The Extreme Tournament - Tauranga, New Zealand 2004.
This is part of our '2004: The Year That Was' feature click here to go to the current www.discgolf.co.nz website.
 
Extreme Golf by Marty 'The Dev' de Haas
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Fancying myself as a crusty demon I was looking forward to my first time at Xtreme golf in Tauranga. Arriving at Maclarens Falls Park things seemed a bit to peaceful… ducks swimming lazily in the lake, animals cruising, birds singing etc. This was hardly what I Xpected!

I've seen that shirt before...

Dave Routley forgoes the forehand for a brave attempt at a birdie on the tough 4th. Don't want a roller there Dave!

Thankfully the rollup area had 20 other crusties doing pre tournie routines such as Woodstock consumption and the crew from Taumaranui doing there patented style of aerobics…that was more like it !.

An opening round of hat draw doubles and 3 rounds of singles was the format so off we set for a first taste of what this devilish beast of a course could offer. At one stage I saw 3 discs from different holes Freakly rolling 100's of metres down the same hill for a 9.8 pointer on the Styley scale. Yessiree…there was gonna be some tall stories later that night over some bevvies.

Some showed good early with visitor from Waiheke and first time tourney player Brett casually and uncannily sinking solid putts from everywhere much to Brendan's delight. The big improver from the King Country Quan and local hottie Dean showed good form to win comfortably.

After a good lunch and more then a few prays the singles was under way. My round started with a 6 and after a roller, another 6…

My prays obviously got cross connected.

The course bared its evil teeth soon after that when Mark H went to retrieve a disc that had innocuously settled in 2 inches of water. Seconds later he was waist deep in quickmud and if not for the lightning fast reactions off his no 1 fan and mum he would have disappeared into the bowels of the majestic Kaimais. Mark was playing far too well and would not have been missed by the rest of his group.

Dean finished the first day yet again as overnight leader…could he carry it through or would those Xspeacially nasty demons from Taumaranui who he had kindly put up 4 the weekend put their hex on this ever genial player.

Sunday and what a cracker… blue skys and not a breath of wind. Personal matchups were on the cards with 20 people playing from the youngsters Marty and Quanne too regular tourers Pete and Dave so more Xcitement was gonna be had. The top group to battle it out to become golfs Evil Knivel was Dean, Simon , Mark and Mum and sourthern man and last event winner Blair.


The Knoll
A view to die for - and a hole that can kill a round - The Knoll
One of the quirky holes and much discussed mandatory no 14 showed why it is a good inclusion with Simon carding a 7, any hole that can cause the games best player too crumble should inspire us mere mortals too have mandatories on every hole.

Another win quite Feasey-ble
Commitments and poor health saw National Champion Simon Feasey miss the last tour event. But thrue to form, his appearence at Tauranga meant another 50-point win.

This set the tone for the day with the lead and fortunes changing almost every hole. At one stage play was interrupted from the tee of (Mclarens signtiture hole and worthy entrant in any “Top of the World” ) hole no 16 when someone let out a bellowing warrior call which reverbrated through the course.

Players luck mysteriously changed after that with the victors being the ones who showed the best survival skills. Congratulations to Simon Feasey in the open, Pete Boyle in the Masters who had to hold of the persistent scniping of fellow countryman and harrier Dave and Quan Weston coming out of a tight wrestle with and also big improver Martin Conway in the juniors.

What an Xcellent event and no matter how beautifully physically and especially mentally demanding this course can be a "I Cant wait to give it another crack" course. Thanks for all the effort Paul and the great hospitality from shown from Mick and the crew. Its fantastic we all have the opportunity to play such unique locations as this and when you have a field of 20 or more it really sets the stage for great Competition.

Looking forward to the infamous Crater Cup where Im sure Steve has come up with another varity of challenging golf.

Finally thanks to my sponsors and fellow Dakarians* who made my first successful defense such an effortless one.

Chee.

(* - the editor would like to note that the author is dreaming if he thinks he defended the Dakar in Tauranga)


Couldn't hit a Barn-well!
The man from Waiheke, Nigel Barnwell, upgraded from the usual big discs he throws to traditional golf discs and was rewarded with three consistent rounds leading to a fine result - 7th equal

Tauranga Xtreme Golf 2004, NZ Tour Event #4
Results

Name Division Rnd1 Rnd2 Rnd3 Total
Simon Feasey
O
56
52
54
162
Dean Marshall
O
54
54
60
168
Mark Hamilton
O
56
58
56
170
Blair Joines
O
58
57
62
177
Pete Boyle
M
62
60
59
181
Dave Routley
M
63
63
58
184
Marty De Hass
M
63
63
63
189
Nigel Barnswell
M
64
62
63
189
Des Cooper
M
67
62
63
192
Victor Kereopa
O
65
63
65
193
Quan Weston
J
70
71
65
206
Gene Tutaki
O
70
70
67
207
Brett
M
68
71
70
209
Martin Conway
J
77
65
67
209
MikkyD
M
76
70
74
220
Mick Conway
M
67
81
73
221
Fish
O
61
66
126
253
Jimmy Conway
M
63
126
126
315

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