Chili Open rescheduled! To be held at Bolt on Inn on August 25th 11/noon start.

Chili Open Canceled. Tournament to be at the Moose May 5th 2024. Stay tuned. Mark your calendars for the opening day of the NIHL Horseshoes season on Thursday, May 2nd, 2024. Get ready to kick off another great season of horseshoe pitching!

On Thursday, February 22nd, at 7:00 PM CST, team captains from the Northern Illinois Horseshoe League gathered at Moe-B-Dick's for a crucial preseason meeting. The focus was on the upcoming season, which is poised to commence on either the last Thursday of April or the first Thursday of May, contingent on the final team tally. Chili Open to be held at the Bolt On Inn Sunday before opening day. Currently, the league maintains its strength with 16 teams, mirroring last year's lineup. A significant point of discussion was the collective effort required to scout new locations within the area equipped with horseshoe pits and to recruit players, aiming to expand the league's footprint and enhance the competitive spirit. The meeting also reaffirmed the continuation of last season's handicap system, adhering to the two-season rule implemented last year, ensuring consistency and fairness in competition. This year's assembly was concise, lasting about an hour, yet it was productive, addressing key operational aspects for the forthcoming season. Notably, adjustments to the starting lineup sheet were agreed upon to prevent the same two players from consistently starting matches, a change from last year's format. This tweak aims to diversify matchups and enrich the playing experience, ensuring that while the same matches will occur, they won't follow the immediate sequence of the previous season, adding a fresh dynamic to the league's structure.

During the meeting, the possibility of reducing our divisions from three to two, hosting eight teams each, was debated. However, concerns were raised that this restructuring might limit teams' opportunities to secure a divisional first-place victory. Our president, Ed Begley, introduced an innovative solution by suggesting the adoption of the "Cornholio" app for our weekly scorekeeping. This app was highlighted for its user-friendly interface, featuring a bright, readable font that promises visibility from as far as forty feet away, even from the distant pits. However, some players expressed reservations, noting the app's incompatibility with their flip phones, which sparked a mix of reactions. While a segment of our players balked at the idea, others showed enthusiasm for the technological integration, and a few remained silent on the matter. This proposal marks a potential shift towards integrating technology to enhance our league's operational efficiency, amidst varied player perspectives.