July 8, 2010

WIERTON, WV — Rookie Jon Munksgard is at least one person who has signed up for Golfapalooza XIV. A struggling golfer from northwest Pennsylvania, Munksgard is a true professional cornhole player off the course. He will arrive to Terra Alta with JT Thomas wondering whether his days in the finals are over.

Golfapalooza held its first of a few one-day rookie symposiums last week at Shooterz in Wierton, WV. Jon Munksgard and buddy Mike Lewis attended. The new draftees received a crash course on all of the dos and don'ts in their transition into Golfapalooza. The symposium focused on helping rookies adjust to life in Terra Alta by bringing in guest speakers like Squib, Adamski, and Todd Flanagan plus experts in a number of different areas to discuss various issues such as alcohol poisoning and gambling addiction.

The meeting helps set the tone for what the rookies can expect in their first year, using a blend of motivational seminar, boot camp, and 'Scared Straight,' cautionary tales.

The second segment of the symposium focuses on interviewing the rookies and learning a little about their character. Jon Munksgard was asked first to provide a brief history. The response was quite short, which prompted an open ended question. "I see your golf game sucks, but hear you are a professional car mechanic and cornhole player. What do you know about cornhole and how do you recommend a player develop his skills?"

Munksgard replied, "Sorry about the golf game. It was my understanding their is a cornhole tournament in Terra Alta. I do plan to bring my clubs, but can sit that part out. I try to play in regional tournaments at least once a month throughout the year and the dates work well for me.

As far as what I know about cornhole... It has been said that the game originated in Germany in the 14th century, and then was rediscovered in the hills of Kentucky over 100 years ago. The actual game is similar to horseshoes except you use wooden boxes called cornhole platforms and corn bags instead of horseshoes and metal stakes.

As far as what I recommend to developing your skills... Place the boards 3 feet front to front to start. This is quite an ego boost for the beginner. It is similar to playing the red tees in golf.

Use this distance until you can successfully make 3/4 bags keeping the fourth on the board. You may also want to practice other essential shots from this distance including but not limited to:

(1) the block, which strategically placed bag right in front of the hole.

(2) the butter bunny, which is an end over ender that can hop over a block and into the hole.

(3) the highway to heaven, which is a shot that slides between the small space between two bags and into the hole. This is also known as 'her legs are open'. This shot can fired with virtually any trajectory or velocity as the two sidecars will guide it to the hole more often than not (butter hop not recommended here).

(4) the Walter Payton or Up and Over, which is another shot used to combat a perfectly placed block. Trajectory and accuracy are the keys to one of the most difficult, but rewarding shots in cornhole.

(5) around the world, which is yet another way to answer a block. Increase rotation of the bag (thrown at an angle slightly greater than 45 degrees not flat) causing it to grab the board and curve beautifully around the block and into the hole. Degree of difficulty is extremely high on any board but nearly impossible on Notre Dame boards.

[symposium organizers eye each other in disbelief]

(6) the flop, which is intended to score 1 point but not go in the hole as this would put you over 21 and back to 13. Increased arc and decreased distance are the only pre-shot thoughts needed here. The chances of making it in the hole when trying not to actually increase! Spend more time on this seemingly trivial skill shot.

(7) the bump and run, which is the most important shot in cornhole because it shows strategy and can be carried out for the entire frame thus belittling your opponent and boosting your score. This shot requires that you first execute a perfect block (see #1). On your next shot, decrease trajectory and increase velocity 4-5 mph. Land the bag halfway between the front and the blocker toward the hole. When executed correctly, the blocker turns into a cornhole and the bump and run turns into a block. Your opponent is not only pissed with your lucky shot but now has the pressure of trying to execute a butter hop, Walter Payton or around the world. When he misses, another bump and run is in order. (continue humiliating him until he takes his medicine and blocks your block)

(8) the 2 for 1 sale, which is sliding your bag with 7-8 additional mph into one of your blocks causing both bags disappear thru the hole and into the Alpine Lake Gravel.

These are the shots and strategies that I have worked on for many years. The ability to control your opponent and his bags can fill a trophy case."

The organizers replied jokingly, "Is that it?" Munksgard said, "Captain Morgan relaxes my arm and shoulder, which might not be for everyone. There are other strategies that I believe are other personal internal edges to the game, but that covers quite a bit."

To be continued...