Reflections

There comes a time in every mans life when it's appropriate to reflect on the events that have taken place over the last few months. This is one of those times. The semester I had the privilege of being enrolled in a beginners disc golf class here at Bethel University. I went into the class with no expectations of getting worse at the game that I very much enjoy. I went into the class with only the intentions of becoming a smarter player and tweaking the few mechanics that needed tweaking. Now that the class is officially finished pending the final grades to be posted soon. I want to take a moment to reflect on my disc golf experiences this semester.
The disc golf class first met on a very blistery day in the wretched athletic facility called the SRC. It was here that I first met my Professor of Disc Golf, Jim Bielby. Let's be real, this guy is good at what he does theologically, and disc golficlly. I was very intimidated because I didn't know who was going to be good and where I ranked as far as they were. The first class period was mostly lecture on basic rules of disc golf and how to even throw the discs. Hey, it's a basic beginners class. Though, I was no beginner, as I have been playing since the beginnings of my high school career. (Thanks Diggs) It was good to review the proper ways to throw the disc. I will say that I did learn some new terminology that I try to use when ever possible. The class ended with Bielby watching us throw just to gauge how much he was going to have to work to correct our technique. Bielby came past me and said, "Wow, you have a nice throw. Probably won't have to make too many adjustments right off the bat. I think we'll wait till we get out on the course to fix anything." I was so happy when I heard that. I thought he was going to rip me apart. After that Bielby and I were tight.
The disc golf classes consisted mostly of playing actual rounds of disc golf out at our very own dg course on campus (which I feel that I have a pretty good handle on). It was good to be just playing consistently and learning from mistakes.
Another highlight of the semester was playing in the first ever Bethel University Disc Golf Championship. It was a privilege to play along side a colleague of mine, many of you know him. The ever consistent Douglas Walters. We both played very excellent as he has already alluded to in a prior post. I'm going to speak for my part on the tourny. My goal in the tourny was to just play my game. Hopefully, that would end up being pretty consistent and like usual it was. My game was just to play each hole one shot at a time and play for pars. My philosophy is that the birdies will come so just play for the par. My two rounds were pretty solid if I do say so myself. I made probably only a half a handful of mistakes and they cost me 5 bogeys. Those five bogeys along with the two birdies allowed me to claim a share of the fourth place winnings. (2 Innova Disc Golf Discs, Archangel 165g, and a Shark 161g) Like Diggs mentioned, I did not expect to even be close to winning the pot. I just wanted to place. I was amazed at some of the scores that turned up compared to ours. Mad Props to Diggs for edging me out. Honestly, I didn't know the scoring for our round till we tallied it at the end. Great Job Bro!! As far as the CTP goes I can't say anything to it b/c I dont' think I could have done it again. I just threw a solid hyzer up into the trees and it happened to not hit any of them landing closest to the pin. Overall, not a bad showing for my first tourney, I think I would like to play in a few more after that experience.
As the class went on I feel that I have definitely improved in many aspects of my game. By far my mental game has improved the greatest. I am more confident in the shots that I make and my disc choice for shots has also improved. Since the class has ended, I am coming off my pedestal of amazingness and am realizing that disc golf is much like our Christian lives and there comes many ups and downs in our lives. The game of disc golf is not a constant mountain top experience, but it's in the low, dark valleys that many experiences shed their skin. I am very greatfull for the experence and knowledge that I have gained from the course.

I also must give a very loud shout out to my good friend Urbwes for his phenomenal improvements that he has made by being apart of the class as well. Wes, there wasn't a day on the course that you didn't impress me. You have improved greatly over the last semester. Keep it up.


Until my next post.
Keep your hyzer lines steady and don't let the wind take them

Yours truly,
Mid Range King

SCDGA... Represent!

This past Wednesday, Bethel held their first annual DG tourney. A 5$ entry fee got you a t-shirt and entrance into the 18-hole tourney at the new campus course. Now, I'm broke... but I ain't that broke. And I have homework... but there isn't enough homework in the world that would keep me away from such festivities. So, despite the fact that I handed in a late paper for the first time in my four years of college and am probably looking forward to an all-nighter tomorrow, I made like Tonto and jumped on it.

Thankfully, I was not alone. The King himself decided to give it a go, as did a number of other friends and acquaintences. On the notables list for the event were Jim Beilby (PDGA rating around 950) and Josh Gerth (placed 3rd at Amateur Nationals last year). Fortunately, they (and they alone) played in the pro division. The rest of the 38 competitors played in the men's division. Unfortunately, URBWes was not able to attend. Music majors always have these concerts that get in the way. He was greatly missed during play, but was sweet enough to show up for the award ceremony. Wes is basically the man.

Anyways, Pappy and I had the fortune of playing in the same foursome. We were assigned hole 6 on the shotgun start. I'm not going to lie, I was anxious. For Pappy and I, this was our first tournament and neither of us has an abundance of experience on the course. In fact, I had only played the blue tees twice. So, stepping up to the box on my first drive, my legs weren't quite steady. But the impetus of not looking like a goober was enough to get beyond my jitters. Shame was my motivation.

We both got off to a good start. A slight set back in my drive on 7 made me make a tough putt to save bogey. Despite this, Pappy and I were on top of our foursome throughout, taking 1 and 2 respectively. Let me tell you, Pappy's drives were on. So much so, I considered renaming him the Long Range King. He even set the standard for the CTP on hole 2. So, I ended up playing catch-up for the whole round. It was all I could do to stay within 1 of the guy. I'd tie it up with a birdie and he'd come right back over the top, Stallone style. At the end of the day, my saving grace was my putt & approach game. Odd enough, my putting game is what has kept me out of negative digits more than anything. But I made smarter plays than normal, putted consistantly and it worked out.

Pappy and I ended up finishing +3 and +2. Until the score was calculated, I could have sworn I was still behind. So we made our way back to the award ceremony to see how we did. They placed up to tenth, and I was just hoping to make top ten. I figured the winner would be somewhere around -1, so the King and I had a good shot at hitting prizes. But I guess nobody else had as consistent of a day as we did because they placed tenth at +6. Ridiculous! I saw a bunch of guys hitting 30 ft putts over and over again before the tourney and yet they still started at +6? But I knew some of the guys had a good chance of going negative. I was just happy to hit my goal of a top ten finish.

...And they kept placing... and Pappy and I still waited. In the end, Pappy ranked 3rd, pulling down three free discs; and I pulled out 2nd, taking home three free of my own and a $10 gift certificate. Pappy even won one of the three CTPs, though I forget what he got for that one. What's more, the winner finished +1! We were so close to the W! But I'd say we represented well for our Iowa brothers. We made a strong showing, got over our anxiety and had a good time. Hopefully, more tournies are in our future.

Keep your feet on the ground

and keep reaching for the stars

~Diggs

Song of the Week: "Come Home" by Willie Herath

And so it goes...

If anyone was foolishly jealous of my epic round last week, sleep easy my friends. The same DX eagle, the same hole, better weather...I lost my disc today to Mt. Sertoma, just one of the many that have been claimed by her. I am pretty upset, being as how that is the third disc this year that I have lost!!! I let it go too late, veering the disc way too far right, but it seemed to have landed it afairly reasonable place, where I would have a difficult second shot but still a chance for three on the hole. The demons of disc golf must have been hot on the pursuit after my miracle, however, and we spent 30 minutes looking for it, but to no avail. On top of feeling stupid and really frustrated, I lost all focus (as you can probably relate to) and started throwing four's like it was going out of style. O cursed hill, that you might be conquered by the weary souls you torture!

melodramatic as always,

mjbombadil

An Epic Round

This is, by far, my most exciting post EVER...so settle in, and please bear with my giddiness. I went out to Sertoma today with my friend Sean, who is my regular disc golf partner, to play a couple quick rounds during my lunch break and before he had to go to work. It is a spectacular day here temperature-wise, especially after breaking a record on Monday and a wind that prevented me from braving Mt. Sertoma. It was 72 degrees, which was great, but we did have to cope with a 10-15 mph wind gusting to 25mph at times, which as you fellas know is not unusual for Sertoma, especially in the spring.
I began the round with a great drive off of one, one of my best, yet I had to come back quite a ways on my second shot, still managing to strike the pin and settle for a very respectable three for the hole. Hole two was good as well, and Sean and I both managed threes for the first two, which is a GREAT start for both of us. Not too much for likes of the disc golf company that frequent this blog, but good for us. Sean mans up on three, getting another three, his best start ever, and I have to settle for a four, which is not unusual for me on three. Things are going well...
...and then there's hole four. Beautiful, dangerous, short, epic four. This is the highlight of my story, and maybe my disc golf career. I bust out my DX Eagle (Douglas may be thinking "Wait, he bought a PRO eagle after losing his first-ever DX eagle last summer." Sorry doug, Eight claimed my beloved PRO BRIGHT YELLOW Eagle and this is my THIRD eagle that I have bought...I decided to go back to DX since you never know when the disc-gods will reclaim another one of their own.), use my backhand throw, aim for he big tree equal in distance with the pin, take into account the affects of the wind, as well as the spectacular left-hand turns the eagle is capable of, and let her fly at about half-strength. There she goes...beautiful shot...heading right for the big tree as planned...she starts to turn beautifully. Wait a minute...she has the distance, clears the top of the hill...I strain to see...she strikes the ground, bouncing into the basket!!!!!!!! My arms are up, I rejoice...screaming out my victory. Sean doubted what I saw, and went running towards the pin. Looking around the pin, he doesn't see the disc and hollers back that I did not make it and he doesn't see the disc. He didn't look into the basket!!!! I am running to the pin, when he cries out, "Oh my gosh!!!!! A HOLE IN ONE!!!!!! You did it!!!" And the peasants rejoice my friends, the peasants rejoice.
Riding high on cloud nine, I bust out a beautiful drive and end up with a 2, MY FIRST EVER, on hole five. After a couple crappy throws, I get a four on six. I fore-handed my drive on seven, clearing the corner (which I hardly ever do) and we spent 15 minutes looking into the woodpile only to find out it landed 10 yards from the pin, my best drive ever. I biffed the put, got a three, got another my standard four on eight (SERTOMA COURSE UPDATE: They are installing stairs on the hill from 7 to 8, which is a nice addition!), and after an EASY shot at three on nine, I end up with a four on that hole due largely to the blasted wind. So I got a 28 for the round (which should have really been even a couple shots less due to my horrific putting down the stretch), a PERSONAL BEST, as well as my first (and maybe last, who knows)HOLE-IN-ONE (with a witness to testify!), and a couple of other great throws along the way.
Fellas, I have to say, this is quite a day. I need to thank Diggs for getting me started and helping me with my game, as well as the rest of you guys for little pointers and help through your posts. Today is a day I relish the sport...

Keep throwing...
mjbombadil

Hey guys, on a literary note, read Orthodoxy by Chesterton if you haven't already...it is incredible...He reminds me of Lewis...He is brilliant.

Songs:
Guide for the Helpless, War of Ages
Typical, MuteMath
Crazy, Ray Lamontagne

Official Notice

I understand I have spoken of moving for quite some time. Such things can often be relegated to dreams and aspirations. For me, this wishlist includes a semester abroad in Austrailia and being an Olympic athlete. Fortunately, it doesn't seem that I will be putting "moving out of the midwest" on the list. I have found a future roommate who is even more motivated than me to move (re: a girl). And so, come this summer, I will more than likely relocate to Charlotte. We have been scouting apartments in the area and I have begun an employment search. Please, don't worry about me; Charlotte is not devoid of disc golf. In fact, I will have four championship level courses to greet me in my new home.

Please understand, I do not dislike the midwest. One of my greatest regrets is that I will not have much opportunity to watch the Hawkeyes or Vikings football games. Nate (my future roommate) will also be missing his Bears. But life is not without sacrifice. And if I must endure ACC football, I will gladly walk through that valley of tribulation. It will be my cross to bear.

Speaking of crosses I bear, I am currently lamenting my disc game. Horrible... just horrible. I am actually glad to have a break from it this weekend. I'll be in the Wisconsin Dells for my friend's bachelor party. There's a chance that it could make the Christmas break party (which I'm assuming some of you may still remember) look like tea with the parents. Pray for me.


Flip the track
Bring the old school back

~Diggs


Song of the Week: In honor of Wes's double bass recital... "Hash Pipe" by Weezer (a.k.a. "Baby Elephant Walk" by Henry Mancini).

the competitive nature

So, I am also taking the disc golf class and have enjoyed it so far. However, due to my performance in class I have become frustrated. We had a few competitions and I just couldn't do well; I shanked my drive, missed my putt, and overshot my approach (something I never do in actual play).
My does this make me frustrated? Yes it doesn't help my "team", but the real reason is I'm not seen in the real light of my abilities. I get lumped in with the newbies instead of seen as a veteran player. Yes, my skills are lacking, but have been playing since high school. Its frustrating being overlooked becuase I'm not good but not bead enough to warrant help.
sigh

An Example of Tolerance

I own Innova disc golf discs. ...And that's about it. I once found a Lightning. I gave it away. I have had two DISCraft discs in my tenure. Neither of these came at any monetary cost to me. I used them for high risk shots, ensuring that if I did indeed lose a disc, they would be throw aways. It worked. I now own no non-Innova discs. As far as I was concerned, they were the Vanguard, the I Ching, and any other term of endearment one would wish to lavish upon upon a beloved one.

This was not completely unfounded. I had never found another disc I could really get into. I disliked the feel of the DISCrafts and the Lightning was so beat to a bloody pulp that one could hardly call its flight path reminiscent of anything disc-like. It was more like a blob of matter awkwardly morphing through the air. So, forsaking all others, I adhered myself in holy matrimony to the only one who could satisfy my visceral desires.

More recently, however, I have had a change of heart. Disc golf, as in life, has witnessed the passions of youth give way to the wisdom of experience. My aforementioned hesitation to anything without that Innova stamp of approval is now faded into obscurity. To be sure, such passions cannot be "unlearned" and will undoubtably resurface when my guard is down, but I am much more ecumenical. My favorite disc will undoubtably forever be an Innova, but I'll consider others. So, the news of the King's new addition of the Buzz-d is not a source of anxiety, but it is also not a source of elation. I am simply neutral. If the Discraft improves his game, I am happy for him.

Hopefully this adultery does not result in chagrin for those who have heard my "sermons" lauding the graces of Innova. I promise this is not unfaithfulness.

For the record, the next disc on the purchasing list is a Discraft Predator.


Keep your feet on the ground
and keep reaching for the stars

~Diggs


Song of the Week: "Hang Me Up to Dry" by the Cold War Kids

The Coveted Class Is Upon Me

It has taken three semesters for fate to be upon my side. Finally this semester God has suprised me with a class that I have wanted to take for quite some time now. Last Tuesday was the first meeting and boy was it a meeting. Bielby showing off was amazing. He throws with such ease. It makes me sick to see. I got some new discs to add to my collection. Another dx val, a disc craft Buzz-d and an aviar. I'm excited to try this new midrange. Honestly, i really didn't care which discs that i received. I just want to learn as much as possible and get better. I'm excited for class today. I wish we were actually on the course but oh well. It's always good to warm up before the season starts. I'll use it to work on my form.


as always
stretch the arm first

Mid-Range King

Dust Off the Cobwebs

The cursed months of winter are behind us. Yes, I am as happy about it as you should be. The snow is either gone or taking its last gasping breath until its unfortunate return next year. Better still, the ground is drying up. If you've ever golfed after a rain, then you can appreciate just how difficult play can become when the ground is busily soaking up 3 ft of melted snow. This is all the more exaggerated at a course like Acorn, which has a notable lack of grass in many areas, leaving only large areas of pure mud. All this has gone the way of the buffalo.

This has given us the chance to have the first decent rounds of the season. While in Sioux City, MRKing and I pounded out a round at Sertoma in about the craziest wind we've had there. We didn't mind the wind (too much); we were just happy to get out and throw again. A couple days later, Harcum and I got the chance to head to North's football field and do a little driving to get the arm back up to speed. And finally, yesterday, URBWes and I took a trip to Acorn. A bit windy, some relocated pin placements (watch out for hole 9!) and some really crap-tastic throwing, but it was just nice to get out and log 18.

Its good to be back, ya'll. We need a lot of work before the Acorn Open, but all this in time.


The mountain called Monkey has spoken

~Diggs


Song of the Week: "Snow is Gone" by Josh Ritter

Already/Not Yet Disc Golf Tensions

So the temperature outside has become very nice. This, in my mind, can only mean one thing: Disc Golf! However, we just finished receiving an abundance of snow and it will take a while to melt. It reminds me of the biblical tension of Already/Not yet. We already see some of the benefits of optimal Disc Golf weather: decent temps and sunshine, but we still can't play because the ground is covered in lots of snow. So we continue to groan inwardly, awaiting the glorious day when we can begin the season.

That's it,
URBWes