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Grip C14 Distance Drivers: (3) Star Destroyers (1) Star Wraith Fairway Drivers: (2) Champ Glow Firebirds (2) Star Teebirds (1) Champ Teebird (1) DX Teebird (1) Pinnacle Patriot Mid-Range/Approach Discs: (4) KC Pro Rocs (1) DX Roc (1) Champ Glow Gator Putters: (2) Classic Hard Wardens (1) Pro Pig (1) Recycled Pure (1) Retro Pure |
My life and disc golf, I was born in Lawerenceburg, Indiana in 1985 but grew up in Harrison, Ohio, where you could always find me outside as a child regardless of the weather. I grew up with a passion for sports, playing baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. However, in 1996 I had to have life-saving brain surgery, and was told I could no longer participate in contact sports, as well as my favorite sport, baseball. While this was devastating news, it allowed me to find other sports and activities that I later excelled at. Although I had attempted to master every sport thinkable to maintain my competitive edge over my friends and future rivals, I had made it 23 years without discovering disc golf. My best friend Mary introduced me to the game in June 2008, and the addiction began immediately following my first 9 holes at Miami Whitewater. After a few rounds over the next couple of days, I knew I had to get better. I jumped right into researching the sport and discs that were available. With very little knowledge, I filled a brand new Innova Competition bag with Discraft discs thinking I had a disc for every shot (since Discraft flights were easily identifiable). Little did I know, there was much more to the flight of a disc than just the single decimal rating given on the disc. With the bug planted, I jumped online and searched out other nearby courses. This is what led me to my first “event.” One Tuesday night, my friends and I made a trip to Mt. Airy to check out a new course, and this is where I met Fred Salaz, and was asked if I’d like to participate in the Ace Fund. I immediately turned to my friends, asked if I could borrow $5, and it was on! The 3 of us participated in the Ace Fund, and this is when I won my first disc, a yellow ESP buzz. While I was 23 at the time and won a single $14 disc, I felt like a kid again. It was this moment that fueled the fire for me to take my disc golf game to the next level, or at least try. Having a competitive nature, and such a desire to play after just learning the game, I knew I had found that missing hobby now that baseball wasn’t an option. I have been playing competitively since 2008, and plan to continue playing as long as my body will allow. This sport has given me so much, and has motivated me to give back. The friendships, the laughs, the comradery, and our disc golf community as a whole, is something I’m glad I’ve been privileged to be a part of and get to experience every day. Although my disc golf relationship is very much a love / hate kind of relationship like most, it’s still a game that I’m passionate about, and want to share with as many people as possible. I’d like to thank Jason Kerl and Adam Jones for the opportunity to represent The Nati, and allowing me to help give back and share the game. |