Flippin' Discs

I know I promised another post in this space, but it was imperative that I do this one first and back track. I have a message to everyone playing disc golf, especially those with sincere intent on actively practicing to improve their game. One of the quickest and easiest ways to review your form is by going through your pull, slowly, in front of a mirror and watch your mechanics. However, this would not be advisable right before you get into bed on the night before a tournament. Ticket please... Sometimes the beginning of the story isn't actually the beginning. It can start much earlier and you can take it as far back as you want...if you want. We can start all the way back at Copperhead V, that saw a change in venue and me, get poison ivy for the first time (that I can remember) in almost 40 years. The steroids to help my body recover have wound me up, messed up my already poor sleeping habits and throw my appetite into a frenzy. I was pacing the house, trying to wind down the nig

The Labor Day weekend was exceptional. I got to spend time with family and friends, relax, play a little a disc golf. Absolutely perfect. And just like any great hole on a course you've ever played, it was the proper mix of planning and taking the opportunities provided that made it so enjoyable, and memorable.  Enough of the writery stuff...for now. Trilogy Challenge Disc golf provides so many outlets to be involved with the game and the community. From casual rounds at local parks, clubs, local monthly events, all the way up to competitive tournaments for players of all skill levels, you can be as committed to your game as you feel comfortable. One of the unique melds of these, is the Trilogy Challenge , courtesy of Dynamic Discs. A Trilogy Challenge is a one-round, 3-disc event with different divisions, depending upon the Tournament Director and the course to be played. While it is a one-round winner competition, it's beginner-friendly, plus, you're getting immediate val

I'm a writer. It's in my nature to write about things, and disc golf has provided me with all sorts of things to write about, with my own special slant of course. I can't write from the perspective of someone that's been in the game a long time, because I haven't. I can't write about being a great player, because, well, I'm nowhere close to that. But I can share my experiences, my insights, and hopefully help you to enjoy or improve your game...at the very least, I can give you comfort by being able to laugh at mine. Time to get back at it.... Third time's a charm This past weekend was my second event back since the shutdown of life as we knew it, and my 5th overall event this year. I was boosted with a ratings jump to 851 after my early events from 2019 fell away. (Thank goodness. although I am clearly over-rated.) As you can tell from the heading, there was much left to be desired from my finish at the Copperhead V , held at Middle Creek DGC in Apex,

Watch, Listen, Learn I've been catching up on a bunch of disc golf videos lately on YouTube, mostly the usual, tournament coverage, and the sensation following Brodie and McBeth as Dark Horse takes on the disc golf world of sorts. But there was one group that got  the internal gears cranking again, as Noah of Daily Disc Golf played a challenge round against Simon Lizotte and the related Vlog with Simon talking about the differences between a 975 and 1040 rated player , referring to the previously mentioned challenge. Now, Simon and Noah rattled off about a dozen different things that separate a "good" player from a "great" player in Lizotte's Vlog. I'm going to completely ignore the fact that in this scenario, we're defining "good" as a 975-rated player...well, not completely. Actually, we're going to filter the vague-ish rattling on about what can be described as a casual round, and recap, and broaden the scope beyond the 6 strok

You do you If the King's Cup XV in Kinston had been held at a basket inside Circle 1, I probably would have missed it...and maybe the comeback too. But it was good to get back to the place that my competitive disc golf rounds began a year ago. I wanted to have a positive increase from my previous performance, some validation, some redemption, and perhaps come out with a win. (Too soon?...too soon.) Despite being encouraged by those who had played with me before, I stayed in MA3. (HP is right. It sounds so much better than Rec.) My PDGA rating allows it, at a generous 844, that meanders from the lowly 768 (KC 14 rd. 3) to the head-scratching 944 (DUO rd. 2) with some semblance of order in the middle of the 17 rounds from 2019. I had every opportunity to play smart, solid, par-driven golf through these four rounds. Like Ron White, "I had the right...but I didn't have the ability. I love to break down stats. While numbers can be manipulated in just about any way y

...This is 20-20 While this is a new year, I still have some cleanup from the old one. I got lost somewhere in the summer, got back into the groove (briefly) in the fall, and the wheels completely came off during the holidays as far as communicating my journey on this "Vision Quest," of sorts. I learned a great deal during my first full year in disc golf. I also have lots to catch up with those of you taking time to enjoy what I have to share, my takeaways, my events, my struggles and my immense enjoyment of this great game. So let's do a little recapping, shall we... It's good to be the King Unless you play like the Court Jester. A mere 4 months into the sport, I was guided by a new friend to get into competitions, with the first being King's Cup 14 in Kinston, North Carolina in late January. I was asked later by several other competitors why I chose what they perceived to be a difficult course to "break in" on. I was excited to jump into the