Check out this recent Interview that we did for Movemodo, a company that does Video Game reviews for the Sony PlayStation Move Gaming System. The Sports Champion Video Game is a collection of six competitive sporting activities that features Disc Golf as an event!!! – Player Interview by Christopher Ingram

When PlayStation Move launched there was one game that truly showed off its impressive 1:1 controls: Sports Champions. The game featured multiple sports, each using Move in its own unique way. One of the sports stood out from the rest, and that was Disc Golf: the precision and accuracy of Move was able to transform the controller into a disc, bringing the sport to life in the virtual world with great success. The superb disc physics allowed players to throw shots however they desired: forehand, backhand, rollers, etc. without even touching a button, but rather by simply swinging their arm just as they would on the course.

Here at Movemodo we enjoy the sport of Disc Golf not only in Sports Champions, but also on the actual course as well. We were lucky enough to recently compete against a few Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) World Champion Disc Golfers in a Disc Golf Tournament in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and while we didn’t stand a chance against them in a competition, we did get to see their amazing skills in action on the course. As the day dwindled to an end, we learned that they were not only champions on the course, but on the Move as well.

So just how good is the disc golf in Sports Champions? Well we asked none other than 2009 World Champion Avery Jenkins to find out.

Firstly, can you please introduce yourselves, and give our readers some insight to each of your accomplishments in the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA)?

My name is Avery Jenkins and I am a Touring Professional Disc Golfer that Travels all over the World playing in Disc Golf Tournaments in the US and abroad. I am the 2009 Disc Golf World Champion, 3X United States Distance Champion, 2004 Japan Open Champion and 2000 PDGA Rookie of the Year. I truly love Disc Golf and I do all that I can to make this one of the best Sports out there.

It’s a goal of mine to make Disc Golf a Mainstream Sport in the years to come. It has the potential to be something great, it’s just going to take some time and a lot of hard work. Players need to realize that we need to take this sport seriously because if we don’t no one else will either, it’s all on us taking it to the Next Level.

As World Champion disc golfers, how accurately is the sport represented in Sports Champions with PlayStation Move?

I believe that the Sports Champion Game represented Disc Golf very well in the simple concept of how the game is played and how the discs fly. One of the most interesting attractions of Disc Golf is the fascination of the flight of the flying disc and the ability to manipulate/control a disc in ways unlike other sports played with a ball. The PlayStation Move allows the player to have this control of the disc, releasing at various heights and angles in order to progress down the fairway toward the basket. I can’t wait for the next version of this Disc Golf game is hopes that it increases in ways of realistic graphics, making you feel like you’re out on the course.

Disc Golf in Sports Champions is brutally difficult on the Gold/Platinum levels, and we’ve heard that you were able to 3-Star the entire game! Did this offer a significant challenge to the World Champions, or was this simply a practice day at the park?

Well to be honest, it did take a while to beat the entire Disc Golf Video Game at the 3-Star Level on every level but we eventually did it. I think that most difficult part of the game was the Challenge Modes and Valarie was definitely the best at those. I think that the game produced enough challenge for those that don’t play Disc Golf everyday and it took lots of practice rounds to beat some of the Platinum Level players that rarely missed a shot.

Now that you’ve completed the disc golf in Sports Champions, do you think PlayStation Move is the perfect tool for bringing gamers a full disc golf title that offers real courses, disc, etc.?

I think that is the natural progression of popular games such as this to evolve, to get better with each and every version. I would love to see the game use the same Discs (Drivers, Mid-Range and Putters) that we use and hopefully play some of the very same Disc Golf Courses that we play on the PDGA Tour. Eventually, it would incredible to have them create realistic PDGA Professional Players, such as us to be included in the game as well. So we can only wait and see……

Not only are you all World Champions in your sport, but also advocates in bringing the sport of disc golf into the mainstream. Do you think that Sports Champions has had an impact in bringing new players to the sport?

I really think that this game has given the sport of Disc Golf some great exposure by including it with the collection of sports on Sports Champions. I would be excited to know if a Disc Golf game such as this brought Gamers out to the Disc Golf Course to check out the real-life sport that we play for a living but it would not surprise me at this point. I know that the more public awareness that Disc Golf receives, the more people will be interested in what it is and hopefully want to try it out. Also in this time of the economic downturn, the affordability of Disc Golf has appealed to the mass of people looking for a reasonably priced recreational activity to enjoy outdoors with friends and family.

Are there any other PlayStation Move games that you enjoy outside of Sports Championship?

To be honest, the only other game that I have played on the PlayStation Move is Bocce on the Sports Champion Game. We vowed that we would not play another game until we successfully beat the entire Disc Golf Game with 3-Stars at every level. Now that’s dedication.

Lastly, is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?

“When a Ball dreams, it dreams it’s a Frisbee” – Dr. Stancil Johnson PDGA #009

Sports Champions YouTube Video: Click Here!!

Special Thanks to Christoper Ingram and James Newton at Movemodo for the chance to talk about the (so far) most realistic disc golf video game ever, and hopes that such games will introduce new people to the sport. Interviews such as this and multiple positive exposures will boost Disc Golf into the mainstream. I am looking forward to the future of Disc Golf Video Games in years to come.

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In 1875, Allen & Ginter produced the first cards, commonly referred to as “baseball cards”, featuring hand painted portraits of elite sports players. Although baseball was the most common sport showcased, Allen & Ginter opened the eyes of the world to other sports as well. They even produced non-athletic cards of Indian Chiefs, Actors/Actresses, and US Presidents. In 2007, Topps decided to bring the historic trading cards back into circulation in the Topps Allen & Ginter Sportscard Series.

Disc golf’s 2009 World Champion, Avery Jenkins, was contacted by Topps to be featured in the 2010 revival series. Jenkins was honored to receive this opportunity, not only for his career, but for the future of disc golf. “It’s incredible to know that thousands of people will be introduced to disc golf,” Jenkins explains. “It’s these multiple exposures of our sport to the general public that will get us noticed in the years to come.”

Jenkins met with a Topps representative at World Disc Sports in San Jose, CA for an autographing session of 200+ mini cards. Once signed, they were sent back to Topps to be inserted into framed cards. There are several versions of Jenkins’ Topps Card:

• Base/Common Card
• Mini Allen & Ginter Card – Base, Black Border and A&G Ad Back, No Number (50), Bazooka Backs (25)
• Framed Autographed Signature Card in Blue or Red Ink
• Framed Sports Relic Card
• Framed Silk Mini Card – #’d out of 10
• Framed Printing Plate Card – #’d out of 1
• Framed Wood Mini Card – #’d out of 1

Jenkins has given a few hundred of these cards away to his family, friends and sponsors who have supported his career over the years. While he is fond of all varieties of the cards, his favorite is the Silk Card. Topps took the image used on the mini cards and printed it on silk to make a cloth silk version. All cards print the same image in various ways in multiple Sportscards.

One of the most unique cards is his “relic” card. A relic card contains a piece of personal fabric, such as a jersey, pants, ball, etc., preserved as a token of memorabilia. But in this case, Jenkins’ relic cards contain 5/8” squares of plastic! “I sent Topps a stack of 5 red Avery Jenkins Star Destroyer discs as well as my blue Champion Firebird that I used to win the World Championships.” When asked how difficult it was to part with the disc used to secure his win, he stated, “It was totally my idea. I didn’t want to put the disc away in a box to never be thrown again. I wanted to make the disc a very special piece of sports memorabilia contained within the card; a true piece of disc golf history.”

In July, Jenkins immediately purchased three boxes when the cards were first released. He was pumped when they arrived but shattered to discover that his boxes didn’t contain a single one of his disc golf rookie cards. He quickly adopted the excitement behind the “thrill of the hunt”. He has since purchased several of his cards online and now safely says he possesses each version.

Jenkins continuously sees the growth of interest in the disc golf when he checks his mailbox. “I have been sent dozens of letters containing cards to be autographed…the cards come with thoughtful, inspirational handwritten letters. Many write that they have never heard of disc golf before and are very interested in playing and learning more about the sport.” Jenkins says some letters are from father/son teams collecting together, some are teachers saying they are distributing the cards to their students who are doing well in school, and others are already avid players wanting to grab a piece of history by owning the first disc golf card ever produced by a major sportscard company.

You can purchase these cards at Sportscard and Hobby Stores all over the world. The Autograph and Disc Relic cards have a $40 book value; however, many have sold on eBay for $60+ on various listings.

Good luck in your search for an Avery Jenkins Disc Golf Rookie Card!

Complete PDGA Interview at PDGA.com: Avery Jenkins Interview – “Topps Rookie Card”

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World Disc Golf Champ Talks About His Sport and the Allen & Ginter Experience

On a yearly basis, Allen & Ginter introduces collectors to a host of interesting and intriguing world champions outside the realm of baseball. One of 2010′s most interesting inclusions was that of world Disc Golf Champ Avery Jenkins. For those unfamiliar with Disc Golf, you may have heard it called by a different name, Frisbee Golf. We were fortunate enough to talk with Jenkins about his sport, how and when he found out he was going to be in 2010 Allen & Ginter, and what the relic and autograph collecting process was like.

1. To those unfamiliar with disc golf, what is it exactly?

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 number of strokes (or, in the case of disc golf, fewest number of 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 shot 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.

2. How would a person interested in disc golf get involved in the sport?

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 member base of 40,000+, is the governing body for the sport and sanctions competitive events for men and women of every skill level from novice to professional. Permanent disc golf courses are found in countries worldwide.

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.

3. What drew you to Disc Golf in the first place?

Growing up in Hinckley, Ohio, I have been around disc golf my entire life. My mother, Sharon, has won 3 World Championships (’92, ’94 and ’98) and my father, Leroy, has won many NT Titles and is credited with instilling in me the love for the game. My sister, Valarie, is also a touring professional disc golfer and is currently the 3X Women’s World Champion (’07, ’08 and ‘09). After throwing my first disc at the young age of 7, I began playing disc golf recreationally and in tournaments sporadically as a kid. I first joined the PDGA in 1992 as a Christmas gift from my parents, but it was not until after I graduated from high school that I developed an intense passion for the sport and set out to build my life around it.

4. What kind of accolades have collected as a member of the PDGA tour? What is the PDGA’s version of a “Major”?

I have won over 40 tournaments on the Professional Disc Golf Association National Tour including 3 PDGA Major Tournaments – 2004 Japan Open in Tokyo, Japan, the 2006 Players Cup in Crystal River, FL and the 2009 Disc Golf World Championships in Kansas City, KS/MO. I have also been nominated 4 times for Player of the Year 2006 -2009 and also considered to be one the farthest throwers in the World, ranking in the Top 10 longest throws ever recorded.

The PDGA Majors consist on the 4 Largest Tournaments in our sport, where the best competitors/players in the World attend. You are considered to be one of the Best Players in the World if win any of these events.

5. Who are the big names on the PDGA tour besides yourself?

Valarie Jenkins – 3X World Champion, 3X Player of the Year
Nate Doss – 2X World Champion, 2005 US Champion
Ken Climo – 12X World Champion, 5X US Champion
Barry Schultz – 2X World Champion, 3X US Champion
David Feldberg – 2008 World Champion, 2005 US Champion

6. How and when did you find out that you would be in 2010 Allen & Ginter?

I was contacted over the Winter by a Sports Marketing Company about the opportunity to have a Card included in the 2010 Allen & Ginter Sports Card set. I was really excited to finally have my own Topps Rookie card so I sent them several photos to choose from in order to find the best picture to fit such a Sports Card.

7. What was the process like in terms of autographing your cards?

A Topps Representative was sent to the World Disc Sports Disc Golf Store in San Jose for a public signing. I signed 200+ Mini cards in about an hour and had plenty of time to sign discs for fans that attended the Topps signing to show their support.

8. Your relic card is a short-print because of the high quality “throwing disc” inside the card, how does the “relic” collecting process work?

I sent Topps a stack of 5 Red Avery Jenkins Star Destroyer Discs to use for the Relic cards as well as my Blue Champion Firebird that I used to win the World Championships in 2009. They cut the Discs into 5/8″ inch squares and placed the pieces into the Relic Cards that were then randomly inserted into packs.

9. How exciting is it to get the exposure for both yourself and the sport from Allen & Ginter?

I think that it is pretty incredible to have my own personal Sports Card. Its a dream to have an actual Topps Card and to be included in the 2010 Allen & Ginter set along with all of the Major Baseball Stars and other World Champions of various sports. It’s a true honor.

10. How much luck have you had collecting your cards?

I started by first buying 3 boxes of the 2010 Allen & Ginter Baseball Cards and didn’t find any of my cards in 72 packs of cards that I had opened. So I have been buying a majority of my cards off of eBay, local hobby shops and Sports Card sites. I an trying to acquire as many of my personal cards as possible, including many personal Relic, Auto and Silk Cards in the set. I have collected lots of my Common/Base card to sign and give away to Friends, Family and Disc Golfers at local courses all over the country.

11. Did you collect cards before this? If so, what kind?

I collected sports cards when I was younger and it all started when my Uncle gave me his sports card collection from the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s. I collected a lot of Baseball, Basketball and Football Cards from the late 80′s and early 90′s and still have all of my cards stored at my parents house in Ohio.

12. Any closing thoughts or comments that you would like to convey to our readers?

I am trying to collect several my personal cards and I am very interested in acquiring more Disc Relic, Red Ink Autographs, Silk Cards and Common/Base Cards. Please contact me at Aviar7495@aol.com if you have connections to any of these cards.

To learn more about the sport of disc golf and Avery Jenkins, visit his official site: http://www.averyjenkins7495.com/

Complete Cardboard Connection Interview at CardBoardConnection.com: Avery Jenkins Interview – “World Disc Golf Champ Talks About His Sport and the Allen & Ginter Experience”

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This Part 2 of my interview with Disc Golf World Champion Avery Jenkins – Interview by Steve Pease

When your dad taught you to play, what did he tell you to focus on and learn first?

I learned a lot about the game from my father, he first taught me a lot about sportsmanship and integrity that this sport requires to be played in its truest form. He also taught me the proper technique through hours of playing catch in the backyard with the Frisbee and countless rounds of Golf at our Local Course – Roscoe Ewing Park in Medina, OH.

He told me to focus on the result of my actions and to envision making the shot or putt even before releasing the disc. It has proved successful when I could already picture the disc going into the basket moments before actually making that putt, when you can envision it happening, it will happen. You have to be confident in your skills and abilities, with that trust you can accomplish great things.

Do your parents still play tournaments?

My Parents, Leroy and Sharon are still very active in the Disc Golf scene and have been playing tournaments all over the country for the past few decades. They having been playing since the Mid-80’s and still play as much as possible when not taking care of our Home Course, Roscoe Ewing Park in Medina, Ohio. They are both now retired and travel the country on permanent vacation, playing lots of Disc Golf courses, camping at National Parks, Taking Bike Rides and visiting amazing Micro-Breweries.

Also note that we are the only family that I know of, that travel all over the country and at this point only play Disc Golf for a Living. No other family in the entire World can say that they do what we do, to that extent. We take great pride and feel very honored to share in something so special with the entire Team Jenkins.

Everyone wants to throw bombs like you do. What are your top tips for throwing longer?

I attribute my success and ability of throwing far to my body size and strength along with my technique, release timing and power. Many things contribute to the perfect throwing style and I believe that technique and speed pose to be the most important of all.

The advice that I would give to anyone looking to increase their throwing distance would be gripping the disc with a tight, firm power grip along with developing a great technique that utilizes their strength and timing. I think that throwing is best learned from lots of throwing in the field and repetition of the technique that produces the best results. The technique of Distance throwing is not the easiest thing to explain in writing and is best shown on video or “How To” Disc Golf DVD’s.

One complete throwing tip that I would give someone to increase their distance would be to concentrate on their speed of the arm, reaching back in a straight line, pulling across your chest and always following through your shot.

Do you throw a hyzer flip on your long drives? How do you get the timing right doing that?

I think that you are asking if I throw flip-up hyzers for my long drives. I do not necessarily throw flip-up drives because of the inconsistency and unpredictability of the flight patterns compared to straighter angle shots. I throw more straight lines than anything when it comes to throwing drives and release angles, with very little disc angle movement during the flight. Meaning that I throw flat angle shots with intended hyzer, straight and anhyzer angles, not relying too much on the disc flipping up or flipping over on flight patterns during drives.

The timing is everything when throwing; it’s all about the split-second release that determines the power and accuracy of the drive. It is developed through years of experience and excessive amounts of time spent throwing in the field. It takes lots of repetitions to get down the timing and the overall feel of the disc to gain total control of its flight. So hit the practice fields if you really want to increase your distance and solidify your throwing technique. Practice doesn’t make perfect – perfect practice makes perfect.

With you and Dave Feldberg being such good friends, does it make it hard when you are competing against each other so much? Or does it make it better?

It actually makes it better to have us competing against each other throughout the years, because we really step up our play on the course knowing that we can always do better. Over the years of competition we have always tried to play our best in all events and tried to reach the upper echelon, elite status together. We have always been there to support each other on/off the course and in Life in general. He has definitely set the standard for consistency that I tried my best to follow in route to many of my successes/accomplishes in Disc Golf. I in turn set the pace for Major International Wins by setting the stage by Winning the Japan Open in 2004 that he later won in 2008.

He did the same by winning his very first World Title in 2008 as well, and I was by his side to watch his victory, saying to him after I congratulated him during his win that “It looks like you got there first, now its my turn next.” And I did just that as he encouraged and supported me the entire week as I went on to Win my first World Title at the 2009 Disc Golf World Championships in Kansas City this past summer. We have been best friends for over a decade and have gained great respect for one another, as we continue to be two of the Best Disc Golfers in the World

I want to thank you again Avery, for taking the time to do this interview. I wish you all the best on having a great season in 2010, and I look forward to seeing you at the Minnesota majestic in June when you come to Minnesota.

Complete Part 1 Interview at Examiner.com: Avery Jenkins Interview Part 1

Complete Part 2 Interview at Examiner.com: Avery Jenkins Interview Part 2

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Interview with Disc Golf World Champion Avery Jenkins – Interview by Steve Pease

This interview was something I’ve wanted to do for quite a while; I am honored to be able to share it with you now. Avery Jenkins comes from a disc golf family, his parents were both Disc Golf Champions and his sister Valarie Jenkins is a 3X and current World Champion. Avery is the current World Champion and the current U.S. Doubles Champion with his partner Dave Feldberg.

There are a lot of guys who say that they want to play pro disc golf. Can you give us an idea of how hard it is to get into, and what is a typical week like for you in the heart of the season?

You have to realize that playing Professional Disc Golf is not as easy as it may look. Players like myself that play for a living, as Professionals will tell you that it’s a struggle from weekend to weekend. We have to play our best in order to stay on the road and there is little room for error. You have to win tournaments or place consistently at the top in order to remain on the Road, and have some great sponsors that pay the way. You have to play your best, or even better than that sometimes in order to make it.

A typical week includes a lot of travel from Tournament Location to Tournament Location each and every week all across the US and sometimes Internationally. Leaving very little time in the middle of the week for Rest and some time to Practice the Course that you will be playing the next weekend.

For me it includes lots of phone calls to family, friends & sponsors, writing blogs and doing video blogs, finding a place to stay for the weekend, training when possible and of course practice when given the chance. Always making time during the week for fun adventures along the way.

So I challenge any players that think that they’ve got what it takes to make it as a Professional Disc Golfer, you need to bring it if you intend to make it.

If you had to pick a course as your favorite in the U.S. Which would you pick?

Milo McIver Disc Golf Course in Estacada, Oregon just outside of Portland and host to the annual Beaver State Fling PDGA National Tour Event. It is my favorite course for the fact that it has a great variety of holes from tight, accurate wooded holes to wide-open bomber holes. It has 36 Disc Golf holes with a great mix of Par 3’s, Par 4’s and Par 5’s on both courses. It challenges every part of a players game, powerful and controlled drives setting up accurate upshots followed by clutch putting throughout the entire course.

Milo also has limited distractions for the fact that the course is isolated within an Oregon State Park, leaving you surrounded by lots of trees, manicured fairways, large mountains and a beautiful river. This course has a great layout and design due to the hard working Portland Rocs Disc Golf Club; I wish that every course was like Milo McIver. I highly recommend that any player that has the chance, make sure that you play this course.

My favorite course and the one I play the most is Blue Ribbon Pines in East Bethel MN. What do you think of BRP?

Blue Ribbon Pines is very well taken care of and is one of the most manicured courses that I have ever played due to the hard work of the entire Jordan family. It has well designed Tee pads that are built up with beautiful stone and rock teeing areas on many of the holes. It has a great mix of tight wooded to open fairways throughout the 27 holes of this course.

It has some great holes that are very difficult including Hole #4, #6 and #19 in the Minnesota Majestic layout but lacks other challenging holes. It has a lot of 200’-300’ holes that are considered to be very easy when played with Pro Level players during the National Tour Event. I really like to see that beautiful course with a demanding 18 Hole Pro Course layout with the addition of a few more Par 4’s and 5’s to offer more of a challenge. Overall, most players consider it a good course.

Do you have any superstitions that you do or don’t do before every tournament?

I am big believer in Karma and all that it entails. I like to think that superstitions are the reasons that a lot of things happen in Disc Golf, and especially in Life. I have certain superstitions of how I prepare for tournaments, what I wear, what discs that I throw and how I approach the course before playing an event.

A few examples are I don’t throw yellow discs or discs that are under-weight. I also make sure to walk through mandatories and walk around all out–of–bounds areas on the course. Don’t ask why, I just do those things. There are also certain ways that I prepare for a tournament, days and even hours before the start of the event. Those are just a few things that I am superstitious about while playing tournaments and Disc Golf in general.

What would you recommend the average player spend their practice time on? On a percentage, what would you say they should spend on driving, approach, and putting practice?

Driving 33% Approaching 33% Putting 34%

A little more time dedicated to Putting, but every aspect is as important as every other aspect. The Drive sets up everything else that is to follow on every hole. A Solid Approach Game always makes the difference between pars and bogeys. The Putt is everything in Disc Golf, just like in approaching, because it can really make the difference between Winning and simply put, not winning.

This is Part 1 of the interview; part 2 will follow in the next article.

Complete Part 1 Interview at Examiner.com: Avery Jenkins Interview Part 1

Complete Part 2 Interview at Examiner.com: Avery Jenkins Interview Part 2

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Top Pros Returns – Avery Jenkins Interview by Gordon R. Dill

Upstate Frolfer : We still think the PDGA is poised to really breakout but it still doesn’t have the exposure of other sports. Is the sports market already too crowded for a major frolf tour that even non-players would follow?

Avery Jenkins : I think that Disc Golf has a great chance to make into the main stream of Major Sports in this country but it won’t happen overnight. There are many things that have to change for that to happen, player attitude and course conduct is just the start. Its all about sports entertainment and we definitely have that going for us, now we just need to make in a Professional Sport by treating it like all other Professional Sports. It is only as professional as we make it, and people have to realize that we have to take it as seriously as we want to make it or it will never get big.

By the way, I really dislike the term Frolf. Like I said, this sport is as professional as we make it. The word “Frolf” takes us back to a time when we actually used Frisbees to play golf, we have greatly evolved since then in technology and competitive play.

Disc Golf has a good chance to make TV, Frolf does not.

UF (too late to change names, we bought the domain) : Is there a trick to just how many sanctioned events there are? On the one hand we all want to play in real tournaments, but with so many every week it’s hard sometimes to know where we can find the best of the best.

AJ : There is no trick at all, tournaments are sanctioned at different Tiers for a reason. So there is usually better competition and better payouts and the higher tier tournaments. The National Tour is set up in a way to draw better players in from around the country, limiting the number of these tournaments means that fundraising and sponsorship can be better concentrated to these events.

After touring the country as a Professional for over 10 years, I know which tournaments to avoid and which events are not to miss. The caliber of the courses is a great determinate as well as the money added to the event are very important factor to which tournaments I play.

UF : You’re one of the most successful disc golfers in the world and you’ve shown it can be done, but is “pro disc golfer” something that other people could really aim for?

AJ : A player can definitely become a Top Professional Player, but its not easy. It takes lots of hard work, determination and sheer will to succeed. It has taken me many years to reach the top level where I am now, many hours of practice and throwing shots in the backyard. It takes lots of dedication and confidence if a player wants to be an Elite Player. Its obtainable, but very competitive if a player decides to challenge the best in the World.

UF : You’re in tournaments all the time. With travel around the country and, hopefully, a life outside the sport, how often do you play? Is it possible to play too much or is it better to try and throw some discs every day?

AJ : I actually play and practice far less then people think I do. I play lots of rounds during the summer and throw lots of shots, but still feel as I should be practicing more then I do. Life on the tour is busy and there are always lots of other things to occupy my time, with traveling to other events taking up a majority of that week in between events.

I definitely think that it is possible to play too much. I feel those effects toward the end of the season after I have played 30+ events. Throwing everyday takes its toll on the body as well as the mind. When you play this game as long as I have, it can feel like a job sometimes, even though in my position it actually is. Its better to take sometime off from throwing during the week and concentrate on the quality of the practice and not the quanity.

UF : Tell us about that moment when you realized that this sport really had a hold of you?

AJ : I actually realized at a young age that I passion for the sport and a love for the competitive play on the course. I have been playing Disc Golf since I was 7 years old but realized that I had all the ability and skill to be great when I was around 12 years old playing in Junior Tournaments.

The experience that I had gained through the ranks of playing amateur proved very valuable when making the transition to playing pro. I have been playing this sport now for over 24 years and it will be a part of my life forever.

UF : I noticed on your “Team Innova” profile that you consider the Roc the best midrange in the game. We hear that all the time. What makes it so perfect for you?

AJ : The Roc is the best midrange in the game for the fact that it is very controllable and accurate in almost all conditions. It has all the glide of an Aviar with more speed when used for pin-point shots. It’s a great all-around disc that I think everyone should have in their bag.

UF : Is there one kind of shot that always seems to bail you out? I end up relying on a tomahawk whenever I’m in trouble.

AJ : I really rely on my amazing approaching ability to get up and down from anywhere on the fairway. I take pride in being able to save shots by throwing from difficult stances and having to hit a variety of different flight angles on the approach in order to get a chance to save par.

One shot that I can really count on is any type of spike hyzer that I can dial in and keep close to the basket. I can judge the distances on spike hyzers as opposed to other angled shots, it gives me a better sense of depth and trajectory when throwing to the pin.

UF : We have to ask you about distance. You’ve thrown a disc well over 600 feet. It’s incredible. What disc gets you the longest distance and is there a single tip you could give someone that would help them add distance to their throw?

AJ : Throwing Distance Shots is definitely my favorite thing about Disc Golf, nothing more aesthetic than watching a Disc fly through the Air. Its what draws most people to picking up a Frisbee and playing catch, nothing compares to a Disc in Flight.

I prefer throwing Destroyers and Bosses for Distance contests because of their great combination of Speed and Glide. I have actually thrown a Destroyer over the current World Record but it was only during a practice day so it was not deemed as offical.

Throwing for Distance has everything to do with Technique, Timing and Arm Speed. Throwing Discs for Distance is very different from throwing drives on a Disc Golf course. They vary greatly in power, accuracy and release angles.

One complete throwing tip that I would give someone to increase their distance would be to concentrate on their speed of the arm, reach back in a straight line pulling across your chest and always following through your shot.

UF : We watched video of the putt that made you world champion this year. What is your comfortable putting distance? And do you have a pre-putt routine? One pro friend of mine said he has a mantra he chants before putting to clear his mind…anything like that for you?

AJ : First off that putt was by far the best putt I have ever made, I just took myself out of the present and into my backyard where I grew up making that very same putt thousands of times over. A putt that I will never forget, the feeling has never felt quite like that before.

My comfort range when it comes to putting is 15 feet, where I count on every putt within this range as automatic and a goal to be 100% from this range in every tournament. But I am very confident and comfortable with all putts within 30 feet.

I, of course, have a pre-putt routine where I square up and positioning my body in a direct line to the basket while extending my arm to get a mental visual of my release point. I then clear my mind and focus on the chains, I go through the motion of shifting my weight forward and forcefully thrusting the disc out of my hand onto the direct line to reach for the sweet spot of the basket.

UF : Finally, “the leap”. We’re pretty mediocre players who have been working it out on the course for a while now but just can’t seem to make that leap to compete with the best in the game. When did you realize that you were good enough to win and was there something that helped you go from intermediate to expert?

AJ : Like I said, I have been playing this game for a long time and grew up throwing Frisbees/Discs for years when I was around 7. I think that I was always a good golfer with great distance and a solid putt to separate me from the rest of the competitive field. The real difference from the Top Elite players besides having the shot selection and experience is the mental game.

The mental side of Disc Golf is a major attribute that really separates the players from top to bottom. The sport of Disc Golf has been said to be 20% Physical and 80% mental, even though I really don’t think that it relates to such ratios I would argue to say that it is a 40/60 split of physical to mental.

Although you have to have all the shots to be a top Pro, you also have to have a great mental capacity to handle less then ideal situations on the course and ways to correct on mis-cues in technique. One main difference between Pro and Ams is that Ams are unable to correct flaws in their technique but Pros are able to correct any faults on the very next throw instead of letting it affect them the rest of the round.

A strong mental game is developed after many years of experience and confidence in one’s abilities to throw all the necessary shots. Playing lots of competitive and tournament rounds will build confidence for the player. Proper tournament preparation and concentrated focus on the course will also assist in strengthening a player’s mental game.

There is no easy move from intermediate to expert, it takes many years of practice and preparation to get to the top.

Complete UpStateFrolfer.com Interview: Avery Jenkins Interview

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Quad City Disc Golf.com Interview by Joe Rodman

QCDG.com: You come from a family rich in disc golf experience. How has that background helped you with your own disc golf success?

Avery: Team Jenkins has been considered “The First Family of Disc Golf” and we have been around the sport since the Mid-80’s. Not because we are the first family to all play the game but quite possibly the most successful at what we have done in this sport. Val and I have been considered to be second generation players with our parents being part of the early pioneers of the sport. Our family now holds 8 World Titles, my Mother Sharon with 3 Master’s World Titles, Valarie with 4 World Titles including 3 Women World Titles and 1 Junior World Title. I have 1 World Title thus far and looking for many more Major Wins in the future.

I think that our success can be attributed to our support for one another and our true love of the game. We all are gifted with skill of throwing discs and really enjoy playing competitive sports throughout our lives. I think that our years of experience have really helped in our success in the events that we play. We really also enjoy the camaraderie the sport of Disc Golf provides and of course the traveling to tournaments all around the world.

QCDG.com: Who do you feel has had the greatest influence on your game? Did you have a mentor or someone who you modeled your game after?

Avery: I feel that my family has the greatest influence on my game and have provided tremendous support throughout my Disc Golf career. They are the main reason that I started playing in the very beginning and have taught me a lot about the game throughout the years.

I have lots of mentors that have influenced me and many that I have tried to model my game after. I have added many techniques and other portions of great influential players into my own game. I credit my family – my parents, Leroy and Sharon Jenkins, and my sister, Valarie – and my best friends and mentors – David Feldberg, Nate Doss, Ken Climo, Barry Schultz, Steve Wisecup, Steve Valencia, “Crazy” John Brooks, David Greenwell, Dave Dunipace, Tim Selinske, Sam Ferrans, “Steady” Ed Headrick, Mike Randolph, Dan Ginelly, Cam Todd and Scott Stokley – especially for paving the way and for supporting me over the years through my continued success on and off the course.

QCDG.com: When people think of Avery Jenkins often times they think of big distance. Your longest measured throw came in at 695.5 feet and you’ve won four major distance championships. What do you attribute that success to and what advice would you give to players looking to get extra distance?

Avery: I really think that Distance throwing is a trained skill that slightly varies from throwing long during a round of Disc Golf. I have always been known as one of the longest throwers in the game throughout my career, striving to increase my throwing distance each and every year. I weight train throughout the winter months to help gain strength and flexibility to help increase distance for competitions and for Disc Golf tournaments throughout the season.

I know that I can train to throw farther and have not yet reached a point where I have potentially thrown my furthest shots possible. I plan on training even harder this off season in preparation for the next year’s “Big D in the Desert” Distance competition held just outside Las Vegas.

I attribute my success and ability of throwing far to my body size and strength along with my technique and release timing. Many things contribute to the perfect throwing style and I believe that technique and speed pose to be the most important of all.

The advice that I would give to anyone looking to increase their throwing distance would be gripping the disc with a tight, firm power grip along with developing a great technique that utilizes their strength and timing. I think that throwing is best learned from lots of throwing in the field and repetition of the technique that produces the best results. The technique of Distance throwing is not the easiest thing to explain in writing and is best shown on video or “How To” Disc Golf DVD’s.

QCDG.com: Where do you feel distance off the tee falls in the overall success of your game? What facet of the game do you feel players, especially newer players, should concentrate on to improve their games?

Avery: Distance off the tee alone has brought me into the upper echelon of the sport. I actually build a majority of my game around my ability to throw far for the fact that it sets up everything to follow. Having the ability to throw far greatly increases the scoring opportunities on many of the courses that we play for tournaments. The opportunities are related back to many more chances at scoring along with avoiding possibilities of taking bad scores. So it gives you the chance to improve your score with birdies as well as helping not to worsen with bogeys.

Driving distance is a definite skill that a player needs to acquire in order to play better golf, like I said it sets up everything that is to follow. An errant shot off the tee sets up a bad lie, which sets up a difficult approach, which leads to an upshot left short etc…..But the fact of the matter is that not everyone can throw 500+ and that’s when a player must rely on the accuracy rather then the distance of their drives in order to play better golf. Therefore I believe that new players should really concentrate on improving their overall technique/form and learn the basic of angles/release timing. Accurate and controlled distance is something that is acquired through lots of repetitions and lots of field practice.

QCDG.com: You’ve been known to hit the gym in the off-season. What do you focus on when in the gym and how could a similar program help other players?

Avery: I strongly believe that weight training in the off-season has really taken my game to the next level. I also train throughout the year but tone down the intensity to make sure I don’t alter my technique or form, its all about keeping the proper body tone. Most players need to realize that this is an overall athletic sport and players experience a lot of wear-and–tear throughout a season of throwing. I also see off-season weight training as a way to avoid these elbow and shoulder injuries throughout the season. I take the entire winter months off from throwing to give my body a chance to recover and heal completely before the start of the next season.

I primarily focus on overall body strength but really concentrate on strengthening my shoulders and my core. I do lots of free-weights to strengthen all the major muscle groups of the body but they also do an amazing job of strengthening the smaller stabilizing muscles as well. I also really like using the cable machine at the gym, I think that it offers an ideal exercise that mimics the disc golf throw. This machine adds more distance to my game by building the major muscles such as the triceps and anterior deltoids needed to deliver explosive throwing power. I believe that a well developed and proper strength training program in the off-season can tremendously improve anyone’s golf game.

QCDG.com: What area of your game do you feel is your strongest, what area(s) of your game would you like to concentrate on improving and what steps do you see yourself taking to make those improvements?

Avery: I definitely know that my ability to control long drives off the tee is what separates my game from the rest of the competition. It gives me the ability to score better for the fact that I get lots more chances at birdie and eagle compared to the rest of the field. My accurate approaches are also a strong part of my game due to my experience with throwing and playing catch with a Frisbee a majority of my life. I am a solid putter, but I know that is the area that everyone can always improve on. It’s the main area of every players game, which determines the difference between winning and losing. I know for a fact that putting is the main reason that I have not won a World or US Championship yet.The key to getting better at anything is relentless practice, its something that has to be ingrained as habit and taken as something to train muscle memory. I have been a very consistent player over the past few years, I know that improving my putting will only make me better and more successful.

QCDG.com: When playing a round during a tournament would you consider yourself an aggressive player or more conservative? Could you give an example of when you had to make that decision and most importantly tell us the thought process you went through deciding “go for it” or “play it safe”?

Avery: I am definitely an aggressive player but a way smarter aggressive player then I used to be. It seemed that earlier in my career that I would go at every hole 100%, if I saw the basket I would attack with everything that I had because I knew that I could make the shot. But it didn’t always work out that well even though I knew that I had the skill and ability to pull off any shot.

So I would maybe even consider myself a passive-aggressive player on the course for the fact that I strategically play the hole in the most effective way that I feel possible. I have to constantly remind myself that I don’t have to go at every hole and weight out the risk-reward possibilities to decide if it is worth it to take the chance.

I recall a round at the 2004 Japan Open where I was faced with a 250’ 2nd shot on a long par 4 to a basket perched on a sloping hill. There was an OB bunker located 15’ in front of the basket and an OB cart path 30’ long of the green. It was a situation where I had to decide whether it was worth it to go for this shot during the final round of play. I had to remind myself that this is the game of golf and the risk of going for it greatly outweighed the reward, the stroke that I had a chance at gaining did not equal the 2 strokes that I could possibly lose if I do not make the shot. So I played my next shot short of the bunker for an easy lay-up under the basket for par. In the end, that shot may have allowed to become victorious as the Japan Open Champion as I won the tournament by a single stroke.

QCDG.com: At your level of play you compete against the very best this sport has to offer. What do you feel sets you apart from the others and how does that help you get an edge on your competition?

Avery: I know that my ability to throw long off the tee and my forehand drives definitely separate me from the rest of the competition. Those weapons greatly increase my chance of scoring on lots of courses. It also lets me land lots of safer shots on difficult to reach greens and fairways. Those shots allow me to take more aggressive routes on holes without too much risk involved. I really like to use my power game as a competitive advantage against my competition.

QCDG.com: Mental toughness and focus are very important to success in disc golf. As you’re playing your rounds what do you do to keep in the right frame of mind? Can you tell of a situation where you had to dig deep within yourself using that process to get out of trouble?

Avery: I believe that trust in my ability and skills have been very important during rounds to keep me in the right frame of mind. I trust that I have the shot for any situation and have confidence of throwing the best shots on any hole on the course. Having trust and confidence in your abilities has proven to produce positive outcomes, just knowing that can take you a long way in this sport.

I look back to a recent situation during the World Championships this year when I threw what I believe to be the most clutch shot of my career at the most crucial time. It was during the 5 hole playoff between Josh Anthon and myself which took place on the 4th hole when I was faced with a difficult upshot behind an island of trees. Josh had already thrown his shot under the basket and I was forced to make the shot or lose the Championship. I had to make the decision of throwing a backhand shot uphill around the trees with a left to right crosswind, which had the chance of knocking down my shot. Or throwing the more difficult and longer forehand shot around the lower left side of the trees.

I kept my composure and dug deep within myself to have the confidence make the shot in the most crucial of situations by throwing the forehand out and around using the left to right crosswind to bring the disc to the basket for the par save. That shot alone pushed the playoff to the next and final 5th playoff hole where I made the final putt for the World Championship Title.

QCDG.com: Many players have a “pre-shot” routine they go through before they throw. Do you have one and if so what are you focusing on during that process?

Avery: It took many years to develop my own pre-shot routine, but it is something that has been included in the throwing technique to produce the most consistent results. Every great player has pre-shot routine, it is a signature routine that is individual to each and every player before throwing. It is something that is developed throughout practice that allows the player to get into a comfortable groove and feeling what is needed to throw the shot.

I try to really focus on going through the exact repetitious motions each and every time before throwing a shot. I concentrate on standing up straight and approaching the shot with a slow and controllable cadence that is easily repeated every time. I do the same with putting when I lock down my side to side movement and just concentrate on my arm swing, extension and following through at the end of the putt.

QCDG.com: What was it like for you to break through with your big win at the 2006 Players Cup, and what do you feel you need to do to experience winning at that level consistently?

Avery: I believe that the main reason that I was so successful in winning the 2006 Players Cup was that I was the most mentally prepared for that tournament than any other tournament that entire season. I knew I needed to win that tournament and wanted to win that tournament more than anything. I committed to every shot and putt the entire tournament, I also made very few mistakes and capitalized on every opportunity.

A strong mental game backed up with incredible throwing ability can elevate any player into the higher levels of competitive Disc Golf. But confidence is by far the most important skill to obtain when striving to be the very best.

QCDG.com: As most people know your sister Valarie is a pretty successful disc golfer in her own right, and on many occasions you have paired together to play doubles tournaments. What’s it like playing with your sister at that level and how close to winning a Major doubles event do you feel the two of you are?

Avery: I have had some of the most enjoyable and fun rounds of golf playing with Val. We had placed as high as 4th playing doubles at the World Championships in years past. Unfortunately we have never won any of these doubles events, but I would like to have our chances at an event that is longer then a 2 round one-day tournament for a Major Title.

I feel that we would have a great chance of winning a multiple round tournament in a variety of doubles formats. Val is an incredible all-around player and competitor that complements my power game very well with an on-point short game and very consistent putt in all situations.

QCDG.com: There are many great events on the disc golf tour for professionals, but what’s the one event you would really like to add to your disc golf resume and why?

Avery: When you asked me this question before it would have been the obvious answer of winning a World Title. It has been a life long goal of mine since I was very young and I have always thought of the possibilities of one day becoming the best in the World. I have definitely put in a lot of time and energy throughout the many years of traveling and playing tournaments all over the world. But winning a World Championship has always been the ultimate goal for as long as I have been playing this game. It is the pinnacle of any player’s career and something that I wanted so bad that I was not letting anything come between me achieving my ultimate dream.

QCDG.com: If you were to pick one moment in your disc golf career to date that you feel showed the world who Avery Jenkins is and what he’s capable of what would it be?

Avery: This year’s World Championships is where I felt that I showed the World the true Avery Jenkins and what I am really capable of on the course. I gained control of the tournament during the first round and only gave up the lead once before winning it all in the end. It was the stage that I have been waiting for where I could show that World that I am a true Champion of the game. I really showed my true self on my final putt to win the World Title when I let it all out in a victorious roar as I achieved what I wanted the very most and becoming a Disc Golf World Champion.

Complete QuadCityDiscGolf.com Interview: Avery Jenkins Interview

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Disc Golf has a Pro Tour, and Momentum
By Jack McCluskey

LEICESTER, Mass. — In many ways, Avery Jenkins and disc golf have grown up together.

His parents picked up the sport in the ’80s, planned family vacations to places where they could catch a tournament on the weekends and bought disc golf baskets for the backyard. Now Jenkins, 31, is closing in on his 10th year of traveling on the pro disc golf tour, making a living playing the sport.

Jack McCluskey
Instead of using a club, just pull your arm back and let ‘er rip.
“[Most] kids grow up playing basketball in the backyard,” Jenkins said. “I was in the backyard shooting at disc golf baskets.”

This past weekend, Jenkins and his sister, Valarie, were two of 177 pros entered in the Vibram Open, the final stop on the Professional Disc Golf Association National Tour. With a total payout of almost $50,000, the Vibram Open is also one of the richest tournaments in disc golf. As defending champions, Avery and Valarie stood to pocket $2,500 and $1,500, respectively, if they could pull off repeats in Leicester.

So although it was the middle of August, this Christmas tree farm — the Maple Hill course is closed from Thanksgiving to Christmas so that people can cut and cart their own trees — was bustling with activity. With the mercury climbing close to 90 degrees, and the sky high and cloudless, a group of about 20 people gathered at the top of a hill and waited for the clock to strike noon.

Standing on the crest of the hill, backs to the trees lining the road, the spectators watched a red disc zip over rows of still-young pine trees and a green swath of grass sloping down the hill toward a medium-sized, lily-pad-dotted pond. They murmured approvingly as the disc settled softly onto the ground on the far side of the pond, just inside an overgrown, rutted cart path, in a landing zone marked with wood chips.

It was a fine first shot for the man in the lime green shirt, Barry Schultz, who came into the final day of the three-round tournament at an astounding 18 under par. Schultz shot a 49 on the first day of play at the par-62 course, breaking the year-old course record of 51 set by, surprise surprise, Avery Jenkins. And he would go on to win the tournament in a runaway, finishing with a 25-under 161, 7 shots ahead of the rest of the field.

His second shot would take him past the cart path, over more rows of young pines and into some open space lined with wood chips just before the tree-line proper. Past that open space was a square swatch that had been cleared from the full-grown woods and boxed in with planking.

In the center of that swatch stood the pin, complete with a blue cloth flag with a white number 1 on it, flapping in the breeze. The only difference between this and a traditional golf pin is, on the pole hangs a metal basket, and hanging above the basket are a number of metal chains. This is the first disc golf basket, or Pole Hole. And it stood a mere 760 feet away from the tee box.

For Schultz and the other top pros teeing off on the final card at noon, the distance isn’t the hard part. A good driver will take care of the distance. It’s making a good shot, avoiding the rows of trees, setting up a makable putt and, maybe most of all, keeping dry.

After all, this is disc golf. And as Schultz said, holding up a driver disc, “Throw this in the water, you just lost your driver.”

Not your father’s Frisbee
Rules and history
Rules
As its name implies, disc golf pretty closely follows the rules of golf. The object of the game is to throw the disc into the basket in as few throws as possible. Each throw is made from where the disc came to rest on the previous throw; if the previous throw landed out of bounds (in the woods, water or in a snap trap), a penalty will be assessed and the next throw will come from a drop spot. The player with the lowest score wins.

History
There is no exact date, time or place for the first disc golf game. What is certain is that the Frisbee, a federally registered trademark plastic flying disc made by WHAM-O Inc., was developed in 1958. In 1965, George Sappenfeld is credited with holding one of the first Frisbee golf tournaments, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Eleven years later, Ed Headrick created the Disc Golf Association Company to manufacture discs and other equipment, notably the first target to use chains and a basket, which he trademarked the Disc Pole Hole. That same year, 1976, the Professional Disc Golf Association was formed, and the modern era of disc golf unofficially began.
– Jack McCluskey

Although for many the phrase “disc golf” may conjure up images of long-haired hippies in tie-dyed T-shirts tossing floppy Frisbees off trees or telephone poles, the truth couldn’t be more different.

First of all, there’s a big difference between your father’s Frisbee and the discs used by competitive players. Discs are smaller in diameter and denser in composition, and have different aerodynamics — they fly faster and farther than Frisbees and, thanks to advances in manufacturing techniques, hold their flight characteristics better after impact with a wall or tree or telephone pole.

Although there are hundreds of colors and styles of Frisbees, they all do virtually the same thing in the air. Discs can be made so that they do very different things in the air. Some are sharper, heavier; these are drivers. Some are more rounded, smaller; these are putters.

Next, consider the people throwing the discs. Although there is sure to be some long hair involved and although there may even be some hippies, there also are doctors and lawyers, teachers and plastics engineers, people from all walks of life. And the elite-level players are just that: elite. Don’t think you can stumble out of bed onto a disc golf course and hang with Schultz, Jenkins & Co.

Throwing a Frisbee may be easy, but throwing a disc down a hill, over a stand of trees and a pond and into position to make a second approach shot at a green box set inside the tree line of a woods is not.

And although not all courses are set up like Leicester’s Maple Hill course, the concept is the same. Frisbees are a hobby; disc golf is a sport.

From the ground, through the air … into chains?
Although the majority of the action in a disc golf tourney takes place in the air, the efforts to grow disc golf as a sport are taking place on the ground.

“Disc golf is really a grassroots sport,” said Brian Graham, executive director of the Professional Disc Golf Association, the sport’s international governing body. “It grew up around the world by the hard work of volunteers.”

By and large, volunteers still do the vast majority of the work. The PDGA has only five full-time employees and three consultants, but “hundreds and hundreds of volunteers.”

Need a caddie?
To have a caddie, or not to have a caddie?

Just like traditional golfers, professional disc golfers can have caddies to carry their gear during events. Unlike traditional golf, though, not many pros choose to do so on a regular basis.

If that’s the rule, disc golf professor Dave Feldberg is the exception. “I’m the player who carries the most discs,” Feldberg said. “I carry between 30 and 40 discs. I’m also the only player who consistently has a caddie.”

Feldberg pays his caddies 10 percent of what he wins, which is a lot considering pro disc golfers don’t always win a lot. But Feldberg says it’s worth it, and not just because it’s nice to have someone else carrying the bulk of the weight. “I don’t need advice,” Feldberg said. “I just need someone to rattle ideas off of. Someone to pump me up or calm me down.”

Avery Jenkins, the 2009 world champion, said Feldberg, a good friend, carries way more than anyone in the pro ranks. “I can make just about any disc do what I want,” Jenkins said. “So I only carry 20 to 22 discs.”

Jenkins said he generally doesn’t use a caddie but admitted that sometimes it’s nice to have one. “I carried my own the entire world championships until the final holes, then I had my dad carry them for me,” Jenkins said. It probably didn’t hurt that his father has played disc golf himself since the ’80s.

Even in a singular sport, sometimes it’s nice to have someone carrying part of the burden — and sharing in the spoils.
– Jack McCluskey

“We have 40,000 lifetime members in 28 countries,” Graham said. “Just about anywhere you go in the country where there’s a course or a tournament, there are PDGA members and disc players willing to help.”

Although the PDGA has been around since 1976, and disc golf itself has been around since long before that (although no one is sure exactly when or where the first disc golf game occurred), Graham says there’s still room to grow.

When the PDGA was founded, there was one dedicated disc golf course in the world. By 1980, there were 60. By 2008, the most recent year for which data is available, there were 2,748. In 2007, there were 11,943 PDGA members. A year later, that number had increased almost 9 percent to 12,980. The PDGA Tour has grown at an even higher rate, with events jumping 16.7 percent from 852 in ’07 to 994 in ’08, and total purses increasing from $1.7 million in ’07 to just more than $2 million in ’08.

But all that growth didn’t happen overnight. There have been delays and missteps along the way.

“We kinda made the same mistake that soccer did,” Graham said. “We started with a top-down approach.” Much like the North American Soccer League’s New York Cosmos trying to sell Americans on the game by signing Pelé back in the 1970s, disc golf tried to market its pros before it was even sure anyone would want to watch them.

“There was a pro tour before people even knew what disc golf was,” Graham said.

So now Graham and the PDGA are taking disc golf to schools. A pro disc golfer named Jay “Yeti” Reading explained one such initiative, called Educational Disc Golf Experience, or E.D.G.E.

“It’s a complete curriculum for Grades 3 through 12,” Yeti said at the Vibram Open, where he won the putting contest. “We give you everything you need to learn the techniques and play the game.

“We’re impacting an amazing number of kids right now. Our country is battling an epidemic of childhood obesity, and we think disc golf is a lifetime activity that can help kids develop a healthy lifestyle.”

After the tournament was over, Yeti, who has played disc golf professionally for the past 10 years, was flying to Texas to introduce the sport to 50,000 more schoolkids.

And, it’s possible that a student who learns about disc golf from Yeti in Texas goes to college and studies the sport with one of the top players in the world. That’s because Dave Feldberg, a former world champion and still a topflight disc golfer, teaches a for-credit class on disc golf at the University of Oregon.

“Disc golf is golf for the next generation,” Feldberg said a day after finishing tied for sixth at the Vibram Open, shooting an 11-under 175, for which he received a check for $862. “It takes less time, less money, less land, less stress. Today’s athlete? They’re not wanting to put on dress slacks and traditional golf gear to go enjoy themselves with their buddies.”

“I was like a catfish, dude, swallowed it whole”
Billy Crump is nothing if not a salesman.

“I drove 15 hours one way to be here,” Crump said. “I’m not getting paid. Just to talk, because it had to be done.”

Crump is providing live blow-by-blow coverage of the tournament via webcast on the Open’s Web site. “I’ll talk for five and a half hours straight,” Crump said. When he introduced himself, Crump said, “I’m the Nature Boy, and I can talk.”

Jack McCluskey
Looks like a tricky shot, doesn’t it?
Nature Boy’s story is a familiar one among the disc golf community. Some friends dragged him to a disc golf course several years ago, and he promptly failed miserably and declared the game “the stupidest thing I’ve seen in my life.” Then he went back and played again and, as he put it, “I was like a catfish, dude, swallowed it whole.”

His pro career, to hear him tell it, was not exactly a huge financial success. His first year on tour, he made $200 and kept at it only because the guys he was traveling with were doing significantly better. They made sure he had enough to eat and enough for the entry fee to that weekend’s tournament.

“I always said, ‘One day I’ll quit playing and just cover you guys,’” Crump said, adding proudly, “I’ve been called the Jim Nantz of disc golf.”

Although he doesn’t seem to have an official title or position with the PDGA, Crump acts as a one-man promotional department. He is a broadcaster, producer, ad salesman, marketing consultant and media director. “We all say we’re on the precipice,” Crump said, hoping this latest shove will push disc golf off the cliff and into the mainstream.

He’s not the only one selling the sport, however. Not by a long shot.

“We all say, ‘It’s gonna be huge in three to five years,’” Avery Jenkins said. “We’ve been saying that for years.”

Vibram Open tournament director Steve Dodge said the disc golf community has debated what to call the kind of golf they play in the PGA. “I think we settled on ‘conventional,’ but you know that only works if ball golf is more popular,” Dodge said. “Who’s to say in 20 years this isn’t conventional golf?”

Disc golf’s Golden Bear
Ken Climo is to disc golf what Jack Nicklaus is to traditional ball golf.

“When people try to compare me to Tiger, I say, ‘Tiger hasn’t broken the records yet,’” Climo, 41, said by phone from his home in Clearwater, Fla. “I think I’m the Jack. I’ve got the records, and somebody’s gotta come get ‘em.”

The records Climo was referring to include total tour wins (he has 220 and counting) and world championships (12, including nine in a row from 1990 to 1998). He also might own the record for reverential references by contemporaries and competitors.

Jenkins, who won the 2009 world championship in Kansas City earlier this month, said he grew up idolizing Climo. Dave Feldberg was in awe of Climo’s accomplishments, noting that no one is even close to Climo in total majors; Feldberg said he and Barry Schultz are probably closest at five apiece. Crump called him “a living legend” and pointed out a picture of Climo throwing a disc on the side of an Innova Disc Golf van parked at the Vibram Open.

Video game disc golf
Disc golfers rejoice! EA Sports has added a disc golf feature to the Nintendo Wii version of “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10.”

“Welcome to Disc Golf!” the demo screen on the EA Sports Web site reads, above a computer rendering of a blue disc with “EA Sports driver” written on it. “Are you ready to play one of the fastest growing sports in America?! Disc Golf is very similar to regular golf. The goal is to get the disc in the basket in the least amount of throws. Play on all courses. Have fun!”

Using all the courses from the normal game, players will be able to play the courses using discs instead of clubs and balls. Legendary disc golfer Ken Climo says it’s an exciting advance for the sport. “You can play Pebble Beach with a disc,” Climo said. “That’s gonna give our sport a lot of exposure.”

Will being featured in Tiger’s newest video game be the push disc golf needs to hit the mainstream? Not so fast. After all, the disc golf option is on only one video game console. “It’s baby steps,” Climo continued. “It’s gonna come, it’s just gonna take a while. Ball golf is 400 years old, that’s what I keep telling people. As a sport, disc golf is just more than 30 years old, that’s not very old. We’re basically just coming out of our adolescence.”

If adolescents with Wiis buy enough copies of “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10″ and play enough of the disc golf option, maybe the sport will enjoy another growth spurt. Only time will tell.
– Jack McCluskey

Other pros have sponsors, but Climo has his own line of discs. That didn’t come easily, though. Climo didn’t get his current deal with Innova until after he’d won his seventh straight world championship.

“I don’t know what took them so long,” he said, then laughed.

Under the terms of the deal, Climo gets a quarter per disc sold in addition to a monthly paycheck. “It started out at a little less than $1,000 a month, maybe a little over $1,000 in the summertime when sales are good,” Climo said. “Now I’ll get checks for around $4,000 a month in the summertime.”

Although that might not sound like much, it’s more than any pro disc golfer has gotten before. For the most part, sponsors still are making deals with players mostly for merchandise. They are small companies such as bottled-water distributor Brazilian Springs — a proud sponsor of the Vibram Open.

“For the most part, we’ve been successful on the regional level,” said Graham, the PDGA executive director. “Though we do have one large company interested in us, asking lots of questions.”

The one-man disc golf salesman extraordinaire, Crump said he’s been told “no” by more companies than he can remember. But, like most things in disc golf, there has been gradual progress.

“Our sport is where traditional golf was in the ’30s and ’40s,” Graham said. “Those guys lived out of the trunks of their cars, driving from tournament to tournament and barely making it.”

It wasn’t always possible to make a living playing disc golf.

In the beginning of his career, Climo built houses during the week and won tournaments on the weekend. Graham was a civil engineering designer for 23 years before being hired as PDGA executive director in 2007. Schultz was a plastics engineer back home in Wisconsin before he went pro full time. Sarah Stanhope, who won the women’s division at the Vibram Open with a 9-over 191, is a high school science teacher in Greenville, S.C.

But the success of pros such as Climo has helped pave the way for players such as Avery and Valarie Jenkins, Feldberg and Schultz to make a living off disc golf.

“We’re playing for more money. There are more sponsors,” Avery Jenkins said. “When I started traveling in 2001, we were in a ’71 Winnebago that got five miles to the gallon. We were making just enough to get from weekend to weekend.

“Now we’re not fretting about making it to the next weekend.”

Valarie agreed: “We’re not buying houses or nice cars, but it gets us along.” The Jenkinses have traded up from the Winnebago to a Ford Tioga motor home, complete with three beds, air conditioning and even a flat-screen TV hooked up to an Xbox and a Nintendo Wii.

“Now we get about double [the mileage], 10 miles a gallon,” Jenkins said.

To hear most members of the disc golf community tell it, someday soon they’ll be doubled in number. After all, they’re right there on the precipice. All they need is that final push, one more toss. Then disc golf will really be airborne.

Jack McCluskey is an editor at ESPN.com.

Check out the entire Article on ESPN.com – Disc Golf has a Pro Tour, and Momentum

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