A Day at the Landing
 

The usual suspects met at the lobby of the Hampton Inn Friday for a day of Sporting Clays at nearby Drakes Landing befor heading to Deep River.

They were hosting a charity shoot to raise money for battered women but as their clays course has 13 stations and is spread out there wasn't much waiting if any to shoot. We had five shooters on Friday and shot the first 50 then took a break and shot 50 more with another Parker.

This is a great venue to shoot and consists of hilly terrain much like Hausmanns as you need a cart to get around it. Targets are shot off several elevated stations and the scenery is wonderfull. On one of the elevated stations you shot over a pond where the target was a Batu that skipped over the water!

As we were setteling up Friday the owner called down to the clubhouse and asked his staff to stick around and set 5 plates. We were treated to a dinner of Brisket, Pulled Pork, smoked Turkey, potato salad, baked beans and sweet tea.

We returned Saturday for another 100 targets and the Southern hospitality was once again displayed by the staff of Drakes Landing in grand style.

This is a side trip thats well worth the time during the Southern SXS shoot.

Mark will be posting pics.

Sounds like you had a great time Rich. Parkers, friends and a good meal to end it, you can't beat that!!

Rich, We're glad you all had a good time over there and hope some of the money you spent there also went to their charity cause of 'battered women'.

Apparently there were five of you who went there on Friday... how many went on Saturday?

While this really doesn't put much of a dent in Bill Kempfer's operation at Deep River and all he does for the PGCA and LCSCA as well as for all the vendors and shooters, I think statements like your "This is a side trip thats well worth the time during the Southern SXS shoot." is counterproductive to his operation as well as the best efforts of both the PGCA and LCSCA as it appears you are attempting to draw more shooters away from Deep River. Please, for the sake of our good relations with Bill, be careful in how you word your posts.

Best, Dean

Dean there were six shooters on Saturday. I'm NOT trying to detract from Bill or Deep River, this is MY time off and IMHO Deep River isn't a great venue to shoot, unless you like a clays course with the same 6 stations year after year and a long waite to shoot. Others from the PGCA have gone to Drakes Landing to shoot and it's from them that I found the place and I see no harm in letting others know there is something else to while your in Sanford.

In 10 years of shooting the challenge Bill Kemper never offered a hat or a meal or ever went out of his way to make me feel appreciated.

I still had time to look through the tents, support the vendors and buy a gun...or two.

Yes he has - every single year. If you chose not to participate in the meal he offered to EVERYONE that is certainly your decision to make.

I do not want to start an open discussion of peoples personal preferences or choices as far as shooting venues and perks offered by their hosts so I ask you to either PM me or call me - you have my tel no. and you have my email address.

If this thread turns into a controversial xxxxing contest I will ask our moderator or administrator to shut it down.

I apologize to you Rich, and others, to have interrupted your thread as I did but it was necessary to make the points I did.

Best, Dean

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;105415]Rich, We're glad you all had a good time over there and hope some of the money you spent there also went to their charity cause of 'battered women'.

Apparently there were five of you who went there on Friday... how many went on Saturday?

While this really doesn't put much of a dent in Bill Kempfler's operation at Deep River and all he does for the PGCA and LCSCA as well as for all the vendors and shooters, I think statements like your "This is a side trip thats well worth the time during the Southern SXS shoot." is counterproductive to his operation as well as the best efforts of both the PGCA and LCSCA as it appears you are attempting to draw more shooters away from Deep River. Please, for the sake of our good relations with Bill, be careful in how you word your posts.

Sorry I don't agree Dean, I went to Drakes and had a great time, people could not have been nicer. I do not see how this takes away from Deep River Shoot, we were all there at Deep River in the early afternoon to visit with friends and see all the vendors and I would have shot the challenge if my neck was not giving me fits on Saturday. I have not shot D.R. sporting clays for over six years since it's the same six stations long waits and not a lot of fun..So I am not taking anything away from Bill since I won't shoot his course anyway and as stated, above I am on vacation and to be criticized for going to Drakes Landing and having fun and letting others know about it and then be told we cannot post about the great time we had is a little absurd (more then a little).... Maybe I need a rule sheet from the PGCA of what I am allowed to say about an event and what has been determined as not allowed.....:nono: Sorry Dean I don't live in that world. Eric

I don't have the right to censor anyone's posts here. All I asked was that more care be taken in how a post might appear to all readers. The phrase "during the Southern" made the post appear as if meant to draw people from Deep River.

I like to shoot other venues too but.....

Anyone is welcome to call me on my cell 978-621-9338 for more off-topic discussion.

Again, Sorry,
Dean

Dean
I know Bill pretty well and have discussed with him many PGCA members frustration with shooting at DR. Bill had told me he had made some major improvements this year so I did not go to Drakes on Friday but ventured forth on his SC course. The stations had not improved, the lines were still as long and the only improvements I saw were "resting station" for the waits. I then joined the group at Drakes on Sat. IMHO it is not a board members function to direct the personal choices of our members. I will send you a PM, not comment further.
David

Yeah what he said and I am closing my comments on this thread, Dean if you want to send me a pm I would be glad to talk about it off the forum. Eric

Thanks for your telephone call David.

As I stressed to David it was never my intent to "direct the personal choices of our members." but only in the way it is written about.

With this, I too, will bow out of this conversation except by PM or telephone call.

Please do not click the "THANKS" button on my posts on this thread. I don't want this to be "them vs. us" in any way... we're all friends here.