Ucb / Gg Open 2007 $8888!!

[GGManagement]

CALLING ALL BADMINTON FRIENDS!

We just wanted to remind you that the GOLDEN GATE BADMINTON CLUB UCB / GG OPEN 2007, with prize money up to $8888, is just around the corner on October 5th, Friday to October 7th, Sunday, so please send your final applications out ASAP!! We are really excited about our SECOND UCB / GG OPEN and we do hope GG FRIENDS will all come to support the players, or PLAY YOURSELF in this fantastic Tournament! There is a category for everyone and we really wish to see all our beloved GGBC FRIENDS participating in our great annual tournament! We can guarantee you adrenaline pumping FUN FUN FUN!! Please take a look at the application form attached and send it in as soon as possible! Please ignore the deadline date on the application form! We want to encourage EVERYONE in the Bay Area and beyond to participate so we are extending the deadline. Please take a look at the form above, and fill it out ASAP! It will be an exciting challenge for ALL! We have players coming from across the Nation and Canada too! See you all at the UCB / GG OPEN 2007!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMPETE IN OUR TOURNAMENT PLEASE TAKE THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
1./ PLEASE PRINT OUT THE ENTRY FORM ABOVE AND FILL IT OUT in clear print.
2./ PLEASE FIRST EMAIL YOUR NAME AND INTEREST TO ENTER , TO CHRIS LAWRENCE AT: ccclawrence@aol.com IMMEDIATELY.
3./ PLEASE POST THE APPLICATION FORM WITH THE ENTRY FEE CHECK AMOUNT TO CHRIS LAWRENCE AT:
Chris Lawrence, 8950 Bradwell Place, Apt. 104, Fishers, Indiana, IN 46038


See you all VERY soon!

Best Regards, GG Management!

[kwun]

i might need a ride from Santa Clara to GGBC2 early on Sunday morning, Oct 7th. anybody?

[mugdays]

Hey Kwun, this is Gumaro. I can give you a ride. But you have to take plenty of action shots of me, hahahaha.
And don't worry, I have a reliable car now :P

[MaggieHo]

Hey Kwun, this is Gumaro. I can give you a ride. But you have to take plenty of action shots of me, hahahaha.
And don't worry, I have a reliable car now :P

You better put on seat belt, haha

[drifit]

You better put on seat belt, haha

make sure the car is fitted with air-bag....

[monto]

Can GGBC please publish the names of those entering? (once the entries have been determined)

[kwun]

Hey Kwun, this is Gumaro. I can give you a ride. But you have to take plenty of action shots of me, hahahaha.
And don't worry, I have a reliable car now :P

Gumaro! thanks for the offer. i will contact you later. you don't mind going early early, right?

[kwun]

Can GGBC please publish the names of those entering? (once the entries have been determined)

it is in the hands of Chris Lawrence the tournament director. i will bug him early next week about the entry list.

[mugdays]

Hey Kwun,

Early early is fine by me.

[monto]

it is in the hands of Chris Lawrence the tournament director. i will bug him early next week about the entry list.

Any word from Chris? I'm expecting some exciting opening round matches (MS/MD), so am seriously considering taking Friday off work to spectate, not to mention an hour long drive each way, so I'm keen on seeing the list of participants first

[kwun]

no words yet but i did send him a mail. the only person who knows the entries is Chris.

[kwun]

ok. i got a reply from Chris, thanks Chris for giving us the info:

We probably wont post the draws until the day of the tournament. Most of the top US players not coming (especially on the mens side), guess they're traveling right now. Womens side is fairly strong though with Johannah, Mona, Lili etc. But I'd say probably not worth to take day off work on Friday just to see the early singles rounds. On Friday, singles starts at 2.30 pm and Mixed Doubles first round played on Friday starting at 8 pm. Saturday play starts at 9.30 am, semis (except for Mixed Doubles) start at 5.30 pm and then on Sunday it'll be Mixed Doubles semis at 9.30 am and all five finals starting at 11 am.

[monto]

ok. i got a reply from Chris, thanks Chris for giving us the info:

Thanks for sharing this information.

Very disappointing to hear many top players, esp the men, will be absent! Along with the US nationals/team trials and a few of the big tournaments like Boston, I would have imagined this as a prime platform for display of talent, but alas...

[monto]

Some pictures from today's action:







Blurry, but Sally is in the senior XD. I included the senior MD to show what a good deal it is, first or second place, you earn back your entry fee

[monto]

And some pics of the facility:

From the front entry:






From the back wall:



Middle of venue:



Two courts on the left (E, F) are only 1-2 feet from the wall, and thus designated training courts. Otherwise quite dangerous:


The trophies:


Many cartons of AS-40's


From outside:


nice touch:

[monto]

I'm sure Kwun will have more pictures of the facility, but these will do for now. In terms of travel, arriving at GGBC2 was a quite tricky, as there are some small streets and several turns to navigate after exiting from the freeway. It's embedded in a more industrial area adjacent to the Bay St shopping area. (Note to those coming from the south, one has to take 880->980->580 to exit at Powell, rather than 880 directly (which I tried to do after reading the directions featured in the UCB/GGBC tournament flyer ).

Inside, lights are placed between courts to minimize glare, see above pictures, but are still a bit too bright. Unless you're in the middle of the court looking straight down the court, lights can be a bit blinding (i.e. if you're looking crosscourt from the sidelines/baseline, they can be bothersome).

Ceilings were decently high, but I saw at least 4-5 rallies end with defensive net lifts into the ceiling beams. The wooden beams were rather attractive, though, compared to the industrial metal sheets/joists at UBC/Smash City.

Floors were nice, none of that joined matted stuff that can split apart, like in use at UBC, for example. Good contrasting white lines/green courts, a la GGBC1. I only walked around, but it did feel rather hard, comparable to Smash City (which is virtually cement, as far as my knees are concerned )

As for first day tournament action, highlights would be watching the Arnold Setiadi/Che-Chang Cheng MS match. Cheng appeared a good decade older than Setiadi, but his very quick feet kept him alive in many a rally. Both Cheng and Holvy De Pauw used some very impressive deception, mostly backhands at the net.

WS, Mona Santoso and Lili Zhou dominated in the first few rounds, I don't see anyone preventing them from meeting in the finals.

XD, good solid teams all around, all playing simultaneously at the end. I'd expect some more exciting matches the second round and beyond.

[kwun]

thanks monto for the photo and the report!