The Disc Golf Guy: Terry Miller is (way) better at disc golf than you

“Seriously, who IS this guy?”

As a relative newbie to the sport, this is the question I found myself regularly asking. Whether watching the Disc Golf Network, listening to podcasts, following on social media or watching some post-produced coverage, I couldn’t escape the omnipresence of a certain “Terry Miller.”

I don’t intend for this to come off as extreme, but no joke: In all of professional sports, is there a dude more synonymous with the sport he covers than Terry Miller is with the game of disc golf?

He literally goes by “The Disc Golf Guy.”

The question remains, though …

Who is he?

I once heard somebody describe Kim Kardashian as “famous for being famous.” Within the way-less-lucrative world of disc golf, could it be that Terry was cut from the same cloth? Did he somehow gracefully stumble face-first into mega-niche superstardom as a media personality?

In something as weird as … 

Golf frisbees?

Enough with the reflective questions: The answer is a resounding NO.

O.G. disc golfers know it, and now you do, too: Terry has a reputation that precedes himself. The reality is the guy not only knows more about disc golf than you, but he’s better than you … 

Like, WAY better than you.

He (humbly) told Green Splatter as much during a recent conversation:

“Many people have no idea of my history with the game and think that, just because they haven't seen me play on a lead card at a current, large-scale event, I'm lacking knowledge or insight into the game – I personally find that ridiculous.”

Ridiculous, indeed …

Terry has been playing disc golf for over 30 years.

During that time, he’s done some pretty cool things out on the course:

• Miller recently won a C-tier in late May, shooting 14 strokes under par.
• His PDGA rating has been as high as 995, incredibly – he’s at 933 right now.
• Terry straight-up won the 2008 Glow World Championships – yes, that’s a real thing.
• For two decades, he averaged at least one B- or C-tier tournament takedown per year.
• He cashed at several PDGA World Championships, including a 36th-place finish in 2007.

What’s Señor Miller’s “secret sauce,” exactly?

“My midrange game … is really the only thing that can keep me competitive. I've never been a long thrower, and I have no sidearm skills, so if I can throw short, turnover shots with a mid, I'm in heaven. I now play 10 to 12 casual rounds per year, but when I do go out and play, and happen to play well, it feels d*mn good.”

More from the man himself – this time, on his career in disc golf:

“I understand that I never became one of the best players in the world, but my proximity to the players, the sport and the media have put me in a position to have at least a credible perspective on what's going on within our sport. The long and short of it is that you don't have to be a World Champion to have a worthwhile perspective … Many people hated on me for trying to 'profit' from creating a full-time career based around the sport, when really, I was just finding ways to serve the ever-growing and expanding player base.”

A few bozos “hated on” Terry for doing what they only wish they could: Work in disc golf – in whatever capacity. Today, he’s universally loved by those in the industry. He was (and is) an incredible disc golfer – don’t you forget it. As Zach Melton once said of the man:

“Ter-Bear got game.”

So, back to my original question: Who IS this guy?

He’s The Disc Golf Guy – and that’s a moniker well-earned.

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

Editor’s Suggestions:

• Disc golf: There’s no right (or wrong) way to putt
• Why disc golfers are emotionally attached to their discs
• Disc golf: This one thing determines the discs you’ll bag

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