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Standing on the first tee, I turn to face my group. “Hi, my name is Kevin Morrow and I’m an 825-rated player.” I then get that true support-group reaction, in unison. “Hi, Kevin!”
Sometimes, I feel like my playing in disc golf tournaments equates to being an addict. It’s a lot of self-abuse and nothing good comes from it.
Let me back up a little bit.
I began playing disc golf in 1986. By the early 1990s, I was playing tournaments and finishing in the middle of the pack in Am2. I stopped playing tournaments in 1996 and by 2002, I had stopped playing entirely and began playing again in 2006. Thanks to a great local club environment I was encouraged to start playing competitively again.
Being at the back end of the masters division and being an 825-rated player has unique situations. As a player who isn’t new, do I enter the rec division or intermediate? Or do I man up and play advanced masters?
I had no grand illusions. I know how I play and no matter what group of club members I play with, I always end up with the worst score. I’m pretty sure there are 50 bag tags in our club. I have No. 49 and the only reason I don’t have No. 50 is because they didn’t hand it out.
In 2012, I entered five tournaments — one in the rec division, two in intermediate and two in advanced masters.
My goal heading into any tournament is the same — don’t come in last.
Sometimes, it hasn’t been easy to meet that goal. I knew I was going to struggle playing in advanced masters, and I did. I finished last in the division by six strokes, having the second-to-worst score of the day. Take note — the worst score was a DNF.
My next adventure put me in the rec division. I did feel a little guilty and ashamed for dropping down, but I figured it’s where I belonged.
After finishing seventh out of nine players, I wondered if I needed to petition the PDGA for a lower division.
In my next tournament, I jumped up to the intermediate division. After the first round, I was in 12th place out of 36. I felt pretty good about it. I was able to hold onto that spot and finish in the prizes (payout was to 13th) for the first time!
My prize haul? Three Discraft Crystal Z Buzzzes, one of which I eventually dyed into a trophy disc that sits on my desk at work. The best feeling about this finish was being able to join my club members who had all either won or finished second in their divisions.
That feeling didn’t last long. To the next tournament, which I also played intermediate.
Not only did I finish last, but for the final two rounds, I was paired with the intermediate women. That actually wasn’t a bad thing. They were a lot of fun and a lot better looking than those who I usually play with. If I had played in rec, I would have finished in the middle of the pack.
For my last tournament, I went back to advanced masters. The good news was I placed fourth. The bad news was there were only four players in the division. I’ll still take that fourth-place finish.
It never failed, though. At each tournament, I asked myself — at least once — “why am I doing this?” Sometimes I even questioned why I played this game at all.
Then I remembered — I’m a disc golfer. This is all part of the game. I gripe, just like others from winners to anyone else who finishes in front of me. There’s a comfort for me knowing, even before a tournament starts, where I’ll likely be finishing.
Some call it a defeatist attitude. I counter that by saying there’s no pressure. It’s all about having fun. I might even put together a couple of good rounds and cash. After all, it’s happened before.
I realize I do complain a lot during a round. I try not to, but once the gripe is done, it’s out of my system and on with the next shot. And, back to fun mode. After all, the game is supposed to be fun. That’s why I play as much as I do. That’s why I’ll play more tournaments in the future.
This year, I get to play advanced grandmasters. I’ll set my goal a little higher — to finish in the middle of the pack. That shouldn’t be too hard if there are only two or three entered.
I finished the season with a rating of 841.
Ahh, the promise of a new season.
In 2013 I was able to accomplish something I thought I would never do. I won a PDGA event in the advanced grand master division. Not once but twice. There were only 3 other players in my division but I was able to play solid disc golf and get a victory. I also ended the season with a rating of 854.
If I keep improving I might make 900 by the time I turn 60.
Sometimes, I feel like my playing in disc golf tournaments equates to being an addict. It’s a lot of self-abuse and nothing good comes from it.
Let me back up a little bit.
I began playing disc golf in 1986. By the early 1990s, I was playing tournaments and finishing in the middle of the pack in Am2. I stopped playing tournaments in 1996 and by 2002, I had stopped playing entirely and began playing again in 2006. Thanks to a great local club environment I was encouraged to start playing competitively again.
Being at the back end of the masters division and being an 825-rated player has unique situations. As a player who isn’t new, do I enter the rec division or intermediate? Or do I man up and play advanced masters?
I had no grand illusions. I know how I play and no matter what group of club members I play with, I always end up with the worst score. I’m pretty sure there are 50 bag tags in our club. I have No. 49 and the only reason I don’t have No. 50 is because they didn’t hand it out.
In 2012, I entered five tournaments — one in the rec division, two in intermediate and two in advanced masters.
My goal heading into any tournament is the same — don’t come in last.
Sometimes, it hasn’t been easy to meet that goal. I knew I was going to struggle playing in advanced masters, and I did. I finished last in the division by six strokes, having the second-to-worst score of the day. Take note — the worst score was a DNF.
My next adventure put me in the rec division. I did feel a little guilty and ashamed for dropping down, but I figured it’s where I belonged.
After finishing seventh out of nine players, I wondered if I needed to petition the PDGA for a lower division.
In my next tournament, I jumped up to the intermediate division. After the first round, I was in 12th place out of 36. I felt pretty good about it. I was able to hold onto that spot and finish in the prizes (payout was to 13th) for the first time!
My prize haul? Three Discraft Crystal Z Buzzzes, one of which I eventually dyed into a trophy disc that sits on my desk at work. The best feeling about this finish was being able to join my club members who had all either won or finished second in their divisions.
That feeling didn’t last long. To the next tournament, which I also played intermediate.
Not only did I finish last, but for the final two rounds, I was paired with the intermediate women. That actually wasn’t a bad thing. They were a lot of fun and a lot better looking than those who I usually play with. If I had played in rec, I would have finished in the middle of the pack.
For my last tournament, I went back to advanced masters. The good news was I placed fourth. The bad news was there were only four players in the division. I’ll still take that fourth-place finish.
It never failed, though. At each tournament, I asked myself — at least once — “why am I doing this?” Sometimes I even questioned why I played this game at all.
Then I remembered — I’m a disc golfer. This is all part of the game. I gripe, just like others from winners to anyone else who finishes in front of me. There’s a comfort for me knowing, even before a tournament starts, where I’ll likely be finishing.
Some call it a defeatist attitude. I counter that by saying there’s no pressure. It’s all about having fun. I might even put together a couple of good rounds and cash. After all, it’s happened before.
I realize I do complain a lot during a round. I try not to, but once the gripe is done, it’s out of my system and on with the next shot. And, back to fun mode. After all, the game is supposed to be fun. That’s why I play as much as I do. That’s why I’ll play more tournaments in the future.
This year, I get to play advanced grandmasters. I’ll set my goal a little higher — to finish in the middle of the pack. That shouldn’t be too hard if there are only two or three entered.
I finished the season with a rating of 841.
Ahh, the promise of a new season.
In 2013 I was able to accomplish something I thought I would never do. I won a PDGA event in the advanced grand master division. Not once but twice. There were only 3 other players in my division but I was able to play solid disc golf and get a victory. I also ended the season with a rating of 854.
If I keep improving I might make 900 by the time I turn 60.
