2016 was amazing year for my disc golf life here are some of the highlights.
1. 2016 was my first year playing in the PDGA masters division. Some may think this as a set back or feel bad they are aging, but I loved the fact that I get play again with some of the great players that I learned the game from almost 20 years ago. I started playing Open in 2001 and learned a ton from some of Oregon's, Washington's, Idaho's, and Utah's best. And since turning 40 this year I now get to play tournament rounds with these greats again and I love it.
2. Completing the Ann Morrison Disc Golf Course tee sign and sponsorship project was amazing this project had a ton of hurdles and took over a year to finish and I cant tell you how stoked I am on the tee new signs.
3. Being part of a great team that ran the most successful GSDG Winter series to date. At least till we wrap up 2017's Winter Series
4. Finalizing a City of Trees layout and running the first annual City of Trees Classic in Boise Idaho at Ann Morrison Park.
5. I did get to play in some events and for being away from my discs for all of June July and August I managed to have some great results. l placed in the top 4 in all events but one. Which was the amazing Cinco de Mayo Meltdown which is such an amazing event I had to play even with a torn MCL. I managed 1 win at the Idaho state championships. Idaho's biggest and best event, ran on Idaho's best destination disc golf course Lake Walcott. Sealing the win on the last hole by one shot over good buddy and Innova teammate Steve Loyd. this was also my first event on Team Innova and I had very little time with my new discs but the constancy of the discs from Innova is amazing and I was able to find a few molds I could lean on. some of which were star destroyers, champion thunderbirds, C-line FD, and the two greatest discs made the KC pro Roc and Aviar.
6. Getting Disc Golf Idaho off and running, We are excited to connect with park departments, ball golf courses and private land owners all over the State and beyond to develop professional courses, programs and tournaments all over the state for all skill levels.
Here is a recap of the top 6 moments for team Innova:
Originally posted at www.innovadiscs.com
#6: Ageless Cam Todd (April 2016)
At the Glass Blown Open, Cam Todd proved that you don’t have to be a 20-something to win on the PDGA Tour. At 42-years young, the 2001 World Champion took down the game’s best by one throw amid scorching temperatures and won over many fans in the process.
#5: McBeth wins his 3rd straight European Open (June 2016)
Down five shots to Ricky Wysocki at the beginning of the third and final round, Paul McBeth clicked into his familiar Beast Mode and dismantled the par-64 Beast Course with a 53 (-11), leaving the rest of the field behind.
#4: Hardest Working Woman in Distance (March 2016)
Becoming the World’s longest throwing woman wasn’t just something that fell into Jennifer Allen’s lap. Training intensely prior to the High Desert Distance Challenge, Allen was able to set a new World Flying Disc Federation World Record for Women’s Open Outdoor Distance. Jenn crushed a Star Wraith a whopping 569-feet, a mark she believes she can beat in 2017.
#3: Albatross Sighting (June 2016)
Landing himself on ESPN’s Top 10 highlight segment for the second time in two years, Philo Brathwaiteexposed countless people worldwide to disc golf when he holed-out after only two shots on the 850-foot par 5 using a 167-gram Star Destroyer.
#2: 1109 Feet! (March 2016)
‘How is anyone going to top that?’ – is what many must have thought after David Wiggins Jr. reclaimed the World Flying Disc Federation Open Class World Record for Outdoor Distance. During the High Desert Distance Challenge, Wiggins took advantage of perfect conditions to become the first competitor in history to break the 1000-foot mark. David’s distance disc of choice this year was the R-Pro Boss.
Photo Jeff Panis
#1. Valarie Jenkins Wins her 4th World Championship (August 2016)
Her first World title since 2009, Valarie Jenkins proved she’s still a force to be reckoned with. Despite being down early and for most of the tournament, Val’s never-give-up spirit propelled her to one the most memorable wins of her amazing career.
Huge thank you to Disc Golf Idaho Partners.
Finally, the PDGA is doing something about Tournament Directors using stroke and distance poorly. By basically eliminating it as an option in the course design for PDGA events.
3) Restricting a player’s OB options and the use of “Throw & Distance” Penalties · As per PDGA rules (804.04.D.3), in order for a TD to limit a player’s choice of the standard OB options (marked one meter from where last inbounds, the previous lie, and drop zone, if available) the TD must request a waiver from the PDGA Tour Manager. ·
Requiring players to re-throw from their previous lie after landing in a marked area, with or without a penalty, is thereby only allowed with a waiver from the PDGA Tour Manager. ·
Starting in 2016, any event requiring players to re-throw from their previous lie while also receiving a penalty throw (Throw & Distance) will only be sanctioned using the X designation added to the Tier level. ·
Any rounds played using Throw & Distance penalties will NOT receive PDGA ratings. TDs are encouraged to use less punitive ways to challenge players following standard PDGA rules.
Establishing a forward drop zone where players immediately have the option or are required to make their next throw after landing in a marked area is a more appropriate way to penalize players while also keeping players moving forward to benefit the speed of play. To discuss options, please contact the PDGA Tour Manager.
To break this down a little. You want to use re-tee as the only option be ready to be running an X- tier and not have the rounds not be rated.
Feel free to make holes difficult but don't create a hole that might make someone card a 20, or have no other options than to empty their bag, that is not golf that is a carnival game.
"Disc golf is played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, however, players use a flying disc, or Frisbee®. The sport was formalized in the 1970's, and shares with "ball golf" the object of completing each hole in the fewest strokes (or, in the case of disc golf, fewest throws). A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target which is the "hole". The hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets; the most common is called a Pole Hole® an elevated metal basket. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive throw from the spot where the previous throw has landed. The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the "putt" lands in the basket and the hole is completed. Disc golf shares the same joys and frustrations of traditional golf, whether it's sinking a long putt or hitting a tree halfway down the fairway. There are few differences, though. Disc golf rarely requires a greens fee, you probably won't need to rent a cart, and you never get stuck with a bad "tee time." It is designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages, male and female, regardless of economic status.
Disc golf can be played from school age to old age, making it one of the greatest lifetime fitness sports available. Specially-abled and disabled participate, giving them the opportunity to take part in a mainstream activity. Because disc golf is so easy to learn, no one is excluded. Players merely match their pace to their capabilities, and proceed from there. The Professional Disc Golf Association, with a base of almost 80,000 members, is the governing body for the sport and sanctions competitive events for men and women of every skill level from novice to professional. Thousands of permanent disc golf courses can be found all across the globe.
Many city parks have golf courses already set up. Most are free to play as often as you like. Disc golfers who do not have the benefit of a permanent disc golf facility in their area often "make up" courses in nearby parks and green spaces.
One of the great features disc golf shares with traditional golf is that they are both played in beautiful settings. A nine-hole disc golf course can be established on as little as five acres of land, and a championship-caliber 18-hole course on 30 to 40 acres. Disc golf courses can coexist with existing park facilities and activity areas. The ideal location combines wooded and open terrains, and a variety of topographical change.
The ongoing fitness boom finds more and more people taking up recreational activities in an effort to improve health and quality of life. Disc golf provides upper and lower body conditioning, aerobic exercise, and promotes a combination of physical and mental abilities that allow very little risk of physical injury. Concentration skills increase by mastering shots and negotiating obstacles. Players of limited fitness levels can start slowly and gradually increase their level of play as fitness improves. Scheduling is also flexible; a round takes one to two hours, and may be played alone, eliminating the difficulty of scheduling tee times. And as in traditional golf, disc golfers find themselves "hooked" increasing the likelihood of frequent participation. Disc golf offers year-round fitness, even in rain or snow. Perhaps the greatest attribute of the sport is the expense - or rather, the lack of it. A professional quality disc costs less than $15, and it only takes one for basic play.
And, of course, there's the sheer fun of the game - no matter what your age or skill level!
Play disc golf. It's a way of life!"
PDGA.com
