Ozark courses are coming togther for the fall Harvest

Well we are 2 weeks away from the 2008 Ozark Fall Harvest.
we spent about 10 hours their on Thursday mowing the fields and trimming up some greens.
This year the courses will be looking better than ever with a few subtle changes.
I mover the tee on 1 ( Ozark) 15 feet to the right making it a little "S" shot instead of a hyzer, which should really bring the lake into play for those going for a birdie.
The Ob lake is also going to be a bit larger diameter.

Hole 5 usually has 2 options, donw the tunnel or out a hole up to the right.
The hole out to the right is basically grown over too much forcing all players down the middle.

We removed several trees on hole 6 and cut away any hanging limbs and moved the basket back and to the right so that it can now be seen from the tee. It looks like a ace run, but I'm guessing its much harder to play than it looks.

Trimmed a lot of overhanging limbs on 7 and really cleaned up the green on 8, removing just about all limbs head height and lower once you are over the lake.
also took down 2 huge branches that kept people from getting down to the green that were right on the waters edge often knocking discs in the water before they crossed over land!

the tree foliage will be perfect as the the leaves were just starting to turn this week.

registration is coming in with a HUGE contingency from Iowa.

theres plenty of room for players and even for those that just want to come down to camp and party!!

Voodoo and Warrior prototypes

We finally got around to running he small bead putter, the Voodoo today.
The nose is a complete radius ( the wing is the exact same as the top) and there is a very small bead.
Initial testing went pretty well.
We ran a batch of blue in a soft/SS and a red in soft/medium.
I could barley tell the difference in flight between the two but of course one was more flexible than the other.
I found the Voodoo to be similar in stability to the Wizard when putting with the subtle fall off of hyzer at the very end of 30 and 40 foot putts.
When thrown harder ( 60- 80 foot) the stability was closer to the Warlock with just the right amount of predictable fade
The biggest surprise was when I really threw them hard.
They seemed to have just as much resistance to turn as a Wizard, but definitely FASTER and the fade was about a ZERO.
I threw some shots of about 250-280 feet on dead ropes and the disc barely mover 2 feet one way or another the whole way.
The disc feels really comfortable in the hand as the small bead is almost unnoticeable and seems to conform to your hand,,, I think "ergonomic grip" would fit quite well!

I guess I was hoping for more of a turnover disc than the Magic, but all in all I would have to say I am very Happy with the testing.
We will be releasing the Voodoo in about a week on our AUTO SHIP PROGRAM.

To get signed up for the first runs, please contact david@gdstour.com or have your club or favorite store call the shop 314 487 5204 or email office@gdstour.com.


BTW,
We are discontinuing the Element-X completely and retooled the mold to be a slightly slower more controllable mid-range and will be renaming it the Warrior.
It will still be similar to the element in wing length and rim depth but with a more buzzzzzish blunt in the nose!
I know,,,,, I know, we already used Warrior name years ago for the old E blaze, but stopped using the name over 4 years ago.
I really like the name Warrior and Element X just couldn't separate itself from the Element to gain and sales momentum, plus warrior just fits the discs purpose!

Yesterday we ran about 150 of them in 3 different formulas and they were a just bit too over-stable for what we were looking for. Kind of a cross between a demon and Gator which wont do much good in a beginners hands.
We are already retooling the mold,,,, looking to get a little turn in the middle of the flight before hyzering back, by adding a more rounded nose again think buzzzzish!!!

John E McCray Finishes 3rd at USDGC

Well It's been one heck of a roller coaster ride for Tampa Native John E McCray over the last few years.
A while back John was diagnosed with Lime disease after improperly being diagnosed with gout. Special diets were given to help cure gout which accelerated the lime disease and nearly cost him his life!!


Anyone who knows John E knows what a fighter he is on the course and from what I hear, fought long and hard to get his health back. His 4 solid rounds and a 3rd place Finish at this years USDGC puts and exclamation mark on this comeback.

John E is the 6th ranked player in the world and If I know him, he's thinking about moving up in that ranking soon.
He has plans for going on tour in 2009 or at least making all NT's and Majors.
John E and Jen ( John E's wife) have been such a great addition to Gateway and loyal supporters from the first day we started Sponsoring him many years ago.
Their ongoing efforts to bring disc golf to Central Florida and the gold coast include; running leagues, clinics, tournaments, giving lessons and teaching new players the sport of discs golf.
They, with the help of others, installed one of the coolest courses I've ever played In Brandon Florida.

I have been proud to be a friend and sponsor to the McCrays and their loyal support never goes unnoticed. My admiration for their perseverance and commitment to the sport and our company is something that I know comes from the heart.
Most people would have know idea how much they have had to go through, not only with the health issues, but in promoting a company other than Innova in Florida.

John E and Jen just LOVE disc golf and it has brought much joy and happiness to their family over the years.
My congratulation's and appreciation goes out to John E and Jen for all the hard work that has taken place in order to be in Charlotte this week to compete for the championship and to represent Gateway Disc Sports as a professional disc golfer.

I'm sure John E is looking back at a stroke here and a shot there, a putt, a drive or a decision that would have made him the winner, but in my eyes he has already won something greater than any title or monetary amount will ever add up to!


WAY to go John E!!!!!!!!!!



Pics of John E and Brandon!





John E Nikko and Justin on our trip to Florida Christmas of 2003.
I think it was about 60 degrees that day, John E was freezing :)

Gateway Players at USDGC

so after 2 rounds we have a few guys gunning for the BIG prize of over $10,000.00 at the the USDGC in Rock Hill South Carolina.

JOhn E McCray is in 2nd place at -17 with 2 stellar rounds of 61 and 59 and Nikko is sitting in 6th with a 60 ( leading score after round 1) and 63, -14.

In the lead is 2 time PDGA world champion Nate Doss with an Amazing score of 55!
needless to say they have their word cut out for them but theres still 2 more rounds and from what I hear you can have a 4 stroke swing on just about any number of holes out there!

Leader card is Nate, John E, Avery and Schultz:

Second card is quite interesting with 12 Time pro worlds winner & 5 time USDGC winner Ken Climo Chaperoning 3 young guns Nikko, Paul Macbeth and Greg Barsby,,, should be a lot of fun to watch!

George "go big or go hom" Smith is in 12th with 2 solid 64's and -8!