Once again the HGT was a huge success for NC disc golf. With stronger attendance this year than ever before, you, the HomeGrown disc golfer has shown the disc golf community what FUN disc golf is all about. 2008’s attendance and payout were at an all time high and seemed unreachable, but we blew it out of the water, averaging 92 people per event with a total of 1388 competitors. WE also paid $5514 to the pro divisions, $8572 in merchandise to the non-pro divisions and MOST IMPORTANTLY raised $5512 for the HomeGrown courses. HomeGrown disc golf is proving and continues to prove that private course disc golf is the most enjoyable way to compete in the sport we all love. And, of course, the growth of the attendance at the tour, brings course growth as well.

The HGT is once again adding two more courses to the tour for 2009, now making it a total of 17 courses. Your support of the HomeGrown tour has started a new addiction in disc golf. . . private couse design and installation. More and more folks are wanting to create courses in their back yard, making the growth potential for the HGT limitless. Capping off the year was the awesome introduction of the HomeGrown Zone at the USDGC.

As the 2009 season takes form, the excitement is becoming overwhelming in anticipation of celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the HGT. ZoneDriven is once again sponsoring the ZoneDriven points race, and a new division has been added to the tour, the GRAND MASTER DIVISION, with Innova as the exclusive disc provider for the HGT. Of course there are some other changes as well, the entry fee for all divisions is $5 more, with all of that money going towards payout. $4 of the entry fee will go directly to inner division payout while the other goes to what I call a community CTP. The community CTP fund will be pooled at each event and placed on the easiest hole of the course - so everyone has a chance of winning it. Depending on attendance, it’s possible that the CTP could exceed a cash value of $100. Not only will the disc selection be the best ever for the HGT but there will also be the ever-so-popular beer glasses with some new art work, new stainless steel shot glasses ready to go in your bag to warm you up on those chilly days and the much anticipated Little Flyer “stash minis” along with the usual t-shirts and golf towels. Oh, and did I mention, for the first time ever, we will have KC Pro Rocs and Aviars with the custom HGT stamp on them available for sale.

Much more is being added to the HGT as well, Yadkin county has created the “Yakin County Bounty”. The person with the most HGT points earned at the three Yadkin county events will win a prize, so perfect attendance is a must to win the Yadkin County Bounty. There will be a bounty for each division, so all prepare to attempt to “take the bounty”. We will also have a Inncolor disc awarded to the “True Homegrowners”! Each person who has perfect attendance for the ‘09 season will receive a custom Inncolor disc as a sign of gratitude for your ultimate support of the tour. Last but not least, we will have the HomeGrown Zone again at the USDGC this fall. The HomeGrown Zone will be at the same place as last year, by holes 5, 6 & 7. Adding to this excitement, there will be a cookoff on Saturday at the HomeGrown Zone. Pork and poultry is the grub to brag about. There will be a trophy for each category of pork and poultry for that special chef who has the tastiest recipe! So my friends, bring your grill and enough grub to feed an army and lets show the USDGC how the HGT feeds the hungry.

So, load up your bag and fill up your gas tank. The first event for the ‘09 season is this Sunday January 25th, at Borrowed Time. We will be starting the player’s meeting at 9:45 to allow time to do the ‘08 awards ceremony. Come and see who won the points race and sportsman of the year awards. John Glenn has some awesome custom trophies for the divisional winners for this Sunday’s event and his neighbor is cooking chicken stew for lunch at $2 a bowl. Remember, if you plan on competing in the ZoneDriven Points race for the ‘09 season, attendance is a must to win. All 17 events go towards the divisional points total and we have a track record of large turnouts at the first event, which means lots of points.

See ya ’round

Chuck “Chuckster” Connelly
HomeGrown Tour Disc Golf Tournament