In Which I Learned to Putt

Here's several phrases I've uttered:

In response to a close-in clang, "Oh, it's going to be one of those days!"
In response to a great, but not quite drop-in, drive: "Oh great, now I have to make a putt!"
In response to an outright miss, "Man, I gotta learn how to putt!"

I practice drives in the park and putts at my house, with my portable basket. No two putts were the same. No two putts in a row, much less days in a row, were the same. If I made a putt, and it felt good, I'd try to get it back, try to figure out what it was. No dice. Sure, maybe a round I'd hit a few 20 footers and feel good, but if it weren't 12 and in, it was an adventure. Practicing at home was little different.

Then, last week, going into my first A-tier (first tournament of any kind, actually), I knew I had to putt. And, not just putt, but I had to replicate the putt over and over, with people watching, with something on the line. I renewed my efforts, watching videos, studying styles, looking for something that I could do now from 20-in, but with a little more swing or weight-shift, would eventually be good from 30-in and 35-in. I now you aren't supposed to change up your putting style a couple of days before a tournament, but take it from me, whatever I came up with wasn't going to make my putting worse.

It was Biblical the day I found it. I read or saw something somewhere that clicked, practiced in the house, visualizing the putt. Then I rushed outside and set up my basket. The Biblical part was the rain. Out of nearly blue skies it poured rain. The clouds that were there were so soft and pale white that they almost shrugged and said, "Don't look at me, I couldn't rain like that." So, I moved the basket to the edge of the garage and walked to the back of the garage -- about 25 feet -- and started putting. Ching, ching, ching. Over and over. This Biblical part was how God Himself reached out of the sky, touched my arm and said, "Now you can putt. Sorry about all that other stuff, and all those other days, but we got a lot of laughs up here watching you!" A fully replicate-able, good from 35-in putt (note: not saying I make all of them, but it's not a stretch now).

I love moments where it all clicks and it comes together. In the A-tier, I nearly missed my first putt on my first hole, for birdie, from 10 feet (hit the very, very top and dropped in, whew!), then I missed the next putt and then I remembered and replicated "My" Putt. The next day, I started the same way, with an iffy putt for birdie that I barely made. Then I made probably 10 putts I wouldn' t have made the week before. 10 strokes, yes. I was on fire (relatively so, at least), because I had confidence. I've putted on three other days since, and can hit reliably from 20-in, nearly-always from 25-in and hit chains or basket from 35-in. Being able to replicate these putts and that feeling, means everything. Life seems so much nicer now, you know? Go ahead, cut me off in traffic, no problem.

If you can't putt, I don't really have much advice, nothing except this: when you find that motion that works -- you can tell, like you can tell when you are in love or who it was that farted in the car -- stop everything and figure it out. You gotta have balance, a motion toward the basket, THE SAME GRIP (I traced my grip on my putter), and confidence. Oh, and just use one putter. Your routine varies if you have a stack of putters. If you use one, it's like the real game; after all, you want to putt as well during a round as you do in practice, right?

Now, perhaps I just shot myself in the foot. Maybe I'm jinxed; I'm sure I'll have bad rounds, but just the fact that I've been able to make the same putt over and over 300+ times in a week when I used to not be able to replicate a stroke twice in a row, I'm confident finally found my stroke.

What's in my Bag #4

Bought a few new discs lately, so here's what's in my bag:

Distance Drivers, most overstable to most understable:

Discraft Force (ESP) (174g) - Just bought it, just thrown it a couple of times in a field. Feels pretty good, probably about the same feel as a Destroyer, which I also liked (and lost). This is a very overstable disc, and I think that will help me torque it into the wind. If not, I'm going to find a Flick, which is even more overstable than the Force. I'm hoping this will be my into-a-headwind distance driver and spike hyzer driver.

I've been wanting to play some Discraft discs, but I've had trouble finding them locally. I got this with my "winnings" in the plastic division of the mini-tournaments I've been playing in. Most of the forehanders I look up to play for Discraft so there is a feeling I'm missing out a little.

Innova Star Monster (175g) - I didn't like this disc at first, but I really do now. I think it's just a matter of time before you learn to throw any disc correctly. This disc works great into the wind if I don't try to throw it too hard. I can turn it over into the wind. In calm weather, which is not common in Corpus Christi, I can throw it really hard and it goes straight. I still am inconsistent, but when I hit it hard and right, it feels great.

Innova Pro Wraith (175g) x2 - bought a spare; I've lost 5 or 6 of these this year. I like this disc, for me it's a great tailwind driver but I can't thrown it hard into a headwind anymore. It used to be this big-impossible-to-turnover disc but now I can't throw it straight on a long drive. Into the wind it throws pretty flat but loops on an annhyzer (like the Roadrunner should, I think). It actually works pretty well as just a stand-there-and-whip-it disc; stand-there-and-whip-it is currently served by my Star Teebird, though. Eventually I might be able to do without the Wraiths or the Teebird.

Innova Star Roadrunner (175g) - right after I bought this, with the intention of using it as my left-turning forehand disc, I read a post by someone who said "there is no reason for any forehander to ever have a Roadrunner, period." I thought that was ridiculous, but I guess I'm getting more snap on my drives because I really struggle to not turn this thing almost on it's lid when I'm simply trying for a little anhyzer. My "little anhyzer" shots are now with Wraiths. The Roadrunner is a decent top-turning roller, but that's all it's doing for me right now. I don't trust it at all. Yeah, yeah, it's the bow not the arrow, but if the bow can't figure out the arrow... I have realized lately that this is a lower speed disc than the Monster, Wraith, TeeRex, Destroyer, etc, and so I've probably just been pushing it too hard, but I'm not finding a place for this except for long trouble shots where a roller is a the best option (and these are rare cases). Guess that dude was right. It may have to go.

Fairway Drivers most overstable to most understable:

Innova Banshee DX (175g) - This is a beat in DX disc, but it's still SO overstable. Amazingly overstable. I love it. I can only get it to go straight in a headwind and pushing it HARD. It will be a great barometer of how much snap I'm getting if I can ever throw it straight for 300 feet with a tailwind. Right now I use it for "guaranteed hyzers" -- from 250 on in. I use it for approaches more than my mid-range discs because it's so reliable. I don't know if this is an one-run abberation -- the Innova site doesn't talk about this being hugely overstable, like I'd think -- but if it's not, I'm always, always, always going to have a Banshee, just for my security blanket.

Innova Star Teebird (175g) - Ooo, but if you throw this right, you can thrown it straight. Last mini, I had two great throws with it. On one, I was worried about overdriving a 200 foot approach, didn't trust either of my mids (Shark & Cobra) to not turn over and roll somewhere unwanted, and the wind was strong left-to-right with a big tree there, too, so no Banshee. I only had a straight shot and it was either the Wraith or Teebird. I went TB. Since I was worried about over-shooting the hole, I just relaxed and tried to keep it low and straight -- and did I, wow. I overshot of course, but it felt great. If I'd relax like that more, instead of trying to crush everything, I'd be in pretty good shape, probably.

I don't really have an understable fairway driver and can't think of when I'd really need one. I'd probably just throw RHBH, which I can't do for big distance, but I can toss the Teebird or Wraith 250 feet on a sweeping hyzer easily, so that works.

Mid-range most overstable to most understable:

Innova Star Gator (175g) - I wanted a Discraft Drone but since I couldn't find one locally, I went for the Gator when I had a chance. I need -- badly -- an overstable mid-range because I'm always turning over my mid-ranges. I can't throw them at all into a headwind or right-to-left crosswind. I haven't thrown the Gator much, but I just took it out a field on a windy day and compared the Shark, Cobra & Gator and, wow, this is precisely what I wanted. I hope I continue to find it as useful as today. It's a huge problem for me, the inconsistent mid-range game. I can lay up from about 100 feet in with my putter (though I frequently miss the 15-footer!), but if I'm around 200 feet I often don't trust my mids and go for a sweeping hyzer with a Wraith or Banshee (sometimes the Monster). With the Gator, I'm hoping I'll have no situations where I can't play a straight-shot if I want. The Cobra and Shark do pretty well with tailwinds or calm days but I just can't put as much oomph on them as I'd like with shanking them badly. Yeah, bow not arrow. I got it.

Innova Star Shark (175g) - Man, this is my back-and-forth disc. I sometimes wonder why I have it. I love it some days, hate it others. Most rounds, I don't use it. It goes: Driver, maybe another Driver (if I shanked the first drive, or if I am spiking a 200 foot approach), then the putter, putter putter, however many times I need it (way, way too often!!). I bet most rounds the Shark doesn't see the light of day... but I still keep it in my bag. It's got this hold over me. Anyway, it flies a lot like my putters, though it seems a bit more stable and can be thrown a little harder & farther. I think it's a good wood-holes mid/short disc; you know, holes where you'd throw your DX putter but worry about tacoing on a tree. That's what the shark would work for.

Innova Star Cobra (CFR) (175g) - I don't use this one much in rounds, either, especially on roomy courses. I just don't trust it that much... don't feel like I can put it within 20 feet of the basket reliably. But, I really like the feel of the Cobra and it's flat inner lip. This is the most comfortable disc. I really want to get reliable with it, as I think it offers me the most versatility.

Putter:

Innova Aviar Putt 'n Approach, DX (175g) x4 - I have one I really like, but the other three are different molds or something. No two feel the same (some stiff on the rim, flopping in the middle, one rock hard throughout, one just right). I bought four to practice putting with, but after months of not getting any better, I've gone to a practice routine where I use only one putter. I think the putting routine is more important right now -- more important that making it, yes -- get in a game with some friends or a mini and I don't do my routine and I stink. I've spent a year trying to figure out what putting style is comfortable and I'm confident I've found it. Probably is, it often takes me three or four throws to remember exactly what to do to get the right "feel." And, of course, I get one chance.

When I'm practicing, I'm hitting everything 12 feet in, 9 of 10 from 15 and probably 6 or 7 of 10 from 20. I know that's not great, but wait for it... it's better than what I do in a round, where even a 12 footer seems like a football field away. By concentrating on my routine and reliably getting that "feel" the first time, I think I'll be good. When I settle down during a round and do my routine, I putt really well (this usually happens about hole 16 when I think, "crap, I'm sucking AGAIN... oh, yeah, I forgot about my putting routine!!"). So, for practicing, instead of have 2 or 4 discs and holding several in my hand while I do the routine half-assed or only sometimes, I just use one, putt, go get it, go back and do another. No bang, bang, bang. All routine.

The other three putters are all but useless unless I lose my Peach colored APnA and need to replace it.

1st big tournament

I just paid my entry fee for the 1st disc golf tournament I've ever entered. It's on the weekend of the 18th/19th. I have a written goal to take top-10 in a rec/sport division of a major regional tournament by Summer 2009. I might be able to do it well before that. I hope so. I've played in a few minis, but never in something as big as an A-tier event. I got my PDGA #, too: 37439. Yay!

Based on the PDGA rating, and knowing how I compare to some of the local players listed on the PDGA.com web site that I've played minis with, I'm guessing my rating would fall between 750 and 790. The guys rated around 930 beat me by 12-15 strokes most times, depending on the course. The rating system is fairly complex, though very interesting and fun to think about if you're me, but here's the basics. They use top player's scores to come up with a baseline -- the baseline is exactly 1000 -- and from there scores are compared to what you'd shoot or probably shoot against a person rated 1000. 10 points is about a stroke. So, if I'm 750, I'd generally score about 25 strokes worse than a top player during a given round. The best players are around 1040, meaning that they'd score about four strokes better than the really-good-but-not-quite-"best" players. The major flaw is a good player can get a sky-high score by playing easier courses against easier competition, but hey, if they want to travel that much maybe they should get that perk. Lord knows there are not that many other perks to a professional disc golfer, excepting open-awed respect from their peers.

Don't Flush, our Economy is in there!

DON'T FLUSH, OUR ECONOMY IS IN THERE!!!

<economy>
Been getting emails from my representatives this week, followups for the ones I sent last week saying "Say No to Bailout!" They explain why, golly, I wasn't for it at first -- voted "no" in fact -- but now I'm for it because we need it and you and your money are safe and protected. My reply: I'm 545ing you! (Thanks Bill). Just say "no" to incumbents. Of the four things I can do, I'm voting them out and readying myself for the inevitable run for office as soon as my kids are a little older.

<politics>
The weird thing about the 545 is that right now Congress has about an 18% approval rating yet only about 40 members of the House, who must be re-elected every two years, are thought to be in danger of losing their seat. So, geniuses that we all are, we don't like Congress, but it's the "other guy" -- not my guy (or gal). Yeah, it's your guy. He's one of them. We can completely replace the entire House of Representatives NEXT MONTH if we want to. But, probably 400+ will return to DC. <sigh> We will definitely be replacing the president. We can do the senators up to 33 at a time. I don't even care what party anymore, I just want them out, all of them. It's a mess and they lose. When they lose, we win.
</politics>

</economy>
<oops>

<brandon>
Oops.
</brandon>

<wife>
Oops.
</wife>

</oops>

<preachy_section>

Okay, I fully realize how crazy the following sounds: But maybe God is trying to get our attention in this financial mess. By way of illustration: I have a friend who made a series of bad decisions. He was given a lot of money on a business-related deal and turned what had seemed like a lot of debt -- a house, two cars and about $42,000 in credit card debt -- into hundreds of thousands in debt, repoed cars and an unfinished house. His liver is shot, he suffers from depression, has Hep-C, smokes and just moved out of his in-laws. But, he just found God. Personally -- and I've told this to my friend (and he seemed to agree) -- I think God was just trying to get his attention. We talked about God a lot and he took a pretty casual view of The Plan. God wanted his attention and upped the ante until God got it. Now my friend is going to a good church, is reading the Bible (and freaking out a little... he's worried about a few things in it and how he may have irrevocably messed it up) but his marriage is stronger and he's talking about living within his means for the first time.

For this friend, God wanted his attention (I believe), because my friend will be a Very Powerful Force for God. My friend is full on or out of gas. He has energy, ability and a shear F***-it attitude. You really have to know him to know how many people he can influence; he's been a bad influence for years. Maybe he'll be a good influence now? I think so.

That brings us back to you. And to me. God is trying to get our attention (I believe). We're worshiping money -- and worse, credit, money we don't even have! -- and I believe God will up the ante until we finally pay attention. The idea that we can alleviate our problems with over-extended credit by extending more credit is purely preposterous (news flash: quit smoking by smoking more cigarettes!). I think our economy will come back down to earth when we get off the credit I.V. but that will be when we've all lost just about all of our savings, IRA, etc. I for one am willing to part with it because I think our entire country will be stronger when we do, and we'll all recover soon enough, and hopefully put the "me/now" era behind us. Gonna be tough times, though; you notice no one is talking about Social Security and the aging Boomer population? They will be and eventually God will have our attention.


The good news? When we finally pay attention, God will again have Americans being Americans and leading the world with our ideas, faith and credibility. Hopefully it won't take 40 years of wandering.

</preachy_section>

I'm a prayer partner at Bay Area Fellowship. It's one of the half-dozen ministries I'm involved in. Basically, during one of the worship songs, we PP's (yeah, I know...) go hang out in the aisle and people who want someone to pray with them go out and you pray with them. This was the 3rd weekend I did it (I was gone last weekend). The previous two times, shyness won out; no one asked me to pray with them. This weekend, though, a woman asked me to pray for her daughter. I can pray out loud, it's not a big deal. I'm happy to do it, but I like to have a bit to prepare. I feel more comfortable when I have more control over the proceedings.

Clearly, I'm doing it wrong.

The woman, who was sitting alone in the back, and I went up to near the front to find her daughter (a young married woman). I went in thinking, "oh, no! What am I going to say?!?" but the words just came out. I'm actually thinking "what am I saying, what am I doing?" while I'm praying. I guess I think God was just saying, "yeah, I'm using your voice here, so just hang out for a minute, will ya? Don't try to take control. It's cool. I got it." And, when the song was over, the prayer wrapped up just as the last notes faded. We said "Amen" and the women were crying. Tears. Normally, when I make women cry it's not because of an emotional prayer!

I'm not about to take any credit for it. I can hardly remember the prayer anyway, I spent most of the time marveling that it was happening at all. Note to self, shut up and listen more often.

A little later, during the sermon, I had an uncomfortable moment. Now, some people aren't going to believe me here, but this is true: I've always been faithful, even to the girls in junior high or high school. I've never so much as kissed a girl while with another girl. Doesn't make me better than someone who hasn't been faithful, it's just one of the positive parts of me, while there are many negative parts. Part of it is lack of opportunity - I didn't exactly have groupies, okay? - but also a choice because some of my influences growing up didn't show such restraint and I didn't want to emulate that person in that way.

So, in service, Pastor Bil says something like "men, if you think that you will be happy by sleeping with this one or that one -- a secretary, best friends wife, etc -- then be prepared for the guilt..." etc. It wasn't even close to the meat of the sermon, just a thought he tossed in there. I'm pretty fidgety. I don't sit still well. During this little 2 minute section, I had crossed my left leg over my right and it was about time to switch to right-over-left. My back was a little sore, too. But, I couldn't do it at that time! No way. My wife knows I'm faithful, but I was worried about what all the people around me would think. (((psst, 'look at that guy, what the pastor said sure made him feel uncomfortable!'))). Sigh. So, I sat there for a couple more minutes, until well past the point and he'd moved on to something else. Then I shifted.

That's me in a nutshell. I worry way too much about what other people might think.

Course: Woodway Park, Waco TX

This is a nice area... probably the nicest neighborhood I've seen a disc golf course in. It is right on Waco Lake and the views were nice. You could hear some people playing in the water. This is a nice, comfortable course. No place to really lose a disc (I love that). You could put a disc in the lake on #17, but it would take a fairly errant shot. Not impossible, but not too likely.

I had read online to be careful about over-driving some of the holes, because there is OB right behind some of the pins. I warmed up and put my first shot pin-high and laid-up a 40 footer and dropped in a par. I bogeyed #2 after a slipshot upshot (way off). I drove #3 within 40 feet and FOUR PUTTED. Arggh!! Stomped around for awhile, got it out of my system. +3 when I should be at par. Sigh. I can't putt, still, after all that practice. But, I totally don't putt like I practice. I don't know why. My drive on #4 was bad, but I pulled out a par. F.A.T. on #5 (F.irst A.vailable T.ree). Then my Roadrunner didn't turnover all the way and I missed a 35 foot putt. +5 already on an easy course!!! Argh!!! Birdied the 210 foot 6, nice drive on #7 but I missed a 12 foot putt. Stomped around again, spent a few minutes practicing my "putt" (but didn't make any progress... hmm, 10 putts and I'm not suddenly Ken Climo, strange). +6. Parked #8, birdied a 25 footer. Errant drive on #9, hit my own car, but bounced back I.B. Yeay, thanks car! Par. +5. Overshot #10 but hit easy par, birdied #11 after "drive" hit a tree root and got lucky skip. Pars on 14 & 15. Great seeing-eye drive on #15. Tiny little opening to drive through on #16, shot two mid-rangers for par. Slipped a disc on #17 and FAT again. Decent second shot, laid up for bogey. +5. Parred 18. +5 on new course, blind? I'll take it. But, I NEED TO LEARN TO PUTT! And drive. I need consistency. I have all the shots. I can make all the shots, but I need to do it consistently. I have no talent. I do practice, really, a lot more than you'd think a guy with a full-time job, lots of time dedicated to a church-ministry and 6 kids would be able to do. But I haven't had the results yet.

Course: Cameron Park, Waco TX

This is the non-"Beast" course. I didn't have a chance to play the Beast, but this park was pretty good.

I started out with no one behind me and I didn't have a chance to really warm up, so I just started and really tanked the first three holes -- taking a bogey on each. These are SHORT holes, around 200 feet each, but with some trees (not really "tunnels" just trees here and there) so I called them "warmups" and started again (#3's basket was pretty much right at #1's tee anyway). The second time around, "for real" I shot -1 for the three. This area is skip central. The ground by the baskets are very bare, minus some exposed tree roots, and anything that had some steam but wasn't high enough to spike would skip a long way. But, I was happy with -1. I parred 4, and#5 -- "Bogey Hill" didn't look too daunting. I drove pin high, but too far right and hit a tree with my 100 foot upshot. Still having about 70 feet to go, I overshot, then missed the 40 foot come-back badly (bare ground!!!) and ended up with a good 30 footer for triple-bogey and got it. Argh! +2. Then on #6 I slipped a disc and got stuck about 100 feet up a huge tree and took about 10 minutes to get it out. My shoulder was worn by then. I took the penalty, placed my upshot and took a bogey. +3!!! Dangit! I birdied 7 and almost parked 8, but missed the 30 foot putt, then the 30 foot comebacker and dropped in another bogey. Hit some bushes on 9, missed a 20 footer and got another bogey.

The back nine starts in a flat, mostly open (keep 'em low, out of the high cut canopy). I took another bogey, then had a par, birdie, par (missed a 25 foot putt), par. So, I was +4 teeing on 15, where I lost my old Pro Wraith. Hit a big tree branch and dropped a dingy ditch. When I was looking for it (no chance!) I found an old, unmarked Quantum something or 'nuther (grimey... seems like a "Champion Beast" -- even says "Innova discs" on it... hmm). I cleaned it and thought "why not" and shot it after my drop. Oops. Another bad shot. Ended up with a dbl-bogey. +6. Then I bogeyed 16 for +7 and parred out with a couple of decent drives. +7 on a decent course, pretty much blind? I'll take it. I need to work on my putting.

This is a fun course, and will be more fun when I play it next time after I can putt!!!

What's in my Bag #3

Here's what is in my bag right now.

Distance Drivers
Star Destroyer (175g) - Gone. Lost in West Guth's pond. I tried to find it for 45 minutes. :-). Someday I might go back, but it's so much like the Wraith that I'm sticking with my Pro Wraiths right now because I like the Pro plastic.

Pro Wraith (174g, 175g) - Now my main driver, and bought a new Pro Wraith (with a great dye job, my first). The second one is 175g, which is my preferred throwing weight. Don't see ever getting out of this disc.

Star Monster (175g) - Getting happier with the Monster. The Firebird I had, I lost (threw it, threw my approach, walked away! Ugh!!!). I think I like the Pro plastic better -- the Star plastic is very grippy (at least this time of year, with high humidity). Unfortunately, I have mostly Star plastic. I'll probably get used to it, like I did this disc.

Champion Beast (172g) - Still in my bag, but I haven't used it during a round for a long time. Just use it when practicing in a field. I have decided that the plastic is okay during this time of year, when the Star stuff is too sticky. If Innova keeps making the Pro discs (heard a rumor the manufacturer no longer makes the plastic for "Pro"), then I'll keep buying them.

Star Roadrunner (175g). This is a good long range roller and specialty disc. I tend to turn it over too much. I just can't get out of the habit of putting a wing up for the sweeping annies and I end up rolling it a bunch. Once it stops raining here, I'm going to spend a lot of time learning to throw this one flat so it does it's proper job.

Pro Firebird (175g) Lost. R.I.P.

Fairway Drivers
DX Banshee (175g) - Still like this disc, the unlikeliest of discs. I don't know if it's just this one Banshee but I defy you to throw it straight. It's even well-beat. It's a good short-range hyzer disc and I have several holes it's perfect for.

DX Teebird (170g): Just bought it but haven't used it. Will buy a Star copy if I like it. Bought Star copy (not available in Pro). GREAT short-range driver. Bought a 175g. The DX is already pretty beat up, so I'll probably retire it to the "for newbie friends" pile. We'll see. Might keep it for a understable short-range driver.

Mid-range
Star Cobra (180g) - Bought a CFR online ($23!!!). But, it's a great disc. Keeping the DX in my bag to try to learn a left-leaning roller (might find that the Roadrunner works better, though). Love this disc in both DX & Star.

Star Shark (175g) - Okay, figured it out. I've quickly added a very good short-range forehand game. I used to be backhand from about 200 ft in just because of control. But in one day I figured out the control forehand shot and can throw the Shark or Cobra very, very accurately. I also can throw my putters almost anywhere I want now too (okay, I still miff a lot, but when I get more consistent). Very happy with the Shark now.

DX Skeeter (174g): Read what I wrote in my WIMB #2 entry about the Skeeter. Turns out, I hate it. Flippy, flippy. Probably great for a beginner without power. I can't throw it at all. No longer in bag.

Putt & Approach
Aviar P&A (175g) - Used to have two in my bag, but the Shark/Cobra combo removes the need for the newer putter. Now I just have the beat up Peach putter.

The Drinking Sermon

Apparently Pastor Perry Noble spoke about alcohol today. I've not yet watched it, but from his Cliff Notes (see the link below) he's pretty much coming from where I am.

But, I want to update my Drinking blog entry. I don't drink (this is not a challenge, Satan!) anymore, but after a lot more thought about it, it's not quite what I said in my blog entry on the topic. What I said there was:

"I am a binge drinker, which is a nuanced difference from being an alcoholic. Fundamentally, though, I can't enjoy a beer with dinner. I want them all, however many are in my fridge."

This isn't really true. I can think back and remember plenty of times I only had one or two, or opened a third and found it sitting on the counter the next morning. There were days, too, that I just left them in the fridge and didn't bother with them at all. So, I spent some time trying to figure out exactly what the problem was. It's this: I didn't know, couldn't plan, WHEN I would want to drink them all. Pastor Noble (he's not my pastor, but apparently my pastor knows him), said that the Bible teaches that we shouldn't get drunk period. I'm not sure I agree with that. I think the general state of being a drunk is the problem that the Bible refers to (at least to my recollection). Being drunk isn't a good lifestyle choice, but if you get a buzz now and then ("eat, drink and be merry"), I don't think you're getting a "Going to Hell" stamped on your forehead. Of course, if you have your salvation, nothing is supposed to stop that anyway.

So, for me, I'd go weeks or months and never get drunk, perhaps not even a little tipsy. But, there were days, oh those dreadful days... and I could never plan them. I couldn't say "great, it's Friday, tomorrow I can sleep in, if I get hammered tonight I can sleep off the hangover." Nope. It was a lottery anytime I opened a beer, no matter the day of the week or how big of a day I had tomorrow. Maybe it'd just be the one, maybe it'd be all of them, and a few more following a walk to the store. Then, there'd be the hangover, the prayers & promises, then regret.

In 1996 my second father had his second heart attack. This dude's really healthy; he loves to hike, hunt, canoe, walk, work around the house, garden. He's never smoked and rarely drinks (sometimes he and Mom split a beer -- SPLIT A BEER!!! If only I could wrap my brain around this. Sure enough, they could split one and I'd probably drink the rest).

Anyway, following his 2nd heart attack, back in 1996, his doctors told him he had to do this and that to lower his cholesterol and save his arteries. Like I said, he was healthy, including eating well (rarely ate fast food, liked veggies & salads, that sort of thing). His genetics just gave him bad arteries. His response? Cut out the fat. All of it. He went vegan-plus. No meat, no nuts, no seeds. At restaurants he gets a big huge salad and vinegar/vinegrette for the dressing. It's impressive how much he can eat and still lose weight. But, the thing is, he just couldn't eat a little fat and rely on not going overboard. He had to do without it period. That's for me, for alcohol. My wife has a drink now and then (she gets pretty interesting at 1/2 a drink, so 1 is plenty). I'm not against it for her, or for you, but I am for me.

If you have a problem like me, you might think about stopping altogether, though. You know what, you won't miss it. If you do, you'll be glad you stopped because if you really miss it, you should just stop.

Put it on the Card

For my recent vacation, I got Travelers Cheques. I can tell you that these aren't used very much anymore; just getting them (from the bank) took over an hour and they were a novelty in every single place I used them, except one small gas station in Bozeman, MT, staffed by it's likely owner -- old enough to have sat behind Moses in 3rd grade. For every person other than him, I was the first to introduce the checkout clerk to the hows-to-cash a traveler's check.

My wife and I took separate vacations. Yes, we love each other, but we have a lot of kids and they have various needs and we can't afford to take each of them on all the vacations. Some kids are defending their three-time world championship in a major international competition and some want to go mining and rock-hounding in the sticks. I stayed with family and got traveler's checks. She stayed in hotels and needed a card. Instead of Cheques she put her vacation budget on a MasterCard "Gift Card" (that's what it says where your name would normally be) at the bank (it took considerably less time to process...).

Since we don't use credit, and are on a strict budget, and since she needed something other than cash and since the hotels & rental car agencies want some sort of card, she went with the traveler's card. It worked pretty well, but alas, she brought it back with about $10 on it. So tonite we went out for a dessert-date, where we get some sort of dessert and chat for an hour. We settled on Frostee's and parking in a strip-mall parking lot. In the drive-thru lane I handed over the card, trying to siphon the last bit from it and I felt really self-conscious, feeling like I was doing something wrong and worrying about being caught. You see, I've told all my friends how we don't use credit -- I have a debit card but I only use it for gas, seriously that's it, all cash and online-bill-pay otherwise. All my friends know about my aversion to credit and so I was feeling like a guy in a porn shop stealing glances to make sure his church buddies don't notice his distinctive car parked in front. Of course, it wasn't a credit card, but it looked like one and felt like one and I felt weird using it.

It was a very odd feeling, but I'm grateful for it. Back when we first started *having* to wear seat belts they felt kind of funny. Now I feel completely naked without my seatbelt fastened. Handing over a card is like that, too, but in reverse. Having to part with actual cash, and not just hand over a card that is quickly returned imperceptibly lighter makes my purchasing decisions better. No longer is it a limitless well from which I can draw money. I can see how much I have. I have $20. I can buy ONE Star Destroyer or TWO DX Avairs. That's it. Or, I can decide maybe I don't really need ANOTHER disc and would like to eat at Quiznos and buy my wife a rose on my way home. I could stick to my budget on a card; of course. But, who does? Really, you do? Okay, you are the exception then. The rest of the people in America got a big problem, though, me included.

The First Time I Ever Folfed

In the summer of 1990, fresh out of high school and before college, I worked for TW Services in Yellowstone National Park. I worked at Lake Lodge, on Lake Yellowstone. I have always thought that if I ever get to a place in life where I don't know what to do, or where to go, I'll go back there. Lots of great people of all ages (mostly young, though). It was like college, you lived in dorms and ate in a commissary, but you didn't have to study or go to class. Lots of hiking, card games, hanging out, etc. I made some regrettable but not life-altering decisions at this time, but it's turned out okay. My brother, who now works pretty closely with Wolfgang Puck, started working in Yellowstone in 1988, the year of the "Let 'Er Burn" fires. Turns out, that policy worked pretty well, it's beautiful now. Yellowstone park is a central theme in my life. The best Montana windsurfing lake is just above the Gardner entrance and I loved and learned and worked (as a cook) there. It's also the first place I played disc golf.

At the end of the season, those who were still there helped close. This is a sad time... most of the new friends moved home to start college (my college was still on quarters at the time and didn't start for a month after most). Each place in the park except Old Faithful was closed in the winter, and Old Faithful was on half-staff with a smaller kitchen. Anyway, the day we finished closing the Lodge kitchen we took some of those lids from five gallon buckets and one guy, the Store Keeper (I was a cook three days a week and Assistant Store Keeper the other two days... we ordered the food) told us how to play and we safaried the long, open lodge... "Exit sign, par 3," "Wooden Indian statue, par 4," etc. It was fun.

Lake Lodge is near Lake Hotel. The Hotel was a nice place with a 4 star dining room. The Lodge was the Motel Six to the Hotel's Marriot. The Hotel had the post office and the Lodge was about a half-mile away. I went to check my mail one day. There were bison everywhere. Bison spook if you are near, but none were really that close. I was walking across an open field near the parking lot -- this is like a city mall area now, folks -- when I walk between two saplings and ten feet later hear a snap. I looked back to see a huge bison standing over the tree. I backed off, scared, and went into the post office. After I came out, a German tourist explained to me in horror of how he was getting into his car, spooked this nearby bison and it charged me, changing course at the last minute to take out the tree instead of me. This dude was wide-eyed. I avoid bison.

Two months later, playing folf, the leader of our small group says "outside of door frame, par 3." We had to shoot from inside, through an open door and then try to make the comeback shot above the door (a general area, nothing specific). Well, this dude, the Head Storekeeper, overplays his "drive" and lands it six feet from a grazing bison (these things were like cows on a ranch, just grazing anywhere they wanted). Against my advice, he not only goes out to retrieve the shot, but stands there and nails the "putt" with a bison only feet away. Ken Climo, eat your heart out. It wasn't a grizzly bear, but if you don't think a bison is big and intimidating, you are wrong.

That was my first time playing, though it was a couple years later before I played "for real." One of my favorite things to do now is to go to an open field and practice. On vacation recently, I visited a park I used to live nearby and realized I used to practice back then, but I didn't have any clue what I was doing (other than almost beaning people picnicking there). Learning is so much easier now, with the Internet.

Course: Pioneer Park, Billings, MT

The first time I ever saw anyone folfing (here's the first time I ever folfed), it was at Pioneer Park in Billings, MT. I didn't know what they were doing (possibly, they didn't either). My buddies David and Derek and I were maybe 10 or 11 and hanging out/playing on the playground and trying to figure out what they were doing. I think they were trying to drop them inside hoola-hoops laying on the ground, but maybe they had baskets back then and I didn't understand them.

So, when I figured out I was going on vacation to my home state and visiting my folks in Billings, I looked up the courses on the local club site and found that Pioneer Park had a short course (curiously, it's 12 holes). It was a crowded evening, while I played and waited my folks watched the kids I had with me.


I really liked this course. There are a lot of old ash trees on top and grass below. There is a small stream going through and each hole seemed fairly unique, not impossibly hard but hard enough. It's a very inviting course and would be challenging to play regularly, but not intimidating to bring a friend to try disc golf for the first time. I doubt you'd be able to lose a disc here and there was little OB (the stream, I guess and a few streets if you are really wild). My folks said that the editorials in the local paper had a lot of sniping from park neighbors about the low-life that played there, but the groups around me were just a bunch of high-school or college kids in flip flops enjoying things. I didn't smell any pot (or even a cigarette), didn't see a 32 oz. anything. The group right in front of me was three young girls (maybe high school). Looked like your neighbor's kids on the JV volleyball team. Sheesh, those folks complaining in the paper ought to go to the bad side of town sometime, if they want to see real low-life. Most disc golfers just don't qualify.

Anyway, I played this one even, had a good time, though I had to rush off after 10 to change my daughter's "accident". I came back on my last day in town to take a few pictures.

A downhill basket near a stream with some tree cover. Pretty easy shot if you are good, not impossible if you aren't. Pioneer would be good to play with a group at various stages of progress in disc golf.

I birdied this hole, a short uphill shot (tee box is down on the right, out of picture).

I think I like these kinds of tee boxes. They are better footing (especially after rain) and yet you can uproot them and move them if you change the course. I know a guy who slipped in a dirt tee box and ended up breaking his leg in several places. Cement is great, but what if you want to move around the course? Not a huge deal, but I've seen these in a couple of places and think it would be nice here in Corpus Christi, where the clay mud is slick and it rains often.

The Long Downhill Shot

[note: see discussion of this at DiscGolfersR.us]

So, I think I learned something about long downhill shots. I went on vacation and played my own home course at Blue Mountain, in Missoula, MT. Great course. #4 is a long downhill (650 length, tee is probably 100 feet higher than the basket).

I dreamed of this hole once I knew I was going on vacation and taking my gear. I even brought my WHOLE bag because I wanted to make sure I brought the right disc for this hole, instead of just bringing the Destroyer, Cobra and Aviar, as I originally planned.

But, all of my shots stunk. But, I think I know why and hopefully it will help me in the future. There are two more downhill shots at Blue Mountain. #10 and #12, I think. #10 was pretty long but not as much drop and #12 was shorter but with a good drop. Walking down to collect my drive on #12, and thinking of the three downhill holes (none of which endd up as well as I hoped) I thought up this, we'll see with more experience if I am right:

Downhill shots add more speed than I am able to get on a flat shot. This speed makes the disc do "it's thing" better than usual. On #4 I shot my Destroyer (my real shot), plus my Beast and Roadrunner, both turnover discs (both as test shots). I ripped all three pretty well. The Destroyer went out and started screaming along and then just hyzered off right big time (I'm RHFH on drives). The Beast faded left a ton but landed flat (way left and not that far away, it went farther left than down). The Roadrunner annied hard and rolled a bunch (NOT my intention, though this shot ended up closer to the hole than any... probably 200 feet away). My thought is this: These discs OVERDID what they were designed to do and I should have flicked them softer, so they wouldn't pick up so much speed. Otherwise, I can only figure to float my putter out there softly, or to put a wing up on the Destroyer so it won't hyzer so much.

Course: Blue Mountain, Missoula, MT

Missoula in the distance at Blue Mountain Disc Golf Course. This was taken from between the 2nd & 3rd holes at the course.

I have a story about the real "first" time I disc golfed, but this is the first course I really played. It has baskets now, instead of the tone posts it used to have. I like baskets better, but understand why some were complaining about the tone posts being removed. I played Blue Mountain again on a recent vacation to my home state and college town. This is an excellent course in every way and is nearly identical (the back nine changed a bit) as when I started in the early 1990's.

Since I had begun planning my vacation, I dreamed about hitting a big shot on the 650 foot hill shot at #4 (I think it was four, maybe it was #5). Here's the view from the tee:


The tree in the foreground is at the top of the hill (the dirt area there is the amateur tees, but I was being manly on this day!). You go over this hill and straight down into a dry gulley with a lot of old pines towering high up (you can see their tops). I knew a guy who would aim for the tops of those trees to hit and then drop his disc down near the basket (tone pole then). I had high hopes for nailing a great shot here. Sadly, I couldn't do it. I had three drives (1st real, other two "tests" -- no one was behind me) that went off badly, though it was a good learning experience (read this). I was bummed to take a bogey on this hole.


This is the 5th hole at Blue Mtn. Medium length (about 315), with OB behind and trees in front and to left. If you can hit it down the middle it's good, but I tried to hook around to the right. I ended up with a tough par putt from under a sapling and hit it.

One of the nice improvements at Blue Mtn was the addition of a course guide on the pro boxes. Don't know when they were added (haven't played BMTN since 1995ish). Helped a lot, especially on the back nine.

I ended up with a +8 but didn't play well. I missed 3 long but makeable birdie putts and ended up dbl-bogey, bogey, dbl-bogey at one stretch. I played Pattee Canyon earlier in the day and was tiring. I ran out of water after 10, too. Not trying to make excuses, just say that because +8 under those conditions isn't too bad. I think I should have played it about even.

This is my favorite course with a lot of history for me, lots of rounds with friends I haven't seen in 12-15 years. I wanted to play BMTN to rate my game back then to what it is now. I actually surprised myself, figuring I probably was terribly horrible back then and would be much better now. But, I think I might have been better back then than I thought. It's interesting, because with Youtube and other sites dedicated to helping throwers and playing with a lot more people here in Corpus Christi, it's easier to progress nowadays.

Course: Pattee Canyon, Missoula, MT

Typical hole at Pattee Canyon. Some weren't this open and some were longer.

I played this course recently, on a trip to my home state. It had just opened for the season because the area was well used as a folf course and x-country ski area and the vegetation needed a break to regroup. I had never played this course, not realizing it was there back in the early 1990's when I played at the Blue Mountain course.

First couple and the 18th holes were in open tall-grass areas like this, putting "findable" shots at a premium.

This is a very fun course. Pretty tight, with plenty of trees. The first couple of holes are in an open area with young trees then most of the rest are in a more sloped area with bigger, older trees that tower above. Some of the views from the tees were awesome. In the middle holes some were tight and short, which made for some good variety. I shot my putter on a couple but could have done more often if I didn't need a specific curve or skip.

I played the course at about 8 over... didn't keep track tightly, as I played with a guy and his girl and we talked a lot. But it was about that. I didn't play particularly well, but had a fine time nonetheless.

If you are in Missoula, make time for this course. It's up Pattee Canyon (a beautiful drive) about 6 or 8 miles. Look for the big picnic area and then follow the signs dealing with "Folf."

What's in my Bag #2

In my first "What's in my Bag" I wrote about every disc I have ever used. Now, to what is currently in my bag. I will update as needed, you might notice duplicate information but I'll try to highlight changes.

Distance Drivers
Star Destroyer (175g) - great general driver; for straight long shots to minor fades & hyzers. I really like how this feels.

Pro Wraith (174g) - Don't use it much, opting for the Destroyer instead, but still comparing it and don't want to give up on it yet. I might find I like it better than the Destroyer as I get better and longer with my drives.

Star Monster (175g) - I'm only keeping this until I figure out if the Firebird can replace it. If not, I'll probably pick up a Teerex and see if the Teerex can replace it. I need to play a few afternoons with a decent breeze to really know. I'm dying to find something as I don't really like the grip on the Monster.

Champion Beast (172g) - The Destroyer and the Roadrunner are beginning to see more playing time but I'm not cutting the Beast yet. I'm finding that Champion plastic isn't for me, though. I'm not 100% sure about that, because this is my only Champion disc. Might be the narrow rim. Either way, you might be reading about this one on the waiver wire soon.

Star Roadrunner (175g). I really like this disc. I bought it for two holes with sweeping lefts that I have trouble with and it works great. It also works great as a tailwind driver and for tunnel shots. It's very versatile and I could see the day where I might have something like a Firebird/Teerex, Destroyer and a Roadrunner and that's it... all strong Star plastic so I wouldn't have to deal with changing characteristics but would have essentially an overstable, stable and understable in grips I like.

Pro Firebird (175g) Not yet used, just bought it today.

Fairway Drivers
DX Banshee (175g) - Until I can figure out a short-range hyzer, this one isn't leaving my bag. I don't like it for it's "real" use, but when I need a dead low speed sweeping hyzer (just think of how you threw when you first started), this is a perfect disc. Hole #6 at Live Oak Park is about 200' straight, then a hard right turn. I always overthrow the Wraith & Destroyer even if I put nothing on them, but the Banshee goes about 200 and dies right hard to the right (I throw RHFH).

DX Teebird (170g): Just bought it but haven't used it. Will buy a Star copy if I like it.

Mid-range
DX Cobra (177g) - I love this disc. For a RHFH thrower and my grip, it's a great. I can toss it 250 easily but it's quickly beating in and I keep ending up way left. I am trying to locate a Pro version of it for durability, but still... it's starts understable and any beat-in makes it moreso, so I still need a stable to overstable mid-range.

DX Skeeter (174g): This is the stable mid-range. I haven't used it yet, but I have high hopes for it. I'm finally good enough that I can throw a mid-range farther than I could a driver 8 months ago and my drives are hard to control if I try to finesse them with 50% power. I don't like the deeper rims of the Shark & Roc, but the Cobra and Skeeter have shallow rims and are really comfortable. Crossing my fingers. If I end up liking it, I'll buy it in Star for durability because at this point I don't want to deal with changing characteristics on my discs (maybe someday I'll be that good...). If it works out, this will be my primary short-tunnel disc and I'll need the durability.

Putt & Approach
Aviar P&A (2 x 175g) - the aged one for putting, the newer one for longer approaches (anything within 150'), especially into the wind. I'm learning a decent forehand annhyzer on this one, too.

What's in my Bag #1

I love reading about what people, pros or joes, have in their bag. I'm going to make this a series give the current status and update with a copied post every time it changes. For this first post, I'm going to list everything I've ever used, even if I don't use it now.

(Note: I'm not crushing everything, but I'm 6'/210 and throw almost exclusively sidearm/forehand, even on huge left doglegs and tunnels. We're all different, it's just better for me. I can't throw a driver well at all backhand, though mid-range discs under 250' I'm okay.

Distance Drivers
Star Destroyer (175g) - oh, but this one feels right. The bevelled rim is wide, and it feels odd sometimes, but I really like it. I have plenty of power (I'm not great at utilizing it... matching power/arm speed to the snap) so this one is great. I can throw it arrow straight or put it a little higher and just bank it up a little for a left-to-right forehand hyzer that hits with a spike.

Star Teerex (175g) - great into the wind disc that I like as much as the Destroyer. I had & lost two of these, and miss them. I'm in a stage of trying out a lot of discs and have used a Banshee, Monster and (just bought but haven't yet used) a Firebird as my headwind distance drivers. Don't really like the Banshee, really don't like the Monster -- weird grip feel on the forehand, ugh. If the Firebird doesn't do it, then I'm buying another Star TeeRex for my headwind shots. You have to have a good headwind driver where I live (South Texas) as we get lots of wind year round (I moved here in 2001 for the windsurfing...).

Star Wraith (172, 174, 175g) - Good disc, but the Destroyer is pretty much doing the same thing. I've had several after finding one in a tree, using it for a week & loving it (pre-Destroyer days), then finding it's owner and returning it. I might go back if I ever decide it's better than the Destroyer but it's not looking good.

Pro Wraith (174, 175g) - I only have one left, one somebody gave my son (who has given up the sport for now). I don't use it much but have it for practice and for when I wonder if I really like the Destroyer better.

Star Monster (175g) - I don't like this disc at all. I've crushed it a couple of times on windward drives and it's done well, but don't like the feel of the grip. I don't know what to do with it. It's not for beginners (very unfriendly rim & dome and cranks hard hyzers with little glide potential) so maybe I'll just keep it for reference or find someone who loves Monsters and work out a trade.

Champion Beast (172g) - I bought this because I wanted something I could easily turn over, for high, over-the-trees shots that I needed to come left a lot. I end up flipping it too far 8-of-10 tries though, so that didn't work out. I have used it with great results as a tailwind distance driver. It's pretty sweet for that, but the Roadrunner is more fun. Part of it is the Champion plastic. This is my only Champion disc and me-no-likey. Star & Pro and better for me and how slippery it can be here, where it's either hot & humid, hot & raining, cool & humid or cool & raining, so anything that's slippery is out. Having said that, I haven't given this disc up yet, but I have a friend who I'm going to loan it to, to see if they like it.

Star Roadrunner (175g). I really like this disc. I bought it for two holes with sweeping lefts that I have trouble with and it works great. It also works great as a tailwind driver and for tunnel shots. It's very versatile and I could see the day where I might have something like a Firebird/Teerex, Destroyer and a Roadrunner and that's it... all strong Star plastic so I wouldn't have to deal with changing characteristics but would have essentially an overstable, stable and understable in grips I like.

Fairway Drivers
DX Eagle - First disc I ever lost, put it in a pond, couldn't find it. I've used a few of these, at the beginning of my playing days and never could throw it worth-a-darn. Probably could now, but there are other discs that are similar to it.

DX Banshee - Seem to be the most common "found" disc in the courses I play. Must be easy to lose or maybe just really popular because it's so windy here. I don't really like this disc very much as a fairway driver, but it's still in my bag because if I need a huge hyzer shot from about 150-200' feet, I can just flick this thing out there flat without the speed and snap it needs and that's that, hyzer city.

I can throw a great forehand annhyzer with a variety of discs, mid, fairway or distance. Close in I can float in an anny just right. Close in hyzers? Not at all. A finesse forehand hyzer eludes me, but the Banshee eliminates the need.

DX Gazelle - I've had a few of these, never figured them out. My current DX version is very beat up and somewhat light so I have it in my loaner bag. Since it's so beat, it plays pretty good for someone who's just getting the hang of drivers.

Mid-range
Pro Roc - I play mid-range discs mostly forehand, too. I can throw this a lot farther backhand (maybe 250') and it throws straight. Having said that, I'm not comfortable backhand, and the rim on the Roc is too deep for my forehand/sidearm grip, so I usually just loan this to people who are starting out and want something pretty easy to throw straightish. I was given my Roc by a guy who got it at a tourney but already had a dozen of them. I feel kind of stupid that I don't love this disc, because apparently everyone does.

Star Shark - I bought this before I was given the Roc. I can't really tell the difference between the two. Everyone loves the Roc and hardly mention the Shark, though, so there must be something there. This one has a similar interior rim (to the Roc), so it doesn't work that well for me. I can throw this one backhand pretty far, but see above about that. It's also in my loaner bag because it seems to be easy to throw flat for 150' if you are learning and haven't really figured out the power part. You can also putt with it, so it makes for a good one disc round.

DX Cobra - one of the first discs I owned. I LOVE this disc. Definitely my go-to mid-range. The rim is shallow and fits my forehand grip perfectly. I have a DX right now and can't find a Pro version to buy. The problem is... DX beats up so quickly and the Cobra is pretty understable to start, so now I have a very understable Cobra that's useless into the wind. When I finally decide to use a roller, I'll probably use this disc, though. In the meantime, I bought a DX Skeeter, which feels good. Hopefully I'll like it, as it starts out stable and might last longer. If I like the DX, I'll buy it in Star, too. I'm hoping the Skeeter replaces the Cobra, but if it doesn't, I'll probably use a Pro Cobra and a Star Skeeter as my only two mid-range discs to cover the types of shots I need from that distance.

Stingray - I bought this and put it in the jungle on it's 1st shot ever. Finally got it down 90 minutes later but that was the peak love for this disc. In it's defense, I didn't know how to finesse it. I bought it for the reason I now have a Roadrunner, and was putting way, way too much power-per-snap on it, so it never flew flat, just flipped wildly and started rolling off in whichever-ole-direction. I loaned it to a new player and he promptly moved (the next day, but I didn't find out for weeks). Haven't seen it since.

Putt & Approach
Aviar P&A (172, 174, 175g) - for a month I played all my rounds at Lamar Park with the 175g "Peach" (it's color). I learned so much then, and my scores were about the same as when I used a bunch of drivers I didn't know how to throw well and would scatter all over the place. Within a round, I could put this putter almost exactly where I wanted it up to about 200' (and then would start getting wild... if started with enough hyzer, it will flip flat and go 300', but what's the use of that when there are 1,000,000,000,000,000 different mid-range discs to choose from?).

As practice I highly recommend using your putter for EVERY shot for a month at your course. It forces you to learn that puppy, even if it takes you several shots to go where one used to take you. Thing is, short parks reward accuracy. I was throwing my driver all over the place and soon was able to go pretty much where I wanted with my putter. I could sometime park a drive right at the hole, but if I was more than 20 feet out then I was still two shots away. With the putter I'd go 200 then 80 then 20 instead of 270 then 30 (miss) and 20. Not much diff, especially if I was wild with the driver (common at the time, still happens sometimes). I might hit for 270 but still be 80 feet away, maybe risk OB... being able to drive the hole makes little difference if you have to two putt. Having said that, I'm no Ken Climo, but I'm better than I would have been. I also spend way too much time practicing drives because I'm a man, I have an ego and parking a drive at the basket is a great feeling.

I now use the P&A for anything within 150', nearly all backhand. I don't like to throw it forehand unless I'm ~75' away and can bring it in with a sweeping annhyzer flick. I can do that shot pretty well.

Other
The coolest disc I ever had I got for my birthday in the early 90's. I don't know what model it was or who made it, but it had dimples all over it just like a golf ball. I lost it in a pond and though it had my name on it and someone even called me about it, I never could connect. :-(

I know it's currently popular to have multiple versions of the exact same disc, and I understand why (if you don't, the reason is that once you get comfortable with a disc, having several "ages" allows you to use a disc you know well for various shots. The more nicks, scrapes and dents a disc gets, the more it tends to fly straight or start bending the opposite way (if you throw right-handed backhand, that would be right, for me (right hand forehand) it's left. This is good because with a familiar grip and disc you can have an array of shots without having to change your motion.). Perhaps one day I'll do that, but for now I'm hoping for a bag like this:

Distance:
Pro Teerex - headwind driver, right turning (RHFH) driver
Pro Destroyer - general distance
Pro Roadrunner - tailwinds and left-turning shots

Fairway:
Star Teebird - tons of people use this one and I bought a DX. We'll see if I end up liking it.

Mid-range:
Star Skeeter - Straight mid-range
Pro Cobra - if I need something to fade left once-in-awhile

Putt & Approach:
DX Aviar P&A (though I may upgrade to Star... I usually replace when I lose, but I've never lost a putter).

Seven discs that will cover me perfectly, if it works out. Initially, I wanted to get to know a putter, a mid-range and a driver and not get into a huge bag. For almost two years I did it, but then I started realizing how much wind affects the discs and how much the right disc and weight can change things. After I get familiar with these discs, if I find I have a hole in the quiver of discs, I'll test out trying to fill it with different disc weights.

Hans

I was talking to a newcomer in our ministry the other day. He called because he was having some struggles and wanted to talk. Unfortunately, he was in the post-struggle regret stage, a stage I'm highly familiar with. For me, it would go like this: I'm stressed. I'm going to have a beer. One more sure would taste good. Hmm, that fourth beer sure was good, maybe I should go to the store before I run out. Humph? Is that the alarm? Is it morning already. Oh, my head. Why did I do that? God, forgive me. Forgive me for being stupid.

Then, it started going like this: I'm stressed. I'm going to have a beer. One more sure would taste good. Oh, no, I'm doing it again!! God, forgive me.

Then, I'm stressed, God forgive me for what I'm about to do!

Then, God help me with this stress.

This guy who I was talking to... I'll call him Mortimer since I don't know any Mortimers... well Mortimer, in one particular struggle, got God involved right in the middle. In another struggle, he didn't involved God until the next day.

This is like me. I'm not necessarily an alcoholic, and most of the time, I could have one or two and that's that. But, I couldn't predict the times I'd take it too far. I had to stop altogether. It was the only reasonable solution for me (not saying this applies to everyone). But, now when I feel like having a beer, I involve God right away. Right now, before anything else... God.

If only I did that with everything. The other day I bought a couple new disc gold discs (A 175g Monster and a 175g Roadrunner). I took them to Live Oak park, chock full of disc-stealing oak trees. On my first real throw with the new Monster, I put it in a tree, but I couldn't even tell which tree (there were so many options). So I hunted and hunted, unwilling to part with the $16 disc, but having a time limit (going swimming with the family in 30 minutes...). I got so frustrated I was tossing stuff around and acting like a jerk -- I was alone, except for God, so I "wisely" involved God in my jerkness. Well, suffice to say I eventually asked for forgiveness, but it was afterwards. It was a minor, stupid thing, but clearly while I have learned to involved God in the beer part, I haven't in the frustration part. Part of it is my mood, my state-of-mind, but while talking with Mortimer, I came up with this little graphic in my mind:

So, in my "Episode" of beer drinking, I've learned to pray early. I think I'm at a higher level of maturity in that problem. With frustration? It's still either really late, or "after/end." I have some work to do there.

I think this applies to all of us, with each of our unique struggles. Maybe it's lust for you, or finances, addiction, abusiveness, laziness... whatever, if you can get God involved earlier ("Before" is ideal) then I believe you'll see some big improvements in your life.

Epiphany

I had to watch Pastor Bil's lastest sermon online because I woke up 5/18 sick like I was hit by a freight train.

The last two months have been his best sermons ever. Imagine -- a pastor talking, preaching on Vision & Leadership?!!! This is so awesome. Not to be a gushing, blushing teenager here, but it's really affected my life.

This past Saturday morning, returning from leading my tiny MOB group, I had an epiphany: the reason I have felt rudderless for the last few years is because I accomplished so many of my dreams so quickly. What I imagined my life to be when I was 16 has already come true, and more. I have a smoking hot wife, a house full of energetic kids, a high paying job that still let's me work out my own schedule and work from wherever I want -- my house, the beach, wherever -- AND see my kids at night.

I got a life beyond my imagination, but at the time, I didn't extend my goals because I'd never made any to start with. I had only thought "it would be cool to be A, B, & C by the time I'm dead." Well, I made it to C when I was about 32 but I never made plans for D, E & F. That's what I'm doing now, and it's incredible. I've been making goals for awhile now, but failing to act on them. It's HARD to figure out which of 10 different great goals you want to do, and what the first step is. It's especially hard when you are still living the life of AB&C. You know, if I didn't do DEF right away, or if ever at all, I'm still as successful as I'd ever imagined. Sometimes it's hard to be motivated like that. In some ways, I imagine it to be a trick. Success can make you apathetic and unmotivated unlike anything else.

Pastor Bil has been pretty important in this personal crusade of mine. I also want to mention a guy who has been helping me: Paul Lozuk. This dude's been helping my wife get together her business plan and blowing our minds with thoughts about leadership and influence.

How to Get to the Top

It occurred to me the other day that "getting to the top" is pretty tough to do when the times are good.

I don't spend much time in front of the TV if the Spurs aren't playing but one of my favorite programs is "Band of Brothers" that aired on HBO right around 9/11. I received it on DVD a couple of Christmases later. It's fantastic. It's about Easy Company, part of 501st Airborne Infantry in WWII. It follows the company from the beginning, when they formed the division and companies, to the end of the war. During this time the central character, Lieutenant Dick Winters, goes from 1st Lt to (if I remember correctly) Major Winters. He didn't do it because times were good. He sacrificed his leadership and rank many times, he put his life on the line and survived. He led well, inspiring his men not by pushing them, but by pulling them up after him. And through attrition -- he went from platoon leader to head of Easy Company because his CO died on D-Day -- ability and sacrifice, he rose all the way up. If there were no battles, if it was all easy, he would have ended the war where he started, perhaps with a promotion or two, but he never would have made it as far as he did without the ability to shine during the tough times.

So, now, it at least appears our country is in a bit of a pickle. We are driving big cars and gas prices are through the roof. That's a small problem. Some people made bad decisions in taking home loans they eventually couldn't pay back. China seems to have most of our IOU's -- and as a country we have plenty of IOU's. It's kind of like most of our personal accounts. There isn't any real room for error there. But these are the good times. These battles and struggles will allow you to rise up and promote yourself from wherever you are to wherever you want to be. You won't get the chance to radically improve where you are in life if it's all E.Z. But there will be hemorrhaging, of confidence, of money, of stature. If you are steady and consistent and make good choices, your sand castle will be the one that still stands when the waves recede. Crack open your Bible, all you need to know to hold steady in tough times is in there.

We should be happy, right?

We should definitely be happy, right? Money buys happiness, right? Maybe it's spending money that's happiness. And, wow, we spent it. Boats, big cars, cigarettes (what's this, $5 a pack now? Glad we started that habit -- showed mom and dad, didn't we!), big houses, lots of toys at Christmas. Spare no expense! We spent not only everything we had, but then some. We're definitely happy. Aren't we? Why are we not happy? We should be. Spending money makes us happy. We spent it! ALL OF IT! WHY ARE WE NOT HAPPY?!?

We've all heard "money can't buy happiness" but I've heard from even my church friends that while that's true "it can buy you options," or "it gives you freedom." No, money gives no freedom. Freedom is a whole 'nuther concept that we're getting pretty rusty on, quite frankly.

Look, the more money you have, the more you worry about losing it, about blowing it; what are the banks doing with it? Am I maximizing my returns? Will I be the fool who blew $5 million because he didn't have a plan? Did I invest it properly?

Now, if you have a good plan and you have a lot of money, bully for you. For most people though, too much money is a concept we'll never embrace. So, answer me this: Is there a lot of freedom in being broke? Well, yes, actually. I didn't say "in being in debt" and I don't mean not having a job and living on welfare. Have a job, save sensibly, buy sensibly and if at the end of the week you don't have cash-on-hand don't spend on credit. You don't deserve it. If you deserved it, you'd have it. I'm not saying you didn't work really hard, I'm not even saying that you didn't catch a tough break that cost you half of your paycheck.

Besides if you are broke and not in debt and not too worried about it, then you are probably trusting God and that's a good thing. You know that freedom concept? That's where you pin it, dude. Oh, and you cannot possibly be broke if you rely on God. Broke is not a monetary concept. That's why you are not happy after you've spent all the money.

Look around you. Are you happy with your financial situation? Are your friends happy with theirs? For the people I know that lead churches or other large groups of people, there is never a better time than the outskirts of a recession (or what may be one) to drive home the point that money doesn't buy happiness. "Here," says the preacher, "I offer proof: Your Life!"

Not tithing at church didn't save you enough money to be able to buy the things that, finally, after all these years, made you happy. In reality, not tithing at church gave you 10% more to spend but you really spent 20% more, which was 10% more than you actually had. And now, as my pastor says, you are tithing to the credit card company instead. Who's your God? Don't just say it. Prove it. Whose name is in that online-bill-pay account, your church or Visa?

So, while we hear "money can't buy happiness" all the time, if this recession shakes out, we'll soon find out. In the end, I think we might find not having so much money to over-spend might make us happy after all.

In the Zone!

Most people have heard about an athlete being "in the zone." As in, Michael Jordan's famous Flu Game. He was really sick, running a fever, dehydrated and unable to miss. He was in the zone.

Most of the time, the athletes describe the zone as "everything slowing down." Baseball players see the ball quicker, sooner, longer because the pitch -- still at regular speed for everyone else -- seems slow. There is more time to react.

I've been in the sport's zone once that I can recall. Maybe it happened more than that, but this is the time that sticks out. It was my freshman year at tiny Belfry, MT. I was on the 8 man football team (we had 12 players total on the team and played area 8-man teams, mostly JV squads). All preseason we'd practiced our typical 4-2-2 defense and I was one of the 4 down lineman. We also had a rarely-practiced 3-3-2 where I played middle-linebacker. Most teams will run the ball in 8-man, because of the small pool of players from which to choose -- some of whom couldn't care less about football but where coerced into playing by their classmates, so there could be a team -- most of the teams ran the ball predominantly. Busby, Montana was the first team we played and they came out in what was clearly a pass formation. So my coach was yelling "3-3! 3-3!" frantically. My head was spinning with first game jitters, but I got out of my four-point stance and dropped back into the middle right as the ball was snapped. I dropped back for the pass that was coming and everything slowed down. I mean SLOW. It was great. I saw the drop-back, the small QB look right through me and then loft a pass over my head. My brother was one of the DBs -- the '2' in both formations were the defensive backs/safeties -- and he was covering a receiver going deep while I had the slot in the flat. The pass was out and high with no real speed. I raced back and just about got to the pass before it fell incomplete. My first football play in high school. Not a huge success, but I was IN THE ZONE. I loved it. The zone lasted a few more plays and Busby eventually stopped passing, for reasons the other 8-man teams didn't pass -- it was too hard to do well. We went back into 4-2-2, I went back to the line and we won handily -- one of two wins that year for our second-year program. That's that.

But that, the zone, is really cool, and worth wanting. Life slowing down. It's like being a super-hero or something. So, what does this have to do with anything? Just that my life has been slowing down lately, and here's why: I get up an hour earlier every day now, and I read, pray and wake up on a more human schedule. I still need my alarm, but I have almost 90 minutes before I walk out that door. This has stolen an hour from my busy schedule but has made my day, and that schedule, slower and rendered me more effective. Perhaps it's my personality. Though type-A, OCD, I am less-so when given time in the morning. Everything slows down. I'm not "in the zone," those times are rare and more intense. But everything slows down, my heart-rate, my attitude, my pace. If you are like me, you also need that extra hour.

I'll promote it to those religious and not. If you believe in God, you'll find the extra first hour twice as nice if spent in prayer and reading (I have read my One Year Bible and two short Christian books in the three weeks I've been doing this). I've always shoe-horned my OYB reading into each morning, but never with time for reflection and curiosity. It was a chore. Give God your first hour, deep in authentic prayer, and I believe you'll see big dividends in your life and your attitude.

Hoping for Something Bad to Happen

Until recently -- really recently -- I kept hoping bad things would happen to me so I could get drunk. I am a binge drinker, which is a nuanced difference from being an alcoholic. Fundamentally, though, I can't enjoy a beer with dinner. I want them all, however many are in my fridge.

I responded long ago by just not buying beer. That's worked pretty well. I have not been 100% perfect, but mostly I don't drink anymore (Note: Satan, this is NOT a challenge!). However, I kept wanting to drink.

Disclaimer: This isn't a blanket statement about drinking. If you are the type of person who can have a beer and stop there, good for you. This isn't about drinking, per se. This is about people like me that use it as a crutch and if they have a beer, they want two. If they have two, they are already planning on beer number four or wondering if they should walk down to the corner store for another six-pack lest they run out. People who aren't having a beer, but getting drunk. Jesus drank wine in the Bible. It's not the drink, it's the people, like me, drinking.

And, it's the wanting to drink. I actually would avoid praying for strength in this area because I didn't want strength, I did want to drink, even if I didn't actually break down and do it. I still had that nugget of rebellion, and I cherished it even as it was one of the major things between me and God (the rebellion, not the drinking). Will I ever drink again? Well, you know, there's a pretty good shot that I won't. I want to do what I always do and say "you never know" because it that statement softens failure. But, since I've been actually seeking to NOT want to drink I've had it a lot easier. Yes, I'm praying not to be tempted, but not being tempted only means I'm not fully in the game. Bruce Wilkinson writes that we are tempted and challenged by our Enemy (ole "You know who") if we pose a threat to him. If I'm not tempted I'm not posing a threat, and oh how I want to pose a threat. So, yes, I have been and will again be tempted, but the other thing I have been doing lately is immediately praying for help.

Praying for help is an option that almost never comes to my mind first. I'm getting better, but often I'll be trying to work but have my mind on, um, other things. You know, things you can find with a quick Google Image search. Or, I'll be stressed out by work, the kids, or whatever and start thinking about how great a beer would taste. Nowadays, for whatever reason, I remember to focus on God for a moment -- a moment is all it takes -- and then later that night or the next day I think, "whoa, I forgot all about that craving." I kid you not. It works. Yeah, I know... duh, but I didn't really think of it as an option. It is an option. It should be your first option.

I can't do any of this on my own. I've tried, I've failed. I'll always be tempted, but the combination of my desire to not drink (because I'm a binger) and the help from my Lord, I'm going to be fine. We'll know when I die.

Borrowing a Favor

I'm reading the two year bible. That's the One Year Bible read over two years. Last year I read each day's New Testament and Psalm & Proverb. This year I'm focusing on each day's Old Testament reading. I've read the bible through several times now, and I wanted to spend more time in each passage. Thus, I adopted this slower reading method. It also allows me more time in bible commentary.

Yesterday, Jan 10th, was Genesis 23:1-24:51. Right at the beginning, we hear that Abraham's wife Sarah died at age 127. Abraham, living in basically a land foreign to him, needs a place to bury her. The leaders of the land offer him any tomb he wants and he chooses one from Ephron. Ephron hands it over free of charge but Abraham says he wants to pay. It almost turned into one of those "who pays the check" situations when you are at dinner with someone, but after a couple rounds Ephron agrees to a bro deal and Abraham gets the tomb.

As I read this, I wondered why Abraham didn't just accept the land and say thanks. The Hittites, leaders of this land, told him he was a prince among them and they would be honored to give him the "finest of our tombs." I believe there was a good reason, and one we can all learn from.

I think Abraham didn't want to "owe" anyone. Once he accepts that land for free, he's indebted to that person. It's implied, if not explicit. Perhaps later Ephron might have come back and said, "remember when I gave you that tomb?" and asked for a favor of his own. Someone asking a favor is fine, maybe even good. You should help if you can, that's biblical ("Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act." - Proverbs 3:27, NIV) But if you "owe him one" you are more likely to fulfill a favor that you shouldn't, a favor they do not deserve. Maybe you do something risky, or illegal, or loan him money. This is a good lesson for all of us. If you are able to pay for it or obtain it yourself, often it's in your best interest to do so. Don't be a borrow or a lender; don't even borrow favors.

$,$$$,$$$

One of my mother's cousins won a lottery in Montana a couple of days ago. He won $1,000,000. That's a lot of money, but not really the "big" money by today's standards. My mom emailed me, my brother, her sisters and their kids with the news and one of my aunts replied with a very telling sentence. Paraphrasing, it said, "I'm happy for him, but I can't call him and tell him or else he'll think I'm wanting his money." I had the same thought.

In fact, winning the lottery is among the last things I would want. Sounds pretty noble, doesn't it? It's not. I don't want it because I think winning a lot of money would be such a huge headache that I'd probably end up ruining everything I have now, losing my loved ones, being worried about every "friend" old and -- especially -- new. What peace would I have with even $1,000,000, much less $30 or $100 million? People would want to "borrow" but probably wouldn't worry about paying you back, after all, they only borrowed $500,000 and you have $30,000,000! But you won't have very much after taxes, the three new homes and 20 "friends" and relatives (including the ones who are distantly linked, they may not even be primates) borrowing. But you will have a trail of resentful people if you don't "loan" out the money.

I don't even want to earn that much money. I know that if I somehow managed to earn and store away $2,000,000 over the next couple of years, I would shift into "worry about not losing all of my money" mode. I'd rather have just enough every day, every week, every year. Just enough is just a little bit less than I want, but more than I need. God has His spreadsheet pretty well set up.

The bible says that we can't serve two masters. This is true in all cases, but double true about money. Most people think Matthew 6:24 (see below) is about debt, meaning that you shouldn't get into debt because you will be serving another master, the lender. But it is also about having too much money. How reliant on God will you be when you win the lottery? How much more worried will you be about the money than you will be about God? If your spouse wants to "loan" money to her sister and you don't, will that spell the end of your marriage? What about when you want to loan to your Dad and your spouse doesn't?

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." -- Jesus, in Matthew 6:24 (NIV)