November 1, 2024 • 26 mins
This episode of the partee is all about the throw pink womens disc golf championships, a competitive XAtier held alongside the USWDGC in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Kona is joined this week by special guest host Deann Carey, who shares a bit about her history with the sport and helps break down the weekend. Come partee with us!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:11):
Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Party podcast. I'm
Conan Montgomery and this week I am joined by lone
star disc dian Carrie. Hey Dan, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
What's up, ConA, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
On Stoke to have you. This week, we don't have
Christine because she's currently at the DGPT finale. She works
for the DGPT, so she's busy and she's also sick,
so she needed a breakof. And then also Ianna macbeth
is moving into her new house, so she's currently busy
with dealing with Pablo moving into a house while Paul
(00:45):
is currently at finale. So stoke to have Diane. So
this episode we will be going over the Throw Pink
Women's Disc Golf Championships. But before we dive in, Diane,
how long have you been playing disc golf?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
I started playing disc golf in twenty fourteen, so about
ten years now.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
That's crazy. And who got you into the sport?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
My husband AJ got me in. I started playing a
year after he started playing, okay.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
And you've both okay, so key, Okay, So he started
playing in twenty thirteen obviously, yeah, okay, And how long
have you been on the Disc Golf Pro Tour.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I've been on the Disc Golf per Tour since twenty
eighteen or twenty nineteen, five, six years something like that.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
You came just a year after me because I was
I was twenty eighteen, so you're right after me with
AJ and you guys have traveled in what three different
vehicles at this point, like on the road.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Yeah, we had a van for three years, and then
we had a fifth Wheell and we've been in our
RV for two years.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
And out of all three of those options, which would
be like the most.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Well, the fifth will was really nice, but it was huge,
But the RV's great. It's smaller, but it's more Homeye.
You can get into a lot of places easier.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
And you have a car. You get to drive a
car around, which is the luxury that not all of
us have. But yeah, Dean's been on the road for
a really long time. I've had the pleasure of being
friends with her. My husband and I Coulton have spent
a lot of time with her and AJ in the past.
But this week we're talking about throping championships, but we
thought we would take a moment to recognize the devastation
(02:24):
that hit in recent weeks leading up to the event.
On September twenty six, a Category four hurricane hit the
Gulf Coast and impacted several states inland as well. This
includes the Carolinas, but North Carolina getting the worst of it.
Our heart goes out to all those affected by the
disaster and encourage anyone able to donate to the cause
to do so. If you're able, Dean, you're from North Carolina,
(02:46):
was your area affected or did you know anyone in
the area.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
We actually live about an hour to hour and a
half from the areas that got hit really really hard. Okay,
Luckily where we live wasn't as bad. We did get
some damage. A lot of people were out of power
for over a week, power lines, trees down everywhere, but
we weren't hit as hard as those areas.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
We did see that Winthrop, the course used for usuguc
Anthrow Pink, experienced a lot of damage. Their Instagram team
posted that nine point five million gallons of water was
pumped from the lake, one hundred and fifty thousand pounds
of mulch was used across the grounds. Twenty dump trucks
of debris was removed and to be honest, it looked
like nothing happened. I mean it was Christine, you showed
(03:34):
up a little bit earlier than us. Was it like
gnarly when you showed up? And then all of a
sudden the event came and everything was ready and set up.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
So we stayed at home a week before, not really
going to the course too much. But I saw pictures
and everything, and it looked drastically different from everything that
we saw.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, we expected to show up and I thought it
was gonna be like muddy, and I thought I was
going to see way more trees down, But to my surprise,
like the week of the event, it was well manicured.
I reached out to Sarah Nicholson, our TD and Throw
Pink Throw Pink founder. She mentioned how in twenty twenty
all the majors were canceled, so the TD of USCGC
(04:17):
and previous team manager Jonathan Poole reached out to the
PDGA to see if they could host the FPO Division
alongside USCGC, hence the Women's National Championships, which was like
a throwback because in nineteen ninety nine, the first year
of the USDFC, when the WNC was created and ran
alongside it. That event was later changed to USWDFC and
(04:40):
Mom and old Man Wallace. If you're in the sport
of disc golf, you know those names took it over
for years. But we both had the pleasure of playing
that event in twenty twenty. I even play six back then.
But do you remember that event when that happened COVID year.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Yeah, I was so excited because I was we actually
get to play at Winthrop, Like it's I've been going
out to Winthrop since twenty fourteen, either watching or volunteering there,
so playing on that campus was amazing.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
I feel the same way. I just I went and
like volunteered or you know, went with my dad for
Enneva and it was just like Wow, this event had
so much like prestige, and you had this feeling on
the grounds that you just didn't get anywhere else. So
same thing like as soon as we were able to play,
it felt like an honor. Sarah Nicholson also mentioned that
after twenty twenty, when events were up and running again,
(05:32):
the USWDGC was happening, but they had so much fun
hosting the women that JP asked if throw Pink would
like to be getting more involved, and we would run
the Throw Pink Women's Discolf Championships alongside USCGC. This was
the fourth year of Throw Pink Women's Championships. Have you
been to all four?
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yes, I've played in all four?
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Yeah, lucky you. Oh I haven't been. I didn't go
last year obviously, But that's cool that you've been to
all four. This is an event you have to qualify
for or it's an X eight's here because there's a
rule called stroke and distance on certain holes where you
either have to proceed door drop zone or rethrow from
shots that lands out of bounds. So these ratings don't count.
(06:12):
How do you feel about that, Dan.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Well, this past week, I'm really upset about the ratings
not counting.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
You did so good.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
But I like the stroke of distance aspect to it
because I think it makes it challenging a lot more
challenging than I feel like the course would play if
we didn't have that. But also, it sucks that you
don't have ratings if you shoot really well. But if
you don't shoot the greatest out there, then you might
be happy that the ratings don't count.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Yeah, so I'm stoked that they don't count. In I'm
so sorry for you that's funny, but also Sarah mentioned
it's a competitive event but also a charity event that
aims to showcase the best women in the game while
bringing more women and girls to disc golf with our
clinics and other female focus activities. Throughout the event, there
was also a distance competition that they hosted every year
(07:03):
to see who throws the farthest. This year we had
Taylor co Check I believe is how you pronounce that?
And she won it for the females, throwing five hundred
and twelve feet. Hopefully we can get Taylor on the
podcast soon, all right, but Dan, we're hitting or heading
straight into it. If you are listening, whether in your
car or your back home, get cozy. Round one. The
(07:25):
weather was incredibly windy the first day of the event.
Dan and I actually had the pleasure of playing together
that first round. You had a really good first round
in the wind, shooting at nine eighty three rated plus one.
Is there anything you tried to keep in your head
in those conditions? Did you change your game plan when
you realize it was super windy outside?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Kind of? I pretty much stuck to the game plan,
but like some disc I would have to stable up
a little more then I thought, but it was all
in all kind of the same game plan. But going
into the first round, I told myself, don't do any
hero shots. If you have to lay up Bertie puts
to lay them up, try to stay at par at
(08:07):
Bess and just don't do anything stupid. Pretty much.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
We also had Chantell Budinski. She finished in the gusty
round in the top five following. She had an ankle
injury recently and I think she pulled out of d
Glow because of it. So to see her come back
and play not a super long track but a longer
course and do really well was really great to see.
Dean and I actually got to see the stroke and
(08:31):
distance first hand. That first round. We were watching Hailey
Kane shooting incredible round. She had back to back eagles
on eight and nine, which was super cool to see,
but until we approached on hole twelve, she ended too
short and had to rethrow several times because the shot
was just staying out of bounds, and for that she
took like a nine. But she went on to Bertie
(08:54):
at the second round and even eagle hold twelve that
final round, so she got her redemption. DM My pick
for the event was Rebecca Cox, who was tied for
second place. Her newly developed putt was really great in
the windy conditions because of how direct, powerful and spinning
it was, while players like Evelina Solinon who were doing
(09:15):
more work with the driver so the putting was pretty minimal,
finishing her round with a seven down over Rebecca. This
event really shows out when it comes to player in
spectator experience. Players are given tokens who'll get food after
their rounds and by any of the vendors on site.
Where does it rank on your favorite events of the season.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Just the vibe and everything, It's definitely one of the
top ones. I do like that it's like an end
of year tournament because not many places do the events
like they do. Coursewise, it's not up there. It might
not be in my top five courses. It's a good course,
but it's really hard, which makes it really hard to
(10:01):
stay positive sometimes and so it's not like up there
on my favorite list, but the event as a whole
is definitely up there.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Is it really hard because of the OBI? Would you say?
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Yeah? The ob definitely makes it hard, and like we
saw first round, if there's any bit of wind. You
a lot of people struggle out there.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
I agree, and I think it's just like like you said,
it's the end of the season. It's the last event
you want to show your sponsor.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Like I.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
You know, I'm still really good at disc golf, I swear.
But we actually asked one of our really good friends
from Finland, out of all the events you've been to,
what's the most prestigious, and he mentioned that USCGC was
the most prestigious simply because of their vendor village. There's
nowhere else like it, Like not even Worlds has anything
that touches uscgc's vendor village. Something for more teens to
(10:57):
think about, when you know, looking for people come theirm.
Going into round two, Round two's conditions were great, the
wind had died down and it was time to attack. Dan,
would you say this course sets up nicely for the
(11:18):
f PO division.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I definitely think that they have made it more f
PO friendly. Yeah, we do have some teapads and some
baskets that are changed, but also just a simple par
change like we have I think five par fives on
the course, which we don't ever have that many par
fives on the course.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
No, I think I think our course design has come
a long way, even since four years ago when we
first played this event. I feel like they just kind
of said, hey, you're gonna play on the same grounds,
But it felt like we were playing almost the same course.
Like I would love to go back, and you know,
look at some of those scores, because I'm sure I
shot way over far. Yeah, lulls, but in the mornings
(11:58):
it was pretty dang cold. THEO would have a few
layers on, and then by the end of the round
it was like we were all in shorts. What do
you do to keep warm on those chili rounds?
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Ski Pants and a heated vest are number one step
pants ski pants. Yes, they work for great and the
cold and the rain because they're waterproof and their fleece lined.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Wouldn't I'm surprised they're not like super bulky to play in. Okay, okay,
pro tip, everybody ski sets. I'm from Colorado and I
didn't even know that one. We had Page Pierce, who
had finished the first round in thirty ninth place, made
huge moves. Round two jumped twenty five spots with a
seven down ten eighteen rated round. Do you know your
(12:39):
highest rated.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Round Ian believe that it is ten thirty three that I
shot this year at the Cascade Challenge. On second round, I.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Think, wow, okay, that's higher than mine. I think mine's
only like ten twelve or like ten twenty. I don't
think I've touched like a ten thirty.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Hey, anything over one thousand, that's sick.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
I also had the pleasure of play with Estonian's Katy Tati,
who wasn't putting the best, but was throwing the disc
with such confidence. After her win at the Carolina Clash
presented by DGA the previous weekend, you could tell she
carried that to the Winter. Parina at the top five
didn't shuffle too much. Other than Christin and Rebecca switched
spots on the leaderboard. Evelina was holding strong, though even
(13:20):
missing half of her putts inside the circle. But Evelina
has shown us since Worlds you don't have to be
the best putter to win, and this course definitely suits
her game. There are so many vendors set up at
vendor Village. Where were you hanging out.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
The most in vendor Village? Of course my sponsored drive bag.
He said he's from rock Hill, so he says up there,
so I went and hang up down, But really I'm
the top of person that I go and just walk
around and pretty much talk to everybody, and I'm not
really in one place at one time.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
I'm the same like I kind of just like hung around.
I don't recall the tent, but big GERM has these
three D printed minis that he's been doing. I wish
I knew the company. I'm so sorry I don't remember,
but he offered to like make some for us, and
I'm like, you know, it's just like so easy to
like walk up to a tent. And we walked up
to another tent and introduce ourselves and they're like, hey,
let us know, we'll dye you a bunch of disks,
(14:12):
like making those connections. People just being like so kind
and being like, oh you have this, you're a pro,
Like thanks for coming by, for checking it out. But
they had a putting course that I saw even the
pros were checking out around vendor village. Do you think
every big event like an Elite series should offer an
experience like that for their spectators.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I think it's really good, and honestly, I think it
would probably draw more spectators because it's instead of just
coming and watching the disc off like it's something else
that they can do.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Remember the old DGPT days when they had like Tic
Tac toe with the basket or like more of like
the carnival games with like Steve Dodge. I'd love to
see more of like that stuff. It's more like interactive.
You get the spectators more involved instead of just show
up and expecting to like my disk getting and watch
disc golf and that be it.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
But heading into round three this year, they added a
cut to the third round of the event. I don't
remember this being a thing before. I believe this is new.
H Dan. Do you think if you have to qualify
for an event that should you should be able to
play all four days?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Me and AJ were just talking about this today with
the DGPD Championships going on right now. I think if
you qualify for this event, you there shouldn't be a
cut because you worked so hard. A lot of us
all season, like I got in at Worlds, which was
one of the last stops for you or through Pink.
I don't think that they should play three rounds and
(15:44):
then get cut one round. I think that we qualified
for it, we should be able to play all four rounds.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
I agree, it's just like like you said, we work
all year to get it, and then we get there
and it's not even as big a field as some
of the other events we play, so it's like the
field's already small. And then at DGPT events they've made
it so we get fifty percent just because they're really
pushing women's disc golf. At Throw Pink women's they are equal,
(16:10):
so it's forty percent men and it's forty percent women,
and so it's even less women playing on Championship Sunday,
and it's like, excuse me. We showed up on Sunday,
I didn't play, and it was just like empty field
and it was just like man like that could have
been full of players. I could have been full of
people like able to play or like do their best tries.
So personally I agree that on qualifying events there shouldn't
(16:34):
be a good I had a situation during my round
where I had amazing person catting for me, but I
asked if I could take my car for the round,
and I have not done that before. This year has
been like super emotional for me, and I wanted to
enjoy the moment and the course was like it was
(16:54):
maybe the last time for me to like play because
I wasn't maybe gonna make the cut on Sunday. And
have you ever like taken your bag from a caddie?
Like there's nothing wrong with this person. He's like the
sweetest man ever, so kind went out of his way
and bought stuff for me. But like, I just like
wanted to vibe on the course. Have you ever felt
that way?
Speaker 2 (17:14):
I normally don't have caddies, but if I do, I'm
very very selective on the people who caddy for me,
so I don't really haven't had that experience.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
It was was kind of uncomfortable, excuse me, And I
even like went to Madison and was like, hey, like
this guy's awesome and I don't want to like hurt
his feelings, but like I am mentally not here and
I kind of just want my stuff by me, and
she's like, girl, just like be honest. So I simply
was like dude, and I even got like emotional and
it was just like this whole moment. But he was
(17:46):
so cool about it, and shout out to him because
he was very kind. Players like holl And Hanley were
making moves on moving day, taking back to back eagles
on eight and nine. She ended up moving up a
few spar as well going into the finals. Valerie mondou Hana,
who had success at Winthrop in twenty twenty one taking
(18:07):
third place, was finding her stride on the course, moving
into fourth place, jumping onto lead card. Rebecca Cox, my fave,
shot her worst rated round since Idlewild, which is crazy
because Idlewild's like her home course, so she was weird.
She didn't play well, but shot her worst rated round
a nine eighteen and moved down the leaderboard but in
(18:27):
the cut for the final day, while players like Kristen
played her cleanest round of the event shooting eight down
and was leading by the field by two strokes going
into finals. You could never count her out when she's behind,
But if you're a competitor, you also don't want that
Essonians superstar to have a lead of any kind going
into Championship Sunday. I would love to give some player
(18:49):
shoutouts to some of the ladies who jumped and made
the cut. Silvasanonen and Hannah Mannis and Madison Walker were
three ladies who jumped in made the cut on the
final round. I really tried. Man, I was right there,
but there was just a few bogies that got me,
if you like, really ugly putts that like looked like
(19:09):
they were going in and they kind of just like
trickled out, you know, like not nice stuff. A few
players who were in the cut ended up getting some
obie strokes on seventeen and eighteen and ended up missing it.
Do you think seven and eighteen are some of the
scariest finishing holes?
Speaker 2 (19:27):
For sure? Seventeen, especially for me being a backhand dominant player.
I don't have a side arm that can get there,
so that is very terrifying to walk. I even told
someone who caddied for me the first day, I said,
we just have to do what we can do and
then get to seventeen. And in my head going into seventeen,
(19:51):
I'm like, Okay, well, I have to give myself like
at least two strokes so because I'm probably going to
be too overpoor on seventeen, so I have to myself
up to that. But the last two days I actually
landed on the island and got my first ever birdies
on seventeen.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Dang with the backhand people's that's crazy because not only
is it downhill? It's a small green water behind it.
On a backhand, like, you really have to trust a floaty?
Did you throw a putter? Oh yeah, okay, yeah you
really have to, because Katie Tati did the same thing.
Put it like way high out left, like straight, trusted
(20:32):
it and it was perfect. I think she even burdened it.
Maybe didn't, but it was just like, oh my god,
I'm very impressed by the back hand. After the round,
Throw Pink Women had a clinic at the end of
the third round, at least fifteen pro women gathered me
(20:54):
their warm up area where the Throw Pink organization had
a bunch of stations set up for ladies clinic of
all ages and skill ranges, Dan, how long have you
been participating and teaching at that clinic?
Speaker 2 (21:09):
So this was the tenth year of the clinic, the
third Pink clinic. I have been at every single one
since the very beginning, either getting lessons or teaching the clinics.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Wow, so you the same year you started disc golf
was the same year you started going to Throw Pink.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Also, the same year that I started disc golf was
the same year I started playing tournaments. I started playing
on a Wednesday, and I played my very first I
think it was an eight tier that Friday.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Yeah. No, no, Viggie, welcome to disc golf. I throw
you in the ringer. Gosh, do you remember what division
you played? Did you just play novice?
Speaker 2 (21:47):
I think I played rec and there was two of us.
But I always make the joke because I came in
second place.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
No good, good try, Dan, good try, that's so crazy. Anyways,
split up into groups, Dean and I were in Driving
together along with Jennifer All and Taylor, Elie Ezra, some
of our furthest throwers, and then players like Emily Weatherman,
Raven Klein, and a bunch of our other players like
Rebecca Cox did like putting and approaches. It was a
(22:16):
great way to give back to the community and also
share a lot of our knowledge. So we always love
when we can do those sort of things for the sport.
All right, going into finals, Dan, you made the cut.
You have a great card of ladies to finish the event.
What is going through your head? Are you looking to
get everybody possible knows the grind or are you just
stoked you made the cut? No expectations, You just want
(22:38):
to finish the best you can.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
So final day, I had a pretty solid game plan, Like,
I didn't really stray away from my game plan at
all that whole weekend. I had a Caddy shout out
Evan Scott for Caddy in for me that day. But
with him being on the bag, I knew he's one.
He really knows my bag. I could look at him
and be like, hey, are we running this? What are
(23:03):
we doing? Like whole thirteen, I had like a fifty
footer and the previous day I took a triple bogie
on that hole and so I looked at him and
I'm like, am I running this? And He's like yeah,
And so I canned a fifty footer for Birdie on it,
and so just having that, I really didn't like slow
(23:25):
down at all on that round because I had one
more chance to shoot a really good round. Ended up
shooting five under that round. So I don't think my
game plan really ends like changes on the final day,
especially with the cut being there, because I always want
to try to shoot my best and work my way up.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
You did have a really good card to finish though,
But there is nothing like Championship Sunday at Winthrop. There's
just something about the grounds and make it feel like
a big deal to compete, and there's just lots of history.
We saw Page Peers, who started her tournament in thirty
ninth place, shot the hot round a ten to twenty
eleven under to jump into fifth place, and I'm just
(24:08):
blown away buying her perseverance in that to start off
in thirty ninth place and to mentally be like, I'm
i gotta kick it into gear. I'm gonna I'm gonna
get all the way up that I can possibly get,
So shout out to Page. That's really impressive. And also
what's crazy about that is none of those strokes were eagles,
so that was straight up eleven down, eight or nine
(24:29):
just were berties. Wow, yeah, yeah, wow, that's right. Valerie
found the outbounds too many times the final round and
lost her podiums or lost her shot at the podium,
while her sister Alexis found some final round juice and
jumped up three spots. Hanley continued her streak of starting
the event too cold and then clying her way up
(24:49):
the leaderboard, finishing tied for fourth. Hollin's just been in
this habit of starting off like her last like five
events like really like cold, not really doing well and
then just like kicking the gear, lighting a fire under
her butt and like coming back. So hopefully like next
year she'll like start off hot and then just start
winning everything. She'll be our next. Christin Tautar Evelina were
(25:13):
Evelena and Owen were exchanging strokes back and forth until
the very end. Own managed to snatch the second place spot,
with Evelina only one stroke behind. To finish the normal
disc golf season. Christin Tatar played a clean seven under
to secure her eighth win of the season. We've had
the pleasure of talking about Christen all season long, how
(25:34):
she's overcome so much and hasn't avoided her struggles but
has faced them head on, even in the spotlight. So
I looked up a word to describe who never breaks
from a fight or who never backs down from a fight,
works hard and might start off on a bad foot,
but never gives up, and the word I received was tenacious,
So it captures the idea of someone who is persistent,
(25:57):
hard working and refuses to back down. As she continue
used to put out private content through her subscriber page
on Instagram, and we can't wait to see all that
she does at DGPT finale. Dean, thank you so much
for joining me on this episode. I've known Dan for
a few years and can say disc golf has connected
me with some amazing people. Throat Pink was the last
(26:18):
event of the regular season for me. But Dan, you
still have a handful of events left, right, Yeah?
Speaker 2 (26:24):
I think I have six, maybe seven events left this year.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
All a tiers thought it was like four. Now, oh
my gosh, seven, She's trying to get to like thirty
some events. People crazy. Anyways, thank you all so much
for listening. Our regular season has come to an end
and we only have one more true event to talk
to Nick to talk about next week. But thank you
(26:50):
all so much. Dean, thanks for joining us, and we'll
get you guys next week.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
See yup.
Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Party podcast. I'm
Conan Montgomery and this week I am joined by lone
star disc dian Carrie. Hey Dan, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
What's up, ConA, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
On Stoke to have you. This week, we don't have
Christine because she's currently at the DGPT finale. She works
for the DGPT, so she's busy and she's also sick,
so she needed a breakof. And then also Ianna macbeth
is moving into her new house, so she's currently busy
with dealing with Pablo moving into a house while Paul
(00:45):
is currently at finale. So stoke to have Diane. So
this episode we will be going over the Throw Pink
Women's Disc Golf Championships. But before we dive in, Diane,
how long have you been playing disc golf?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
I started playing disc golf in twenty fourteen, so about
ten years now.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
That's crazy. And who got you into the sport?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
My husband AJ got me in. I started playing a
year after he started playing, okay.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
And you've both okay, so key, Okay, So he started
playing in twenty thirteen obviously, yeah, okay, And how long
have you been on the Disc Golf Pro Tour.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I've been on the Disc Golf per Tour since twenty
eighteen or twenty nineteen, five, six years something like that.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
You came just a year after me because I was
I was twenty eighteen, so you're right after me with
AJ and you guys have traveled in what three different
vehicles at this point, like on the road.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Yeah, we had a van for three years, and then
we had a fifth Wheell and we've been in our
RV for two years.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
And out of all three of those options, which would
be like the most.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Well, the fifth will was really nice, but it was huge,
But the RV's great. It's smaller, but it's more Homeye.
You can get into a lot of places easier.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
And you have a car. You get to drive a
car around, which is the luxury that not all of
us have. But yeah, Dean's been on the road for
a really long time. I've had the pleasure of being
friends with her. My husband and I Coulton have spent
a lot of time with her and AJ in the past.
But this week we're talking about throping championships, but we
thought we would take a moment to recognize the devastation
(02:24):
that hit in recent weeks leading up to the event.
On September twenty six, a Category four hurricane hit the
Gulf Coast and impacted several states inland as well. This
includes the Carolinas, but North Carolina getting the worst of it.
Our heart goes out to all those affected by the
disaster and encourage anyone able to donate to the cause
to do so. If you're able, Dean, you're from North Carolina,
(02:46):
was your area affected or did you know anyone in
the area.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
We actually live about an hour to hour and a
half from the areas that got hit really really hard. Okay,
Luckily where we live wasn't as bad. We did get
some damage. A lot of people were out of power
for over a week, power lines, trees down everywhere, but
we weren't hit as hard as those areas.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
We did see that Winthrop, the course used for usuguc
Anthrow Pink, experienced a lot of damage. Their Instagram team
posted that nine point five million gallons of water was
pumped from the lake, one hundred and fifty thousand pounds
of mulch was used across the grounds. Twenty dump trucks
of debris was removed and to be honest, it looked
like nothing happened. I mean it was Christine, you showed
(03:34):
up a little bit earlier than us. Was it like
gnarly when you showed up? And then all of a
sudden the event came and everything was ready and set up.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
So we stayed at home a week before, not really
going to the course too much. But I saw pictures
and everything, and it looked drastically different from everything that
we saw.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, we expected to show up and I thought it
was gonna be like muddy, and I thought I was
going to see way more trees down, But to my surprise,
like the week of the event, it was well manicured.
I reached out to Sarah Nicholson, our TD and Throw
Pink Throw Pink founder. She mentioned how in twenty twenty
all the majors were canceled, so the TD of USCGC
(04:17):
and previous team manager Jonathan Poole reached out to the
PDGA to see if they could host the FPO Division
alongside USCGC, hence the Women's National Championships, which was like
a throwback because in nineteen ninety nine, the first year
of the USDFC, when the WNC was created and ran
alongside it. That event was later changed to USWDFC and
(04:40):
Mom and old Man Wallace. If you're in the sport
of disc golf, you know those names took it over
for years. But we both had the pleasure of playing
that event in twenty twenty. I even play six back then.
But do you remember that event when that happened COVID year.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Yeah, I was so excited because I was we actually
get to play at Winthrop, Like it's I've been going
out to Winthrop since twenty fourteen, either watching or volunteering there,
so playing on that campus was amazing.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
I feel the same way. I just I went and
like volunteered or you know, went with my dad for
Enneva and it was just like Wow, this event had
so much like prestige, and you had this feeling on
the grounds that you just didn't get anywhere else. So
same thing like as soon as we were able to play,
it felt like an honor. Sarah Nicholson also mentioned that
after twenty twenty, when events were up and running again,
(05:32):
the USWDGC was happening, but they had so much fun
hosting the women that JP asked if throw Pink would
like to be getting more involved, and we would run
the Throw Pink Women's Discolf Championships alongside USCGC. This was
the fourth year of Throw Pink Women's Championships. Have you
been to all four?
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yes, I've played in all four?
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Yeah, lucky you. Oh I haven't been. I didn't go
last year obviously, But that's cool that you've been to
all four. This is an event you have to qualify
for or it's an X eight's here because there's a
rule called stroke and distance on certain holes where you
either have to proceed door drop zone or rethrow from
shots that lands out of bounds. So these ratings don't count.
(06:12):
How do you feel about that, Dan.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Well, this past week, I'm really upset about the ratings
not counting.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
You did so good.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
But I like the stroke of distance aspect to it
because I think it makes it challenging a lot more
challenging than I feel like the course would play if
we didn't have that. But also, it sucks that you
don't have ratings if you shoot really well. But if
you don't shoot the greatest out there, then you might
be happy that the ratings don't count.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Yeah, so I'm stoked that they don't count. In I'm
so sorry for you that's funny, but also Sarah mentioned
it's a competitive event but also a charity event that
aims to showcase the best women in the game while
bringing more women and girls to disc golf with our
clinics and other female focus activities. Throughout the event, there
was also a distance competition that they hosted every year
(07:03):
to see who throws the farthest. This year we had
Taylor co Check I believe is how you pronounce that?
And she won it for the females, throwing five hundred
and twelve feet. Hopefully we can get Taylor on the
podcast soon, all right, but Dan, we're hitting or heading
straight into it. If you are listening, whether in your
car or your back home, get cozy. Round one. The
(07:25):
weather was incredibly windy the first day of the event.
Dan and I actually had the pleasure of playing together
that first round. You had a really good first round
in the wind, shooting at nine eighty three rated plus one.
Is there anything you tried to keep in your head
in those conditions? Did you change your game plan when
you realize it was super windy outside?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Kind of? I pretty much stuck to the game plan,
but like some disc I would have to stable up
a little more then I thought, but it was all
in all kind of the same game plan. But going
into the first round, I told myself, don't do any
hero shots. If you have to lay up Bertie puts
to lay them up, try to stay at par at
(08:07):
Bess and just don't do anything stupid. Pretty much.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
We also had Chantell Budinski. She finished in the gusty
round in the top five following. She had an ankle
injury recently and I think she pulled out of d
Glow because of it. So to see her come back
and play not a super long track but a longer
course and do really well was really great to see.
Dean and I actually got to see the stroke and
(08:31):
distance first hand. That first round. We were watching Hailey
Kane shooting incredible round. She had back to back eagles
on eight and nine, which was super cool to see,
but until we approached on hole twelve, she ended too
short and had to rethrow several times because the shot
was just staying out of bounds, and for that she
took like a nine. But she went on to Bertie
(08:54):
at the second round and even eagle hold twelve that
final round, so she got her redemption. DM My pick
for the event was Rebecca Cox, who was tied for
second place. Her newly developed putt was really great in
the windy conditions because of how direct, powerful and spinning
it was, while players like Evelina Solinon who were doing
(09:15):
more work with the driver so the putting was pretty minimal,
finishing her round with a seven down over Rebecca. This
event really shows out when it comes to player in
spectator experience. Players are given tokens who'll get food after
their rounds and by any of the vendors on site.
Where does it rank on your favorite events of the season.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Just the vibe and everything, It's definitely one of the
top ones. I do like that it's like an end
of year tournament because not many places do the events
like they do. Coursewise, it's not up there. It might
not be in my top five courses. It's a good course,
but it's really hard, which makes it really hard to
(10:01):
stay positive sometimes and so it's not like up there
on my favorite list, but the event as a whole
is definitely up there.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Is it really hard because of the OBI? Would you say?
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Yeah? The ob definitely makes it hard, and like we
saw first round, if there's any bit of wind. You
a lot of people struggle out there.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
I agree, and I think it's just like like you said,
it's the end of the season. It's the last event
you want to show your sponsor.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Like I.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
You know, I'm still really good at disc golf, I swear.
But we actually asked one of our really good friends
from Finland, out of all the events you've been to,
what's the most prestigious, and he mentioned that USCGC was
the most prestigious simply because of their vendor village. There's
nowhere else like it, Like not even Worlds has anything
that touches uscgc's vendor village. Something for more teens to
(10:57):
think about, when you know, looking for people come theirm.
Going into round two, Round two's conditions were great, the
wind had died down and it was time to attack. Dan,
would you say this course sets up nicely for the
(11:18):
f PO division.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I definitely think that they have made it more f
PO friendly. Yeah, we do have some teapads and some
baskets that are changed, but also just a simple par
change like we have I think five par fives on
the course, which we don't ever have that many par
fives on the course.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
No, I think I think our course design has come
a long way, even since four years ago when we
first played this event. I feel like they just kind
of said, hey, you're gonna play on the same grounds,
But it felt like we were playing almost the same course.
Like I would love to go back, and you know,
look at some of those scores, because I'm sure I
shot way over far. Yeah, lulls, but in the mornings
(11:58):
it was pretty dang cold. THEO would have a few
layers on, and then by the end of the round
it was like we were all in shorts. What do
you do to keep warm on those chili rounds?
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Ski Pants and a heated vest are number one step
pants ski pants. Yes, they work for great and the
cold and the rain because they're waterproof and their fleece lined.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Wouldn't I'm surprised they're not like super bulky to play in. Okay, okay,
pro tip, everybody ski sets. I'm from Colorado and I
didn't even know that one. We had Page Pierce, who
had finished the first round in thirty ninth place, made
huge moves. Round two jumped twenty five spots with a
seven down ten eighteen rated round. Do you know your
(12:39):
highest rated.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Round Ian believe that it is ten thirty three that I
shot this year at the Cascade Challenge. On second round, I.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Think, wow, okay, that's higher than mine. I think mine's
only like ten twelve or like ten twenty. I don't
think I've touched like a ten thirty.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Hey, anything over one thousand, that's sick.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
I also had the pleasure of play with Estonian's Katy Tati,
who wasn't putting the best, but was throwing the disc
with such confidence. After her win at the Carolina Clash
presented by DGA the previous weekend, you could tell she
carried that to the Winter. Parina at the top five
didn't shuffle too much. Other than Christin and Rebecca switched
spots on the leaderboard. Evelina was holding strong, though even
(13:20):
missing half of her putts inside the circle. But Evelina
has shown us since Worlds you don't have to be
the best putter to win, and this course definitely suits
her game. There are so many vendors set up at
vendor Village. Where were you hanging out.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
The most in vendor Village? Of course my sponsored drive bag.
He said he's from rock Hill, so he says up there,
so I went and hang up down, But really I'm
the top of person that I go and just walk
around and pretty much talk to everybody, and I'm not
really in one place at one time.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
I'm the same like I kind of just like hung around.
I don't recall the tent, but big GERM has these
three D printed minis that he's been doing. I wish
I knew the company. I'm so sorry I don't remember,
but he offered to like make some for us, and
I'm like, you know, it's just like so easy to
like walk up to a tent. And we walked up
to another tent and introduce ourselves and they're like, hey,
let us know, we'll dye you a bunch of disks,
(14:12):
like making those connections. People just being like so kind
and being like, oh you have this, you're a pro,
Like thanks for coming by, for checking it out. But
they had a putting course that I saw even the
pros were checking out around vendor village. Do you think
every big event like an Elite series should offer an
experience like that for their spectators.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I think it's really good, and honestly, I think it
would probably draw more spectators because it's instead of just
coming and watching the disc off like it's something else
that they can do.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Remember the old DGPT days when they had like Tic
Tac toe with the basket or like more of like
the carnival games with like Steve Dodge. I'd love to
see more of like that stuff. It's more like interactive.
You get the spectators more involved instead of just show
up and expecting to like my disk getting and watch
disc golf and that be it.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
But heading into round three this year, they added a
cut to the third round of the event. I don't
remember this being a thing before. I believe this is new.
H Dan. Do you think if you have to qualify
for an event that should you should be able to
play all four days?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Me and AJ were just talking about this today with
the DGPD Championships going on right now. I think if
you qualify for this event, you there shouldn't be a
cut because you worked so hard. A lot of us
all season, like I got in at Worlds, which was
one of the last stops for you or through Pink.
I don't think that they should play three rounds and
(15:44):
then get cut one round. I think that we qualified
for it, we should be able to play all four rounds.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
I agree, it's just like like you said, we work
all year to get it, and then we get there
and it's not even as big a field as some
of the other events we play, so it's like the
field's already small. And then at DGPT events they've made
it so we get fifty percent just because they're really
pushing women's disc golf. At Throw Pink women's they are equal,
(16:10):
so it's forty percent men and it's forty percent women,
and so it's even less women playing on Championship Sunday,
and it's like, excuse me. We showed up on Sunday,
I didn't play, and it was just like empty field
and it was just like man like that could have
been full of players. I could have been full of
people like able to play or like do their best tries.
So personally I agree that on qualifying events there shouldn't
(16:34):
be a good I had a situation during my round
where I had amazing person catting for me, but I
asked if I could take my car for the round,
and I have not done that before. This year has
been like super emotional for me, and I wanted to
enjoy the moment and the course was like it was
(16:54):
maybe the last time for me to like play because
I wasn't maybe gonna make the cut on Sunday. And
have you ever like taken your bag from a caddie?
Like there's nothing wrong with this person. He's like the
sweetest man ever, so kind went out of his way
and bought stuff for me. But like, I just like
wanted to vibe on the course. Have you ever felt
that way?
Speaker 2 (17:14):
I normally don't have caddies, but if I do, I'm
very very selective on the people who caddy for me,
so I don't really haven't had that experience.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
It was was kind of uncomfortable, excuse me, And I
even like went to Madison and was like, hey, like
this guy's awesome and I don't want to like hurt
his feelings, but like I am mentally not here and
I kind of just want my stuff by me, and
she's like, girl, just like be honest. So I simply
was like dude, and I even got like emotional and
it was just like this whole moment. But he was
(17:46):
so cool about it, and shout out to him because
he was very kind. Players like holl And Hanley were
making moves on moving day, taking back to back eagles
on eight and nine. She ended up moving up a
few spar as well going into the finals. Valerie mondou Hana,
who had success at Winthrop in twenty twenty one taking
(18:07):
third place, was finding her stride on the course, moving
into fourth place, jumping onto lead card. Rebecca Cox, my fave,
shot her worst rated round since Idlewild, which is crazy
because Idlewild's like her home course, so she was weird.
She didn't play well, but shot her worst rated round
a nine eighteen and moved down the leaderboard but in
(18:27):
the cut for the final day, while players like Kristen
played her cleanest round of the event shooting eight down
and was leading by the field by two strokes going
into finals. You could never count her out when she's behind,
But if you're a competitor, you also don't want that
Essonians superstar to have a lead of any kind going
into Championship Sunday. I would love to give some player
(18:49):
shoutouts to some of the ladies who jumped and made
the cut. Silvasanonen and Hannah Mannis and Madison Walker were
three ladies who jumped in made the cut on the
final round. I really tried. Man, I was right there,
but there was just a few bogies that got me,
if you like, really ugly putts that like looked like
(19:09):
they were going in and they kind of just like
trickled out, you know, like not nice stuff. A few
players who were in the cut ended up getting some
obie strokes on seventeen and eighteen and ended up missing it.
Do you think seven and eighteen are some of the
scariest finishing holes?
Speaker 2 (19:27):
For sure? Seventeen, especially for me being a backhand dominant player.
I don't have a side arm that can get there,
so that is very terrifying to walk. I even told
someone who caddied for me the first day, I said,
we just have to do what we can do and
then get to seventeen. And in my head going into seventeen,
(19:51):
I'm like, Okay, well, I have to give myself like
at least two strokes so because I'm probably going to
be too overpoor on seventeen, so I have to myself
up to that. But the last two days I actually
landed on the island and got my first ever birdies
on seventeen.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Dang with the backhand people's that's crazy because not only
is it downhill? It's a small green water behind it.
On a backhand, like, you really have to trust a floaty?
Did you throw a putter? Oh yeah, okay, yeah you
really have to, because Katie Tati did the same thing.
Put it like way high out left, like straight, trusted
(20:32):
it and it was perfect. I think she even burdened it.
Maybe didn't, but it was just like, oh my god,
I'm very impressed by the back hand. After the round,
Throw Pink Women had a clinic at the end of
the third round, at least fifteen pro women gathered me
(20:54):
their warm up area where the Throw Pink organization had
a bunch of stations set up for ladies clinic of
all ages and skill ranges, Dan, how long have you
been participating and teaching at that clinic?
Speaker 2 (21:09):
So this was the tenth year of the clinic, the
third Pink clinic. I have been at every single one
since the very beginning, either getting lessons or teaching the clinics.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Wow, so you the same year you started disc golf
was the same year you started going to Throw Pink.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Also, the same year that I started disc golf was
the same year I started playing tournaments. I started playing
on a Wednesday, and I played my very first I
think it was an eight tier that Friday.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Yeah. No, no, Viggie, welcome to disc golf. I throw
you in the ringer. Gosh, do you remember what division
you played? Did you just play novice?
Speaker 2 (21:47):
I think I played rec and there was two of us.
But I always make the joke because I came in
second place.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
No good, good try, Dan, good try, that's so crazy. Anyways,
split up into groups, Dean and I were in Driving
together along with Jennifer All and Taylor, Elie Ezra, some
of our furthest throwers, and then players like Emily Weatherman,
Raven Klein, and a bunch of our other players like
Rebecca Cox did like putting and approaches. It was a
(22:16):
great way to give back to the community and also
share a lot of our knowledge. So we always love
when we can do those sort of things for the sport.
All right, going into finals, Dan, you made the cut.
You have a great card of ladies to finish the event.
What is going through your head? Are you looking to
get everybody possible knows the grind or are you just
stoked you made the cut? No expectations, You just want
(22:38):
to finish the best you can.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
So final day, I had a pretty solid game plan, Like,
I didn't really stray away from my game plan at
all that whole weekend. I had a Caddy shout out
Evan Scott for Caddy in for me that day. But
with him being on the bag, I knew he's one.
He really knows my bag. I could look at him
and be like, hey, are we running this? What are
(23:03):
we doing? Like whole thirteen, I had like a fifty
footer and the previous day I took a triple bogie
on that hole and so I looked at him and
I'm like, am I running this? And He's like yeah,
And so I canned a fifty footer for Birdie on it,
and so just having that, I really didn't like slow
(23:25):
down at all on that round because I had one
more chance to shoot a really good round. Ended up
shooting five under that round. So I don't think my
game plan really ends like changes on the final day,
especially with the cut being there, because I always want
to try to shoot my best and work my way up.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
You did have a really good card to finish though,
But there is nothing like Championship Sunday at Winthrop. There's
just something about the grounds and make it feel like
a big deal to compete, and there's just lots of history.
We saw Page Peers, who started her tournament in thirty
ninth place, shot the hot round a ten to twenty
eleven under to jump into fifth place, and I'm just
(24:08):
blown away buying her perseverance in that to start off
in thirty ninth place and to mentally be like, I'm
i gotta kick it into gear. I'm gonna I'm gonna
get all the way up that I can possibly get,
So shout out to Page. That's really impressive. And also
what's crazy about that is none of those strokes were eagles,
so that was straight up eleven down, eight or nine
(24:29):
just were berties. Wow, yeah, yeah, wow, that's right. Valerie
found the outbounds too many times the final round and
lost her podiums or lost her shot at the podium,
while her sister Alexis found some final round juice and
jumped up three spots. Hanley continued her streak of starting
the event too cold and then clying her way up
(24:49):
the leaderboard, finishing tied for fourth. Hollin's just been in
this habit of starting off like her last like five
events like really like cold, not really doing well and
then just like kicking the gear, lighting a fire under
her butt and like coming back. So hopefully like next
year she'll like start off hot and then just start
winning everything. She'll be our next. Christin Tautar Evelina were
(25:13):
Evelena and Owen were exchanging strokes back and forth until
the very end. Own managed to snatch the second place spot,
with Evelina only one stroke behind. To finish the normal
disc golf season. Christin Tatar played a clean seven under
to secure her eighth win of the season. We've had
the pleasure of talking about Christen all season long, how
(25:34):
she's overcome so much and hasn't avoided her struggles but
has faced them head on, even in the spotlight. So
I looked up a word to describe who never breaks
from a fight or who never backs down from a fight,
works hard and might start off on a bad foot,
but never gives up, and the word I received was tenacious,
So it captures the idea of someone who is persistent,
(25:57):
hard working and refuses to back down. As she continue
used to put out private content through her subscriber page
on Instagram, and we can't wait to see all that
she does at DGPT finale. Dean, thank you so much
for joining me on this episode. I've known Dan for
a few years and can say disc golf has connected
me with some amazing people. Throat Pink was the last
(26:18):
event of the regular season for me. But Dan, you
still have a handful of events left, right, Yeah?
Speaker 2 (26:24):
I think I have six, maybe seven events left this year.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
All a tiers thought it was like four. Now, oh
my gosh, seven, She's trying to get to like thirty
some events. People crazy. Anyways, thank you all so much
for listening. Our regular season has come to an end
and we only have one more true event to talk
to Nick to talk about next week. But thank you
(26:50):
all so much. Dean, thanks for joining us, and we'll
get you guys next week.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
See yup.
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!