Not gonna lie, people. It was pretty hard to feel excited about a four hour drive to Roseburg in the pouring rain at 4 o'clock in the morning for my first Great Northwest Open. However, I had convinced my teammate, Cindy, to get up at the same ungodly hour so that we could get plenty of practice in on the hallowed fairways of Whistler's Bend Disc Golf Course, and I am not the kind of person that leaves a teammate hangin'.
Luckily, the rain slacked as we approached Roseburg (Cindy had somehow caught up with me despite leaving a 1/2 hour later... hmmmm... yes, yes, I do drive like an old lady...) since my windshield wipers were actively falling apart from all their vigorous swishing and Cindy guided us in to the stunningly beautiful park entrance by grace of her faithful GPS (me? I had some vaguely legible directions written on a tiny sticky note).
Luckily, the rain slacked as we approached Roseburg (Cindy had somehow caught up with me despite leaving a 1/2 hour later... hmmmm... yes, yes, I do drive like an old lady...) since my windshield wipers were actively falling apart from all their vigorous swishing and Cindy guided us in to the stunningly beautiful park entrance by grace of her faithful GPS (me? I had some vaguely legible directions written on a tiny sticky note).
Cindy & Emma on Top of the World. Check out the tiny basket way down the hill.
Whistler's Bend is so gorgeous that when we walked out onto the fairway of #7 which runs high above the banks of the North Umpqua, my breath was taken away and tears filled my eyes (if you don't know me, I really love disc golf and tend towards the emotional ). Also, tears were filling my eyes and my nose was dripping down my face as a result the beautiful flowering madrone trees which my allergies and loratadine were unable to fully cope with. Our practice round was perfect (although rainy, note to self: next time wear a hat) and I very much enjoyed the random doubles (random doubles is a good way to make friends. Take note, this comes into play later in the weekend).
I played just the one round on Saturday... but it was enough. Steady rain the whole round added to the vigorous and taxing nature of the course itself and I was whooped. Honestly, I don't know how the other girls managed that round... I know the only reason I made it was the fact that I had my daddy-caddy to hold my umbrella over me and keep his pockets full of dry towels for me.
I played just the one round on Saturday... but it was enough. Steady rain the whole round added to the vigorous and taxing nature of the course itself and I was whooped. Honestly, I don't know how the other girls managed that round... I know the only reason I made it was the fact that I had my daddy-caddy to hold my umbrella over me and keep his pockets full of dry towels for me.
Flight Team members Cindy & Emma
Sunday dawned cloudy but dry and I sure was lamenting my nervous brain, which never relaxes and thus kept me laying wide awake for the last three nights playing disc golf in my head when I should have been resting up for the final push of two taxing rounds and then the loooooong drive home.
The first round I started fine and was lucky enough to have my old man still stickin' around to caddy for me. But I just never got my groove on nor found my happy golf place and was in third place when we broke for lunch. Five strokes out of the lead and two strokes out of second.
During the lunch break I debriefed with my pops, found my happy place, packed up my wet and soggy camp and got all my ducks in a row and was ready for an incredible second round, content to simply play my game and glory in the beauty of Whistler's Bend and the game I love the most. It worked... I shot a 61, tying Teresa Embree for the round and moving myself into second place. I'm sure that having a super sweet, cute young caddy (thank you Roy Albert, my new friend I made playing doubles) was helpful, as well. Made all the other girls jealous, kept my back from spasming, and while it did not completely fill the void left by my dad who had to head home it made a difference.
The first round I started fine and was lucky enough to have my old man still stickin' around to caddy for me. But I just never got my groove on nor found my happy golf place and was in third place when we broke for lunch. Five strokes out of the lead and two strokes out of second.
During the lunch break I debriefed with my pops, found my happy place, packed up my wet and soggy camp and got all my ducks in a row and was ready for an incredible second round, content to simply play my game and glory in the beauty of Whistler's Bend and the game I love the most. It worked... I shot a 61, tying Teresa Embree for the round and moving myself into second place. I'm sure that having a super sweet, cute young caddy (thank you Roy Albert, my new friend I made playing doubles) was helpful, as well. Made all the other girls jealous, kept my back from spasming, and while it did not completely fill the void left by my dad who had to head home it made a difference.
Suzy Q, Teresa, Rachel, and Emma Rose
Final results for the 2011 Great Northwest Open: 1st Plac
e, Teresa Embree. 2nd Place, Emma Rose Hanley. 3rd Place, Suzie Q Jones.
I'm not even gonna talk about the drive home and the next day at work
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