Birdie recap 2022

When one keep stats on specific holes birdied, can produce this:

Different holes birdied: 236

Of those:

Birdied by more than one disc: 73 (Disc attributed to birdie)

Birdied for first time in 2022: 76

On a new perm hole and or tee in 2022: 18

Temp hole: 13

Hole replaced or pulled in 2022: 17

Par 4 (by a MA55 player): 9

Par 5 (by a MA55 player): 1

First birdie with a disc obtained in 2022: 20

First birdie with a disc lost in 2022: 9

A 75 minute (or further) drive from my house: 31

In Minnesota: 6

In Indiana: 3

In Michigan: 2

By throwing a roller off the tee: 5

By throwing a disc in the basket with a non putting throw: 2

Hitting metal either pole, cage, chains, or top band on first shot: 10

Aces: 0

2022 recap

Since I will be working on Dec 31 and not playing a one round event, my season ended in November.

Here is a chart listing the 41 total rated rounds:

The higher the par rating, the more difficult the round played. There were multiple times where a course played 3-4 shots more difficult due to weather be it high winds, rain, or cold. 

Just like 2021, my highest rated round was in October at 50 Acre in bad weather. The lowest rated round (and lowest in 5 years) started 15 hours after walking a round at Sunset Hills (which caused me to respect the FPO players who do that) followed by players dinner and fly mart the fifth day in a row playing and my legs had nothing.

I was surprised to realize that only 20 of the 41 rounds had a par rating over 900. It felt like due to weather and playing Worlds, it would be higher.

Second chart shows by hole:

The mixed layout in Round Lake as well as multiple layouts at Dellwood skip some hole numbers. 

Unlike the par ratings which went by what was listed on the site, the birdies listed are from the point of view of a MA55 player as opposed to someone significantly better than me.

An open letter to Spotify

I appreciate that the muffled lyrics sung by the eight-year-old cartoon character wearing an orange hoodie were listed along with those by a piece of talking poop in a song about Mary but I wish to register a complaint.

I had to pull my car over along the expressway to check my phone since that song was followed by Holly Jolly Christmas thinking it was added to my play list in error only to discover it was recommended by the app itself. Though I appreciate suggestions, only want them seen when searching for more songs. 

When driving this time of year, want to hear songs from an English Python member, two east coast people, or three originally from Kingston, Ontario, Canada that share my point of view as well as December songs about John McClane, cooking done of chipmunks or by a senile woman, a father getting sick during dinner, a thong, pegging, crescent city residents going on a slay ride, Santa doing a similar thing at the North Pole, a world run by robot overlords, or a medley of songs mocking the warped point of view taken in late 2016 by people who eventually supported the man that attempted to overthrow the US turning it into a fascist theocracy, the title initially inspired by my desire to create a parody of a Bing Crosby song from the point of view of the man who shoehorned a Lincoln's birthday celebration into a movie so he could perform in blackface.

I NEVER want to hear a happy song from Burl fucking Ives.

Scoring: One point for every song referenced that is on my December Spotify playlist with an additional point if you read the end of the first line in the voice of John Cleese.

0 points: You are likely normal and possibly a 2022 inductee into the Illinois Disc Golf Hall of Fame.

1-3 points: You are likely a current or former coworker of mine who had to listen to my babble or sharing of music.

4-6 points: You likely know almost or all the songs but the clues are not clear enough to figure out.

7+ points: Thank you for putting up with me.

The dreams we had

After today's 13th straight day of work, headed to Dellwood for a flex round event. As I got out of the car, realized between physical fatigue, the spasms in my left leg initially caused by aggravating six weeks prior the same injury to my left IT band half a lifetime ago, three walks down hills including one on the final hole where there was a three card wait, playing the event would not be feasible especially registered for one the next day.

I said hi to multiple people there, purchased a disc offered by the person running the event, and limped off towards my car holding back tears while forcing myself to leave. Though it would be nice to add to the stats, recently realized there has always been more to why I put myself through the pain, frustration, and aggravation by doing something most consider fun.

Though living past 25 was not expected as a kid, there was wonder on what would happen if I survived. Most of those dreams were never realized due to many reasons but one is still going. There was always a desire to play sport which thanks to disc golf, can do.

When I can't play, feel like a complete failure. Some of the things done in the past have compensated for it but now in 2022, realized they are no longer plausible. Still know the idea of not being alone would not be fair to anyone whom I would be with. Have declined opportunity to ask someone out not wanting to put her through me. Know that I can't clean up and head to Windycon to party which for years is where I celebrated my birthday as I am too tired to even make it to the point where parties would be open.

This year will involve one last tournament to close the season. Last year before the plan of taking a four day weekend playing courses in Peoria and Northwood Black on my birthday ended up with work, that plan was a birthday tournament out of state.

Though I upset the 15 year old version of me earlier this week by not basing my votes on race, sex, or fully functional limbs but by who is less likely to endorse or be endorsed by the person who attempted to overthrow the country and turn it into a fascist theocracy, still feel obligated to find a way to get my body out there and play the event.

The $35,000 putt

Thanks to multiple non disc golf sponsorships, two professionals received a check for $35,000 each setting a new record for earnings in a year.

Though I disagree with the FPO pay scale at the top being equal since there were fewer players, the MPO finish is what inspired the post.

People were stating that the winning playoff putt by Ricky Wysocki was worth $35,000 but in reality, it wasn't. Here is how and when the $35,000 was earned:

$5,500: Feb 24 through Sep 25: earned by finishing among the top four in points for the season earning a bye into the semi finals of the tour championship. (Someone who disagrees with my post would mention Ricky finished first but no matter the placing, all from 1st through 4th were guaranteed that amount and had they failed to advance to the finals, that would be their pay.)

Before the DGPT was established, there were bonus dollars paid to highest overall players for the series events so that is what I equate to this.

$3,500: Oct 15: The four with the highest scores in the semi finals were guaranteed $9,000 so once Ricky was in the top 4, that is what he earned.

$5,000: Oct 16 hole 17: Once Paul McBeth failed to make the putt for a 3, he was assured of finishing worse than Ricky and that made the $14,000 third place the minimum.

$3,000: Oct 16 hole 18 fairway: After Buhr's roller went OB, the worst Ricky would finish is tied for second earning total of $17,000

$3,000: Oct 16 hole 18 green: Ricky needed to make a 28 foot putt to force a playoff. By doing do, he guaranteed $20,000 total.

$15,000: Oct 16 hole 18 playoff: When Ricky's second shot on the difficult par 4 finished 35 feet away practically on the same line as the previous putt, there was no doubt it was going in.

Though the prize and 2022 total earnings were the largest ever in the sport, they will likely be surpassed in the future and ten years from now people will remember 2022 more McBeth's sixth world's title, Buhr's first major, or the amazing season Tattar had.

Accepting the challenge

Unlike previous years, the 2022 club challenge was weird to everyone and not just me. Once it was announced that due to a scoring error that was discovered a couple days ago, the club I participated in was declared the winner for the 2021 event. Had the error not happened, I would have not been able to enjoy the win since I was in the ER finding out that I would have needed to wait two hours to get the bee stinger taken out of my leg.

Weather was the weird issue this year as it was necessary to halt play due to storms. Between that and one new hole causing a massive delay, the event needed to be shortened to one round. Since I finally played a satisfactory round in the event and knowing others from my club did well, was hoping that my club would win so I can hold the trophy and like Ray Borque finish with a win.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. What surprised me was how the event was lost. The two best players there who represented the second place club significantly underperformed in their round and had they shot their rating and not 10 shots worse combined than expected, their club would have won easily.

After watching some US players fail in the 1976 Olympic games, told people those athletes should apologize for their performance and then was asked if I would have done the same thing in their situation. My answer was definitely and for decades have been told by teammates that my apologies made towards them for poor performances were unnecessary. 

Tonight watched coverage one of those two from last weekend play even with one of the best disc golfers in the world who a week later refered to that person as a legend. Commentary also stated about his positive attitude towards play even after bad shots.

I look at my left arm with two bruises knowing why they are there.

Failing to deliver

Though I wanted to take a more active role in volunteering at last year's Clash at the Canyons, my physical situation meant that it was best for me to be stationed at the stairs of course #16, Clash #3, making sure only players descended the stairs.

All Sunday, I thanked everyone for making the trip to Dellwood and got interesting replies by pros but the one made on the final group hit me hard as it was insulting.

While driving home tired and hungry decided to get myself to the point where I could justify playing MP50 in 2022 and then run into that player either in practice or at the tournament. The afternoon before the 2022 event, I am sitting on my chair with the alarm set for 3AM for work writing this finally feeling normal again after last week's Masters World's as opposed to getting ready for a Friday tee time.

Between failures of physical, game, and food, am not worthy of playing. Even if I took the recently opened last MP50+ spot, I would likely withdraw since it would not be fair to those in my group to deal with someone unqualified to play in the event. When I played my worst round in 7 years last Wednesday, I apologized for how poorly I played and even asked those at the Discraft booth if they wanted their hat back since I wore it for the round.

In the past I have stated it is wrong to expect certain results when the effort to get them is not made and that applies to me. It was humbling one week ago at this time making the "walk of shame" to get my disc out of the pond in front of basket 6 at Sunset Hills with my retriever especially walking past two local MA55+ players in the chase card waiting to play #12.

Since nothing has really changed in the past 55 weeks, now what? I know physical will improve with food and physical was a big problem last week. Similar to bowling and ball golf, I know many bad shots happen before they are attempted by either stance or the idea for the shot.

However, there has to be more than that. Thanks to lifting weights, can throw the disc farther than I used to but I know it is not enough. If I really want to get better, I need to commit and not just want.

A visiting pro has offered to give one hour lessons and though not sure how much he can help an obese arthritic 56 year old man but it makes sense for someone who spent well over a thousand dollars to play a major tournament to spend $60 to see what he can do.