The 2009 Helicopter line Queenstown Classic & the Paradise Plates
March 7 & 8 2009

This year TD James Smithells chose to switch the order of these two great Queenstown events, Saturday it was The Classic in the gardens and Sunday saw everyone an hour north of Queenstown at the stunning Paradise Trust property in Glenorchy for the Paradise Plates.

Queenstown Gardens would undoubtedly be the busiest Disc Golf course in the country. On a warm summers evening after the 5 o’clock hooter goes off you just about have to book a tee time. We can see that Casual Disc Golf really takes off when there is a proper basketed course in New Zealand and we can only hope that - as we are finally seeing some progress in proper courses (see story on recent new additions to NZ Disc Golf Courses) - we see more of those casual players taking the plunge into the world of competitive Disc Golf.

Saturday morning saw 35 players - less than half of them locals - listening intently to the TD’s players briefing before heading to the course.

It was perfect conditions for Disc Golf and at the end of the day Auckland golfer Simon Feasey had set a new tournament course record of 41 and a combined two round total of just 84. Brilliant! Penny Jackson took out the Woman’s title, Sammy Neilson the Masters, Bob [GM] Gentil the Grand Masters in a play off with Neil Hardey and Nigel Barnwell the Ultrastar division.

Sunday saw overcast weather for the Paradise Plates event, but still great for Disc Golf. With tee-off timing often being an issue at the Plates, things got very tight for some of the out-of-towners who had planes to catch. Some quick juggling fortunately saw most players completing their round for Tour Points.

And this completed a thoroughly enjoyable time had by all in the majesty of the Southern Alps setting.

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Pictures

Check out awesome pics from previous Queenstown tournaments: 2017 New Zealand National Championships | 2016 Tucker Beach | 2016 Wakatipu Summer Disc Golf Tournaments | 2015 Wakatipu Disc Golf Championships | 2014 Tucker Beach Inaugural | 2014 Wakatipu Disc Golf Championships | 2013 Wakatipu Disc Golf Championships | 2012 Helicopter Line Queenstown Classic and Dart River Safaris Paradise Plates | 2011 16th Annual 'Helicopter Line Queenstown Classic' & Dart River Safaris Paradise Plates, 2010 15th Annual 'Helicopter Line Queenstown Classic' & Dart River Safaris Paradise Plates | 2009 14th Annual 'Helicopter Line Queenstown Classic' & Dart River Safaris Paradise Plates | 2005 Queenstown Classic

TD James Smithells welcomes players to the Helicopter Line Queenstown Classic.

Wanaka’s Martin Galley, the GM, Kyle Murray from Invercargill and Chris Conger from the States ready to get underway on Tee #1.

Martin Galley lines up a flick on hole #17 with Queenstown as the bask drop.

The top group on the Saturday afternoon. Neil Hardey on the tee watched intently by Ken Jarvis, Simon Feasey and Mario Cerniar.

TD James and Robyn Agnew dish out the prizes as Saturday draws to an end.

Lost in the woods at Paradise. Auckland’s Simon Feasey, along with the Christchurch crew of Mario Cerniar, Neil Gardner and Dave Sanders.

The Paradise doubles parings of Ken Jarvis and Devon Parker, Neil Hardey and Sammy Neilson and Gareth Dykes and Kyle Murray take time out in the sun. The greenkeeper's work was on display as Invercargill’s Kyle Murray putts out at Paradise. Bright discs were the order of the day as with the long grass it was easy to loose sight.

It should be so simple. The gap's this wide demonstrates Neil Gardner as Dave, Simon and Mario look on. Uan Sijkerbosh tee’s from the hillside as Gareth Dykes and Russell look on. Gareth Dykes heading for home. The only flat open hole on the course, plus it had a basket!

The home fires were burning as Kyle Murray heads for the wigwam and home time.

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