There
is something about the call to Paradise. It’s just
one of those annual Frisbee journeys I just have to make.
2004 was no exception. Paradise is a piece of heaven, and
sooooo different to anything North of the Bombays.
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I
encourage anyone I talk to make the journey - the ‘Dart
River Safaris Paradise Plate’ is a must do
and I was pleased that ‘No Sleep’ Pete was the
paradise virgin this trip.
We’d arrived in town late due to a delayed flight
so it was good Sheree had organised a soutern-style limo.
She had been in town a week earlier to do the Kepler tramp
out of Te Anau and a canoe trip on the sounds.
After dinner at the ‘Lone Star’ the scene was
set for another fantastic Queenstown weekend. |
The
Flag has risen... |
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8:00 the next morning and we’re picking up the rental
for the drive up the lake to Paradise, stopping for photo
shoots along the way …. Oh yeah !! … and to
check out the backpackers in Glenorchy…as you do
when you’re out with ‘No Sleep’.
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A
stunning view. |
9:30
and we’re driving through the stunning southern Beech
forest on our way to the Paradise clubhouse, surrounded
by majestic snow covered peaks.
If you close your eyes while breathing in the coldness coming
from the open freezer in a supermarket and picture ‘No
Sleep’ with his mouth wide open like a happy puppy…you’re
halfway there.
There’s something about that crisp southern air, combined
with a trip up one of the worlds premier scenic drives with
Pete. |
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James’
beaming face and thermal-clad figure was there to meet us
as we pulled up to the cabin. Half a dozen die-hards had
spent the night there and breakfast was being prepared classic
southern-style on the wood fired stove.
Another car pulls in, and knock me over with a Jim-putt,
it’s a buddy from World’s last year in Flagstaff
who I’d been expecting since October. Ken
Jarvis, one of the world’s top 5 disc golfers
- I might have trouble winning this one!
The 9:30 players meeting happened right on time at 10:35
and we headed for the 10:00am tee-off sharp on 11ish. That’s
just the way it works in Queenstown. |
Paradise
Golf HQ |
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A
surreal view from golf HQ |
Doubles
first … ‘No Sleep’ and I ... what a combination
... talk about the blind leading the blind !
When the scores came in Bob’s
Tips seemed to have effected the card with two extra
holes scored on our card! I have no idea how that happened
… but we got it sorted in the end much to the disgust
of the T/D who wanted to disqualify all of us and keep the
trophy himself. |
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As
it was, a play-off was needed; national champ Simon
Feasey from Auckland and Wellingtonion Dylan
Cooper and our visitor from America, Ken
Jarvis who played with Nigel Barnwell
were all tied up 10 under the card [I think]. Safari holes
we’re called for, Tee 7 to hole 8 first up ….
par par. |
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Second
play-off hole .. Tee from beside hole 9 to hole 7, 85 meters
I reckon, all nice drives especially Simons, which hits
dead centre between the ribbons and it’s all over
.. nice ace Si.
After an impressive driving clinic from the 247 meters ex
world distance record holder [current record 250] the afternoon
singles round got underway around 3:30 [thank heaven we
were still in daylight saving time] and saw Ken hitting
his straps and taking out the Open Paradise Plate ahead
of Simon and yours truly bringing home the Masters Plate. |
Seedy
Feasey can still ace |
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Sunday
morning and Sheree, Toby and I arrive at the Queenstown
Gardens as ‘No Sleep’, Si and a couple of bar
tenders and a bouncer from a local club are just wrapping
up a night of it.
The “I’ve sorted Si out for you” text
I received at 4 in the morning is starting to make sense
now. |
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The
first of many...? |
With
the local paper missing the story the numbers are down from
previous years but at around 11am, 25 of us head for our
shotgun start holes.
A couple of hours later as lunch was taken and stories told,
yours truly had the lead at 44, 10 under the card with Simon
on 47 and Ken Jarvis on 49.
I was feeling pretty good, Si was a little seedy on it and
‘No Sleep’ went home for a kip between rounds
and didn’t wake up till 9 the next morning.
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Ken as it turned out was just toying with us, he came out
in the afternoon round and shot a new tournament course
record of 41, 13 under.
“All credit to him” as they say in after match
interviews. |
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So
the ‘Helicopter Line 2004 Queenstown Classic’
open title goes to the US, the Masters trophy came home
to Auckland with me to join the Woman’s and Under
10 trophy’s won by Sheree and Toby,
and the junior under 18 title want to local schoolboy
Dylan Menzies.
The Helicopter trip the next day was amazing, I’d
won it numerous times before but never been able to take
it on account of the fact we we’re always heading
home. But this time Sheree had been smart enough to book
us onto a late Monday flight out so finally we all got to
take in the awesome sights from the chopper.
Thanks Helicopter
Line very much. |
A
Remarkable reward... |
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Next
year sees the 10th annual Queenstown Classic
to be held on the weekend of the 12th and 13th of March
2005. It’s bound to be a biggie so start planning
now and lets get down there in force to help celebrate a
great event. Mark my words; it’s an experience you’ll
never forget.
Or in the case of ‘No Sleep’ an experience he'll
never remember! |
