Addicted to Chaos

I wouldn't say that I'm exactly "Addicted to Chaos" as Megadeth puts it, but I certainly have had my fair share of it the past week or so. With the all the family issues (wedding and a funeral) as well as a few state tournaments to cover, the past week was indeed chaotic.

I was unable to post last week as I was on the road at the Class B State Boy's golf tournament.

I would like to post a brief opinion about the use of range finders in golf tournaments:

Recently the NDHSAA and the golf coaches brought up that Class A is going to begin allowing the use of range finders during tournaments. Class B agreed to see how Class A likes it before pursuing it, but I think that the idea is ludicrous.
Golf is the ultimate game because it takes so much mental capacity to become a great or even good player. Duffers must use their brain to solve mini 'problems' in course management, club selection, shot shape and even the way a putt will break.
Estimating distance to the hole is just another factor in that mental equation and is very much a part of the game.
There are distance markers out on the course to give one an idea of the distance, but it is up to the individual (or their caddy in the pros) to determine a close estimate of that distance and then select a club in which they believe will give them the best possibility of getting the ball close to the pin.
Having a range finder will completely remove that part of the mental game, as the golfer will be able to pull out a device and know exactly the distance and select their club accordingly.
Supporters of this action will say that it would be a fair ruling because everyone would be allowed to use them, but what they fail to understand is that it will ruin the game for three reasons: first and foremost, as I stated earlier, it removes part of the mental aspect of the game; secondly, it will drastically slow down play, as all the players will have to go into their bag, pull out a range finder try and make it work and so forth; lastly, not all players will have access to range finders, sure most of them can either have their parents get them one, or save up to get one themselves, but these things are expensive, and as much as I hate to admit it, it gives an unfair advantage to those more fortunate (I know that sounded pretty socialist of me, but it's true in this instance).
Plus, if I see a guy out on the course over the weekend with a rangefinder dialing in every shot, I assume that he is a hack. Any good golfer knows the game and appreciates it enough to do the honorable thing and estimate the distance with their mind.
It's part of the game, leave it that way.

Anyway, enough babbling, here are the pictures I had left from the past couple weeks:

Bottineau players celebrate on Thursday, May 24 after winning the region title in Surrey.

Sophomore Lee Schneider makes a stop at second base during the region tourney in Surrey.

Matt Bowers powers a ball to the fence during the region title game.

The Braves bench clears and congratulates Justin McCloud after he hit a two-run homer.

McCloud fives Head Coach Nate Simpson as he rounds third after the home run.

Schneider rips a pitch.

Schneider makes the play.

Senior Cody Brooks about to deliver a single during the region title game in Surrey.

Schneider awaits the ball as he tries to turn two.

Schneider flips the ball to second.

Ging Martin turns on a pitch and hits to the outfield in the May 22 loss to Bishop Ryan.

Parker Englehard connects with an inside pitch.

Freshman Brock Hiltner delivers a pitch from the hill in the loss to Bishop Ryan.

Hiltner about to deliver.

Schneider slaps a ball to the infield.

Schndeider fires to first base.

LaCroix tags out the Lions' Jake Magnuson after an excellent block of the plate.

McCloud fires to first base at the state tournament last Thursday in Jamestown.

McCloud hurls a pitch in the loss to Bishop Ryan in Surrey.

Bowers swings at a pitch during the 4-3 loss to Washburn-Wilton-Center-Stanton.

Sophomore Andrew Hill awaits the pitch while leading off of first base.

Westhope-Newburg senior golfer Trevor Hulse tees off during the Class B State Tournament at Oxbow.

Sioux sophomore Hunter Braaten tees off on his final hole of day two.

Bottineau junior Zack Monson hits a putt during the state tournament.

Monson hits a tee shot on the water-surrounded 15th hole.

Monson strokes another putt.