Australian Disc Golf would like to welcome another accredited tournament director into its ranks. Jordy Wheeler is the third TD to mentored by Kris Kohout, who has a clear lead on our TD mentoring league table which can be found here among other information about the program.
Anybody who thinks they can handle the fame and glory of being either a TD mentor or ADG accredited TD, email secretary@australiandiscgolf.com and we’ll make it happen.
Playing Division – MPO
Current Rating – 960
Sponsors – Taki Sak, DC Discs, Bergs Bags
Predominant throw – Lefty, both wings
Q: How long have you been playing, and how did you get introduced to the sport?
A: I stumbled across the sport back in 2009 at Fehlberg Park Yeronga. I was watching my brother play a game of cricket across the road and during the innings break went for a walk in the neighboring park. Little did I know that Bruce McNaughton, Tim Marchbank, and a few others were playing their weekly round. I can still remember the exact place I was standing when I saw these guys crushing discs on the old Hole 8. It was too intriguing to simply ignore, and I guess the rest is history!
Q: What are your strengths as a player?
A: I’d say I have a relatively consistent game with an ability to throw confidently off both wings. My forehand is certainly something I lean on and I think many of the locals would acknowledge it’s a handy weapon. The game is a lot easier when you can trust your forehand and backhand stances!
Q: What is your best or favorite competition result to date?
A: Winning the RiverCity Ruckus in 2021 at Cadogan Park meant a lot. It was a course that I’d put a lot of effort into designing and delivering with the Brisbane City Council. To win the inaugural tourney on that course, as well as throwing an ace, was very satisfying indeed.
Q: What are your disc golfing ambitions and plans for the next two or three years?
A: Good question, I haven’t really planned anything beyond Croatia. Generally, I’d like to see my game continue to improve, along with supporting the growth of the sport in SEQ.
Q: Can you share a practice tip or something you learned that substantially helped you improve your play.
A: Find a style and strategy that suits your body and mind (disc golf challenges both). In doing so you’re more likely to be confident, stay calm, throw better throws, and resultantly have more fun (which should always be the aim!).
Q: What top pro player do you look up to and why?
A: I have a soft spot for Gregg Barsby who I was lucky enough to play with during the Aussie Open ’17. He’s a super friendly and positive guy both on and off the course, with a throwing style somewhat similar to mine. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him win the 2018 Worlds. I guess I might be classed as a Barsbarian!
Q: What is your favorite disc in your bag right now and what do you use it for?
A: I’m quite well known for throwing the Innova Thunderbird. I’ve got a few of them in my bag in different plastics and stages of wear. It’s such a versatile disc that quickly became a workhorse for me. Where possible, I throw a Thunderbird. I love this disc because I can throw it for both forehands and backhands with confidence.
Thanks Aaron, it’s awesome to have you representing Australia!
Images by Rhinda Larsen & Jeanette Adams (thank you)
In 2016 the ADG engaged the public relations firm of Upshot, Chain & Cutroll to assist us in growing the sport of Disc Golf. They presented their findings to us last week. UC&C made it clear that there was one barrier to mainstream participation that stood out over all others – too many discs. It was UC&C’s position that new players are intimidated and discouraged by the ‘bewildering array of frisbees’. Some surveyed newcomers reported ‘being seized with the urge to run away’ when experienced players start talking discs. As UC&C stated clearly ‘new players actively fleeing is not good for Disc Golf’s brand awareness’. UC&C also helpfully pointed out that all the sports disc golf aspires to be more popular than, are played with a single, standard projectile: The Sherrin, The Duke, The Pigskin, The Spalding, The Gilbert, The Ultrastar – even Quiddich uses a standard broom.
Following these recommendations and in the interests of growing the sport. The ADG, after lengthy consideration, has decided to restrict all sanctioned events to the use of one disc. We’ve decided this disc will be the Innova Wombat.
The benefits to our game will be immediate: Trophy presentations will be shorter because pros will no longer give speeches thanking their discs. Retailers won’t need so many display racks. Disc Golfers will now have the cognitive bandwidth to talk about art, music, poetry and world affairs. There will also be less long-term orthopaedic issues arising from the carrying of heavy bags and pushing carts.
We understand that this will cause some minor inconveniences. Wombat supplies may be a short-term issue. Some disc and bag manufacturers will need to find jobs. Some 250m+ holes will need to be redesigned or made par-9. Plus, no doubt, several other consequences that we haven’t properly thought through. Adjustment to the Wombat Only Rule (WOR) will take some time. This is why we are giving everyone until the middle of next week, April 6 2022, before we ban all other discs and step bravely into Australian Disc Golf’s Wombat-only golden age.
We expect that the Aussie Disc Golf community will once again band together and embrace this new era in our sport with the same resilience and community spirit that we’ve always shown.
#growthesport #nowombatnoplay