Hello there! Tõnis AKA Disc Golf Fanatic here with another insight into the disc golf world.
Let’s start off on a very positive note:
The Masters at Bud Hill is BACK ON!
Here’s a quick summary: The event is back on! New TD is Matt Loyd. Tyler and Adam Searle’s disc golf company Soar Disc Golf stepped up a big way to make the event happen!
In addition, players who requested refunds are getting their money back! All thanks to Soar Disc Golf Company!
Soar Disc Golf – https://soardiscgolf.com/
TD Matt Loyd: “If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out to Tyler or myself. I am currently working at the Tim Selinske US Masters for my full time job as Operations and Logistics Manager for the PDGA but I will get back to everyone as soon as possible. Thanks for signing up to play the Bud Hill Masters.”
Check out the full statement by the new TD Matt Loyd by clicking here.
What about Jonathan Ray, the guy who embezzled $30K? Unfortunately, there are no updates on him yet, but I’ll definitely keep you informed if I hear anything from the PDGA or if Disc Golf dot Law decides to make a video about it.
The DGPT FPO level is, to put it mildly… INSANE!
Just a couple of years ago, you know… way back in 2022… I started keeping track of every 1000+ rated FPO round out there (A-tier or higher tournaments).
In 2022, I counted a total of 109 1000+ rated rounds.
In 2023, there were 143 rounds rated 1000 and above.
In 2024, there are already 218 1000+ rated rounds, and there are still a few events left to go!
It’s amazing how many 1000+ rated rounds FPO players on the DGPT are producing. Furthermore, it’s clear that the FPO level is higher than ever before and continues to rise.
A few years ago, there was only one 980+ rated FPO player—Paige Pierce. Now, there are six FPO players rated 980 or higher, with three of them rated 987 and Kristin Tattar at 995!
Currently, the highest-rated FPO players are:
- 995 – Kristin Tattar
- 987 – Eveliina Salonen
- 987 – Holyn Handley
- 987 – Ohn Scoggins
- 980 – Missy Gannon
- 980 – Hailey King
I’m sure there will be multiple 990+ rated FPO players in the near future and perhaps even multiple 1000+ rated if the level continues to rise!
Here are the latest additions from the Green Mountain Championship, in chronological order:
All 1000+ rated FPO rounds from 2024 – https://discgolffanatic.com/2024-dgpt-winners-and-highest-rated-rounds/#2024_TOP_FPO_Highest_Rated_Rounds
And speaking of DGPT and the FPO division, the Green Mountain Championship 2024 FPO ending was incredible!
TL;DW: Saarinen was on her way to a historic round and victory; she was 7 under par through 14 holes in the final round and leading the tournament with multiple strokes to spare. However, she eventually gave up 6 strokes in the last five holes. Tattar caught up with her and ultimately outperformed Saarinen in the playoffs, and Kristin Tattar was crowned the FPO champion.
Here’s a great meme I found in the Disc Golf Humour group:
Former D1 athlete Taylor Chocek joins the Discraft Tour Team!
Just a week after debuting on her first DGPT event, making the cut and cashing at the DGPT+ Great Lakes Open event, Taylor Chocek, also known as disctay, joins Discraft’s Tour Team!
Taylor is a former Division 1 track and field athlete, who now focuses her efforts on playing disc golf at a professional leve. Currently she is mainly known for her athletic background & being able to throw 450+ feet/137m+.
After the September 2024 PDGA ratings update, Taylor is now rated at 918 (+18). Hopefully, she will be playing more DGPT events in 2025, and we can see how a former Division 1 athlete performs against the rest of the FPO field.
One thing is sure, Taylor has only been playing couple of years and she can already outthrow the vast majority of the FPO field…
If you are unfamiliar with Taylor Chocek, be sure to check out her socials:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/disctay/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@disctay/videos
Isaac Robinson wants to take his career to the next level!
Now the 2X MPO World Champion Isaac Robinson was quite blunt at the DGPT GMC Press Conference, expressing his strong desire to elevate his career to the next level with a manufacturer.
Some fans are speculating that the man just wants to get paid more by Prodigy, while others suggest that this is clearly a hint that he has a new manufacturer sponsorship coming this off-season.
The off-season starts in a month, and the rumor mills are slowly but surely starting to churn. As Ulibarri likes to say: ‘Let’s see how it plays out!”
Check out Isaac Robinson’s expressing his strong desires here on Disc Golf World video:
Can’t talk about the DGPT without mentioning this kid…
Gannon Buhr & his incredible 2024 season continues! Buhr picks up another victory by winning the Green Mountain Championship. Adding another $15,000 to his season total earnings, which is now at $142,132.
Pretty safe to say that Gannon Buhr is the 2024 MPO Player of the Year. Or what do you think? 🤔
FYI! Isn’t he like 19-years-old or something? This kid… Discmania really hit the nail on the head with this one!
In case you missed it…
Alden Harris was using a Tostitos salsa lid as his marker, because why not…
17-year-old Roland Kõur makes USA debut at USDGC
Estonian young gun Roland Kõur, currently rated at 1023 and one of the best MPO players in Estonia, is hopping the pond and making his debut on the USA soil by playing at the 2024 United States Disc Golf Championship!
I created a little fundraiser/challenge back on 17th August, where the main goal was to play a lot of disc golf in a month (from August 17th to September 17th) and donate 1 EUR (~$1.11) per every birdie/eagle/ace I get to Roland’s travel budget. He estimated that the total budget would be around 3500€ (~$3,900).
All in all, my grind on the courses paid off, and during that period I played a total of 59 rounds on 14 different courses and scored 602 birdies, eagles, and aces, totaling 602€ ($670) donated to Roland Kõur!
Be sure to check out Roland’s Instagram by clicking here.
House of Discs brands are “back in the hands of disc golfers”
Just hours after releasing the Disc Golf Fanatic weekly newsletter last Tuesday, the House of Discs announced that the HoD brands are back in the hands of disc golfers. This includes Latitude 64, Dynamic Discs, Westside Discs, Discmania, Kastaplast, Huk Lab, Handeye Supply, and Spinoff Games.
New management:
- David Berglund, Founder of Latitude 64 has returned as the CEO of House of Discs.
- Seth Fendley has been promoted to General Manager of North America.
- Juho Rantalaiho has been promoted to General Manager of Europe.
But according to some fans, certain things just don’t add up… You be the judge!
2023 PDGA Year End Demographics report
On Monday, September 9th, 2024, the PDGA released their 2023 Year-End Demographics report. Let’s quickly go over the most important numbers!
The Covid “boom” described a rapid increase in year-over-year new membership. As expected, that boom would eventually end, with new member growth slowing – but still healthy by pre-boom standards. Encouragingly, renewing members and active members remain on an upward trend.
Professional Disc Golf Association.
Key findings from the report:
- At the end of 2023 the PDGA had 136,636 active members (up 4.5% from 2022).
- Texas & California have the most PDGA members in the USA.
- Sweden, Finland and Norway have the most PDGA members in Europe.
- Over 10,000 active female members! Up 4.7% compared to 2022 and around 7.4% of total active PDGA membership.
- Over three fourths (78%) of the total players are aged between 20 to 49.
- The growth rates in every other continental region now outpace the U.S.
All of these graphics, tables and data can be found here – PDGA “2023 PDGA YEAR END DEMOGRAPHICS REPORT” – https://www.pdga.com/files/2023_pdga_yearend_demographicsreport.pdf
With the momentum building, the future of disc golf looks brighter than ever, promising exciting new opportunities and experiences for players and fans alike.
Professional Disc Golf Association.
Here’s Josh Mansfield and Charlie Eisenhood discussing about the PDGA report on the Ultiworld Disc Golf “The Upshot” podcast:
Next up on the Disc Golf Pro Tour:
The long-awaited MVP Open at Maple Hill, DGPT Playoffs event, from September 26th to 29th at Leicester, Massachusetts, USA.
2023 Champions & top 3:
MPO – Winner Matthew Orum. Tied for 2nd place: Gossage & McMahon.
FPO – Winner Hailey King. Tied for 2nd: Tattar & Scoggins.
And with that… MVP Open 2024 release!
Unfortunately, the days are getting shorter and shorter, meaning it’s time to start thinking about the upcoming glow season. Luckily for us, MVP has just released the Halloween Team Series!
They have the Eagle McMahon Fission Pyro making its debut in Fission plastic, along with the Simon Lizotte Eclipse Pixel, Silva Saarinen Eclipse Wave, and James Conrad Eclipse Detour.
Check them out here on Infinite Discs – https://infinitediscs.com/
Drew Gibson’s latest YT video: “THINGS WILL CHANGE…”
Drew Gibson is back with yet another video, where he says in his own words, ‘I speak up in order to try my best to raise awareness.’ This time, Gibson discusses course designs, elevated baskets, the PDGA, the DGPT, and disc golf in general.
It seems to me that Drew is somewhat disappointed and frustrated, and he may be looking for others to blame for his lackluster performance during the 2023 and 2024 DGPT seasons. For instance, in 2024, he has only cashed in five of the 15 Elite Series events he’s played, with his best finish being 22nd at the DGPT+ Portland Open.
In addition, he is currently ranked 96th in the 2024 DGPT Points Standings and has a PDGA rating of 1020 (-3). He’s been rated between 1019 and 1023 for the vast majority of this season, which is the lowest he’s been since autumn 2019.
Perhaps it’s time for him to stop filming those ball golf videos and start focusing on and practicing disc golf again…
Anyhow, here’s Drew Gibson’s latest video on YouTube. Take a listen and tell me what do you think of his thoughts?
Which Putters Does Ricky Wysocki Use?
Ricky Wysocki, one of the best MPO players on the DGPT, is currently using the Latitude 64 Daggers in Zero Hard plastic!
Have you ever wondered which putting putters professional disc golfers are using? I’ve compiled a huge database of over 150 players and their go-to putting putters! Check it out here – https://discgolffanatic.com/what-putters-professional-disc-golfers-use/
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.
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 483 rounds in 2024 so far!
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