Nate Doss, Val Jenkins and I set out early in the morning to travel the six hours to Phoenix, Ariz., for the Memorial Championship, an event on the National Tour. In the back of the Sprinter Van, I took naps and watched movies. That’s how you travel!

The Memorial is a four-round, four-day event, beginning on Wednesday and ending on Saturday. That gives players two days to practice. It really only gives one day to practice if you stay the night in Vegas and use Monday as a travel day.

Arriving at Fountain Hills at about 4:30 p.m., we met with DiscMania SuperStars Jussi Meresmaa and Seppo Paju. I looked forward to rooming with them for the rest of the week.

The Holiday Inn were stayed at was conveniently located across the street from the course. It’s one of the main reasons we have stayed here the past two years. That means we only have to travel to the Vista Del Camino course twice and the other days we just have to walk across the street. We were less than 400 feet from the basket on hole 15. The final round and awards were also held at this course.

I grabbed my bag as Val, Nate, Seppo and I headed out for a quick practice round in limited daylight. It was less than two hours until sundown. This is a course I have played for the past 10-plus years. They have altered some of the holes throughout the years, but it’s basically the same layout that we play each year.

With winds gusting at more than 35 mph, it made for an interesting round. We avoided many of the approach shots to the baskets near the water as it wasn’t worth it to lose a good upshot disc a few days before the event. I still ended up losing a Star Teebird and a Power Driver 2 on hole 17, which is one of the longer downhill holes. The wind came from the right and carried them left and sent them into the water. I didn’t want to lose those crucial discs before the tournament, but I always carry backups for each of my go-to discs.

The Fountain Hills course is gorgeous and it’s in my top-10 list for courses. It has a great layout with rolling hills surrounding a lake. In the center of the lake is a huge water fountain. It’s the fourth-tallest fountain in the world. It can reach heights of 560 feet, which it does on select holidays and celebrations.

The course is challenging because there’s a chance to throw out-of-bounds in the water on nearly every hole. It’s especially difficult when the winds are ripping. On the other hand, nearly every hole is reachable in one shot, so when the wind is down, the scores can go really low on this par-56 course.

On Tuesday, Jussi, Seppo and I drove to the Vista Del Camino (Shelly Sharpe) course in Scottsdale to get a practice round in and check for any changes. Much like the Fountain course, there weren’t many changes. The Vista course is a longer flat course with six par 4s. There are lots of opportunities for birdies at the beginning and toward the finish. It’s a par-60 course with many challenging holes because of a lot of out-of-bounds areas on nearly every hole and very fast, skipping fairways and greens around the basket.

After the round, we set up a Discmania vendor table at the Memorial Flymart and sold discs, hats and apparel. But it was more about representing and getting some good exposure for the brand. Jussi Meresmaa, the Discmania CEO, has worked hard over the past several years making Discmania the ultimate European disc golf company. He’s now focused on putting more of an effort to increase the exposure in the United States market. Discmania makes great discs and I see a lot more players in the states throwing the discs as the company’s efforts are starting to show positive results.

The first round of the Memorial was at Vista and the conditions were perfect — sunny and warm with little to no wind. I had a solid start with birdies on four of the first five homes. Then again, much like the weekend before in Las Vegas, I was unable to capitalize on the longer par 4s, settling for pars on most of them. I still birdied more than half of the holes to shoot 52 and had a great round of putting.

I was on the fifth-to-last card of the day, but heard about some scores off the card consisting of every winner from last year’s major events and last year’s Memorial champion.

This “Super Group” was made up of Nate Doss, Dave Feldberg, Ricky Wysocki and Paul McBeth. As I turned in my scorecard, I heard players talking about Paul and Dave and how after 14 holes or so, they had birdied all but one or two holes. I watched the card from across the course and saw them birdie the last couple of holes as well. I then watched Feldberg’s drive on No. 18 nearly skip out of bounds in the water, but the shot remained safe on the bank. Paul and Dave each birdied the final hole to shoot 15 under and 16 under, respectively.

It turns out they each shot an 1100-plus rated round — the first time two players did it during the same tournament, let alone on the same card in the same round.

That’s pretty incredible.

The second round was at Fountain Hills and the weather, again, cooperated nicely with very little wind. Lucky for us in the Pro Open division, we didn’t tee off until the afternoon. I was on the second card, heading out at 2 p.m., which gave me a lot of time to warm up and mentally prepare.

I played conservative during the start of the round and didn’t want to give away strokes early. I also realized the back nine is where you get a majority of the birdies. The conservative play didn’t pay off as I only birdied a few holes on the front and never capitalized on the shorter birdie holes on the back nine.

I never got my shots close enough to the basket for the expected routine putts that I usually get on the back section. That was unfortunate as I finished with a meager 52, taking me way off pace of the lead card. It was the same score I shot during the first round, but this time on an easier course. I had some work to do and we were only half way through.

I realized the leader — Paul McBeth — had added to the overall lead and was almost at an untouchable point. At least for me. I needed to get something going soon if I had any shot of getting into the top cards and finishing in the top 5 at the tournament.

Friday’s mission was to improve and it seemed like I got some assistance from the winds as they were swirling and gusting at about 15-20 mph. This was the spark I needed as I realized I had to play strong in the winds because the conditions were really going to limit the scoring potential of other players.

Being mostly concerned with my overall scoring, I needed to get revenge and this was my redemption round.

I came out of the gate birdying the first five holes, which was no easy task in those winds. I then set out on my next mission to capitalize on all of the long par 4s. I wanted to throw long tee shots to set up easy approaches and try to keep it as simple as possible.

Showing patience, I took the round shot-by-shot and it was coming together perfectly. I really concentrated on the direction of the wind and did my best to place my shots on the tailwind side of the basket to set up easier putts. I birdied the final three holes and finished with a bogey-free 49. I could only look back at four or five shots I missed during the round, which ended up being rated 1092 — my highest round rating ever, which beat my 1090 at the 2008 Memorial.

I also found out soon after finishing that Valarie had an incredible round and Team Jenkins shot the Hot Round for the men’s and women’s divisions. I was later told by Chuck Kennedy that we each had a score/rating that ranked in the top 10 of the best rounds ever in PDGA history for men’s and women’s divisions, on that difficult of a course and also during the same round. It was the first time a brother and sister act did that in the same round.

Kennedy said I had the second best and Val had the second best for courses in the 60-66 SSA (standard scoring average) category. Because of the wins, Vista played four throws higher and is in a separate SSA class for records than Wednesday (the opening round).

The 49 (1092 rating) I shot at Vista was second only to the 49 (1100) shot by Barry Schultz at the Maple Hill course. I was only one stroke away from the elusive 1100 rated round, which is something I continue to strive for. It’s all about putting all the shots together for an entire round. It’s definitely not the easiest thing to do.

Overall, I moved up a few cards from the fourth to the second. We went into the final round Saturday and I was extremely fortunate to have the best card in the entire tournament as I was paired up with the great Nate Doss, the legend Steve Rico and the “Champ” Ken Climo. Three great guys and incredible world-class players. I was really looking forward to this round.

I realized the conservative approach on this course was not all successful during the second round, so now I had to play in attack mode like I did the day before as it really seemed to work. I decided I was going to play aggressive, even with all the water, and go after birdies and not just sit back for them to come to me.

Playing aggressive, I attacked the fairways, trying to get birdie putts with the gusty winds coming off the fountain. The fountain is known to affect shots as it sometimes creates its own wind. I shot a lacking front nine with only a few birdies that were diminished with a few errant bogeys because of upshots that skipped out of bounds and into the water.

It wasn’t over.

These are the final holes and you can birdie every hole on the back nine as I’ve done it before at the 2008 Memorial. I knew if I kept the drives close enough to the basket, I was putting good enough to make all of them. I birdied seven of the eight holes on the back nine, heading into the 18th. Rico and I had been battling the entire round and we were tied going into the final hole. We knew we had a chance to overtake a player or two on the lead card if someone had slipped up.

I continued the aggressive play the entire round and had to stick with my game plan as I gunned for the green. Out of my hand, it was a beautiful shot. But, for some reason, it didn’t react going into the headwind like I thought it would. The disc fought through it and started to regain a hyzer angle, coming into the slanted green. It hit right next to the basket, but because of the fast, sloping green, it skipped left and into the water. Rico either mis-read my shot or was thinking about the effects of the headwind as he proceeded to throw out of bounds on the right side.

He threw his approach to the basket, conceding the bogey. I still had a chance to part the hole with a big putt coming back from the water. It was tough footing and I couldn’t get a secure stance with enough room to shift weight and put any momentum on the disc as my par putt fell short and I ended with a bogey to shot 48. Rico and I were tied and waiting for the lead card to finish.

As it turns out, Dave Feldberg and Will Schusterick battled for second and third place as McBeth held a commanding lead and repeated as the Memorial champion. Rico and I, with solid play down the stretch, tied for fourth and a share of the National Tour points for the event.

I felt like I played some great golf to start the 2012 season. I was impressed with my long-range accuracy down the fairways and my consistent putting, which helped at each of the first two events. I will continue to improve in all facets of the game as the season progresses and I know all of my shots will begin to feel even more comfortable the more I play and practice. It’s great to see my off-season training paying off as I noticed increased power in my throws and felt like I have more energy during the rounds.

I am excited for the rest of the season has in store. I predict a lot of incredible competitions throughout the Tour as the top ranks of players continue to increase. It’s great for the players and the sport as it elevates into a higher echelon. It’s a great thing to experience as I know we will eventually get there. We just have to keep pushing forward and good things will come!

Next tournament: The Glass Blown Open, April 13-13 in Emporia, Kansas

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The event is considered a season opener as many of the top players come out to the desert in search of warm weather and some top-notch disc golf. Plus, it’s in the great city of Las Vegas. We’re always looking for an excuse to get back to Sin City as often as possible. We’re usually here in the spring for the GCC and in the fall for the Las Vegas Halloween Classic. Sometimes we get the chance to come back if there’s the “Big D in the Desert,” the Distance World Championships in nearby Primm, Nev.

I arrived in Las Vegas three days early for the 2012 PDGA Spring Summit, an event to discuss issues and topics concerning the Professional Disc Golf Association. The sport continues to grow and expand with more people playing every year. We, as an association, try to put ourselves in position to adapt to the massive growth.

I’m a member of the PDGA Board of Directors and have been for the past two years. I do my best to increase the quality of standardized, competitive play, while representing the voice of our membership. We discussed many subjects and topics at this year’s Summit, including information technology, website advancements, social media integration, strategic planning, prioritizing the future of disc golf, the PDGA Women’s Committee, PDGA Leagues, and international disc golf relations.

Two of the biggest projects the PDGA has going on now are information technology and the Woman’s Committee. The implementation of these programs will help gain more exposure for disc golf in the future.

Information Technology

Many of us have been directly affected by the lack of performance from the PDGA website. This situation has been made a top priority by the PDGA and we have the man for the job. The website is crucial to the growth of the sport and it’s the hub for all our communications, course directory, player statistics, event schedule and tournament results. It’s a go-to website for people looking for more information about the sport and how to become more involved. More than 96,000 visitors account for 1.1 million page views each month.

Steve Ganz has been hired as the PDGA Technology Director and will help us resolve the situation and revive the website that many members utilize almost every day. Ganz was recently the principal web developer at LinkedIn and has worked for companies such as PayPal and McAfee. His immediate goal is to stabilize the current website and facilitate an upgraded version as soon as possible.

Besides the website improvements, technology consultants Mike Dietrich and Theo Pozzy are working to launch the Android version of the PDGA mobile application in the coming months. This will join the iPhone version, which had its release last summer.

These applications — and the mobile experience in general — is another top priority for the PDGA as more people get their information via their mobile devices. There will be some great enhancements to the mobile applications in the future, including the ability for PDGA members to upload their casual rounds to their player profile on PDGA.com.

Women’s Committee

The PDGA Women’s Committee has set out to introduce more women to the sport. They have made it a goal to recruit women that normally don’t compete in tournament play by creating more women’s events for all skill sets.

Only seven percent of PDGA members are female. This is one of the lowest female-to-male ratios in any co-ed sport. Getting help from its members, the PDGA is dedicating itself in 2012 to getting back to the mission of attracting, encouraging and retaining more female participation in organized disc golf events.

“This is a time for new beginnings and rejuvenation of past efforts,” said Val Jenkins. “Where are the female disc golfers and how do we recruit more of them?”

To support the mission of growth and attracting more women to the sport, the committee announced the Woman’s Global Event, which will be held May 12. This follows last year’s Global Event, created by Chuck Kennedy.

The PDGA Women’s Committee invite women from all over the world to take part in this groundbreaking event.

On May 12, women from all around the world will play two rounds of disc golf during their local global event. The scores for the two rounds will be submitted and rated by the PDGA. The round ratings will be added to determine the player’s “global score.” The tournaments will offer all professional and amateur divisions. Players do not have to be current PDGA members to play in the event, which is being coordinated to make it as accessible as possible to encourage more women to go out and play.

For women interested in joining local leagues or to become more involved in the sport as part of the growing committee, check out the PDGA Women’s Site and DiscGolf4Women.com

Time to play

Following the nearly three-day PDGA Spring Summit, it was now time to play the Gentleman’s Club Challenge at Sunset Park, which was conveniently located a few blocks from the hotel.

I made sure to get a practice round in on Thursday afternoon so I could see the recent changes to the course. I had heard they had changed more than 80 percent of the course — and they most definitely did. The course was set up to be more challenging than last year. They installed a lot of out-of-bounds areas, a triple-mandatory, island shots and several long par 4s that could get tricky is the winds picked up, which often happens.

This year was different — there was virtually no wind. Not even a breath of wind to make you reconsider a shot during the first round. I still played conservative, shooting a 54 in my first PDGA-sanctioned event of the year. I had several birdies on the par 3s, but didn’t capitalize on the longer par 4s. Those are usually the strongest part of my game, with an obvious advantage on the long holes.

We went to the strip that night to enjoy the nightlife, hang out with friends and take in everything that is Las Vegas. We went to the Bellagio Buffet for dinner that night and I have to say it is the best buffet on the Las Vegas Strip! Especially if you like sushi, prime rib, crab legs, Kobe beef, smokes salmon, lamb chops and a mountain of shrimp! Don’t forget about the incredible desserts, including crème Brule, blueberry cheesecake and chocolate covered strawberries! A dinner like this makes an even better round the next day.

I played better the next two rounds, making up for my first-round mistakes. I really focused on getting the short hyzer par 3s and keeping the disc close to the basket. I really capitalized on the par 4s with some accurate upshots and solid putting to shoot back-to-back 49s to place seventh. I was satisfied with my play, despite knowing it was the flat first round that kept me from finishing in the top-3.

I look forward to better finishes in the year ahead as the season was off to a great start.

I stayed Sunday in Las Vegas to get some gambling out of my system, and, of course, enjoy another night on the strip. The roulette wheel and cards were not cooperating and I did my part to give back to the casinos. But gambling is all about entertainment for me and it was a great night in Vegas.

After that night, it was time to change focus again — this time to the National Tour, which held its first event a few days later. A six-hour trip was coming the next day and it was time to get back to disc golf.

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Avery Jenkins has been carrying discs around for a long time. It would be next to impossible to calculate how many discs he’s carried for how many miles, but a safe guess would probably start at six figures. In May of 2010 however, carrying those discs got a lot easier for him. It was just before the Master’s Cup National Tour event in Santa Cruz when Avery and his sister Valarie were able to test out the Grip EQ Tour Bag on the professional level. Right away he was impressed; it was clearly not just a backpack that could hold discs- it was a design built from the ground up to cater to the specific needs of a disc golfer.

The actual design was a bit of a collaboration process with Grip EQ’s front man, Justin Atwater-Taylor, at the helm. He spent years working on the whole concept, and another year working out the prototypes with Avery (as well as Valarie Jenkins and Nate Doss), in order to dial in the most durable well designed product possible. In fact, this prototype process, where the design was still embracing changes and improvements, is the main reason Avery Jenkins hasn’t been carrying the same single bag around since 2010. Avery had to swap out his personal models for analysis and development periodically, and he also gave a couple away so other players could use them (*You can even bid on one of his personal Grip Bags here on eBay until March 28th).

It seemed only natural to catch up with Avery himself and ask him every question we could think of. This was a perfect way to get an insider’s look at the Grip EQ Tour Bag.

DGS – Out of curiousity, since you were involved pretty early on, did you have specific input on the actual design with Justin Atwater-Taylor??

Avery- I intially designed this bag years ago as a project for my Industrial Design Thesis. J@water stole my idea and I’m still pretty pissed about it, but he added some great additions since then. So I’m cool with it now.

Really though, he designed it based on years of research, which included interviews with and observations of casual and professional golfers from all over the place. Justin had been working on his research and branding for several years in school when he approached us about an idea to produce a line of totally new disc golf bags that would be more comfortable, intuitive, and stylish than anything we had seen before. He was talking about empowering the sport and improving the overall experience of the game, which was a way of talking that I hadn’t heard out of any other gear designer in the industry. I was pretty interested in the concept and believed that it was something that was very necessary for the market.

But during the development phase on tour we gave him a lot of feedback that he then translated into design modifications. Justin and I traveled together for a good portion of the 2009 Tournament Season and collaborated on ideas for what would make for a complete disc golf bag. He went into his studio over that winter and came out with not just the coolest bag, but the coolest product I’ve ever seen offered to the disc golf market!

But even after having talked about it so much over the years I was still blown away when I opened that first box! It was like nothing I could have ever imagined! I have always believed in Justin’s vision, but since he has put out this first tour bag I have only become more stoked that he will continue to produce incredible disc golf bags and other disc golf related gear in the future.

DGS – Do you use a caddy? If so, do you use one more or less with this bag?

Avery – I don’t have a personal, official caddy because I travel each and every weekend. But when I do, I usually only have a caddy who I know well from my days on tour. If someone requests to caddy for me I like to meet them first and get to know them before letting them carry my bag. Tournament golf is personal for me, and because of the focus required I want someone that I know. I like to talk to my caddy during the rounds but not be distracted by someone I’m unfamiliar with.

The several caddies that have carried my Grip EQ bag have said that it was by far the most comfortable disc golf bag they have ever carried. I had a friend of mine carry the bag for a 4+ hour round and he never set the bag down once. He also commented on the bag by saying that it conformed to his back so well that it barely felt like he was carrying a bag at all.

DGS – Can you reach that top putter pocket without taking the bag off? To tap out an easy putt?

Avery – The Quiver-Style putter pocket located on the top of the bag is an incredible feature that was specifically designed for the exact reason to have easy access to your putters. It allows for access to them over your shoulder for tap-out putts, and enables you to put them back in the bag with ease. It also holds them up at thigh level when the bag is on the ground so they are easy to grab when you are standing around the green.

The retractable pocket allows you to elevate the putters a couple of inches out of the pocket for easy access during the round. You can also unsnap the strap to depress the pocket, which drops the putters into the main compartment of the bag to be zipped in for convenient travel and protection for your putters. The addition of this feature is revolutionary in the design of disc golf bags as you will probably see a lot of other bag companies out there try to copy this element.

DGS – How is this bag different from other backpack style DG bags?

Avery – There are several other backpack style disc golf bags currently out there on the market but very few of them have essential features like a reinforced compartment structure, comfortable backpack straps and extra storage space. The difference is that the Grip Equipment Tour bag has all of those features in one bag including extras such as the retractable putter pocket, detachable rain fly and super tough nylon construction.

The Grip EQ spent six years of research in developing this bag and has taken the player’s needs into account in the actual design in a way that no one else could. Justin went deeper than asking golfers what they wanted in a bag and asked specific questions that I had never heard before to test ideas he had about functionality and design. He really did his homework to get into the mind of the golfer to design new and innovative gear that they didn’t even realize they could have.

DGS – How effective is the rain-fly?

Avery – The fitted rip-stop nylon rain fly is one of the best features of the bag because keeping your discs dry during a round is always the main objective. It covers the entire bag, and not only does it keep your discs dry but it keeps the entire contents of the bag dry as well. It’s very accessible and easy to fasten to the bag at anytime.

There is nothing worse than having your bag and discs get soaked during a round in the rain; especially when it can ultimately effect your score. I have used other bags that had a rain fly that was part of the bag but was very ineffective at keeping my discs dry. Many other bags have access to the discs from the top of the bag, which also keeps them very exposed to rain and other debris falling into the bag.

The Grip EQ positioned access to the discs from the side of the bag, which decreases susceptibility to rain even without the rain fly, but with the rain fly the discs stay completely dry. You can also use the rain fly to continue to shelter the discs while viewing and accessing them.

I remember doing some field testing on the bags the very next weekend after receiving them and what better place to test than rainy Oregon at the Beaver State Fling. We used them in a long 4 hour round while getting rain dumped on us the whole time, then J@water set his bag out in the wet grass in an open field for another hour. When we brought the bag back in, we checked the discs and gear and they were absolutely bone dry. The next day was much nicer but everyone else still had wet bags and gear from the day before… and we were out there with dry equipment on our backs!

DGS – What’s your favorite feature of the Grip EQ?

Avery – Well there are many key features that I really like about this bag but I think that my favorite is the structure and look of the bag. It has a very sleek, compact design that is very functional, providing a comfortable fit and carrying everything that a disc golfer needs on the disc golf course.

I also really like the additional storage pockets to keep your cell phone and wallet elevated off the ground, protected from the possibility of getting wet or damaged due to unnecessary impact. Of course the drop down putter pocket and the detachable rain fly are very critical functions as well, making this bag different from every other bag on the market.

DGS – Did you notice a difference with overall fatigue (as in LESS) with this bag over a long day at a tournament?

Avery – The comfortable shoulder straps and balance of the Grip EQ has definitely made it easier to haul all of my discs around the course therefore reducing fatigue. It’s a very compact bag, but yet it still has enough room in the side pockets to carry all of the essentials that I need throughout a round including extra towels, Clif Bar snacks, Birdie Bag, etc…

The symmetric design conforms to your body as it rests against your back and moved with you as you walk down the fairway. I am also able to hike up hills with ease, not worrying about the bag bouncing and straining on my back. It makes for an excellent bag to get you through a long day at the course or a long weekend at a disc golf tournament.

DGS – Do you use the chest strap/buckle?

Avery – I personally don’t use the chest strap all that often for the fact that I am constantly taking the bag off and on throughout the round between shots. I usually only use it to lock down the chest strap when hiking up and down hills during the round or when I plan on keeping the bag on for a while like on walks for bike rides to the course. Oh and that reminds me that I’ve never had a bag ride so securely and comfortably when I bike to the course!

I have seen lots of other players using the chest straps to increase the fit in the shoulder area on those players with smaller body types. I think it’s an important feature that any backpack style bag should have especially to provide better support and fit.

DGS – Do you have anything you’d change about the bag? Or any complaints?

Avery – The Grip EQ bag is by far the best disc golf bag that I have ever used, from it’s comfortable fit to it’s solid structure and design. You can tell that there has been a lot of research and thought put into this bag before sending it to final production.

Personally, I wish that the Grip EQ bag could fit more discs in it, but I totally understand what makes this bag so comfortable and easy to carry. So there are trade-offs with the size of the bag and the design. It’s that size for a reason which makes it conform better to your body. So I look forward to a future Grip EQ design that allows for me to carry more discs.

DGS- Did the Grip EQ have any direct impact on your disc golf game in 2011?

Avery – It has definitely increased my stamina on the course by the reducing fatigue due to the lightweight ergonomic design that conforms to fit on your back properly. It’s also a comfortable bag that doesn’t swing and shift on your back while you walk to your shot or the next tee.

This bag alone gives me an advantage during a rainy tournament just for the fact that I know that my discs will be dry the entire round. My dry discs provide more grip and better control when throwing which has definitely saved me strokes throughout the long disc golf season.

DGS – Are there any specific instances or stories that come to mind when you reflect on your year and your choice of the Grip EQ bag?

Avery – I remember the day when the prototype Grip bags first arrived at our place in Santa Cruz, Justin could barely contain his excitement as the idea and vision came to fruition. Val, Nate and I were excited as well, as we couldn’t wait to go play a round and try them out on the disc golf course. We headed up to De Laveaga Disc Golf Course for the very first round with the bags, taking a bunch of promo pictures and testing all of the functions of the bag.

Although there have been several modifications to the bags since the first prototypes produced, the overall durable structure and symmetric balance of the bag has never been compromised. As the Grip EQ bag will only continue to improve, become lighter weight, more durable and provide more overall comfort in years to come.

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******For a limited time, Check Out and Bid on Avery’s eBay Auction. of one of his personal tour-tested Grip bags! He describes it in detail by saying: The Overall Condition of this Bag is Excellent!! Personally I feel that it’s easily a 9 out of 10!! I have had the Bag for 7 months using throughout the Fall Tour and a few Tournaments Early this Spring. There is just minor wear on the Plastic Runners on the bottom of the Bag but that’s what they’re for to protect the bottom from being exposed to the ground and cement.

It also proves the durability of these Bags as there is NOT a tear, fray or separation of material anywhere on the Bag. It’s in Excellent Game-Used Disc Golf Tour Condition and broken in like your favorite go-to Drivers!! I’m not getting rid of this Bag because it’s too worn, I’m getting rid of it because it’s the start of the New 2012 Season and I like to have freshest of gear for the new year.

This Bag is ready to go and it’s personalized just the way I like it!! It’s a very One-of-a-Kind Grip EQ Bag!! – Avery Jenkins #7495

For any additional information, pictures, and style options please visit the Grip EQ Website.

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The life of a touring professional can be strenuous at times, but realize I really love to travel as much as I do and always look forward to the next event. I played in 24 Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA)-sanctioned events with 10 top-5 finishes in 2011. I also earned a win at my first event of the year, at the Asia Open in Taiwan.

I also had several strong finishes at the Kansas City Wide Open National Tour event, the Players Cup Match Play Championship and the Hall of Fame Classic Super Tour event. I also had a solid showing by placing fifth at the first Professional Disc Golf Association Championships at the International Disc Golf Center in Augusta, Ga. I also finished seventh at the European Open, a major disc golf event in Nokia, Finland. And, I was part of the NorCal championship team at the NorCal vs. SoCal Team Invitational Championships earlier in the year.

The season started on a high note as a good friend, Kuan Chen, invited me to attend the 2011 Asia Open in Taipei, Taiwan. This was my first trip to Taiwan and definitely a place I always wanted to travel to, especially after all the trips I have taken to Japan for the Japan Open over the years.

The Asia Open is a 160-class event where all the players had to use discs that weighed 160 grams or less. Not to mention that the weather was less than ideal with rainy conditions that made it wet and muddy throughout the weekend. The weather also made it tough to adjust to the lighter-weight discs, which made things extra challenging. I battled back in the last few holes of the final 9 to claim my first Asia Open title and my first win in 2011.

Back in Santa Cruz, Calif., during the spring months, I was helping to improve the local Santa Cruz and Monterey courses for the 2011 World Championships. I put many long hours of hard work at De Laveaga, helping to pour new tee pads and building a retaining wall to prevent erosion around the tee areas.

It also made the course look more maintained. It had been in need of some renovations, so it was perfect timing to have these changes made before the event. We had many work crews out at the Oaks Disc Golf Course in Monterey, pouring new tee pads and installing benches on every hole. It was a lot of work to prepare for the tournament, but it was also good for the local disc golf community to have these courses taken care of and maintained properly so they stay looking nice for years to come.

The locals were excited to host the 2011 World Championships. Tom Schot, the tournament director, was on a mission to bring the best players in the world to Santa Cruz. They tried a different format this year by making four 27-hole courses, including De Laveaga, Pinto Lakes, Oaks and Ryan Ranch, which are all located in the Monterey Bay area.

It was the largest field ever for a PDGA World Championship with more than 430 competitors from 14 countries playing. It was also the largest pro purse ever at more than $108,000. The event also marked the first World Championship event to be held in California since the first tournament in Los Angeles in 1983. California is a beautiful place for such an event. I would have to say that it may have been the best weather ever at the World Championships with daytime highs never reaching more than 78 degrees.

My good friend and Santa Cruz local, Nate Doss, battled it out throughout the week on his home turf. He gained the lead during the third round and only faced some pressure from Josh Anthon during the semifinals to overcome the opposition with a “walk-in-the-park” final 9 to win his third World Championship in seven years. It was a glorious moment to watch him take control of the event in front of hometown crowd.

The PDGA has been going through some big changes over the past year, with several changes to help improve the sport. I initially joined the Board of Directors to aid in the development and evolution of disc golf throughout the world. It is important for players to give back to the sport they love and I have the experience to make a positive change for disc golf as it continues to grow.

I ran for the board in order to better the sport through increased involvement in the PDGA process and ongoing operations. I have developed great communication with the PDGA and its members throughout the years of traveling from the grassroots level to professional ranks. With more players being exposed to this sport every year, it’s a matter of time before we really make an impact in the media and the entire sports world.
It truly has become a passion of mine. I believe I have what it takes and know that I will do an outstanding job to make it better for the sport we all love.

Also on the side of passion for the game, I had a great opportunity to help director Derek Hastings with the production of Chains, a feature-length documentary on the sport. I soon became a co-producer, production assistant and marketing manager for the ongoing project and the six-year odyssey that we call “Chains.”
For those who don’t know, it’s the first definitive documentary about disc golf. It’s a film that features the lives of top professionals to recreational players and players of all ages and abilities. They tell how their lives have been changed for the better by disc golf. It’s a story that shows the impact the sport makes on everyone who chooses to get involved.

The movie is very inspirational and I was very fortunate to be part of it and play a major part in the actual film. I can’t wait for the world to see disc golf in an entirely new light as we emerge from the makings of a hobby to an actual sport where athletes can travel the world playing in tournaments that are broadcast on television like other major sports. It’s only a matter of time before the release of the documentary and I’ll be sure to keep everyone posted when it does. Trust me, you’ll definitely hear about it!

This off-season, I took my training and dieting regiment to a new level. I committed to eating healthy and getting stronger through extensive workouts. I started by using the AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge, which is a 10-day herbal cleansing program to eliminate toxins and impurities from my body. It also worked to allow my body to better absorb the vitamins and supplements I was taking.

The next step was a 14-day metabolic nutrition system that is a comprehensive system of vitamins and supplements containing herbal extracts to enhance weight loss and help weight management, along with a strict diet program to ensure significant results. Like many diets I have tried in the past, it’s about commitment and sticking with it. I cut out dairy and simple carbohydrates, such as breads and pasta, as well as eliminating coffee and beer. Trust me, it’s not the easiest but it’s not supposed to be and I have seen significant results because of it.

I joined a health club, which is about a mile from my apartment. It forced me to run to the gym if I wanted to get in a good workout. It also allowed me to get some cardio done before I went to lift weights. Plus, it was a great way to warm up the body before stretching. I really concentrated on a weight-training routine, using a lot of free weights, weight machines and body-weight exercises.

My workouts were focused on strengthening my arms and shoulders, torso (core), hips and legs. These areas are crucial in the throwing technique. I used the basic back and biceps, chest and triceps and legs and shoulders to enable me to lift at least five times per week. I have plans to list and describe my disc golf workout in full detail in future blog postings, for anyone interested.

Other than running and the stationary bike at the gym, I also attended some of the cardio, step and yoga classes that were offered. I tracked every workout and, at this point, I have lifted, pulled and moved more than 1.5 million pounds! I’m really looking forward to getting out in the field to throw some bomb drives!

My goals for 2012:

• Win another Major tournament.
• Play my best at every event I attend.
• Produce an instructional disc golf video.
• Bring disc golf to the mainstream media.
• Promote all of my sponsors to the best of my ability.
• Travel the world playing the sport I love.

During the 2012 season, I plan to play a lot and travel a bunch more. I have scheduled to play 30-plus tournaments and will be traveling extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. I have tournaments in Taiwan, Norway, Germany and Sweden. I will be playing all of the PDGA National Tour and Major events throughout the season as I continue to be a disc golf ambassador and spokesman for the sport during my travels.

I have proven to be one of the most dominant players in the world and I strive to be the best model I can as a professional disc golf athlete. I have given my life to the sport and it’s been a passion of mine for more than a decade. As I enter my 13th season as a touring professional, I will continue to promote disc golf as one of the best sports on the planet in hopes of gaining even more exposure this year. I am looking forward to another exciting and successful season on the disc golf tour. I will do my best to make the most of it every day.

Thanks to all my friends, family and travel companions throughout the year that have made my world travels possible and my disc golf dreams a reality. Here’s to an incredible 2012 season!

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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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The 2011 Asia Open International Disc Golf Event took place on February 19-20 in Taipei, Taiwan at the very challenging Hsintian Riverside Disc Golf Course. The Tournament hosted 51 Professional Players from all over the World from the US, Australia, Finland, Korea, Thailand, China and Japan. The Tournament Director, Kuan Chen, organized this PDGA event for the 3rd time in the past 6 years, as he plans on hosting the event every other year at various locations throughout Asia in years to come.

The Asia Open is a 160 – Class event where all players had to use Discs that weighed 160 grams of less. Not to mention that this year’s weather for the tournament was less than ideal with very wet, muddy and rainy conditions throughout the weekend. It was not only tough for the competitors due to the weather conditions but it was also difficult adjusting to the lighter weighted discs made it extra challenging.

David Feldberg and I quickly separated ourselves from the rest of the field on Saturday with a -21 and -23 respectively in the continuous rain throughout the day. We were throwing some incredible drives in some serious weather and continued to push each other throughout the first two rounds. On Sunday, Feldberg started to create some separation as he shot a Course-Record 46 (-14) to increase his lead to 4 strokes going into the Semi-Final 9 and Final 9. I quickly responded in the Semi-Finals gaining momentum, shooting a 23 on the 9 Holes and cutting the lead to only 2 strokes going into the Final 9, with both of us possibly shooting some of the highest rated light weight Disc Golf ever in PDGA History as I averaged a 1062 round rating and Feldberg averaged a 1074 round rating throughout the first 3 rounds of the event.

During the Final 9, there was no change in score through the first 4 holes with 5 holes to go, until I birdied the 5th hole to close within 1 stroke of Feldberg. The whole tournament came down to the stretch on hole #6 where I threw two perfect shots reaching a long 720 ft (220 meter) Par-4. On the same hole, Feldberg’s drive found trees on the right side of the fairway off the tee and his heroic second shot sailed OB as he forced going for the birdie. I kept the pressure on by making birdie on the holes #7 & #8 to increase the lead to 2 strokes. On the Final Hole, we both scored pars on the long Par-4 with a drop-in putt to claim my 1st Asia Open Title and first win of the 2011 Season.

In the Women’s Open Field, Valarie Jenkins, #1 in the World competed against Taiwan’s #1 Ranked Women, Chia-fan Chen. They keep the scores close on Saturday, but Chia-fan held a 2 stroke advantage for the day. Chia-fan played consistent through the rain and wind, and in the Semi-Final round she increased the lead to 4 strokes. Chia-fan played amazing golf throughout the against Valarie, but nerves go the best of her in the Final 9. Valarie gained 3 strokes back during the 9 holes but it was not enough to offset her play during the weekend. Chia-fan solidified her 2011 Asia Open Title by smashing a 60-foot putt on the final hole to clinch the Championship.

Men’s Open

1st Avery Jenkins – 193
2nd David Feldberg – 195
3rd Manabu Kajiyama – 213
4th Jussi Meresmaa – 219

Women’s Open

1st Chia-fan Chen – 220
2nd Valarie Jenkins – 222
3rd Su Mei Yang – 233

Special Thanks to Kuan Chen with EZ Flying Discs, Mark Molnar with Disc Golf Values and Innova Champion Discs for their sponsorship and support of the 2011 Asia Open!!!

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Although 2010 was by far not my best year, it was definitely the most fun that I have ever had on Tour still relishing my 2009 World Championship Title, as I continue to be the Face and a Fixture on the PDGA Tour. I played in 24 PDGA Sanctioned Events with 7 – Top 5 Finishes and 1 Win at the Forsyth County Open SuperTour event in Georgia with a $2000 first prize. I also have several strong finishes at the Skylands Classic, Sunshine State Shootout and Brent Hambrick Memorial Open National Tour Events. I placed 4th at the United States Doubles Championships with good friend and long-time Disc Golf Doubles Partner, David Feldberg. I was also a part of the NorCal Championship Team at the NorCal vs. SoCal Team Invitational Championships.

As far as other stats, I shot 2 course records including a Final Round at Fountain Hills during the 2010 Memorial Championships National Tour Event in Phoenix, AZ shooting a 44 (1080 rating) to get back on the top cards. I also shot a course record during the Final Round of the Forsyth County Open SuperTour Event in Atlanta, GA shooting a 50 (1057 rating) in the downpour rain to force a 3-way Playoff with Ken Climo and David Feldberg. I won the Sudden Death Playoff on the 2nd Hole with a drop-in Par Putt for the Victory. The 1090 Final Round Rating at the 2007 Memorial Championships still remains my highest rated round in my career.

I continue to train throughout the season, not only for Disc Golf but for Distance contests as well. I participated in the 2010 Big “D” in the Desert this Fall in Primm, NV setting my Personal Distance Record at 705 ft (215 Meters). I also tried for the World’s Longest Aerobie throw and launched a throw that measure 951 ft (290 Meters), but still well short of the 1083 ft (330 Meter) World Record set by Erin Hemmings. I also strive to set a World Record for “The longest throw to a Dog Catch” that will potentially appear in the Guinness Book of World Records.

It was also an exciting year with the debut of my very own Allen & Ginter Topps Rookie Sportscard appearing in Sports Card and Hobbie Shops all over the Country. The Topps Allen & Ginter Series is a tribute to the first tobacco manufacturing firm that created and marketed the 1st cigarette cards for collecting and trading. These cards were inserted to stiffen the cigarette packaging and to advertise the cigarette brands. Beginning in 1875, the Allen & Ginter tabacco produced the first cards featuring hand painted cards of current Baseball Players, as well as other inserts featuring athletes in other sports. They even featured non-athletes including Indian Chefs, Boxers, Actors/Actresses and US Presidents. The early Allen & Ginter cards that were produced are considered to be some of the most valuable sportscards ever made.

Since 2007, Topps has issued a revival of the Allen & Ginter trading cards. These cards feature the same hand painted cards for current baseball players, as well as inserts featuring World Champion athletes in other sports. But this is not only my Rookie card but a Rookie card for the sport Disc Golf as well. This Sportscard has gotten lots of exposure for Disc Golf since its release and it is a definite Sports Collectible to keep for years to come. I have been collecting Sportscards for several years when I was younger and have acquired thousands of sportscards from my Uncle growing up. I am very excited and honored after all of these years to finally have my very own Sportscard.

I also just recently got unanimously elected to the PDGA Board of Directors to aid in the development and evolution of Disc Golf throughout the World. It is very important for players to give back to the sport that they love and I have the experience to really make a positive change for Disc Golf as this sport continues to grow. I ran for the PDGA Board in order to better the sport through increased involvement in the PDGA process and ongoing operations, I have developed great communication with the PDGA and its members throughout the years of traveling with correspondence at the grassroots to professional levels of the game. With more players being exposed to this sport every year, it’s just a matter of time before we really make an impact in the media and the entire Sports World. It has truly become a passion of mine, I believe that I have what it takes and know that I will do an outstanding job to make it better for the sport that we all love.

I took part in several Disc Golf Instructional Clinics before many of the PDGA National Tour Events. I was also part of a Huge Disc Golf Clinic with a significant attendance of 150+ players at the 2010 Amateur World Championships in Marion, OH. When I am back in Santa Cruz during the off-season, I help with Coaching the Univ. of California – Santa Cruz Disc Golf Team and attend practices with several local High Schools that participate in the Santa Cruz County Disc Golf League.

In 2010, it was the release of the Avery Jenkins Signature Series Innova Star Destroyer that was placed in full production in the late Spring and sold more than 25,000 Worldwide. It is an Incredible Distance Disc and It’s my go-to Long-Range Driver that has a predicable fading finish. It has incredible speed & amazing downrange glide that enables it to cover lots of ground for maximum distance. If you haven’t put one in your bag yet, I highly recommend that you do so if you want to throw far!!!

Also, I have been working with Santa Cruz Community Television on a Monthly Disc Golf Show called “DiscMasters”. It is a local cable-access television program that exposes the community of Santa Cruz to the fast growing sport of Disc Golf and informing them about the upcoming Disc Golf World Championships at De Laveaga. I am also involved in a few Disc Golf Videos such as a “Disc Golf Instructional DVD” with teammate David Feldberg that will release in the early Summer, along with other Disc Golf Documentaries including “Chains the Movie” which will debut at the World Championships and “Team Jenkins – The First Family of Disc Golf” which will release sometime in the winter of 2011.

I look forward to maintaining as a member of the Innova Star Team, I will continue to help contributing to the process of making the Players a more unified Team as we work to make Team Innova a presence in the Disc Golf World. I also do my best to be a Role-Model for the other players on the Team, both on and off the course.

This off-season, I have been helping to improve the local Santa Cruz and Monterey Courses for the 2011 Disc Golf World Championships in Santa Cruz, CA this Summer. I have provided Course Layout/Design assistance and contributed to helping gain Sponsors and Fund Raising for the event. I helped in the labor efforts of building new Tee-Pads and Retaining Walls at the Historic De Laveaga Disc Golf Course, I have also helped to partially re-design the Oaks Disc Golf Course in Monterey in preparations for the World Championships. It is a lot of hard work but it is really going to make a difference when it all comes down to it, we are trying to set the standard for all Disc Golf World Championships that follow in years to come.

Goals for 2011.

- Win another Major Disc Golf Tournament
- Play my best at every Event that I attend
- Bring Disc Golf to the Mainstream Media
- Promote all of my Sponsors to the best of my ability
- Travel the World playing the sport that I love

In the 2011 Season, I plan to travel and play more than ever, and have scheduled to play around 30+ Tournaments and traveling extensively throughout the US, Europe and Asia, with my 1st tournament of the year taking place in Taipei, Taiwan. I will be playing ALL of the PDGA National Tour and Major Events throughout the 2011 Season as I continue to be a Disc Golf Ambassador and spokesman for the sport during my travels.

I am proven to be one of the most dominant players in the World and I continue to be a model as a Professional Disc Golf athlete. I am a highly marketable player and individual as I have given my life to the sport. It’s been a passion of mine for over a decade and I will continue to promote Disc Golf as one of the best sports on the planet. I am looking forward to another exciting and successful season on the Disc Golf Tour, I will do my best to make the most of it every single day.

Thanks to all my friends, family and travel companions throughout the year that have made my world travels possible and my disc golf dreams a reality. Here’s to an incredible 2011 Season!!!

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Only available for sale online at www.KEENFootwear.com – $110

A variety of Disc Golfers have tested the MILO in all weather conditions. It provides excellent grip properties, asymmetrical lacing and reinforced toe bumper. Perfect for all weather and all terrain. They debuted at the 2010 United States Disc Golf Championships, as all of the competitors received a pair of Milo II’s in their Players Package!!!

And most important – they are also available in a women’s specific model – made on a women’s specific inner shoe last to provide better fit for women.

- KEEN DRY Waterproof Membrane – 100% Waterproof in rainy conditions
- Anti-Bunch Asymmetrical Flex Lace System – Tight/Comfortable Fit
- Super Durable/Reinforced Upper Material – provides foot protection
- S3 Heel Support Structure/ Reinforced Heel Cup – More support and less debris
- Multi-Directional 3 MM Lug Outsole for Traction
- Removable Metatomical Tri-Density Footbed
- Reinforced and More Durable Shoe Side Welding and Thicker Gage Stitching
- Aluminum Top Eyelets for extended wear life

KEEN has been a generous sponsor to the Master’s Cup and Beaver State Fling Disc Golf National Tour Events, as well a Major sponsor to this year’s United States Disc Golf Championships. They want to see the sport of Disc Golf grow in popularity and increase the number of players worldwide. Please help support the companies that help to support Disc Golf!!!!!!!!!!

“By far the Best Disc Golf Shoe that I have ever played in and they even more durable than ever before. They are extremely comfortable, provide great traction and keep your feet dry all day long. These shoes are the Real Deal!!!!!” – Avery Jenkins #7495, 2009 Disc Golf World Champion

Available – November 15th, 2010
Want to buy them – www.keenfootwear.com
Want to put them in your store – info@keenfootwear.com

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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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