Good morning all. Looks like 2016 was another record breaking year and so many of you were a part of making that happen. The Year of the Monkey Tour broke an set records in all of its charity events starting with the Ava Ice Bowl (that is scheduled for tomorrow this year). Lebanon Ice also brought in a record amount. The Branson Ice Bowl was new but pulled in a large amount in its first attempt. The Winter Blast, also helped the CCFCC more than ever before. What was raised for all of the charities above was incredible and something to be proud of, but you all didn't just accomplish these, you also helped make the tour the largest contributor to the Educational Disc Golf Experience (EDGE). This helped get our tour featured on the PDGA website getting our area even more exposure.

EDGE has been supported by the Monkey Tours through the Tournament Charity Program (TCP) through a partnership. EDGE has continued to promote the sport we love in the classrooms of schools, churches and camps. This partnership between the Monkey Tours and EDGE has been incredible and I am excited to see what this year brings. To each and everyone of you that has participated in any of my events again I say thank you, but also congratulations on being a part of record breaking contributions!

This year, in collaboration with my witty brother, who I admire for his humorous simplistic genius have come up with the Make Disc Golf Great Again Tour 2017. Humor in the light of such chaos is needed. Hopefully this can help bring us a lot of laughs and keep us focused on the sport we love.

Each year the success of the events continue to build, but also the sport as a whole has boomed in our area. The Joplin Disc Golf Club, Full Turn Discs, Black Ink, DiscGolfComic.com numerous leagues to name a few, are doing great things and putting on awesome events. Seeing the growth of the sport in our area is truly remarkable and I am glad to get to be a part of its growth. Disc Golf is a passion, seeing it grow and watching the smiles on players faces as they make a putt or bomb a drive never gets old! DGM is so fortunate to be a part of the boom! I hope to continue to be a part of it for years to come.

I am excited that all the sponsors that have gotten back to me have agreed to continue to sponsor this year's tour. I am confident that with all of us working together the 9th Annual Monkey Tour will be as fun and as rewarding as the first eight! Thanks again for making a dream a reality! Without you, we would not have such a long running and successful tour. Thank you again!!

I hope to see you somewhere on the tour. May God Bless You and remember, Let's Make Disc Golf Great Again 2017!