The other side of the madness

On my first hole of a two round event (#3), I was walking to my disc when someone on #1  started yelling at me claiming I picked up his disc. Confused I bent over to look in my bag asking what it was and after hearing him shout Envy, a disc hit me in the head. It was his Envy of a different color and according to those who saw, he threw it on a line drive towards me.

I saw the name on that disc and realized he should have been in my card and not the other one and after someone in my group remembered seeing his disc (which is the same color as one I threw in the area), he apologized and since I wanted to play disc golf, we let him continue from our second tee (#4).

About half way through the round which he had already "checked out mentally", I could tell he realized that "he fucked up bad" (since I have been there before). He saw me limping and wanted to help "work out the knots in my left leg" and the others in the group had to convince him to stop trying to help.

On the walk from #20 to #1, he decided he was done and left to the relief of those in my group. After the round ended, the other 5 pros in the event along with the other player on my card all explained to the TD what happened and the pros stated they would have refused to play round 2 with him had he stayed. I then posted to a Facebook disc golf group knowing there is someone in that group who would be very interested in what happened.

After the event, the tournament director (who is in the IL and IN disc golf hall of fame) said he will be calling the IL PDGA head (also in the IL disc golf hall of fame) explaining what happened. One of the pros who saw what happened also said he will call him.

As I lie in bed 9 hours after this happened, my legs are sore which right now is normal and I needed to drink Powerade to offset a leg cramp but I feel no ill effect from the throw off the head. I have always seemed to be able to take a punch with no problem especially when playing.

Personally, I have no real ill will towards that player. I have "lost it" playing and watching sports too many times over the last 50+ years to count (almost all was me being an asshole; the first time it wasn't was the first time I was called "the madman") I had a player at a tournament keep a disc I left behind in practice so I understand being angry at someone who they believed took it. What bothers me most was his lack of professional respect during the round. Not keeping score (as required for all players), throwing practice shots after missing a putt (all assessed a one shot penalty), and bailing before the round was over. The assistant tournament director had to look up how to apply a disqualification as opposed to a withdrawal. 

The other pros there said they never want to play with him again and a couple of them even replied to those on my Facebook post (that I have since deleted) telling those who thought I was being over dramatic exactly what happened from their point of view.

It was great to get the support from other players at the event who kept asking if I was ok and I was happy that the other MA3 player in the group who also had to deal with him won by one shot though I was one uphill birdie putt off the cage with a 60 foot roll away and a wind lifted 15 foot birdie putt from being in a playoff with him.

Replacement options

Since I ended up with an extra vacation day, I am taking a four day birthday weekend in November since I correctly determined my body would not be able to fully function for this year's Masters World Championship and after my birthday last year was spent with two people mad at me for something that was not my fault (and that no one apologized), I want to do something positive and there are options I need to get out of my head:

No matter what, Thursday morning 8AM is a league round. Past that:

1) Minnesota

After league round, drive to Mall of America and get hotel in Arden Hills

Friday head to Blue Ribbon Pines (#1 course in MN) post round meal at Kahn's Mongolian Buffet.

Saturday two round tournament in Cottage Grove at the course where I clinched my finals spot at the 2025 Worlds. After event, head to Menonome, WI stay at Super 8. Drive home Sunday.

Good) MOA, BRP, Kahn's

Bad) Alone all weekend, weather can be an issue, most expensive option

2) Wisconsin

Friday head to Silver Creek Park in Manitowoc (#4 course in WI)

Saturday head to Rolling Ridge in Reedsville (#2 course in WI) to play two round event, head home

Good) Two top courses, B tier, can do something Thurs or Sun at home

Bad) Weather can be an issue, second most expensive option

3) Peoria

Friday head south to play McNaughton get hotel

Saturday play Northwoods Black (or Blue), head home

Good) Avail Thu & Sun, Most southern option means best potential weather. Can see what a 61 year old man can do on one the most difficult courses in the world.

Bad) No tournament, would require hotel

4) Local

Saturday one round event at Trinity Links in Lockport

Good) cheapest play, one round easier if body not 100%. more access to local people

Bad) By far worst disc golf course listed

5) No event (If weather or life gets involved)

Possibly play glow at Dellwood evening of Nov 12.

Head to Galloping Ghost on the 13th and possibly see a movie.

Good) Gorf, Mr. Do, Pengo, Robotron 2064 and cheapest option.

Bad) Not that special, wrists will be sore. 

Since weather can be an issue in mid November, a decision can't be reached until the week of.

Computer time

When my mom was moved out of her house, the little computer that she had used could not go with her and since no one else needed it, I was able to bring it home and hook it up to my tv.

It had been ten years since I had one and my life has changed since then:

 

The "something else":

Playing a Mr. Do emulator

Failing to connect to the Dementia Radio server to listen or to the chat.

Failing to submit my nominations for the Logan Awards

Creating the chart and uploading it to a private FB post so I can download it on my phone then post it to this site

Solution one

Obviously the first issue is weight so after explaining how I live, three ideas were formed:

1: Do not purchase ready to eat food from anywhere (except after tournament rounds or when on the course 2+ hours).

2: Only go to a gas station when I need to get gas: Hot dogs, pizza, sandwiches, chips, cookies, candy, fruit pies and especially cheese danishes and big gulps might wire me so I can get work done but at a cost.

3: Don't buy anything at a grocery store that I have purchased at a gas station.

The person who formed these ideas wants me to profess a positive version of this but no fucking way.

The ortho person stated that the pain I have experienced over the past six weeks in my left knee is only arthritis even though I had no knee issues years before.

Someone who spent time defending him turned her head when I got up and the left knee popped loudly.

Repair time

Shortly after winning the state championship, by brain went, "What's next?" The answer was a shrug.

Due to my left knee/leg situation, I didn't go on a course for a almost two weeks and then five tournament rounds over six days all were not good.

Needing crutches to get out of bed and having trouble getting out of my car for over a month along with my weight and a mild cold I can't seem to shake has led me to go all in to fix things.

So what does that mean?

Checking allergies due to swelling that prevented me from wearing my big knee brace when I last played.

Blood work for diabetes, cholesterol, testosterone, and other things.

Stool analysis for gut issues.

Physical therapy for both knees after both failed in testing.

Counseling over food management since the scale displayed my inability to handle it myself.

There was panic and an overwhelming feeling in the office and am writing this now after eating to remind myself what needs to be done and why.

Event 200

The Aug 19th, 2026 Wacky Wednesday event is considered by the PDGA as my 200th lifetime one so I took the time to look at the events and on what courses they are played.

The 200 events includes league sessions between 6 and 12 weeks of which I usually played 1-4 of them. Many of those leagues play at different courses each week so if I played more than one course in that session, each course will be counted once. Similarly a tournament that played at multiple courses will have each course counted as once even if I played one course 2 or 3 times and others less.

Anyway, based on that, in the 200 events:

36 Illinois courses

11 Indiana courses

8 Wisconsin courses

6 Pennsylvania courses

3 Minnesota courses

2 Kansas courses

Top ten courses by events:

Fairfield - 43

50 Acre - 31

Dellwood - 20

Eagle Ridge - 14

Anna Page West, Lemon Lake Red, Grey Fox - 10

Indian Oaks - 9

Anna Page East, Lemon Lake Blue - 8

Overhyped games

The current MLB schedule now has every team play against all other teams over the 162 game schedule. Since ties for division winners and playoff spots are no longer decided with a one game playoff but by a tie breaking system, games against those in one's division matter most then followed by other teams in the league and those in the other one.

In Chicago, the games for three days become that not only because the White Sox play the Cubs but because the White Sox now have division lead. Only the most foolishly optimistic fan would expect this let alone being above .500.

Personally, I cared more about last weekend series in Detroit where by winning 3 of 3, it turned a short lead into 5 1/2 games. I am also annoyed since instead of watching 2 local games the next three days, there is only one.

Having to reschedule vacation time was a bonus since my employer is having a "wear your favorite team" shirt day and I was not going to wear a Dolphins or disc golf shirt.