New Zealand Disc Golf Championship 2008
The 30th Annual NZDG Championships
Saturday the 9th – Monday the 11th of February 2008
Onepoto Domain, Northcote, North Shore City

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Having no applications to host the 2008 NZDG Champs ‘Gentil Sport’ decided we’d do it ourselves, but to make it simple it would need to be in a park close to home.

We had been negotiating with the North Shore City Council regarding the installation of a permanent 18 hole course in Onepoto Domain, a beautiful flat park with easy access from the motorway. We’d come to the usual dead end when at the final meeting where I was expecting to get the go ahead I was told that Disc Golf didn’t fit in with the ‘passive use’ area of the park. It wasn’t till well after that meeting that I clicked that Disc Golf is passive, in fact more passive than pushing a baby stroller around the park! So I was keen to show the council just how well Disc Golf would fit into Onepoto Domain.

The only thing I wasn’t sure about was could it host a National Competition course.

Having spent many hours in the park prior to introducing the locals to it for their appraisal I felt good about what we had. A park without a lot of elevation but that was counteracted by the fact that there was plenty of water and well established trees and bush to bring out the best skills in players.

The initial feed back was all good, a few minor changes to tee and basket positions and the general feeling was that even the best would be tested. The other great thing about the Onepoto Domain course was that every hole has potential for beginners and intermediate tees, and can even be played by someone in a wheel chair.

Michael Proctor on one of a few swims he had over the weekend.

Ok! So the scene is set!

Saturday morning sees the Doubles pairings heading to the tees, some for their first look at the course.  Doubles is a great way to learn a lot about a course you’re new at, playing with a partner and having to talk about how to approach each hole, and even observing your opposition and what they do.

At the end of the day the pairing of Simon Feasey and Blair Joines - surprise surprise - had taken out the 2008 NZDG Doubles Championship with rounds of 45 and 48, a total of 93 with Mark Hamilton and Jo ‘Fish’ Seebeck second on 98 followed by Mario Cerniar from Christchurch teamed with Dylan Cooper on 99. The women’s title went to the Joynt sisters Allie and Robyn and the mixed doubles title to Ming Menzies from Tauranga and Gene Tutaki of the Lost Tribe club. Nice work!

Sunday morning; and as I head to the course the radio tells me we’re in for rain and showers for most of the day. I know the region needs rain badly but we’ve had beautiful fine weather for the last 6 weeks, could it not come just a couple of days later? As it was the showers we had were light and really didn’t affect play too much.

As the players came back into the clubhouse after the second round on the Sunday Blair Joines from the Lost Tribe Club in Taumarunui had a 6 shot lead over Josh Smith from Hamilton with Simon Feasey and David Keene just one shot back. It was great to see a bunch of fresh faces on the top group.

Sunday evening and the Tournament Dinner was held at Ferns Café just up the road from the course, followed by our NZDG annual meeting and the NZDFA Inc. AGM as well. Great venue, excellent food and a great atmosphere.

Monday morning and an excited bunch of Disc Golfers head out onto the course. Once again there are occasional light showers but nothing too much to upset things.

David ‘Speedo’ Keene the 2008 NZDG National Champ. He’d dreamed of this day since Uncle Baz first took him to the park not that long ago.

As the cards come in at lunch time defending champion Simon Feasey had shot a spectacular course record 48 to take his usual place at the head of the field, and would be joined on the hole 1 tee for the final round by David Keene 2 shots back on 158, along with Blair Joines and Josh Smith both on 161.

The lead changed numerous times over the final round and by hole 15 Simon and David were all square. Then on hole 16 Speedo Keene snuck one up when he parked his drive under the basket and Simon was left with a 14 metre birdie attempt. On hole 17 both players parred, so going into the 18th David was 1 shot up knowing he was one of only 2 layers who had birdied this hole.

Both players gave themselves a good look at the basket on 18 with Simon up first he had no option but to have a run at it, and ended up 10 meters past with a tree in his way. David also seemed to take a run at the basket but luckily for him hit the pole and ended up with just a 4 metre putt for the championship. Simon stepped up and sunk his 10 metre putt for par and David shock off the pressure and solidly putted out his par to take the 2008 NZDG Title by 1 on a 210.

The Grand Masters Title and 4th overall went to GM Bob Gentil on 217, the Masters Title to Martin deHaas on a 226 and the Woman’s title once again went to Fiona ‘Ming’ Menzies from Tauranga. The Grand Master Woman’s Champ is Jenny Joynt from Tokoroa, and the Junior Champ for the 5th time is Toby Gentil [9] from Birkenhead.

All in all it was a great weekend of Disc Golf enjoyed by not just the players but the locals who live around the park and the galleries as well.

Thanks for making our 30th NZDG Championships a memorable weekend of Disc Golf.