The last Freedom Day

While driving home 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 ticket agent: 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 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 druing 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. 

Masters Worlds 2025 by the numbers

Hours start of trip delayed by Friday doctor appointment: 12

Change of gas price compared to Jan 20: +20

Stops made in trip: 5

Time to get to Bethel University: 7:45

Holes played there: 15

Minutes it took to retrieve disc thrown into 18" of rain water: 15

Minutes from hotel to Treasure Island Casino: 75

Number of Weird Al concerts seen/states: 24/6

Weird Al songs never seen done live before: 7

Minutes from concert end to get back to hotel following VIP/ traffic: 210

Throws Sunday at Oakwood #1 to before hitting island green: 8

Minutes to find disc in the middle of Oakwood 18 fairway in the tall grass: 10

Changes from Oakwood long layout for event: 1

Changes from Bethel long layout for event: 7

Discs in players pack: 3

Apparel in players pack: 2

Rank of the 4 Worlds players packs which I have received: 3

Items purchased at fly mart next to check in: 4

Round one drives better than any practice shot thrown: 5

Round one shots better than rating: 2

Place: T21

People watching my group tee off #1 at Oakwood: 20

Birdies in first 4 holes: 3

Feet of par saving putt on 18 to finish round -1: 35

Shots better than expected: 3

Place: T18

Round three total from holes 2 through 6: +7

On other 13 holes: +2

Place: T26

Holes played at Acorn Park Thursday night: 4

Hints to Pete Ulibarri whom I met there that I didn't get: 3

Feet of hole I got unique birdie #1000: 216

Other people in 72 player MA60 field who did not get a bogey on Oakwood #1 in the two rounds played there: 2

Birdie putt attempts in round 4: 8

Of them, from 35-45 feet away: 6

Birdies in round 4: 0

Place I was in as I drove away from course: T32

Place when all other players finished: T29

People I met whom I knew before while at Convergence for 4 hours: 7

Classic arcade games played on consoles made in 20th century: 6

Discs on lost and found table at Bethel U at beginning of final round: 40

Holes played before catching up to MA65 lead card: 6

Score for first 6 and 7 through 18: +2/+12

Drives that hit a tree or branch: 11

Times second shot of hole was pitching out or forward with no chance to advance significantly towards basket: 6

Approach shots thrown/ended up within 10 feet of basket or reasonable achievable distance: 15/4

Putts made over 25 feet druing round: 5

Minutes waiting on 18 tee while MA65 champion was crowned: 10

Feet from hole drive ended: 35

Feet covered before putt after discovering phone wasn't in the bag: 400

Feet birdie attempt rolled from basket after being just short before par attempt was just high which was my first missed putt of round less than 33 feet: 28

Other holes of the previous 89 I three putted: 0

Shots worse than next lowest player for round: 5

Overall finish/ by rating expected: 31/T36

Birdies first 22 holes/ last 68: 5/2

Shots better than rating rounds 1-4: 4

Shots worse than rating round 5: 7

Miles on way home I got hotel realizing it was not safe to drive: 65

Holes played at Wakanda Park Saturday after nap: 13

Miles on sign near De Forest, WI to nearest Buc-ee's: 559

Holes played at course next to Madison VFW post in rain on Sunday: 9

Feet of hole drive one hopped off pole: 240

Total new unique holes birdied on trip: 18

Accidents passed due to cold front that had multiple heavy downpours which I drove through from Madison: 3

Hours from time I left to return home: 227.5

A tiering by the numbers

Minutes leaving work too late to join two I knew for a flex start event: 30

Years since I last practiced at Ingersol: 2

Total tee shots thrown on #6 wondering why the over the tree play no longer works: 8

Hours it took to realize the over the tree shot on #6 no longer works because the tree has grown in the past two years: 62

Holes I had birdied through 2023 being able to reach: 7

Holes I discovered I can now get within 45 feet because I throw farther: 7

Discs from players pack: 2

Holes practiced at Anna Page: 8

People in D pool that started at Ingersol: 37

Holes missed in round 1 by FPO player who got lost on way from Indiana to Rockford: 10

Round one putts taken from 11 to 33 feet: 10

Round one putts made from 11 to 33 feet: 3

Score to par: -2

Lead: 6

Minutes to play round: 93

Minutes between rounds one and two: 177

Estimated number of people at Rockford demonstration showing disapproval of the person attempting to turn the US into a Christian dictatorship: 2,000

Round two holes on east course where I threw a drive then a 50-100 foot shot to less than 10 feet: 13

Birdies/ birdie putts from 11-33 feet: 2/4

Score to par with bogey on the one bad hole the event plays on: -1

Lead after day 1: 2

Value meal main choices at Beef-a-roo: 40

Minutes in the day round three started earlier than round one round: 90

Drives to less than 10 feet from basket: 3

Drives within 11-33 feet/birdies from them: 5/1

Score to par including 38 foot birdie made: -5

Lead going into final round: 8

Minutes between rounds 3 and 4: 175

Round 4 holes I consider a par four: 4

Round 4 Holes listed as a par 4 for the event: 1

Holes on west course where plan to drive to 50-100 feet followed by an approach turned into par: 8

Putts for 2 attempted/made: 4/2

Distance of #6 where I threw a roller to 12 feet: 255

"Birdies" on a hole I call a par 4 that the TD called a par 3: 1

My total to par/ PDGA app to par: -2/+1

Winning margin: 11

Total winning margin of last two events: 29

Fewer total shots taken than expected: 4

Total C1X putting for event: 11/27 40.7%

Number of IOS events played before winning first one: 36

Number of IOS events won in a row: 2

Opposed events won in 2025/more than one round: 4/3

PDGA rating from most recent update: 897

Total below 900 among 5 rounds whose ratings will be dropped for being over a year before event: 92

Total above 900 shot for the weekend: 28

Estimated rating as of the event: 900

Rating of round played on 7/4/24 that will be dropped after I play worlds: 939

Holes birdied over weekend that I had not birdied before: 4

Total unique holes birdied: 983

Alternate disc golf

This Memorial Day marked the first time I played an age restricted division where I was the player significantly better who was asked why I wasn't in a ratings based division? This is opposed to what I experienced from 2015-2019 and I will need to check opponents before committing to a division in future events especially at a C tier.

I also got my 41st and 42nd unique birdies at 50 Acre Park that has 18 holes of which 17 have two tees and the other has 2 baskets. The reason I have 6 more unique birdies there than holes on the course itself is alternate and temp holes.

Some events will have additional or alternate temp holes to fit more players or to adjust to flooding like Emporia, KS had the Saturday night before the Masters Worlds that started the Tuesday after. Mike Walsh at 50 Acre Park has gotten very creative over the years and him asking me how many temps have been done there led me to create this post.

My birdies and better on the actual course:

Ace: 13 from both short and long tee (a picture of the ace disc in basket 13 has been my profile picture for 8 years)

Short tee to regular basket for a 2: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,15,16,17,18 (I consider 11 and 12 from short tee as par 3 though to me they play a par 3 1/2.)

Long tee to regular basket for a 2: 1,2,6,8,10

Short tee to long basket for a 3: 4

Long tee to regular basket for a 3: 12,15,16,17

That makes 25

Alternate birdies from tee pads:

2 short tee to 3 basket (135 feet)

8 short tee to alternate basket away from swamp (230 feet)

11 long tee due west to temp basket hole I call 10A (265 feet)

16 long tee to a basket near 16 short tee (200 feet)

16 long tee to temp basket in trees (420 feet par 4)

17 long tee to two different temp baskets 180 feet each (one along fairway and the other towards 18 short tee)

17 short tee to basket on mound (245 feet)

18 long tee to basket just over water (225 feet) This is where I lost a disc 9 days after getting and ace with it in 2019. A couple times every year I check the pond with a retriever and the Play it Again Sports on 95th just in case.

That makes 9

Birdies from alternate tee pads:

Area near southwest corner of park to open spot near 11 short tee I call 10B (200 feet)

Area in northwest corner of park to 17 basket (175 feet)

Two different parts on the sidewalk near the gazebo to temp basket (175 and 195 feet) Two other people at the Monday event remembered seeing Tom McManus get an ace there. I refer to that as hole 19

Sidewalk near dog park entrance to practice basket (235 feet) I call it long 20

Grass area to practice basket (150 feet)

Sidewalk next to port a john to practice basket and to temp basket near driving range fence (190 and 250 feet) (a.k.a. the shitter hole) Those last three are versions of hole 20.

8 of those, 42 total.

Though I initially thought there was only one temp hole I never birdied, there are more:

7 long tee to basket 6 (245 feet)

9 short tee to basket on hop of hill (240 feet)

10 long tee to basket in southwest corner of park (700 foot par 4)

13 short tee to temp basket near short 8 tee (200 feet)

14 short tee to 16 basket (600 feet par 4)

15 short tee to temp basket making it a straight shot and a shorter walk to 11 short tee (300 feet)

18 drop zone to 18 basket (150 feet) Used for women's and junior divisions

That makes 24 alternate holes that I can recall.

Having a Google Doc listing every unique hole I ever birdied was the only reason I could create this post and when I get to 1,000 hopefully this year, there will be another long post and if you find doing this as unusual, please reference the title of this blog.

Practice summary

Though it was an enjoyable weekend of disc golf, there were things to learn and to get them out of my head and to have somewhere to reference, posting them here:

1: Neither course has a forced water carry or many places to lose a disc and there isn't an anticipated shot that would need an addition to the bag unless the same winds from last year in Kansas appear in Minnesota. 

However, it makes sense to keep backups especially for dx Leopards since it felt like I threw more last weekend than the rest of the year combined.

2: Focus on the courses played. Last year along with the weekend storm that caused changes to the Olpe Lake course and delayed my practice there, I ended up playing 38 holes in Emporia, KS not on the event courses and the fatigue showed on Friday. Last weekend was to play new courses for the stat sheet and tournament week needs to be for the event. If I visit Blue Ribbon Pines on Sunday or Monday to take a picture on course #4, don't try to play other holes.

3: Better intake: That Friday afternoon was spent dealing with fallout from what I ate the previous 30 hours and I ended up dehydrated when I got to Kahn's for dinner. There is a Super Target across the street from the hotel and a grocery trip there on Sunday is a must.

4: Underwear: Last year and last weekend, I failed to realize that after a round, there is a desire to shower and put on clean clothes. A dozen pair is the minimum that must be packed.

Practice weekend by the numbers

Time out the door: 515AM

Temperature °F: 46

Cars stopped by police on Wood Dale road: 2

Increase in cents of cost of gas per gallon compared to Jan 20: 30

Decrease in cents in cost of gas in Beloit, WI compared to station near me: 60

Years since I drove down Wisconsin Dells Drive since I had to exit expressway to talk on phone: 10

Places remembered with daughter who turned 25 on that day: 8

Cost of Osseo Hardee's lunch: $13.27

Gal of gas put in car Osseo Speedway: 11.13

Years since previous time there when I made a joke about employee hydrating a pizza: 10

Total dead deer seen on I-94 in Wisconsin: 10

Total floors of elevation required to navigate Oakwood disc golf course: 11

Birdies on course including ones throwing the shorter layout while scoring the long one: 5

Holes where I expect OB or Mando added for worlds as the fairways are close to each other: 3

Distance in miles from Northwood Park where I played rounds 2&4 of 2022 worlds to Pizza Ranch: 2.7

Distance in miles from Jones Park where I played rounds 2&4 of 2024 worlds to Pizza Ranch: 1.5

Distance in feet from basket 18 at Oakwood Park where I will be playing rounds 2&4 of 2025 worlds to door of Pizza Ranch: 306

Maximum height in feet of entrance to parking structure at Mall of America that a driver in a box truck ignored: 7

Number of FB posts seen about baseball preference of the new Pope: 10

Distance as the crow flies in miles from hotel to tee one at the Bethel University course: .9

Driving miles: 2.7

Driving time in minutes from hotel to Bethel University course: 9

Cost savings per night at hotel reserved for worlds compared to Worlds main hotel: $20

Travel minutes from Quality Inn to Treasure Island Casino where Weird Al will be on June 28: 55

Hotels in that area available for that night only: 0

dx Leopards thrown at Bethel University: 7

Baskets on a significant slope or next to a dropoff: 8

Birdies: 1

High temperature on Friday: 80

Birdies on Acorn Park course playing two layouts at same time: 12

Dollars including tip for two bowls of Mongolian cooked vegetables with noodles and some shrimp served with rice: 40

Birdies at Lakewood Hills course played early Saturday morning after checking out of hotel: 4

Signs in northern Wisconsin endorsing eliminating an option for female reproductive treatment that my mother 18 months before I was born had in order to save her life: 4

High temp encountered on Saturday: 80

Times in 2025 visiting the Speedway advertised station at exit 69 to find out it is now Amoco: 2

Dollars to play Madison, WI Capitol Springs course: 8

Total open holes up or down the main hill: 13

Birdies including playing some from short tees: 6

Total new birdies from weekend: 28

Temp when home: 60

Total time in hours: 61

Hours from beginning of first of five played rounds to the end of the fifth: 50

A new era in Chicago sports failures

A recent FB post stated a Chicago area team in the four major sports (not including what I call "Minor League Soccer") has not advanced in the playoffs since November 2016 so I had to do the math of all that happening.

There were a couple play in wins but as stated, those don't count.

That means for 9 NBA, NHL, and NFL seasons without appearing in the conference semi final and 8 MLB seasons for two teams not in their league championship series as MLB has one less round.

MLB: 13/15 to the eighth power squared = .101 or 9.9 - 1

NBA: 11/15 to the ninth power = .061 or 16.4 -1

NHL: 11/15 to the eighth power times 10/14 (as Las Vegas made the Western conference 15 teams in 2017) = .06 or 16.6 to 1

NFL: 12/16 to the ninth power = .075 or 13.3-1

Total: .0000277245 or 36,070 to 1.

Eligibility part 5

Two people at work ignored the first place plaque at the desk to ask me about a specific FPO player whom most people in the disc golf community had never heard before Friday when after being introduced at a Disc Golf Pro Tour event stated her refusal to play against a transgender player and walked away.

Since I had never heard of her, I checked out her profile and discovered two things:

1: She is not currently a tour level player. Though her rating is higher then mine, it is not by much. In four events last year, she barely tied for the last cash spot once. Ten of the other 49 players at that event had an overall rating higher than her highest ever rated round.

Since there are groups that offer incentives for players to do what she did and seeing how many want to support her, her walkout definitely was more profitable than anything she could do on the course.

2: She is a hypocrite. Her profile picture shows a disc with a Vulcan "live long and prosper" salute on it and she is doing one as well. The world presented in Star Trek is one where differences are ignored and people are judged by what they do instead of what they are. I later discovered her concern about no longer being welcomed on the tour following the walkout was related to her previous warning about deliberately misgendering the transgender player.

If I was involved with the disc golf pro tour, I would try to get her to play the next event (since she isn't registered for anything) and make sure she is interviewed the day before and then put her on the co feature card. This way she can babble her racist ideas the day before, get a "hero's welcome" on the first tee from the extra people who would pay to show up at the event to the extra viewers who tune in to see her, and then watch a 919 rated player play her first round in front of the cameras or at least part of the round since after a few holes, her lack of ability will likely show and similar to other players, coverage of her will stop and then on the fourth page of the leader board, people can see how insignificant she actually is.

What a difference a decade makes

In my first MA50 event, discovered there was an elite area player in that division and lost to him by 19 shots. Over the next half dozen years with one exception would lose by at least double digits in events which he played.

In 2022, he turned 60 and later that year won the US championship and for three years, didn't have to face him.

Since then, I got better and this weekend is the first chance in MA60 to show him. He struggled out of the gate hitting an early tree and three putting for a double bogey then got it back as I doinked a putt I should never miss.

Somehow the rest of that round, I was able to just miss trees, recover from the ones I hit, make a couple putts, and have a drive skip off the top of a boulder almost going in for an ace. When I was done, discovered that not only was I ahead of him by two shots but it was at least two shots better than all but one of the 55 MA3,50,60, or players on that layout and by rating the best lifetime round.

Next morning was the same score after the first 6 not getting a bogey but having a 25 foot birdie putt hit left side chain, hang on the rim, and fall the wrong way. My opponent didn't bogey the first and gained a shot on me in that stretch and tied on the 7th as my 25 foot birdie putt hit right chain but didn't fall. I was fortunate to stay in bounds off a tree and make a long approach for a birdie later and after nine, we were tied.

There was a dispute on where a drive of mine went off the fairway into water but stayed calm enough to salvage a bogey and after his drive 2 holes later, he was up 2 with 4 to go. My next drive was the worst one of the weekend and after approach to save bogey hit a tree, needed to make 15 foot uphill putt for double. As I walked away, I heard a clank and his 6 foot par putt fell short as he lost focus.

His next drive missed left early and I put my drive under the basket for a drop in birdie. His 15 foot par putt to stay down one clanked short and 1 shot with 2 to go. My next drive trying to get extra to get to the green went way right and my approach shot faded out 20 feet away. His 30 foot birdie hit top of basket but did not fall in and I drilled my par putt to be down one going into final hole.

Unlike 3 hours earlier when I hit first tree in practice, the shot had perfect location and angle to curve left into a head wind and was unfortunate to hit the last tree leaving me 30 feet away. His drive flattened out and went way right but he made a great shot through the trees to save par. The putt to tie was exactly as desired.

Playoff started on Dellwood #13, the hole I proudly played 20 minutes after being divorced, and my drive found a gap to 8 feet before his drive hit and early tree and I won my second B tier in 7 months after going 17 years without winning in over 50 tries. It was cool that people who I know congratulated me on the win.

In the past, the issue with the place to play my shot after OB would have pissed me off and potentially throw me off my game but realized the 25 foot uphill putt from a bad stance likely wouldn't go in, stayed calm, and showed no strong emotion until my tying birdie putt on the last hole. Though I played just as well in round two overall, when my bad drives happened caused me to be four shots worse than the previous day.

The rematch is in Rockford in a week.

Surviving the cattle call

At 930 on March 26th, I became the 6th person to register for the 2025 Masters World Championship in the MA60 division. After refreshing the list 30 seconds later, 62 people registered including 18 on the wait list as there were only 44 remaining spots available. In less than 10 minutes, 82 people registered leaving 38 9n the wait list.

So now that I made it, now what?

I need to reserve a hotel room hopefully in the HQ hotel.

I need to give myself the best chance. I have seen one of the courses I am scheduled to play and know navigating it will not be easy and that the bruise from a fall 11 days previously still shows. The past winter has been difficult on my body and weight needs to be addressed.

I also need to trust my game and not over practice or try to do something I shouldn't. Both of those things were an issue the month before and during last year's event.

Ten percent

Once again a conversation on FB branched into a discussion where people failed to believe that female divisions and events are necessary in most sports because male players are 10% better.

During every summer Olympics, I look at times posted by the winners in the 100m dash, high and long jumps, marathon, 100m freestyle, 800m freestyle, and similar maximum weight limit in weightlifting to confirm the male winner is at least 10% better than the female one.

I was asked about high school level and confirmed for Illinois, there is 10% difference in the state record for males at the events running the same distance.

In disc golf, I would be expected to finish last out of 32 in the MP60 division in the upcoming US Championship but a female with my birthdate and ability would be expected to win by over 10 shots in the four round event.

The highest rated female disc golfer of all time Kristen Lätt played by rating the best three round event of her career at last weekend's Waco Annual Charity Open taking 178 shots to complete the course at Brazos East Park three times. The winning MPO score on a slightly longer course was 162 or 10% better.

(This post was made while on lunch at work to get these thoughts out of my head.)

One last Marscon by the numbers

Total states people came from to perform or watch others: 12

Total hotel omelettes eaten: 3

Total Moopsy seen at con: 2

Total number of times over weekend I left hotel room and went the wrong way: 10

Times at Menonome course I went back to rethrow shot being unfamiliar with the hole: 3

Times I either passed or was passed at a stop by a specific car that was also driving back towards Chicago: 4

Ounces of Muenster cheese curds consumed on trip: 12

Purchased albums listened on drive back: 2

Time to drive home delayed additionally by playing a second round to avoid Woodfield Mall area at 5PM: 10:30

Hours from time leaving apartment to returning: 110

Days from when I returned until next trip to Minnesota: 111

People at convention whom I explained why during the 2007 opening ceremonies "Luke Bauer" got a notice that a Madman on the loose was in the Karaoke room threatening to sing Mr. Tambourine Man: 3

Songs available on my Road Trip Spotify playlist (not including ones no longer available) which randomly played Mr. Tambourine Man as I got home: 630

Coworkers who thought I took the time off to play a tournament: 3

Marscon Sunday

Tips I left in morning that I was unable to do Saturday: 2

Items purchased from table 27: 2

Songs Insane Ian cut from set due to timing and voice issues: 2

Dumb Parody contestants: 14

Individual performers in Smackdown: 7

People who attempted to purchase items from table 27 after it was closed to tally sales: 5

Total number of FuMP acts I have driven in the past 25 years: 13

People from convention who ate dinner together at Mall of America food court: 17

Size of each of two Boob Tree games: 11

Players who had never played it before: 5

ShoEboX reference in the original statement made in the second game: 3

Time as I finish this post: 12:00

Hours after post I will be at work: 28 1/2

Marscon Saturday

Time I started writing this: 1:25 AM

Boxes of cookies purchased from girl scouts: 3

Pictures taken in Propatorium: 5

Main stage music performances: 6

Verses in Devo spice performance of "What's Up Spock": 11

Logan Award finalists who performed their song during ceremony: 4

Of the three winners I would have predicted: 0

Different party rooms consuming a beverage: 6

Total beverages consumed: I lost count

Of the 5 burlesque performers, ones I know by off stage name: 2

Previous times over the past many years I was able to sing with others Space Odyssey in that party room: 0

Marscon days 1&2 by the numbers

Days Marscon officially happens: 3

Days Marscon lasts for me: 5

Time up on Thursday morning: 2:40 AM

Hours worked Thursday before getting on road: 4

Nine hole courses played on trip: 2

Times stopped for bathroom/food/gas: 6

Total time from leaving work to arriving at hotel: 9:30

Time taken in 2023 to beat an approaching winter storm: 6:10

Consecutive times Luke Ski attended Marscon before missing this year: 21

People on Thursday helping with posting music track flyers: 6

Time in bed after hanging out and helping others that arrived later than me: 11:40PM

Cost of hotel omelette: $21

Minutes needed to drive to Bethel University disc golf course: 35

Rounds planning to play there in the 2025 Masters disc golf world championship: 3

Inches on snow that fell at MSP airport on Wednesday: 9

Feet the drive on course hole 2 slid down snow covered hill after hitting ground: 80

Elevation in floors needed to navigate to play the Bethel University course: 15

Holes played there trudging through snow before heading back to car and driving back to hotel: 3

People at hotel who didn't know my name but knew I worked with Luke and asked me if I can get his badge to him: 2

Cost of Long John Silvers fish meal at the Mall of America west food court: $20

Times over the years taking a picture flipping off a giant Pepsi logo in that court: 15

Year I took a picture of that logo not flipping it off since Flat 29 was eating at the table below it: 2013

Mall locations I made a purchase: 3

Age of female divorced Famous Footwear store manager who appeared interested in me causing me to return to the store to get the dry fit socks I have wanted to get for a while allowing me the opportunity to invite her to stop by the con after she was done with work: 58

Times checking on the massage room since my right knee went "no" while walking in the mall and I needed urgent help: 6

Minutes Sulu, a former part of the Dr Demento Show crew, was stuck on an elevator: 60

Adult beverages consumed at party rooms: 3

Age of first performer: 13

Of her three songs performed, number of tracks that featured a significant amount of adult language: 2

Years since former GOH was at Marscon: 10

People in crowd whom I saw singing along with him: 8

Years ago the previous time I got up from my seat in the audience and my legs failed requiring me to grab a chair to avoid falling: 10

Songs I heard from next two acts due to being tired and showing the 13 year old performer pictures I took of her parents at Marscon before she was born: 2

People seen expressing anticipation for seeing the music guest of honor: 7

Items purchased from table 27 including shirt of the music GOH whose act I was too tired to appreciate: 3

Time in bed: 12:30AM

2024 by the numbers

Sanctioned rounds played: 31

Holes played in sanctioned rounds: 644

Total to par: +4

Score to par on holes 17 and 18: +24

B tiers played: 5

B tiers in lead or tied for lead during round 2: 4

B tiers won: 1

Two round C tiers won: 1

Flex starts won: 2

Rating increase in 2024: 20

Points above previous high: 17

Number of states played: 6

Total courses played: 61

Number courses played for first time in 2024: 23

Total unique holes birdied: 368

Birdies from throw ins: 9

Holes never birdied before: 169

Of those 169...

On courses not played before 2024: 115

New options on familiar courses: 22

Holes played at least 10 times before first birdie: 10

Of the 10: At Eagle Ridge: 4

Of the 4, during the B tier won there: 2

Lifetime unique holes birdied: 897

Total 2024 metal hits off tee or second shot on par 4: 8

Aces: 1

Total lifetime aces: 9

Lifetime Aces at Horizon Park: 5

Lifetime aces done between May 15 and Aug 11: 0

Marscon preview

With the future becoming more undecided than ever, realized 2025 could be my last March trip to the twin cities to see many perform and my brain has been ranking the main stage performers by the desire to see their show so to get it out of my head from least to most desired...

Redgar and the Fighters: I have seen them before and nothing really stood out. 

"Needlejuice collaborations": There are multiple collaborations with or associated with Jace who oversees the operations of that company which has impressed me with what they do. The generation gap I have with their work has decreased over the past few years.

Meowmeme: After hearing how well it can sound in rehearsal, realized the energy on stage can overwhelm the performance.

King Missle/Dogbowl: I have known the names but not the music. After the announcement, heard their music and meh. Others have shown their enthusiasm upon the announcement, so will be interested in what they do.

Carrie Dahlby: Nice to see a show featuring her.

Steve Goodie: Glad he is making the trip.

Ross Childs: Sub for Luke Ski. 

Insane Ian: Since he took over the Logan Awards, it has become better. 

Worm Quartet: Life has many times caused a WQ show to be canceled and am hoping he makes the trip to play tracks from his most recent album.

Devo Spice: Since he runs FuMPFeST, he doesn't do a full show there. Due to life (his and mine) it has been a long time since I saw a full performance.