For the most part my disc golf career to this point has consisted of playing as many local events as possible. I started to do some traveling a few years back, but that primarily started as a way to continue to hang out with the local crowd as they traveled to other places. Last year I went to play in Am Worlds in Charlotte, NC and that really opened up my eyes to a whole new experience. So, after easily qualifying to play in Am Worlds again this year, making the decision to go to Emporia, Kansas to play in this years Am Worlds was almost a no brainer. I was one of the first to register if not the first.
This blog post could probably go on and on about this years experience. There was something so different this year and so amazing. Hats off to Dynamic Discs and the PDGA for putting on one incredible event.
One of the more unexpected joys I had at this event was attending some clinics put on by some of the best pros around. Jay and Des Reading are perhaps the best teacher of the game I have ever met and was so blessed to be able to go to two different clinics they put on during Am Worlds. It really reminded me of what I really want to be doing in this world, besides playing disc golf. That is of course teaching kids to play disc golf. It was also a great experience for my parents who I have been teaching. At the putting clinic, prior to the start of anything big happening at Worlds, my mom somehow made three putts in a row to win a ring of fire. So in reality, my mom can say she won at worlds, which is much better than anything I can say. I was also briefly able to talk to Jay about teaching kids and what it might look like and I look forward to communicating with him in the future. I sure hope that with what he and Des are doing, I might be able to join them in the mission of teaching more kids to play this great game.
Also, I would be remiss if I did not take time to mention how awesome the town of Emporia, KS is. Honestly, it was kind of like being a celebrity for the week. Signs were all over town welcoming the disc golfers to town. In just about every place we ate we talked with locals who were curious about disc golf and were actually aware of the events going on. The hospitality was just incredible. It honestly felt like the entire town was glad that we were there and they seemed like they would genuinely desire to have us back. It really makes the decision easy to travel there for other events that go on in Emporia and it makes me wish for the day when Emporia will host the World Championships again.
This event was also unique in that it is the first Am Worlds to move towards being a true amateur event where there would be no payout, and only trophies given to the top finishers in each division. Now this did mean that everyone participating would receive an incredible players pack which ended up consisting of a brand new backpack style bag from Dynamic Discs, a dry fit polo shirt and discs from eight different manufacturers including prototypes and newly released discs. In addition to this every round of the tournament had a sponsor that would give a disc to the person that won their card. The event felt like it was supported by just about every organization involved in the sport of disc golf.
Speaking of support, I had a grand time reading local forums from home and feeling like the whole community was behind us. Thank you Mile High Disc Golf!
I feel like I have mentioned about half the things that I wanted to say so far. I am really sorry that this blog post is going to be so long. As I think about it though, an event where my experience was as good as it was deserves this much attention.
Prior to the start of the tournament I took a lot of time to practice all of the courses that I would be playing for the tournament. I set goals of what I wanted to shoot at each course and had my caddy daddy take notes on how I should best attack each hole. This preparation was long and tiresome. But it was good to go into such a big tournament with a plan of action. This is an aspect of preparation that I once thought could not be overdone. Perhaps it can be to a certain extent when it wear you out. I am not sure if it was merely the practice rounds but I cannot remember being more exhausted after a tournament than I was after this Am Worlds.
Of course the field events were mixed right in there with all the practice. After finishing dead last last year in the distance competition, I decided not to compete in that but to instead compete in both the Skill Shot competition and the Putting competition. The Skill Shot competition was more fun than I expected it to be. Throwing so many different kids of shots and then measuring how far away you were from the basket or target to earn points was a great reminder of how a good short game, even outside of putting, is really important for this game. I ended up earning points in all but one throw and finished in 5th place in the Advanced Men's category. In the putting competition I was really just hoping to do better than I had in Charlotte. I did well in Charlotte earning 8 points and finishing in a tie for last cash. Well, this year I started out strong and earned a total of 13 points to finish tied for 11th and well ahead of last cash. All told at the field events I earned back $49 after cashing in both of the events I participated in.
The tournament itself was an absolute blast. I was put in the A pool even though I probably did not belong there. I had an early morning tee time at the Municipal Golf Course DGC for round one. This was also a huge blessing as it meant only having one round the first day, which also happened to be one of the hottest days of the tournament. After shooting a 76 at this course during the Glass Blown Open and a 66 in my practice round, I was really just hoping to be in the 60's. Well, something came over me and for some reason the discs were leaving my hand and doing good things that I cannot remember seeing before. I ended up shooting a 61 which not only won my card, it also put me in the top 20 players in the A pool, where I certainly did not belong. I was so happy to win this round in particular because it was the round sponsored by Vibram. Vibram, in my opinion, makes the best discs and goes through the best process prior to releasing new discs, well above and beyonf any other manufacturer out there. The group of guys I played with was good too, and I will probably say that about every group. I am saying it about every group, right here right now. Will, Tim, Teegen, James, Ben, Calvin, Greg, Armando, Matt, Paul, Kirk, James, Chris, Jack, Zach, Vince, Josh, and Dominic, it was a pleasure to play with you all. I am pretty sure I got all the names right.
I also met my goals in four other rounds, but some of those goals got adjusted after playing so well at Municipal. When I came back to Municipal I shot another great round for me, even better than my first round. If you just look at those two rounds I probably look like I should have finished much higher than I did. Municipal was also the toughest course for me at Glass Blown Open, so you have to figure that the improvement at the other courses will be there as well. It was just not the case. I shot even at Jones West and over par at Jones East, Country Club and Peter Pan. If only the entire tournament had been played at Municipal.
I also had a great experience on the final day of the competition, even though I missed the cut. I was able to watch most of the finals including carrying the scoreboard for the Advanced Masters Women's group, which included Noemi from Colorado. I also followed the top card for the Advanced Men. I was way far behind the top for guys but I learned that I am not all that far behind them in reality. They played a lot of the same shots that I did on the same holes. They were just a tad bit more consistent in hitting their line with precision and then making putts after hitting those lines. They could throw the disc a tad bit further than me as well.
I learned that I am a very good disc golfer. I learned that easy and smooth is better than trying to throw as far as you can. I learned that the more I am having fun, the better I play. I learned that even during a good round I can find at least four throws that could have saved me a stroke. I learned that singing worship songs to God keeps me from thinking too much about myself and the round of disc golf I am currently playing. I learned that when I think about God while playing I have more fun. I learned that making friends is not about first impressions or about where someone is from, it is about being their fan from the start and cheering them at every step along the way. I learned that a true friend does the same in return.
While I played very well. I was still sad to miss the semi finals after knowing how well I was playing and how capable I was of scoring even better. In the end though I can be sad and still have had a great time. Now it is back to resting up and recovering. I am amazed at how my body hurts after playing so much disc golf. I should have expected it as well as the crash as soon as the adrenaline left my body. What a great experience.
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