The last Freedom Day

While driving home on Sep 11, 2019 technically still married due to an error in the divorce paperwork that was filed, I realized Dellwood was less than ten minutes away from the courthouse so I made sure to have my bag with me when I went back two weeks later and proudly walked onto #13 tee less than 20 minutes after my divorce was final.

Every year on that day, I would go back on September 25 to play my "freedom round" often playing around the decorations for the haunted hay ride.

To be honest, that day in 2019 was important as I realized that physically it was difficult to navigate the course and it would be best to start lifting weights. About two months later, I ended up winning an event on a cold, drizzling, windy day by six shots.

When I look back to the point when I first got better at disc golf, I point to that day.

Since the 2026 Worlds is September 22-26, I plan to be out of town so 2025 was going to be my last round.

On the way there, my right rear tire failed and I am currently waiting for a tow truck as the spare is not viable. At least I was able to get it to a gas station with a restaurant so I could eat while waiting.

I am also glad it happened on a day I left work early and not on the way to a tournament.

Riot Fest by the numbers

Days before event I realized I had no idea where I could park my car: 2

Miles from event where I could find the closest prepaid parking spot: 2.5

Years since the last time I took Metra: 10

Years since the last time I was on the Western Avenue Metra station: 14

Miles walked from CTA stop on Western to get my ribbons: 1.4

Songs I heard from Shohen Knife before I had to go back to give my daughter her VIP ribbon: 3

Minutes waiting at stage for Mac Sabbath: 30

Cheeseburger shaped balloons tossed into the crowd by the band: 2

People who crowd surfed during the show (including Mac Sabbath lead singer Ronald Osborne) : 6

People in mosh pit which formed next to me: 40

Changes from Puddles set and the one opening for Weird Al: 1

Songs from Camper Van Beethoven seen while on way to explore one end of the festival area: 3

Arcade games in the free to play area I wanted to play but would not work: 2

Years since I played Elevator Action: 30+

Wrestling matches watched: 2

Cost at VIP Bacci booth for a cheeseburger with fries, a giant slice of cheese pizza, and a can of Coke Zero: $39.48

Times using the water station to refill bottle: 5

Estimated viewing capacity for the Rebel Stage: 10,000

Agnostic Front Songs seen there: 3

People who know me by my first name met: 5

Total People seen who have created at least one song that was the most requested for a year on the Doctor Demento Show: 4

People who complimented me on the disc golf shirt I wore which I am wearing on my FB cover photo: 10

Times I had to force myself from not explaining the shirt and just say thank you: 10

Times I got carried away when someone asked about my Innova hat: 1

Total stages there: 5

Designed crowd for "Weird Al" stage known as the Rise stage: 2,500

People who were watching the Sparks concert there: 4,000

People who attended sold out Weird Al concert at Madison Square Garden this year: 

18,000

People at Riot Fest Weird Al concert: 12,000

People who replying to Weird Al pictures on the Riot Fest FB page stated the wrong stage was used: 12

Hours from leaving apartment to getting back home after walking 3/4 mile to bus towards my daughter's car: 12

Disc golf courses played the day after due to how cramped my legs were: 0

Aces nigh

Many people have stated an ace (hole in one) in disc golf is frequently a bad shot that went in since the disc would likely have ended up close to 30 feet away if the basket was not in the way. At a tournament yesterday, I saw a tee shot that hit chains but ended up 30 feet past.

The nine I have generally didn't happen that way literally falling into the basket at the end of its flight including the one I threw in on Saturday from 160 feet which doesn't count since I threw it after a bad first shot.

Over the past couple of years I also noticed a unusual pattern among my aces. If you dont count the two on Aug 12 in '18 & '19 from 120 unobstructed feet (which touring pros would putt), my other 7 aces are one per month from Sep through May missing Feb and Mar.

Living near Chicago and knowing how much I played this summer, I was hoping to break that trend but yesterday's event, the only drive close to going into a basket was on #9 in Round Lake but it was the white shorter basket after hitting a tree while throwing to the longer gold one, meant that it didn't happen. In June warming up for an event, I had a second shot off the tee go in and in July, had a drive hit chains and not stay in.

Though I throw farther and can reach more baskets, still didn't get one in during the summer months so I was trying to figure out why.

First thought is the events played since they are usually on longer courses and/or longer layouts with fewer opportunities. Also, my intent from a tee is to throw a disc to a basket and not in. Most of the time especially at an event, I dont think about an ace anyway.

Hopefully, I will be able to break this trend in the next 4 months.

Being a madman

Though I was first called the madman after starting a bench clearing brawl in the late 1980s, the violent angry man wasn't just confined to the field.

I was in my early 20s, angry, alone, believing I was going to die before I reach 25, and with a hatred towards the Catholic Church from a dozen school years of being lied towards. My boss at 619 S. Wabash in Chicago told me to see someone or get another job.

The last appointment the Wednesday before I turned 25, I thanked my psychiatrist for help and stated I will die before the next appointment which he was skeptical.

The Saturday before, I was told I could leave work early if I get everything done so I finished the first half of the restocking a half hour early and walked a block north to get lunch.

While eating at work, I heard a loud rumble outside:

Had I taken my lunch at my normal time, I could have been on the sidewalk when the bricks fell from close to 150 feet high.

My psychiatrist was shocked when I told him this story and he asked: Now what? Then him and I were able to work on what to do.

Almost 35 years later, I had a sobering reminder of who I was as someone with a similar situation but with the equipment I was unable to to get back then took out their anger on a church full of students who were lined up. With the plan, I am surprised only two students were killed.

I owned a gun for a little while and there was a situation where I could easily use it but realized it would have not been successful to the degree I would be satisfied and by passing on that, things eventually lead to a desired outcome.

When I state the best way to prevent people from firing dozens of shots in a minute is to make it difficult for people to get the device, I say that from personal experience.

My situation from the late 1980s was definitely examined when I went to therapy last year concerning the reason it was offered to me. Many people have noticed the change including some who didnt know I went.

With what was done, I am comfortable that the 20th century version of me will stay there with the intensity that inspired the nickname only active on the disc golf course.

Scheduling time

As I occasionally need to do, listing the balance of my 2025 schedule to get it out of my head as why I am playing where after figuring it out today.

The first thing was to see if there was an event in Norton, OH the first weekend in October which was there the previous two years I was at FuMPFeST at Con on the Cob thinking since there is no FuMPFeST, I could attend both. With no event, that won't happen which might be a good thing since it is possible those who run the Lord's Landing course might have a video record of me from 2023 when the previous night's Waffle House dinner kicked in while playing 15 and made a huge mess.

I also want to avoid one day two round events on back to back weeks or any two round event three weekends in a row.

Aug 23/24 - IL State championship (MA60) After the insult of not being listed first on the lead card in 2023 and being told it is no big deal even if though was the first time in 10 years having a solo lead in a B tier or higher, I had little interest in the event. When I won my third B tier (to go with an A tier) in a year three weeks ago, I was asked why I didn't register for states and after my reply was encouraged to give the event another chance.

Aug 31 - IOS Round Lake (MA50) I was considering playing MA2 on Saturday then playing on Sep 1 at 50 Acre but don't think my legs would cooperate so Sunday was chosen and moving up a division to face others in the area.

Though I want to play the Jackson Park flex start of the 7th, I need to make sure to have at least one practice day at Eagle Ridge and be physically ok to play that and I don't see it happening.

Sep 14 - IOS Eagle Ridge (MA50) Will try to defend my first IOS win in the division I won last year.

I want to play the West Park event on September 20/21 but with going to Riot Fest on the 19th, I am not sure if I would be physically up for playing at 8AM the next morning.

Sep 25 - Freedom round @ Dellwood. Not sanctioned but something I do every year.

Sep 28 - Grey Fox classic (MA50) There are three area two-round events that day and right now this is the one I am favoring to play. I haven't played a full event there since Nov 2019 and the idea of playing all 35 unique holes there intrigues me. Since that event has MA65 and no MA60 would play MA50.

Oct 12 - IOS Lemon Lake (MA50 or MA60) Having missed the last two club challenges (one due to rating and other due to a family event) and Lemon Lake's previous three IOS events due to physical issues, I really want to attend this year. Hoping my body will allow me to go.

Oct 26 - 50 Acre (MA50 or MA2) The division will depend on who else is playing as I don't want to win by 20+ shots like I did on Memorial Day

Nov 2 - Dellwood (GJTS MA60 finals) Had I not already played three events from the series, my schedule would be different and if for some reason I might not qualify for the event, I might change the schedule. 

Nov 13 & 27 - Discontinuum league round (MA1) To my knowledge, there has yet to be an official club member event scheduled. I was considering traveling to Morton, IL to play Northwood Park Black or to play the Dellwood XXL layout on my LX birthday but I realized that this would be 5 times over the last 10 years playing Fairfield on my birthday and being Thursday morning on a day off work, that is the logical choice.

I also know that one bad step at work or on a course could change everything.

Learn from the I-I-D-A

Waking up at 3AM on Saturday, I turned on the Disc Golf Network stream of the FPO fourth round of the 2025 World Championship, and was shocked that 15 year old Finnish player Iida Lehtomäki who was tied for the lead after round three was up 12 shots after nine.

She started to struggle but managed to maintain her lead until the infamous #16 at the Nokia Beast course where after five OB shots, finished with a 13. It was difficult to watch her fail to land a shot three straight times from 150 feet onto the island green.

To her credit, she managed to recover the next two and was leading after round four.

I slept in until 515 on Sunday and found out Ohn Scoggins became the oldest player to win an open division world title. Since I had to get to a tournament, I did not get any details until later but saw a couple posts wondering why Iida laid up on the final hole.

Highlights showed there was a tie for first and in the playoffs, Ohn (who had the greatest putting performance in the final round I have ever seen) threw her drive OB and had a 15 foot par putt. Iida was about 100 feet away after two great shots and needed to get up and down for a birdie to win. Unlike MPO winner Gannon Buhr who succeeded in a similar shot to win his first world title, her shot was short and left OB and the posts were about her fifth shot that was a lay-up before Ohn made her putt for the win.

I asked if Ilda's approach was the worst shot ever and then changed it to worst professional shot ever comparing it to Paige Pierce losing the 2021 worlds by doing the same thing on #18 at The Fort in Utah. Responses were unhappy that I was picking on her and someone stated I would choke in her situation.

My reply: So you are stating I would choke needing to get up and down from similar situations on #17 and #18 at a World Championship to achieve something that I spent years of time, energy, and money to get knowing that with my age and physical situation, this might be my only chance ever to do so? I put both shots within 10 feet and made the putts.

Granted, since I throw a disc 100 feet less than Iida, there are more different distances for her to cover and even in the MA60 division, many at worlds can throw farther than me which might be part of the reason I was able to be one of three out of 72 to hit the island green on #1 at Oakwood Park twice.

I am hoping unlike Paige Pierce who was never the same dominant player after losing the 2021 Worlds, Iida will be able to learn from her mistakes and win major tournaments and I hope to be able to watch her succeed.

Ol' Grimey

Since I never met the Joliet area person for whom the Channahon course was named, the name Frank Grimes in my head defaults to the second greatest one episode Simpsons character only behind Hank Scorpio. (This was in the 20th century when the episodes were good.)

Then I remember the episode where the kids were playing football and I laughed when Bart was wearing the number 15 but the person in the room with me stated even though Green Bay Packers hall of fame quarterback Bart Starr wore that number, it was just a coincidence. (She did agree Flanders kids wearing 6 and 66 standing next to each other was on purpose.)

When I read a book listing Simpsons episodes from the first bunch of seasons and found out the name of that episode was "Bart Star", that person still would not admit I was correct in spite of overwhelming evidence.

Then my brain defaults to two similar FB discussions about female eligibility in sports as with those who do not play disc golf, this became notable during the 2024 Olympics. In both of them, someone suggested eliminating female restricted events because they were only created to protect the male ego.

As someone who saw some disc golf tournaments starting in 2022 eliminate the female pro division to keep transgender women from playing and the Disc Golf Pro Tour consider either eliminating the female pro division or moving them to states that would rule a transgender female ineligible, my brain immediately went NO!

I then tried to explain that female restricted events are necessary when there is a significant difference between elite female and male players and provided multiple examples of the difference between elite performances even in weight restricted divisions but I was only falsely accused of being transphobic.

Katie Ledecky who won her 7th straight 800m world title finished in a time that would place her 21st when compared to the 26 men in that event. Faith Kipyegon, who is trying to become the first female to run a 4 minute mile 75 years after Roger Bannister first did this, broke the women's record last month in a time that was 23 seconds slower than the current men's record.

Are there events where elite male and female participants can participate equally, yes. I wasn't referring to those as I initially stated "in events where there is a significant difference". 

Can the best female disc golfers compete against the best men? In March, the best female had her lifetime best rated three round event but her score on a slightly easier layout would have finished tied for 54th in the 110 player field so no.

Would I have a chance in a 5k run against my 51 year old sister who has completed an Ironman Triathlon? Hell no. Did the person who finished 31st in the MA60 division at the 2025 Masters Worlds beat the ten time professional major winning second place finisher in the FP55 division in a one round event last November on the same card? Yes. (Since those divisions at the worlds played different courses, the scores can't be compared.)

One of the reasons I have a blog is to get thoughts out of my head and this is one of those cases.