Humble Beginnings and a Passion for Disc Golf
The Derelict League’s roots trace back to Friday evening gatherings as a way to unwind and welcome the weekend. Inconsistent player participation and a lack of formal structure during this early phase led to the playful name “Derelict League,” a moniker that resonated with the group on two levels. It acknowledged the often inconsistent attendance, reflecting the definition of derelict as something abandoned or neglected. But it also carried a hint of mischievous fun, acknowledging the nature of these early get-togethers, where “derelicts” could also be interpreted as lighthearted miscreants with no set course. The “Friendly $5” on the round, which is still an inside tradition to this day, often went to the same players each week. In 2014, to even the playing field, Tommy Murashie, inspired by his past bowling league experience, created a handicap system in Excel to manage scoring. This was the origins of Derelict League.
The Spark of the Modern Derelict League
In February 2021, Scott Howard joined a KPLeagues Putting League event at St. Paul Brewing after being pushed to join leagues by long time Derelict, Danny Hexum, which is where he met Tommy and the current age of Derelict League began. They bonded over their love for night golf, and after many rounds at “Knight Chainz” at Highland Park, craved a new challenge. This led to the first unofficial “Derelict” night round event in October of 2021, “Russ’s Quest for Nocturnal Grace,” hosted by Tommy at Kaposia Park. This marked the true beginning of the Derelict League we know today.
Building the League: Logos, Partnerships, and Growing Pains
Scott, with his graphic design experience, was asked by Tommy to create the first Derelict League logo, solidifying their partnership. Initially, the league relied on word-of-mouth, attracting members from KPLeagues and the original Derelicts. Patrick Kelly (PK), the founder of KPLeagues, became instrumental in bringing the Derelicts into his system, offering an automated handicap league with payouts. PK wasn’t prepared for the endless joy that working with the Derelicts would bring him, and even though he may not admit it, we know it’s his favorite league.
The first year involved two weekly events, a Wednesday Day League and a Friday Night League, Derelict League: After Dark. It was a period of learning, with challenges like faulty puck lights, disc shortages due to COVID, and creative suggestions to our CTP Prize shortage. At one point, Tommy even suggested we throw a used toaster up, cause why not, we’re the Derelicts. However, the members stepped up, donating discs for CTPs, fostering a strong sense of community.
Haunted Hyzers: Taking it to the Next Level
One of the league’s most popular events, Haunted Hyzers, emerged from Kaposia Park’s pre-existing annual Day/Night Tournament. Determined to do it bigger, Tommy and Scott transformed it into a two-round Day/Night Halloween extravaganza. Their efforts, from homemade course decorations, encouraging costumes, and a beer bucket CTP, made it a roaring success, setting a precedent for future events.
Year Two: Refinements and Growth
Year two saw the league address challenges and capitalize on opportunities. MVP’s “Gyropalooza” boxes became a reliable source of CTP prizes, and their reputation for exceptional glow discs solidified their partnership with MVP/Axiom/Streamline as the majority of CTP Prizes. Lighting upgrades further enhanced the experience, and the MVP Space Dubs event joined the yearly calendar.
Haunted Hyzers continued to grow in year two. Members sponsored “Holes of Horrors,” lightening the workload for the organizers and creating a truly unique event experience. The year ended with the MVP Space Dubs, turning the traditional Ace Race format on its head, with a Dubs format, shortened course, and plenty of Ace runs.
A Very Derelict Future
During the 2024 offseason, the focus shifted to the handicap system. Scott proposed an automated system that adjusts handicaps based on course difficulty, similar to Bolf. This lit a fire in PK to start discussions with Chuck Kennedy, the PDGA ratings man himself, who collaborated to develop the current handicap system we’re fine tuning to this day.
Another challenge arose with the closure of the local KP Pro Shop, the league’s usual source of CTP discs. Reaching out to MVP Disc Sports’ “MVP Eric” through their Discord channel led to some positive discussions about Derelict League, at which point they suggested speaking to MVP’s Events person, resulting in a 2024 MVP Disc Sports Sponsorship package that secured CTPs for the rest of the year.
To Discfinity and Beyond
The Derelict League boasts over 250 members. PK continues to refine the handicap system, Scott is designing the official DerelictLeague.com website, and Tommy is creating exciting layouts for the Summer and Fall Series. Through it all, the core value remains true: “Nobody has more fun than the Derelicts” – Tommy Murashie.
The History of Logos
