Hello there! Tõnis AKA Disc Golf Fanatic here with another insight into the disc golf world.
This past week, there were multiple big storylines in the disc golf community and in the pro disc golf. But first, let’s quickly recap the MVP Open at Maple Hill.
MVP Open. Picture by DGPT.
MVP Open: The Best Tournament of the Season?
In short, MVP Open at Maple Hill:
No lead is ever safe!
Spectacular wooded course.
Electric atmosphere.
Tons of highlights.
Buzzing fans at the 8th hole.
Steve Dodge and his “crazy” ideas.
And much more!
Don’t take my word for it? There’s a plethora of both pro disc golfers and fans out there who feel the same. Here’s a Redditor, u/bmatto, who shares similar views to mine:
MVP Open just hits different.
The 18th hole at the MVP Open continues to produce thrilling endings!
I don’t know about you, but I think there’s nothing better than a tight battle right down to the end of the tournament! After four rounds and 71 holes of disc golf, it all came down to the last hole—the 72nd hole at the MVP Open—where the winners of both divisions were decided.
James Proctor won in the MPO by sinking an incredible putt from the drop zone on the 18th to avoid a playoff against Paul McBeth, while Missy Gannon won in the FPO after Kristin Tattar threw into the out-of-bounds area on the approach shot to the island green on the last hole.
MVP Open 2024 final results & top 4 payouts for both MPO & FPO division:
MVP Open 2024 final results.
Two wild facts about the MVP Open runner-ups, Tattar and McBeth
Kristin Tattar has yet to win the MVP Open
Tattar has now finished 2nd at the MVP Open all four years she has played the event!
Via pdgastats.
Paul McBeth remains WINLESS in 2024
As I mentioned before, the MVP Open MPO ending was one of the most exciting we’ve seen in a while. McBeth’s late push to keep Proctor on his heels was incredible. But the fact still stands, the GOAT of disc golf remains winless during the 2024 season.
For most touring MPO players, finishing in 6th place on the DGPT Points Standings would signify a stellar or likely career-best season, but obviously not for McBeth…
2024 DGPT World Standings.
There are two BIG events still left, the DGPT Championship and USDGC aka the United States Disc Golf Championship (an MPO PDGA Major), which McBeth has won three times before. If he wins this upcoming Major, it would also tie him with Ken Climo, who has 18 Major titles.
Paul McBeth’s finishes at the USDGC from 2015 to 2023:
An incident at the 8th hole…
Even though the majority of the MVP Open event ran smoothly, there were some minor yet odd incidents. Here’s one:
A fan recorded this funky incident, where a Boy Scout leader/volunteer?, unaware that Niklas Anttila was a player and mistaking him for a Boy Scout, attempted to remove Niklas from the 8th hole’s drop zone teepad and even laid hands on him.
Note: The person later apologized after the crowd informed him of the mistake. If you listen to the audio, it’s clear that he realized his error once he was told!
Mark Verrochi, the Maple Hill ‘search and rescue’ diver, has once again spent hours upon hours in the waters of Maple Hill, rescuing close to—or by now, over—3,000 discs from their watery grave! According to his latest update on September 27th, he has found nearly 3,000 discs over the course of four days!
This is ONLY from Day 1… ~1100 discs in ~7 hours.
Another 600 discs today… That makes over 2,800 in those piles, not counting discs immediately returned or a separate pile of touring pro discs to give to the players as they pass by the pro shop.
Mark Verrochi, Maple Hill Search & Rescue Diver (September 27, 2024)
Maple Hill Lost & Found!
They have returned over 17,000 discs!!!!
Active discs: ~3000.
If you’ve recently lost a disc while playing at the Maple Hill, be sure to check out the active list of discs here – https://discdefender.com/maple-hill
Standardized baskets on the DGPT!?
Pic by DGPT/Marika Salmi.
Quick summary of the process:
DGPT will host a preliminary equipment testing session on October 14-15, 2024, ahead of the 2024 DGPT Championship.
The goal is to refine evaluation protocols for future updates to the approved basket list.
Manufacturers will be invited to submit their baskets for official testing and certification in early 2025.
All baskets currently approved for use on the DGPT will maintain approval until official testing concludes next season.
A $500 testing fee will apply for official submissions, and manufacturers must send a new basket for testing.
Tour Card holders will test the baskets by putting from various positions, distances, and angles.
The DGPT Media Team will capture footage, while the DGPT Operations team will oversee testing and data collection.
StatMando and Jeff Homburg will assist in reviewing and analyzing test data.
Updated basket standards will be integrated into the 2026 event bidding process.
Professional disc golfer Kat Mertsch advertised her coffee as ‘Kat Krack Koffee’ on Instagram, which offended some people.
Here’s the original ad Mertsch posted on her Instagram story:
Some of the reactions I found online:
“Either really stupid or overtly racist. Even if it is a genuinely innocent name, it is not good.”
“Wrong name for your mertsch, Kat.”
“There has got to be a better name, Kat!”
“This isn’t real, right?”
“You can take the girl out of Arkansas, but sometimes you can’t take the Arkansas out of the girl.”
What do you think about this? Are people too sensitive, or what?
In addition, both Kat Mertsch & Ace Run Roasting posted apology videos. Kat’s apology video can be found by clicking here.
Drew Gibson, what have you done…
New week, new newsletter, and I once again “have to” talk about Gannon Buhr… (I actually don’t mind talking about Buhr)
Even though Gannon Buhr did not win the MVP Open 2024, he still finished tied for 3rd place & cashed in a sweet $4,300 check!
That’s the future of disc golf right there. That kid is going to be a force to be reckoned with now, next year, and in ten years. He is insane.
Drew Gibson, after beating Gannon Buhr in a 4-hole playoff at the 2022 LVC
A fellow fan of disc golf, Riley McFarland, posted this insane statline in the Disc Golf Discussion Facebook group. It’s pretty mind-boggling what Gannon Buhr has already achieved. Keep in mind, he is only 19 years old!
OP by Riley McFarland.
Next up on the Disc Golf Pro Tour:
TPWDGC + USDGC.
The United States Disc Golf Championship (MPO PDGA Major) in Rock Hill, SC, October 10th – October 13th.
In addition, the Throw Pink Women’s Disc Golf Championship (a PDGA A-tier) will take place alongside the event.
2023 USDGC top 3:
MPO – Winner Kyle Klein, 2nd place Bradley Williams, T3rd I. Robinson & Lizotte.
Have you ever seen someone hyzerflip a Discraft Z Zone or an ESP Nuke OS?
Let me answer that for you. No, most probably not, because it takes A LOT OF SPEED to hyzerflip those discs.
We’ve seen professional disc golfers throw discs at speeds upwards of 85 to 95 miles per hour, but what happens when a disc goes beyond 100 or 110? What happens to the most overstable discs you know at 135 miles per hour? That’s roughly 217 km/h for the European readers…
Well, the folks over at a YouTube channel called “We Make Machines – Disc Golf” have built the World’s Fastest Disc Robot. And oh boy, can it “YEET” a disc!
Launching a disc at 116 mph aka 187 km/h, light work for the robot.
The machine can launch discs at speeds of up to 135 miles per hour! BONKERS, right?!
I asked the builder and owner of this monster machine: “Which discs specifically were you guys using? All super overstable ones?”
Every shot over 110mph is one of the most domey, overstable Z or ESP Nuke OS on the planet. We hand picked a dozen or so out of 100s, because your run of the mill Nuke OS won’t do at those speeds. Hole 16 was a flat top Z Zone, and the highlights on hole 8 were a mix of Anax and Nuke OS.
– YT channel WeMakeMachines
Now that we’ve seen the best disc golfers in the world battle it out on one of the finest courses, aka Maple Hill, let’s see what kind of lines a robot can throw…
Fall disc golf is here!
The temperature is dropping, nature is changing colors, and leaves are falling, which means discs are being ‘buried’ alive. Here’s a great chart comparing the colors to the fall colors in the background.
Original post by Tim Beron.
For me, anything neon works, such as neon pink, neon green, neon yellow, or neon blue. These are great for all four seasons!
FYI! Whoever is throwing G3… There’s a special place in hell for you…
Which Putters Does Väinö Mäkela Use?
Väinö Mäkela is the 2nd best Finnish MPO players on the DGPT and he is currently using the Innova KC Pro Aviars with a sick “Moneymaker” Joona Heinänen stamp!
Looking for a place to buy disc golf discs & equipment? Check out “What’s on sale” here on Infinite Discs.
That’s it for this newsletter! If you haven’t subscribed yet, be sure to do so and share it with your disc golf buddies. By referring your friends, you can earn a free disc and more!
Share your thoughts!
Got any disc golf related hot takes, tips, pictures, memes, videos or anything else you’d like to share? Just reply to this email or send them over to info@discgolffanatic.com or message them to me through any social media platform (Disc Golf Fanatic).
Oh, and don’t forget to go out there and enjoy a round or two, because I definitely will! I’ve played 495 rounds in 2024 so far!
Hi there! I am Tõnis Soppe from Estonia and I'm a professional disc golfer. I've been playing disc golf for over 8 years. I am a true Disc Golf Fanatic. I hope you enjoy my disc golf blog.
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Hello there! Tõnis AKA Disc Golf Fanatic here with another insight into the disc golf world.
Let’s get right into it!
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