Making the difficult choice

On April 15th at 9:30 CDT, general registration for the 2026 PDGA Masters World Championship goes live and unlike three of the previous four years, I won't be trying to get a spot. I am going to try to explain why.

Though I am not enthusiastic about Meggido and McNaughton (the courses scheduled) and am concerned about field size which would reduce the likelihood that I would make the cut as 21 players with a rating of 30+ points better than me were able to register early being in the top 5% of MA60 players, that and the cost are not the reason why.

Unfortunately it is my body. I was able to throw above 900 rated for two rounds on difficult courses last weekend but what happens physically after is the problem. 

Since the Monday round played on the way home from Marscon five weeks ago, I have been dealing with uncomfortable pain during and after rounds in different spots. For a while, putting became difficult as the legs/back weren't cooperating and I had to change how I putt. The right hip made picking up discs in Rockford difficult to do by the end of round two and the next morning I had to "Donald Duck it" at home unable to get on pants and it took five days after to feel fully functional again.

Last Saturday was the clincher. The walk up the hill on Grey Fox 6 and down it on 7 took a lot out of me and the legs were cramping by the time I got to my drive on 7 which was my final hole of the round. The underwhelming third shot and missed putt were definitely body related.

After lunch, walking from the parking lot to tee 8 at Siler Fox to start round two was also difficult due to the slope I had to navigate. I was definitely feeling fatigue on 18 and stopping at my car for water and food helped a bit but by the time I got to my drive on 4, I was feeling bad again and after a bad drive on 5 and leg cramps on 7 to finish the 36, was disappointed to be tied for second two shots behind the leader who still had one hole to play

The walk back to my car was not good. I had to stop and sit multiple times and wanted to call the TD to get someone to pick me up but I knew it would not be fair to do so until I was assured that my event was over. Then I got the result, the leader double bogeyed and it became a four way <Mora> PLAYOFFS </Mora>. Eventually, I waddle back to the parking lot and needed someone to pick up the coin I flipped to decide who goes first. My playoff drive on 18 was weak and after a bad kick off a tree, the disc was closer to the parking lot than the fairway.

On the drive home, my whole body started rebelling. I ended up pulling into a McDonald's dry heaving in the bathroom before getting some food and sitting in a chair for a half hour. Only my confusion with insurance and the US health care system prevented me from searching for the nearest ER. By late morning the following day, everything with me returned to what has become "normal".

Even after today's post work well played nine, I had trouble getting out of the car when home and out of my bed when going to the bathroom while writing this.

There are many who want to make the trip to Peoria in September and it would not be fair to other amateurs born from 1962 to 1966 for me to register when I am not 100% sure I could navigate 2 practice rounds followed by 4 or 5 tournament days five months from now.

Scale issues

On my way home from work today, I wondered if it were possible in a month to eat at a different place every day that I often frequent and realized easily yes. Though the idea of getting pills or a shot I would be unlikely to administer to myself that could cause digestive discomfort both ways was researched, it would be fair to first significantly limit eating from all the places I could stop and to get them out of my head, will list them by how I would regularly encounter them:

I am listing places I have gone the last 6 months locally (not including Marscon) and yes, some serve Pepsi but I only go there when I already had a consumable beverage with me. I am not going to list the half dozen Speedway gas stations where I could get pizza slices, hot dogs, or even a sandwich. 

Though some chains are listed multiple times, they are all unique locations I have eaten at the last six months.

Near my work: Subway, Culvers, Panda Express, Jimmy John's, Buona Beef, Portillos, Raisin Canes, Five Guys, Brandy's (high end fast food place)

Near my home: Subway, Burger King, Popeye's, McDonald's, Little Ceasars, Gina's hot dogs, Wing Stop, Hoys Chinese, Rose's Chinese, Joey D Deli.

Near or on way from work to one grocery store: Jersey Mike's, White Castle, McDonald's, Wendy's, Scooby's Red Hots, Mama Maria's pizza.

Near or on way from home to Sam's Club: Panda Express, Wing Stop, Culvers, Wendy's, Beef Shack, Portillos.

Near other grocery store: Five Guys, Noodles and co, Popeye's, McDonald's, Wendy's, Golden Corral

On way home from disc golf courses: Sammie's Red Hots, Brandy's, Charley's Cheesesteaks (2 locations), Wing Stop (2 different locations), Submarine City, Portillos (3 locations), Golden Corral, Fry the Coop (2 locations), Fireside BBQ, Beef Shack , Mod Pizza, Bacci Pizza, Dickey's BBQ, Rosati's pizza.

Other places I don't regularly encounter: Culvers, Arby's, Raisin Canes, Jersey Mike's, Noodles and co, Wing Stop, McDonald's.

It makes sense why I weigh so much.

Marscon 2026 by the numbers

Change in a gallon of gas from Jan 20, 2021 to Mar 4, 2026: +.34

Score for front nine/back nine on gold course at Fairfield: 0/+9

Shots worse than expected by rating: 4

Extra miles driving after missing exit in Lake Geneva: 12

Different Pizza Ranch locations I had visited/states before stopping at the one in the Wisconsin Dells only to walk out after discovering they switched from Coke to Pepsi: 4/3

Nine hole rounds played next to a church in Eau Claire: 3

Times I had to relieve myself against a building there: 2

Hours from leaving home to arriving at Hilton: 13.4

Stores in Mall of America I stopped on Friday: 4

People in Famous Footwear I babbled with about disc golf in the twin cities area: 2

Times over the years I have taken a picture of me flipping off a Pepsi sign in the south food court: 17

Times I correctly identified that food court as the south one and not the east: 2

Times on a toilet Friday afternoon likely because the different Arby's sandwich I got the day before caused issues: 6

Packages of girl scout cookies purchased: 3

Pictures of Robert O'Reilly available to be autographed/people I know who chose one specific to be autographed: 10/5

Alcoholic beverages consumed Friday night: 8

Age of That Lucky Panda when I attended my first Marscon: <1

His songs about a subject which I was not familiar that my daughter knew: 4

Times seeing Holy Bongwater perform/ albums released 4/0

Years since I saw Dino-Mike perform: 9 1/2

Times Dino Mike joined someone else on stage over the weekend: 3

New Meowmeme songs performed: 2

Days from the time I mentioned in the Doctor Who themed con suite "The Nightmare Begins" was the Doctor Who episode that premiered the day I was born to the announcement a copy of the long believed forgotten episode was found: 5

Minutes walked on a treadmill Saturday morning: 20

Minutes on the 12 minute drive to McDonald's to get food for Luke that I correctly realized their menu might not have the crispy chicken strips which is the only lunch/dinner item I would get from there: 6

Years since I saw a stand alone Carrie Dahlby Marscon concert that didn't have a song with or by her child: 11

Times Ross Childs guzzled a bottle of water without using his hands: 2

Number of words in the Eninem song Rap God which Devo Spice parodied on stage and got a standing ovation: 1,560

Completed percentage of the Luke Ski Darlene and Darius animatic that was shown at the concert: 72

Minutes Ian performed at his first Marscon 18 years ago where I drove him to the bus station afterwards to head home to Maryland: 9

Short songs on Ian's new EP: 11

Years ago during Marscon opening ceremonies "convention agent Luke Bauer" was notified that a madman on the loose was threatening to sing Mr. Tambourine Man in the karaoke room: 18

People I saw who did karaoke so bad, I almost went in the room to "sing" Mr. Tambourine Man (almost): 5

People who mentioned to me that the shirt I wore Saturday night has disc golf baskets on it: 2

Star Trek costumes worn in the burlesque show which I was too tired to stay up to watch: 3

Minutes from hotel to Sunday disc golf one round event I was going to attend until my right leg cramped while on the toilet: 15

Distance in feet of hole I aced after getting a massage and realizing that with an hour to spare, I could travel 8 minutes and play a quick nine: 126

People who asked questions of "vice president JD Vance" to open Sunday programming: 10

People at MOA Chipotle who called off that day due to the 60 degree day causing me to wait a half hour in line to get food for Luke: 2

Artists who decided to not perform in the Smackdown due to illness: 2

Years ago my daughter Erin performed Sleep Walking Zombies on stage with Carrie at Marscon: 16

Wait in minutes for the audio to get set up so Erin could perform the song with the 7 year old version of herself as background voice which helped her calm down while I was getting more nervous: 3

Songs performed at Marscon where my voice was in the background track that was played: 2

People from music track or fans of who ate at the MOA north food court after everything ended Sunday: 20

People who played rounds Boob tree which I wanted to join but knew I had zero processing energy to do so: 11/9

Score at Moir Park playing Monday morning twice assuming I two putt number one both times as the basket was missing and replaced with a temp one for the event: -10

Shots better than expected rating from Sunday event: 3

Sales tax money saved by purchasing clothes in Minnesota: $18

Walking distance in miles from Wisconsin Dells Pizza Ranch from Mac's where I ate on the trip home with my daughter and son in law: .25

Driving minutes from Mac's to course in Baraboo: 15

Hills to climb during round: 4

Different spots on the trip where I was on US 12: 5

Hours after leaving hotel to get home: 12.25

Artists of the ten who performed who tested positive for COVID after the event: 4

Being necessary

My department at work has the required number of people to function in normal situations and to survive when someone is sick or on vacation which turns out to be over half the year.

However, due to a medical situation that has a coworker out for a while, things at my job have not been normal especially when anyone is on their vacation. When I took one Friday off to move my mom, I came back the following Monday to 75 skids to put away.

In order to see my mom's new doctor and to recover from the extended weekend, I am currently scheduled off from the 4th through the 10th and have half joked at work stating the department might be better off closing at that time.

To get some of the thoughts out of my head, this is how I anticipate things could go:

Mar 2: After I change the three month calendar at my desk which shows the previous month unlike some who have the current month on top, some coworkers were surprised to see me thinking I scheduled the whole week off instead of three days this week and two the next.

Mar 3: I end up frustrated since other people in my department are able to leave on time or early before the day before heading on vacation. Though it is nice to see a review stating my dedication to my job, this sucks. I then leave detailed emails with potential situations that could happen when I am gone that no one will read.

Mar 4: People realize I am gone and try to figure out how to cover for me. If something significant happens, I will get a text or call asking for help and potentially am asked to work a half day late Wednesday or Thursday morning.

Mar 5: The plan is to play a league round in Round Lake then take US 12 to get back to I-90 possibly stopping in Lake Geneva which I pass to pick up something to take with me. If I have to work that morning, no disc golf.

Mar 6: If weather in Bloomington is ok, I drive 15 minutes from the hotel to a small nine hole disc golf course. After stopping at a DXL store to get clothes without paying sales tax, lunch at the Mall of America where I take a picture of me flipping off the giant Pepsi logo. Coworkers are relieved since there are no outbound trucks and ignore the vacation calendar by leaving things for "Ken to figure out Monday morning".

Mar 6 PM to Mar 8: I see a whole bunch of friends many who I haven't in at least a year. I watch awesome music performed. I explain what happened the last time I was in the twin cities. Multiple people comment on my shirt Saturday night on the same floor I will consume a years worth of alcoholic beverages with people I trust hopefully including my daughter. I play a flex start event Sunday morning at the same course I visited on Friday and watch people with talent draw pictures Sunday night.

Mar 9: When I wake up, I see a text message from someone who ignored the vacation calendar asking me when I expect to be at work that day. I then get breakfast at the hotel before heading home potentially stopping to throw discs somewhere. I will likely get asked if I can come back to work the day after instead of taking Tuesday off and I reluctantly agree to do so.

May 10: Back at work tired from the weekend and coworkers are asking why I am less agreeable than usual.

I am hoping things won't go that way at work and I am ignored by work for a week like the previous time in Minnesota and come back to minimal things to solve but by posting this, will hopefully get those thoughts out of my head.

Eligibility part 6

This is being released as the youth of the world is hopefully about to start competing in winter events and hopefully there will not be any focus towards the eligibility of certain competitors in women's events.

Since the 2024 Olympic games produced overreaction to certain women competitors believed to not be eligible, there has been much discussion about this. I have stated the question is how to define eligibility for women's events and since I don't have a degree in genetics, I need to trust those who do.

However, I have found a solution that multiple people have proposed to be completely absurd and that is to eliminate women's events claiming they can compete equally with men. There are events where gender doesn't affect performance but I am referring to the majority that do.

In one discussion, I provided data proving that at the elite level in many events, the difference is so significant that female competitors at their best would have zero chance against equal male ones. Unfortunately similar to showing data to a member of the GOP about the potential damage the current administration is proposing, it was ignored.

It doesn't matter that the idea of women's events was initially created to protect male ego in archery (which is one of the few sports where gender doesn't affect elite performance), in most events in 2026 there is a difference at the elite level. That is similar to claiming that since Democrats were pro slavery over 160 years ago, that they are the bad guys today.

Why do I use the phrase "elite level"? That shows the ultimate ability of an athlete. 

Does that mean every man will defeat every woman? No. My 51 year old sister who has completed an Ironman triathlon would easily beat me in a 5k run. However, in disc golf which I have played over 20 years, my 60 year old self who finished last in the finals on last year's world championship would be expected to play equal to a local female pro in her late 50s who has won 2 professional world titles and 2 US titles in an age protected female pro division and is in the top 20 of all time event wins.

Many of the results in events at the winter Olympics don't compare to men and women. Any event which has a judge provide a score based on their opinion can't be compared but people who pay attention would notice male competitors will complete more spins than female ones.

Alpine skiing can't compare since women will be on a different course. In ski jumping, it is designed for competitors to land on a specific part of the hill and the start position can be adjusted to do so. Hockey? No. Curling, maybe.

There are also events where the goal is to finish first. Pace can affect that.

The only two events that could be compared are Nordic skiing and long track speed skating which literally had the same distances for both mens and women's events. I also noticed that for qualifying in a snowboarding event, the best female time out of 32 players would have finished 31st in the men's division on the same course done back to back along with a couple mixed events where men and women competed in tandem and the mens performances were beyond the point where a woman could "surprise" and win.

Long track speed skating is the most obvious one. There is a significant difference between men's and women's world records.

2025 by the numbers

Frisbee golf rounds played: 1

Disc golf rounds played: 223

Courses played in 2025: 53

IL/IN/MN/WI: 38/3/4/8

New courses played: 20

Sanctioned rounds played: 45

Rounds in the same group as a former or current PDGA major winner: 5

IL/IN/MN/WI: 34/3/5/3

MA1/MA2*/MA3*/MA50/MA60: 3/1/3/13/25

Rounds played on a Federal holiday: 5

Rounds played on a notable non holiday: 4

Different holes birdied overall: 388

Par 4s birdied: 29

Holes birdied first time in 2025: 157

Of those a new course: 83

Those on a new tee or basket location for 2025: 17

Those I first played from 20-24: 35

Those I first played before 2020: 22

Lifetime unique birdies/different courses played: 1063/136

Rated holes played: 851

Rated birdies/different holes: 174/138

Holes I birdied four times: 2

Longest rated par three birdie: 323 (Bethel U #18)

Longest rated par four birdie: 617 (50 Acre 14-16)

Most birdies in a round: 9

Rounds with no birdie: 5

Longest birdie streak: 5

Throw ins: 2

Total to par: +8

Drives that hit metal of the basket: 11

Second shots off the tee that went on the basket: 3

First shots off the tee in the basket: 0

The new challenge

I am writing this during the last hour of 2025 home in bed after watching a satisfying final episode of Stranger Things at a movie theatre.

For me, there was one goal for 2025 and due to time, energy, analysis, money, and a bit of luck, I walked up to the first tee at the course on Bethel University on July 5th in the final round of the world championship. Though my mind at that time was focused on a decision made by someone else months previously that in retrospect makes sense, it is now very satisfying knowing my decisions on what to do along with lessons learned from the previous decade allowed me to get there that day.

I was so mentally and physically exhausted following my final round that less than 100 miles on the return trip, I fell asleep at 2PM in my car after putting gas in it causing me to get a hotel.

There was no after plan and combined with unanticipated stress outside work or the course, my body is more broken down than ever. In the 45 minutes since leaving the theatre, I have experienced pain in over a half dozen different places in my body including my right knee which needs to be replaced in an operation that won't be considered by my doctor until my BMI is significantly lower.

Knowing what to do and more importantly to not do is obvious and two months ago I saw someone who succeeded in doing what needed to be done.

Three hours past the time I normally go to sleep is not the ideal moment to develop a working agenda but waking up a half dozen times (including today) the past 7 weeks with spasms in one of my legs causing me to need crutches to make it to the bathroom is a sign of a problem that needs to be solved immediately.