a rough intro to all Europeans coming to Vegas, but I expect these two guys to rise into their “1035 level” fast.
What percentage chance is there that a European man will win an elite series event in the US in 2022?
2.5%. We will see European(s) in the top 5.
What are the major storylines involving European players that US audiences should be watching for?
If restrictions allow, there will be a fresh European breeze on this year’s tour! That’s the story line we should care about at the moment.
MAGALIA — Shooting shots 400-500 feet against competitors 40 years and older is something Professional Disc Golf Association master’s division competitor Dale Bouttote does on the regular.
Bouttote, 53, is a telecommunications engineer who helped design several of the disc golf courses around Butte and Glenn Counties. Bouttote was one of the original designers of the Black Butte Lake Disc Golf Course in Orland and he designed the former Lava Creek course that burned down in the 2018 Camp Fire, and later ran Lava Creek for 12 years.
In October, 2020, course designer Jake Bates opened the South Pines Disc Golf Course on what was formerly The Pines Golf Course in Magalia. It acted as what many saw as a replacement for Lava Creek and those seeking activities near Paradise and Magalia. Since its opening, Bates has put in 2-5 basket locations for each hole, all-weather artificial turf tee pads and tee pad signs with basket locations for each hole. The tee pad signs are made from milled wood from fallen trees on the course. There are weekly events several days a week, including Monday singles, Wednesday random draw doubles, a ladies only league on Fridays and the most popular event is a Saturday singles round.
The map of the South Pines Disc Golf Course in Magalia, California. (Jake Bates/Contributed)
On Saturday, the Magalia course hosted its first ever Master’s Division tournament, with 76 competitors across eight divisions — both male and female. The tournament was called the NorCal Masters 3 — Terry Sutton Memorial.
Sutton, a Yuba City resident, was scheduled to run the tournament. He died just days prior to the event due to complications with COVID-19. Instead, a PDGA representative from Wisconsin who was a friend of Sutton’s ended up contacting the PDGA and everyone who had paid. He flew out and took care of everything in place of Sutton.
The table of the pro shop of the South Pines Disc Golf Course is shown ahead of the raffle at the Professional Disc Golf Association Master’s tournament on Saturday, October 23, 2021 in Magalia, California. (Jake Bates/Contributed)
Sutton’s family, including his two kids and his dog, were in Magalia on Saturday and were present for the raffle that took place to raise money for the family.
Bouttote, a friend and longtime competitor with Sutton, was one of the winners of the top two divisions along with Nick Babare.
“It was definitely special being the first memorial for Terry and knowing him, and to win it was definitely special,” Bouttote said.
Babare won the men’s pro masters 40+ division, Bouttote won the men’s pro masters 50+ division and Jennifer Morgan took first place in the women’s pro masters 40+ division. Through two 18 hole rounds, Babare shot a 11-under par 97, Bouttote shot a 8-under par 100 and Morgan shot a 10-over par 118.
Both Babare and Bouttote are Butte County residents who sponsored holes to help pay for the start of the South Pines course.
“It made me so proud,” Bates said. “I was like a proud dad when they won. I was so happy for them, I was thrilled. They are both amazing players and they know exactly what disc they need to use for what shot on what hole with what wind is happening. They’re marksmen in their field.”
Bouttote noted the wind was not near as strong as the storm that blew through California on Sunday, but rain was present. Wind blew at roughly five miles per hour. Bouttote said as the winter season progresses golfers get used to throwing with wet discs and bringing rain gear such as rain coats, towels and umbrellas out to the course, but this was the first rainy tournament of the winter. However the rain seemed to have little effect on Bouttote’s performance, as he opened the tournament with a 7-under par in the opening round.
“In a tournament, I don’t know what it is but the juices get flowing and if you get into that rhythm you just feel like every shot is going to be perfect,” Bouttote said. “Putting, drives I was putting them where I wanted. You always kind of draw it up like ‘I need to release here’ and I was definitely hitting my marks very well.”
Up next Bates plans to install “the last dozen or so” basket locations so all holes have at least three possible basket locations. This enables the course to be modified frequently for recreation or for different tournament play. After that, Bates said he will start working on the aesthetics of the course, using rock and wood from around the course to build things like custom walls and a three tiered pyramid basket location he is planning on hole No. 4.
“It’ll make it way more pleasing to the eye. There’s all kinds of rock and other material for when I need to use it,” Bates said.
The South Pines Disc Golf Course is located 13917 South Park Drive in Magalia. It is open to the public and is $5 for the greens fee. Cash can be dropped off at the pro shop or the drop box on the door.
Discs can be purchased at the on-site pro shop at South Pines, as well as stores in Chico such as Big 5 Sporting Goods, Play It Again Sports and Chico Sports LTD.
The Pro Tour also unveiled the location and dates for the 2022 Match Play Championship.
February 18, 2022 by Charlie Eisenhood in News with comments
The 2021 Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship. From left: Missy Gannon, Jeff Spring, Nathan Queen. Photo: DGPT.
At long last, the Disc Golf Pro Tour announced the points-earning structure for the 2022 season that players will navigate as they seek to earn a spot — and possibly a bye — at the DGPT Championship in October.
For the first time, major championships will offer DGPT points, and they will be worth 1.5 times as much as a DGPT Elite Series event. The final two events of the year prior to the DGPT Championship — the Green Mountain Championships and MVP Open — will serve as DGPT playoff events with a reduced field size and 1.25x points available for players.
Here is the basic points structure in 2022:
DGPT Elite Series (regular season): 100%
DGPT Playoffs: 125%
PDGA MPO/FPO Majors: 150%
DGPT Silver Series: 25%
The top 100 MPO and top 50 FPO players in the DGPT standings will gain entry in to the Green Mountain Championships, the first playoff event. The top 64 MPO and top 32 FPO will get into MVP Open. Tour Director Jeff Spring has said that there will still be regional qualifying opportunities for the events for players not inside the cutoffs.
The DGPT Championship, like in 2021, will host 32 MPO and 16 FPO players. This year, though, only the top 30 MPO and 14 FPO get in automatically. The final two spots in each division will be contested in a play-in event featuring the next two finishers in the standings along with four additional players, reserved for those who won an Elite Series event or Major but did not qualify directly for the Tour Championship.
This is the first year of a new unified Tour after the PDGA National Tour folded into the DGPT. Previously, there were multiple points-earning pathways, and Majors didn’t impact standings in any of the season-long points structures.
Match Play Championship Info
As a part of the points structure announcement, the DGPT also unveiled the dates and location for the second annual Match Play Championship: June 16-19 in Bailey, Colorado, a town near Denver nestled in the Rockies at 7,700 feet. The Bailey Disc Golf Course will play host to the event, which falls between the Portland Open (Portland, OR) and the Preserve (Clearwater, MN).
16 players in both MPO and FPO will qualify to play in the Match Play Championship. All Elite Series tournament winners will get an automatic invitation, with remaining spots going to the top players in the standings following the OTB Open in mid-May.
The 2022 DGPT season begins next Thursday, February 24th, at the Las Vegas Challenge.
