The Council Convenes, Clouds Take Minutes
Hole 17, a 322-foot par 3, played +1.3 for everyone who didn't birdie it, and only Bradley Bushman did. Six rangers took the White Tees (2024 Redesign) at Buckhorn at Harris Lake County Park on Tuesday, October 13, under clouds at 58°F with 3.9 mph of wind. Nobody gets a weather alibi. The Vault Raid chapter gave way to the Ranger Council, Week 4 of 10, the mid-season gathering where the company pauses to acknowledge deeds. checks clipboard The deeds are scorecards. They always were.
The Par 5 Picked a Favorite
Hole 5, all 673 feet of it, gave up exactly one birdie, and Lee Kennedy took it to lead RAE Red through hole 5 while the field averaged +0.3 there. Ruth Hudson made him earn it twice: her front nine ran 4 strokes better than her back, and Kennedy had to retake the lead through hole 10. Hudson answered with a seven-hole par train from 10 through 16. Steady, but not enough to steal strokes back. Kennedy's OB on 17 forced a scramble, not a collapse. He signed for -1 on a 928-rated round, a personal best on this layout and four strokes better than last week's +3. Hudson finished three back at +2.
Empty Chairs at the Council Table 🪑
Bradley Bushman's -10 in RPA Gold rated 1017, the round of the day and 30 points above his 987 rating, while Ryan Metz posted a 918 in RAD White, 31 above his 887. Seats are open beside them and beside Troy Toler in RAH Blue and Brian Taylor in RAF Green, so bring a bag and a challenger's nerve.
Tithes for the Old Forest
The league's registration contribution sent $3.00 to the Buckhorn at Harris Lake Course Fund this week, bringing the project total to $77.80. Thanks to everyone who keeps feeding the woods that keep feeding on your drives. You can chip in for Buckhorn here. The old forest accepts offerings.
Full Reshuffle, Same Spider on Top 🕷️
The Whispering Weavers pool runs AllIn, so every tag gets redistributed off the standings each event. Kennedy's -1 left the Fate Weaver exactly where it was: with Lee Kennedy at #1. The precioussss... I mean, the current standings. Under AllIn, nothing is held over from last Tuesday. Skip a round and the reshuffle sends you to the back of the line. Show up and you have to earn your spot all over again. It's a numbered piece of metal, and he gets to prove he deserves it again in seven days.
Thorn Gate: The Rough Wants Its Discs Back 🌿
Kennedy carries the Fate Weaver into Thorn Gate, Week 5, on Tuesday, October 20, and Hudson is still circling after that back-nine par train. Buckhorn switches to the All-Star (2024 Redesign) layout. The script says the rough reclaims territory, precision beats power, and a long-standing holder finally falls. It also says the new holder's nerve gets tested immediately. I just read the scroll. The scorecards decide whether it comes true.
Register for Thorn Gate, and track your round on PDGA Live so I have more to read than a final number. Nothing says ancient barrier like a gate made of thorns guarding a park where grown adults throw plastic at chains, as if Buckhorn's trees weren't already doing that job for free.