Disc golf: Register for a division in which you can win

If you don’t agree with the headline, your mentality is likely as follows:

“You’ve got to compete with the best to become the best.”

While there’s certainly truth to that, something to remember …

Tournaments are a different kind of beast.

If you’re new to competing in full-blown disc golf events, sanctioned rounds won’t play out like the casual ones you’re used to. Without rhyme or reason, gaps get tighter, putts feel longer and nerves – whether warranted or not – are felt in full force. So the next time you see a Pro Tour peep clank a 20-footer on the first hole of a tourney, you’ll feel embarrassed for them …

But you’ll get it.

As you’re probably aware, when registering for a disc golf event, you can choose your own division. If you’re not certain where you belong, the PDGA offers some rough guidelines.

You can read them at this link.

Here’s the Reader’s Digest version, though:

• MA1 – ≥ 935 PDGA Rating + FA1 – ≥ 825 PDGA Rating
• MA2 – < 935 PDGA Rating + FA2 – < 825 PDGA Rating
• MA3 – < 900 PDGA Rating + FA3 – < 775 PDGA Rating
• MA4 – < 850 PDGA Rating + FA4 – < 725 PDGA Rating

My advice?

Screw it all …

Go where you KNOW you can compete.

Then, move up (or down) accordingly.

Putting is a skill. To get good at it, you spend hours with a practice basket each week in the backyard. Throwing far is a skill. To hit 400 feet, you watch YouTube videos, film yourself and take to a vacant soccer field. The ability to disc golf under pressure is a skill, too. And while you can attempt to manufacture pressure with a side bet, there’s only one place to really practice …

In an actual tournament.

At virtually every Pro Tour event for which they register, Paul McBeth and Ricky Wysocki know they’ll be playing plenty of pressure-packed holes. At this point, they’re so familiar with them, viewers at home feel sorry for the newcomer to the scene who has to square off against ‘em …

They live for it; they thrive in it.

Yes, during practice rounds, seek out those better than you …

Stretch yourself.

But come tournament time, find a field that’s on your level: Conquer it – and then move up.

Your game (and headspace) will thank you.

Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.

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