2009-05-16 - Wateree Paintball

Gabe and I rolled in around 10:30 and found a half-dozen refs running around trying to get the xball field ready - gusty winds were having their way with xball field. Todd gave us a quick tour.. here a nutshell view:
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the field is 28 miles north of camden SC just off hw 97
2 small woodsball fields are in play, and a nice grassed xball field.

the property is a mixture of open grassy areas, very gently rolling hills with mature hardwoods and a few rocky outcroppings.

In development out back is a very nice woodsball field - with growth potential for a 50+ acre scenario field. It would take some work, but woodsballers will take to this area like white on rice.

They had tons of draxxus paint for sale, hpa and co2 - and at least enough rental '98s to cover the players out there today.

I guess around 6 refs, plus todd and a few family members helping out - and pricedollarz there w/ his camera (and lady friend).

Everyone was very very very nice, very friendly, and all very eager for input from the players to help them prepare for the grand opening on July 4.

Players: I saw a few guys from Karnage, one Saber, one AlphaBravo, a few guys who used to run w/ Shadow Co, and 2-3 partial speedball teams. maybe 32-35 players all together.

They had at least 2 hand held chronos and a thrown together chrony station, running water, and a portajohn (very clean). Chrony speeds were "between 280 and 300".

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We got in around 8 games in the woods while constant back to back game on the xball field kept churning away.

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In my opinion the best parts of this new field are:

Very friendly owner, staffers.
The back 40
If you are an xball fan, this is nice and grassy.
The price (I think I paid $7 entry - and BYOP&A'ed - all day air was offered for $7 I think.)

on the more critical parts:
I recommend seeing what other fields use for safety rules - and what insurance companies expect, and get some safety standards going. For a first day, trial run things were.. ok. but I saw probably 50 goggle and barrel sleeve violations - eventually someone will get hurt.

Some guys was shooting in the parking lot across the cars... oh, dear. refs should be dog-piling these guys.

A chrony station near the speedball field would be nice - I would suggest everyone chrony every game - or at least between sets. Big Red Chronys are great for fixed station, and tend to not walk off.

I had a good time, and Ill be back w/ a few more friends.

what you see from the road