June 15-17, 2006
11th JAPAN OPEN - Tochigi, Japan

Written by: Juliana Korver, Team Sassy contributor

The 2006 Japan Open was the largest to date with around 72 foreign (non Japanese) players including golfers from the US, Taiwan, Sweden, Canada, Finland, and even Mongolia. The event lived up to it’s reputation as an incredible cultural experience. The immense tournament staff did all they could to make it easy on all the travelers from picking you
up at the airport to shuttling people to and from the cottages to the course. The
tournament consisted of two full rounds of 27 for all involved. On the third day the top 72 men played a semi-final round on 18 of the 27 holes all other men and women played their semi-finals on the remaining 9 holes. The course itself was laid out on Nasu Highlands (ball) Golf Course. This is a spectacular Robert Trent Jones designed course with all kinds of undulations and some treacherous cliffs adjacent to some of the holes.
The view (when it wasn’t completely obscured by the fog) was breathtaking, especially a geometrically pleasing blue bridge many miles off in the distance. It made only one appearance that I saw as it was much more likely that the conditions were hazy. After all, the event was held during the rainy season. OK, let’s get back to the course. They put 27 holes on an 18 hole golf course, so the holes did not always follow those of the
golf course. There were many really interesting holes, but there was an awful lot of
repetition as well. Many of the baskets where located on the top of mounds with OB behind and/or sand trap OB in front. There were plenty of OB’s due to the cart paths and multiple sand traps scattered throughout the holes. It is no exaggeration to say that
every hole offered a reasonably shot at going OB. Being that this was played on a golf
course, all participants used carts. This helped considerably when getting from hole to hole, but sometimes got in the way while on a hole as the carts had to stay on the paths which weren’t always very close to the disc golf holes.

Let’s talk about the women. There was a very large field. I believe we had 18 total with players from US, Japan, and Sweden. Thursday, our first day of competition, called for rain. The women were to tee off last with the staggered start. They were only able to enjoy about 3 – 8 dry holes depending on starting positions. Although bothersome, the rain wasn’t all that bad. The wind was a little trickier as most were not accustomed to the lighter 150 class plastic that is required in Japan. It wasn’t the most enjoyable round, but like I said it was tolerable (despite the slight chilly). However, as the day progressed, the fog started to roll in. By the time the last group to tee reached their 15th hole, the visibility was between 50 feet and 80 feet. This combination produced some of the worst conditions I have ever played in. It may not have been so bad on a course that you know well, but on a course that is new, repetitive (can’t remember one
hole from the next as many look the same from the tee), and littered with OB, visibility is extremely important. At one point, while I was 150 - 180 feet from the pin, I had to walk up half way to the pin before I could see the flag flying on top of the basket. At that point I tried to walk a straight line back to my lie. When I got about 50 feet from my lie, I laid my umbrella down pointing to the pin. When I got back to my lie, I could just make out the umbrella so I had some indication where to throw. It felt like you where walking among the clouds. Thankfully, the round was delayed due to the extreme conditions. The quote I heard from the tournament staff was that they believed we had had enough. None of the women finished and some had as many as 11 holes to finish the next day. The second day had rainy conditions to begin with, but by the time the women finished up their remaining holes, the rain stopped falling. Which made for much better conditions for the second round that was played with a shotgun start an hour after the women finished up. On the final day, we actually had beautiful weather which did wonders to erase the chills from the first day.

The event was run incredibly well. The golf course was a spectacular and very prestigious venue. The ever abundant food was wonderful and the people of Japan are truly amazing. They have a beautiful spirit and love for life. They are humble, honorable, courteous, and kind. It is heartwarming to be among such good people. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in Japan and look forward to returning.

For full results see japanopen.org.

August 7, 2005
An update is long overdue and it is our sought-after intention to keep gals and fellas in the proverbial loop, so feast your eyes on some of the ambiguous evasiveness I'm about to spew (iew!) Things are uber beautiful at our home base in Portland. Whatever season you're experiencing, we hope the sun is shining and the birdies are chirping as brightly and loudly as they are here!

We'd like to shout out to all the ladies of disc golf this year… we sin-sassy-cerely wish that the pavement you plod, the states you saunter thru and your sweat and determination on the playing field collide with much success!

Ok, down to bidness.
Now in our 3rd year, this has been a great year for Sassy. It's starting to feel as if people are truly catching on and spreadn' the Sass like marshmallow fluff on white. We've been a lot of places, stirring up Sassy biz in shops all over and tearing up the playing fields whenever we can.
Some brief highlights (guaranteed to be recapped on ESPN Sportscenter) as we wish not to bore you with all the details.

A few events Sassy Pants has sponsored this year:
1. First Annual Cardinal Classic - Rockford, IL
2. Deaf Dog Days III - Madison, WI
3. Texas Women's Championship
4. Discraft Spring Fling and Minnesota Majestic
5. Couples Mixed Doubles in Oklahoma
6. Wham Bam Thank You AM - Sussex, WI
7. Can Am Great Chili Cookout - NY
8. Deaf World Biggest 5 - MA
9. WKU Collegiate DG Champs - KY
10. CanAm Hall of Chains - OH
11. Disc Golf Championships and Doe's Challenge Ladies event - NM
12. Beaver State Fling - OR
13. Full Sail Sorosis Park - OR
14. Kamloops BC Ladies Clinic - Canada

Random news bites
*We are pleased to announce that Disc Golf Xpress out of Ann Arbor, MI and Spinners on the Green in Arizona are now vendors for Sassy Pants.

*By popular demand, we are working to add more wicky fabric styles into our line and skirts to our roster. Watch for us testing in special markets. Change is on the horizon for our product line so you'll see new fashions on the block soon. FYI - not everything we carry is on the website. If you're interested in hearing about other Sassy items, inquire within and we'll let you know what else is available.

*Our Spring 2005 Spring Pass the Sass recipient was Melissa Christie. Read more about her on the Sponsorship page. GET YOUR SUBMISSION IN FOR FALL PASS THE SASS BY AUGUST 15. I repeat, AUGUST 15TH is the deadline. The fall winner will be chosen on September 1 and announced shortly thereafter.

* Teresa was the TD for the Beaver State Fling, Oregon's first National Tour on May 31, 2005. Very exciting! Teresa took 14th at World's in Pennsylvania. Jodie took 10th at the Discraft Great Lakes Open in Michigan.

Our Sassy Pledge - We love you all and do believe it's of the utmost importance to keep you well informed of what is going on in Planet Sass. As always, your support is like an ice cold margarita on a hot day in the desert. Smiles abound and multiple spanks, if you're lucky. And we know you are.

November 14, 2004

Now you can get limited edition collectible Sassy Fall Fantastic discs in a multitude of bright colors. We promise you will LOVE these. The discs are lightweight, straight-flyin' Elements and Wizards, produced by Gateway Disc Sport. You must have one for your collection. TD's...club members and managers...event hosts - these make awesome prizes and giveaways for events in your area. Contact us and find out how to get this great sponsorshiop item. Intrigued? See more awesome colors here.

October 18, 2004
FALL PASS THE SASS WINNER GIVES PRO GIRLS A RUN FOR THEIR $$ AT COLORADO STATE CHAMPS

After taking 1st in Advance Women Division at Grand Junction Open a couple weeks prior to the CO State Champs, Sally West made a strong showing in the Women's Pro Division at the finals on October 9-10, 2004 in Durango. After round 1, West was in 3rd place behind two other touring pro women. She had a rough 2nd and 3rd round, but wrapped it up with a solid fourth round to steal 6th place. She said the courses were incredibly difficult and challenged every aspect of her game. West was excited by her finish and how well run the tournament was. Congratulations to a well-played final event and for an incredible showing in the ladies Pro division!

October 16, 2004
1st INAUGURAL SASSY FALL FANTASTIC A ROUSING SUCCESS!
(written by Sassy sister-in-crime KT Paplow - also a co-TD for this event.)

Well, the inaugural Sassy Fall Fantastic has come and gone. The 26 women that came to play and learn traveled from Seattle, Tacoma, Eastern Oregon, Corvallis, Philomath, Montana, and all over the Portland area. We had three generations of women from one family playing together! The fields were impressive to say the least! And the payout? Well we were lucky to be able to payout upwards of 300% so that the ladies walked away feeling the love from the disc golf community. And I'm sure that all of the ladies wandering around in a new Convert Boardwear Jacket today loved the raffle as well!

Thanks again to all of our sponsors near and far for their support of the women in disc golf! Huge thanks to Gateway for their support and making everything a little bit easier on us, and to New Belgium for their sponsorship of both swag and beer! Thanks to our grill-meister Cris Bellinger (who so desperately wanted to caddy, but gave it up to help us out), and to Naked Juice for providing us with nourishment to get through the rounds! Also a tremendous thank you to Ellen Holub, Toni Hoyman, and Erin Voelker for helping us out with the clinic. I know that there was a lot of information thrown at the women I in a relatively short amount of time and I'd like to thank everyone that helped for taking it slowly and being as helpful as possible. I had so many participants say that something they learned in the clinic really did help them in the afternoon round, and they couldn't wait to get out and practice, practice, practice! (confidential to the ladies: YOU ARE GREAT PUTTERS!!!)

And the caddy raffle? Well, I guess it's true that when you assign bragging rights to a "winner" the guys will go all out! We had 18 caddies that never let their player bend over to pick up a disc, who always had a stool for them to sit on, and who opened the water bottle each and every time the women were thirsty. Needless to say it was a huge success as well, and after an extra-innings applause-o-meter smackdown, Keith Johnson was declared our Sassiest Caddy! Thanks to Keith and all the guys that were willing to carry a bag, be positive and don a bra in the name of supporting women disc golfers! (note to caddies: perhaps donning nothing BUT the bra for the applause-o-meter didn't help your cause. Just sayin'!).

Now that the tournament is over the real work will begin. Several of the women were excited about planning ladies leagues in their areas and pumping up the women's fields for tournaments all over. Hopefully the support of the community will hold true and the ladies will remember that even in a "competition" it is she who has the most fun that wins. Every time.

September 23, 2004
ONLINE REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE SASSY FALL FANTASTIC
SPECIAL LIMITED TIME APPAREL WITH EVENT LOGO

Not only can you sign up quick & easy online at titledisc.com, but you can now get special products (apparel, kitchenware, bags, etc...) with the Sassy Fall Fantastic logo. Check out our store and get your event apparel soon - perfect memorbilia from what is to be an awesome ladies event. Shop now!

SASSY FALL FANTASTIC
Entry for June 10, 2004

We have a name for the premier women's event this fall. The Sassy Fall Fantastic will be held Saturday, October 16 at Champoeg State Park in Newberg, Oregon.

Tell all the females you know about this day-long tournament and clinic extravaganza! More details here.

Brochure and sign up form - get it now!

April 20, 2004

Sassy Pants partners with Gateway Disc Sports to bring you the first GDS Tour in Oregon - the 2004 Women's Clinic and Tournament.

Ladies - plan to attend this fabulously sassy event on October 16-17, 2004.

Details and a flyer will be available shortly.

HOPE
NW Amateur Disc Golf Series
April 10-11, 2004

Adidas and Salomon 30 foot wind flags and banners streaming, yellow as the sun was bright this weekend. Later we learned these made a great tailwind and headwind gauge for the near gale -force winds of the Gorge. The course was in prime condition with fresh dirt and bark chips. A most engaging banner "Welcome Disc Golfers" at the entrance.Tee signs were clean and classy, displaying many prominant national sponsors, not limited to New Belgium, Red Bull, Goal Oriented and much more. Vendors each had their own canopy tents under which to showcase their wares. A photo hut and Love Sac lounge where photo CD's were being burned on site for players. Count them -- five aces during the weekend. Irony rears its silly head as none of the throwers were in the ace pot. CTP and raffle prizes were over the top! Great giveaways such as a snowboard, tent, adidas warm up jackets.

Sassy Pants is proud to speak of a stong showing in the lovely ladies division. 14 women in all! As always, more women equals MORE SASS! In the Advanced women's divison, Melody King grabbed first, with KT Paplow close in second and Toni Hoyman in third place. All three got intricately crafted wire trophies by a local Portland artist. In the intermediate women - Camilla Chalmers won first place. Jen Gamber nabbed second place and Robin Hopkins in third. Congratulations to all the Sassy winners!

Gahp Graphics (Kevin Poest and Erik Wilson) provided the Rec and Junior divisions with snappy hand dyed disc trophies. Easter has nothing on disc golfers and the NW Am Series board had an easter egg hunt for adults (eggs filled with raffle tickets for great prizes) as well as for kids. New Belgium hosted a player's party after Satruday's round at the Tippy Canoe - fine beer and good cheer abound! One savvy traveler hiked from Sacramento to play -- a most curious and spiritual fellow -- surely a guardian over the festival. Another came from Kansas City. It's amazing the lengths people will travel for a wonderful cause.Knowledge and skills came compliments of a clinic hosted by pro players Dave Feldburg, Avery Jenkins and Cameron Rauenhorst during lunch on Saturday. Players listened attentively as they gave Part I of a III-part series. For more info, you'll have to attend PROGRESS, the 2nd NW Am Series event. For more info, visit www.nwdiscgolf.com

Sassy Pants had their own canopy tent to showcase wares at HOPE.

The NWAM clan on Sunday after the HOPE festival.