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Beyond Competition

Beyond Competition

Wednesday, August 4, 2010 - 14:21

The PDGA Disc Golf World Championships may be over, but the memories and stories will last a lifetime.

Although those attended had hopes of bringing home a World title, competitors left with a whole lot more. They left with confirmation of their love for the game which brought them together as a disc golf family.

Recap from Amateur and Junior Worlds - Marion, OH

Tournament Director Ken Rollins, Rob Ledwedge and MOODGolf Club welcomed 504 competitors to the PDGA Amateur and Junior Disc Golf World Championships over the week of June 29th-July 3rd. The courses spread across several small towns in mid-Ohio which were all called home by the week’s end. The “Mayberry” feel of the event made a lasting impression as competitors gathered for a week of fellowship and competition. The host club made it a point to add little touches to the event to make it more than just a competition. All Juniors received a participation medal for entering. These young competitors of the sport were so appreciative to be remembered and honored in this way. The look on their faces was priceless when they were given their medals. With two Pool assignments this year for Juniors, it just shows how much the sport is growing within school curriculum and at home among families.

 

Also, all 500 competitors were given a personalized bag tag including the flag of the state/country they represented. This gave an Olympic feel to the event, especially when the players meeting (or better named "Opening Ceremony") began with an entrance parade of country flags. The MOODGolf Club made t-shirts for the event with every competitor's name on the back. The front of the shirt reads “Lord of the Chains: The Fellowship of the Disc” and how true that reference was! The player's party took place at Blue Fusion, which had a bowling area enhanced with video screens playing disc golf footage. The player's party was a perfect venue for all ages. The Juniors had a blast winning tickets in the arcade, while the adults mingled in the bowling/refreshment area. Much thought was put into this evening activity and everyone had such a wonderful time.

 

Junior boys were all smiles at the player's party; Audrey Quirk playing "Deal or No Deal" in the arcade

 

Recap from Professional Worlds - Cedar Lake, IN

Fellowship was also found in Cedar Lake, IN where Brian Cummings, Jay Svitko and the Red Roc Disc Golf Club showed off their hospitality to 307 competitors this past week. Lemon Lake County Park was the home to 5 courses requiring a variety of shots in order to win a World title. Having the courses in one location provided the opportunity for everyone to be together. This was favored by many competitors as they attend worlds mostly for the reunion with their disc golf “family”.

A highlight of the Pro event was the Disc Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Tournament Director, Brian Cummings, Charlie Callahan, and Sweden's Tomas Ekström were the 2010 inductees. In his acceptance speech, Cummings mentioned he was sorry his father wasn’t with him to see his induction. Later he unveiled a gift from someone which was a Chicago Cubs baseball jersey with “CUMMINGS 2010 Disc Golf Hall of Fame” embroidered on the back. Cummings’ father was a pitcher for the Cubs back in the day so you can imagine how meaningful this gift was to him. Callahan was also in attendance at this year's Worlds. His lengthy acceptance speech was interupted with laughter from the crowd, and Callahan himself, as the Jeopardy theme was heard over the sound system nudging him to "wrap it up". Tomas Ekström, who helped make the Skelleftea Disc Golf Community a reality, was the third inductee. Unfortunately, Ekström was not present at Worlds this year or the ceremony so Derek Robbins accepted the award on his behalf. Congratulations and thank you all!

   

Brian Cummings (left), Charlie Callahan (center facing the camera), and Tomas Ekström (right)

Hall of Fame members in attendance at the ceremony

Nikko Locastro, who won the Male Pro Player of the Year award, generously thanked the members above for their hard work and dedication enabling him to achieve the award. Without them, who knows where disc golf would be today. Locastro was very humbled by their work in the advancement of the sport.

List of all Disc Golf Hall of Fame members

Evening activities were well received as "Fun Night" was kicked off by a friendly volleyball competition. Who knew there were volleyball atheletes among the field? The night was focused on fellowship.

Don Dillon, World Champion of the inaugural Senior Legends division, mentioned the importance of introducing the sport to senior citizens. Bring along a disc or two to nursing homes and assisted living communities. Help the bond between grandparents and grandchildren grow stronger as they connect through the common interest of throwing a disc. Disc golf will encourage the young and old (and everyone inbetween) to get moving! Be healthy and stay active while growing the sport.


Congratulations to all 2010 PDGA World Champions. The competition is getting tougher as more and more people are discovering the thrill of the game. Winning these days is much more impressive as well as more challenging. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the money and prize aspect, but these events are so much more than that. Encourage yourself and others to embrace the atmosphere of the tournaments you attend. Be a part of the evening activities. Mingle with the community and show your thanks by supporting the sponsors. Get to know each other on and off the course for you all share the common bond of the disc. Mixing competition with fellowship is a win win. Being relaxed and connected can only enrich your game. Try playing without the music, give compliments to your opponents, and share stories when breaking for lunch…make tournaments more than the competition. You will see it brings the love you have for disc golf to the surface, which is what brought you to the competition in the first place. Thank you again to Ken Rollins and Brian Cummings and their crews for making 2010 Worlds an event to remember!

 

Rob Ledwedge and Ken Rollins

 

Brian Cummings (center bottom row), Jay Svitko (top right; just left of the white disc) and crew

Keep the love alive and join us in 2011 for our next Worlds reunions in Rochester, NY for Am/Jr and Santa Cruz, CA for Pros. See you there!