Dear DISC members,


Here is the latest on the Elysian Course project and the Fling IX.

Elysian Course Project

- Weds evening's meeting with the Citizen's Committee to Save Elysian Park
went
well. Almost all of the members have visited the site with us for a walk-through
and I
believe that a majority of them approve of the project! We had hoped for a vote
at this
meeting (it had been promised) but several more hoops have been put up for us to
jump
through and we have been given a SOLID promise that they will vote the project
up or
down at their next meeting. Difficult as it is
to believe – they may very well give us the go ahead to install this course.

We had hoped to tell you that the course had been approved and ask for some
help
during the installation process, but now we actually need some help jumping
through one
of the new hoops. The Committee wants us to demonstrate community support,
specifically in the area immediately adjacent to the course. It is obvious that
our seeking
and securing such support will protect them from irate neighbors with more fear
than
understanding descending upon them at their next meeting with "You approved a
golf
course!!".

Given the time and effort involved in this project so far, I don't mind going
door to
door with a disc golf education and opinion gathering project (basically what is
being
asked of us). We are also recruiting neighbors in the immediate area who are
willing to
write a letter (have one already!) and/or attend the next CCSEP meeting and
speak in favor
of the course (have one already!). Good news - a local community leader is
willing to walk
the area with me. The real kicker that should guarantee us a "yes" vote at the
next
meeting would be a couple of Los Angeles locals willing to speak in support of
the course .

How can you help? If you live in the area near the park and would be willing to
either
write a letter in support or attend the CCSEP meeting and speak briefly in
support of a
course, please contact me. If you know anyone that lives in the Solano Canyon
area
(specifically those few blocks of Academy and Solano between the 110 Freeway and
the
course area), please let me know.

Sorry - we had hoped to pull this off without asking for your help, but we
could use
some assistance. If you have anyone in the area that you can hook me up with,
let me
know. I have a sample letter that can be revised. We will have any letters sent
to me to
bring to the meeting.

Fling IX at Lake Casitas Recreation Area Update

- The Ventura Club has installed the baskets on a BEAUTIFUL, exciting
course at Lake
Casitas Recreation Area (between Ventura and Ojai). The pads will be poured soon
(the
club and the Rangers are going to try to have the pads poured and dry for us by
June 3rd -
the tee areas are all flat and playable now). This is a challenging Pro level
layout – they can
be very proud of themselves for this course. They will have it set up to shorten
a few holes
to help things flow quickly for the Fling on June 4th.


- The Fling IX is not quite halfway filled, but entries have been coming in
steadlily – so be sure to get your entry in if you are playing. We have only one
more of the
Friday
night only camping spots available ($24.50 - $18 plus $6.50 booking fee) and 3
of the
two
night spots on reserve ($42.50 - $36 plus $6.50). M campground is right off the
course
with a playground and facilities – nice!

-

- The course has elevation, character and some water may be in play. Bring
comfortable footwear, some extra socks and an extra driver. Also come early if
you are coming on Sat. (it may take some time getting through the front gate).

Below find the info letter that we sent out on the event. You can download the
flyer from a
number of sources - including socaldiscgolf.org and
http://homepage.mac.com/clifftowne
(click on the download box next to Fling IX flyer).

Thanks, Cliff Towne

ctowne@...

cell – 323-574-7678

Dear DISC members,

We are proud to announce that this year's Fling IX will be held at the Ventura
Disc Golf
Club's new course up at the lovely Lake Casitas Recreation Area between Ventura
and Ojai
on Sat. June 4th. Once again there will be a limiton the number of players (72)
in the event.
Avoid disappointment, fill out and return the enclosed form ASAP. We will be a
PDGA*
event (C-tier points) and a So Cal Disc Golf** point event as well.

The Fling IX will be run like last year's event, with food and a cool player's
package
accompanying the fun of disc golf and Disc Arcade games. Close to a thousand
dollars in
prizes were awarded last year and the DISC club account grew by more than $600.
Our
thanks to last year's helpful and generous players, volunteers and sponsors
(Innova and
Discovering the World).

If you are interested in knowing what DISC has done for you lately, in addition
to running
the Fling VIII in 2004, we ran the Fall Jr. Discsports Program for the Los
Angeles Unified
School District's South Youth Services. We set up Ultimate and disc golf
demonstrations
and then ran an exciting season ending tournament. Pix are up at
www.discsports.org
(which links to our new Yahoo Clubs website). We are proud that our 3rd annual
Ice Bowl
In Paradise at Elysian Park on 1/29 made $934 for the Los Angeles Regional Food
Bank,
and it appears that our long running efforts to get a disc golf course installed
in Los
Angeles may finally bear fruit in Elysian Park. We are currently working with
parks,
politicians and neighborhood groups and are feeling foolishly optimistic about
this
project!

The Ice Bowl in Paradise was a DISC membership event this year (if you played,
you will
save $15 on your Fling IX entry). Restricted access to that section of the park
did not limit
our fun. Ten women played, Billy Carnaghe won the CTP and we had 15 other
players from
the Santa Maria/Santa Barbara/Ventura areas! This consistent support of DISC by
our Tri-
County players adds to the pleasure of running the Fling at the new course at
Lake Casitas
this year. Now it is our turn to drive! DISC has sponsored a basket at the new
course and
you can help too. Go to the Ventura Club's web site at: www.seedlessrecords.com/
understable.html for more info. The Lake Casitas Recreation Area web site is a
good
source for info; www.lakecasitas.info click on "price list", "camping" and
"water adventure".
Day passes are $6.50 per car. Some may prefer to show up on Friday. Campsites
run at
$18 per night (plus $6.50 reservation charge), 2nd car $10 – good facilities,
hot showers
etc. Trailers can be rented - $65 per night plus campsite fee – 2 night minimum.
The
camping area closest to the course is Mallard (we have 5 "Friday night only"
campsites
reserved there – 1st folks to contact Cliff get those). The closest RV hookup
area is Indian.
Registration will be near Tee 1 at the Coyote Boat Ramp area but lunch and Disc
Arcade
may be in Mallard. An early draft of the course map is posted with some other
DISC files
up at http://homepage.mac.com/clifftowne Check our www.discsports.org site for
updates also.

The Fling is similarly priced this year. We aim to have a fun time and raise the
same $600
or so that we have in past years. Pros – please note that the top third in each
division win
prizes or gift certificates – not cash. If you can't make it, please support our
efforts to
grow the sport (AND get a super cool collectable disc) by joining DISC
("Membership only
box on the flyer). If youarecoming and want to add to the bottom line grab some
extra
Disc Arcade vouchers. DISC donations are tax deductible as usual. Please contact
us if you
can help with our education and recreation projects, or wish to help in other
projects to
grow the sport.

 

Thanks so much for your support!

 

* A year's subscription to Disc Golf World News is an attractive benefit of PDGA
membership. For a PDGA membership application contact Cliff Towne @ 323.660.4026
e-
mail: clifftowne@...

** If you are interested in becoming a Southern California Disc Golf member go
to:http://
www.socaldiscgolf.org/