The DD Women's Series - Part 4: What The Future Holds For Missy

We’ve really enjoyed getting to know more about Missy Gannon, one of the ladies on the Dynamic Discs team. It’s truly incredible how influential disc golf can be in someone’s life, and Missy is a perfect example of that. From not really loving it the first time she played to quitting her job and going on tour full-time, a lot can happen in just a few years!

In this final part of our DD Women’s Series on Missy, we’re going to explore what she’d like to accomplish during the rest of this touring season and discuss where the world of disc golf might take her. After all, anyone can take a streak of luck and run with it, thus changing the future of their disc golf career.

What’s In A Name?

Putting yourself out there on tour brings a lot of changes to one’s life, but one lesser thought of reality is that people start to know who you are. For Missy, disc golf used to be a sport she played with her friends and local club members, but it was never something that she was ‘famous’ for. But lately, that’s changed: “When you’re a newbie in this big field of great women players, you don’t realize that people are starting to notice you even if you’re not playing well,” she shared.

The more and more events she competes in, the more Missy is finding herself in the spotlight. With this bit of notoriety comes another challenge - fine-tuning your mental game to make sure you don’t feel pressure to perform well now that people know who you are.

Looking Long Term

For the rest of the 2018 season, Missy is almost treating her tour like a mini-vacation. She’s happy that she can sort of hit reset on her life and is thankful that she’ll never look back and wonder what would’ve happened had she not gone. While she’d love to cash at her remaining events, the intrigue of finding out how she compares to other women out there is more important.

Will we see Gannon on tour next year? “It would be a sweet life to be able to continue doing this, [but] I also have to be a little practical too. If it turns out to be a summer thing then that’s ok,” she explained. For now, Missy and her beau have enough saved to continue the rest of their journey this season and then will spend some time on the East Coast with friends and family while they evaluate their plans for next year.

If she ends up placing well during the rest of the season and cashes at the bulk of her events, Missy might just decide to go for it and stay on the road for another year. Otherwise, her goal of experiencing life on the road just once will have been crossed off of her bucket list. Either way, she’s doing something that most of us only dream about.

Good luck with the rest of your season Missy! We’ve really enjoyed getting to know you a bit better!

The DD Women's Series - Part 3: Missy Gannon Goes Full Time

In this DD Women’s Series, we’ve been getting to know Missy Gannon, an East Coast native who spread her wings to Colorado, only to find a passion for disc golf and a supportive community around the sport. After becoming immersed in her local club and spending time honing her skills, the idea of venturing out on the road as a touring pro started to get more and more exciting.

Part 3 of this series sheds some light on how Missy decided to take the leap to play disc golf full-time and how she’s making up for lost years. Let’s jump right in!

Changing Plans

When Missy and her fiancé decided to move to Colorado, there was never any inkling in their minds that they would fall in love with disc golf. But after playing more and more regularly and growing their game, the thought of it becoming a job became more of a reality. “There was no original plan to leave Colorado and the booming disc golf scene there,” she said.

However, around the holiday season of 2017, Missy began to feel like she needed to make a change. Noting that there are so many up and coming players who are just entering into adulthood, Missy’s age started to play a factor in her decision making. “I thought ‘man, I’m 28 now and I’ll be 29 in March. It’s kind of like now or never.’”

Thinking It Through

Gannon didn’t jump on tour right away in 2018, and it actually took a good six months or so for her to feel confident in her decision. “It was the combination of ‘I like my job’ but I wasn’t in love with it, my fiancé is in construction so he was pretty transplantable, and we weren’t super tied to Colorado other than deciding to move out there,” she explained.

Making sure they could afford it was another endeavor, and as Missy didn’t want to have to rely on cashing at events to ensure their tour was sustainable, they had to make sure they had enough saved up before they hit the road. Going back to their love of the outdoors, the pair realized that if they camped instead of paid for lodging and really stuck to a minimal lifestyle, they could make it work.

“Being uncomfortable isn’t necessarily a bad thing when you can be comfortable with the discomfort. You can’t live the same way you did before,” she says about going on tour. As much of the latter portion of the season is based in the Northeastern area of the country, they will be able to visit their home base in New York and make things work, at least for the time being.

We’ve seen Missy perform exceptionally well so far in just the few months that she’s been a full-time player, and we’re excited to see what the rest of the season has in store. Be sure to check back with us for the final part in our series to learn about her long-term plans for 2019 and beyond.

The DD Women's Series - Part 2: How Missy Grew Her Game In Colorado

Disc golf is the perfect sport for anyone who’s looking for a fun new activity, but sometimes making a name for yourself can be a challenge, especially when you’ve just moved to a new area. In Part 2 of our DD Women’s Series, we learn how team member Missy Gannon got comfortable with disc golf in her new home of Colorado.

Not only did it take some time for Missy to fall head over heels with the sport to begin with, but acclimating to a new town and new job also took some adjusting. She shared with us how her local disc golf community helped to instill a passion in her and grow her skill set at the same time.

Support From Others

Playing disc golf with your close friends is awesome, but there’s nothing like getting to meet others and be a part of a community. Missy found out about the Longs Peak Disc Golf Club and was pleased to find it was only about half an hour away from her place of work. Every Wednesday after work, she’d drive down and play with a ton of other Colorado locals.

“I ended up joining the summer league and doing really well, sometimes beating some of the guys! Eventually, at the end of that first summer in 2016, I technically won the summer league in the women’s division. It became something where people started to realize who I was and the skill level I was bringing,” Missy explained.

Her desire to get involved extended beyond just her time on the course, and until recently, Gannon also held a position on the Longs Peak Disc Golf Club board.

Moving On Up

Missy’s love for disc golf was now in full force, and at the end of 2016, she decided to take her game more seriously and moved up into the Advanced Women’s division. Right around this time, she started reaching out to potential sponsors, knowing that having the support of a team behind her would help to propel her game even more. Another big decision came around this time, as Missy wanted to take her disc golf career to the next level:

“After doing a ton of research and seeing what was out there, I decided that I was going to make AM Worlds happen that year. It felt really quick but I was almost 28 by then - I just have to do it. I kept playing competitively at almost every Colorado event up until July when AM Worlds happened,” she said.

While Missy has decades of disc golf left in her, she’s aware that she got a bit of a later start than many of her current competitors. This motivation to not waste time and take her performance to the next level is what helped her to make some of the most important decisions in her career.

Her persistence paid off because just before she played her final nine holes at AM Worlds, she was presented with her Dynamic Discs sponsorship offer. If you’re wondering what’s next for Missy and her disc golf career, be sure to check in with us for Part 3 of this DD Women’s Series!

The DD Women's Series - Part 1: Disc Golf Wasn't Love At First Sight For Missy Gannon

Welcome back to the Dynamic Discs Women’s Series, where we get to learn more about one of our female team players through a four-part blog series. So far we have gotten to know many of the women who have been touring the nation, but today we’re going to check in with an incredible player whose name you’re going to start seeing a lot more of!

Originally from Cold Spring, New York, the desire to move to Colorado with her fiancé would change Missy Gannon’s life forever, but not in the ways that she thought. In Part 1 of this series, we’re going to learn how Missy got involved in disc golf and how she ended up loving the sport.

Longing For A Change

Although her hometown is quite beautiful, Missy wanted to spread her wings and venture across the nation to make a new home for herself. Growing up as an athlete, she had never heard of disc golf, and it wasn’t until she was almost finished with her two-month road trip to Colorado that she was handed a stack of discs.

“I figured it was going to be easy and fun. I’d thrown frisbees before and thought it wasn’t going to be a big deal. I probably threw 40 or 50 feet before it hyzered out. I was pretty unimpressed with the sport right off the bat! I’m such a competitive person that when I wasn’t excelling it was hard,” Gannon shared.

Unlike so many others who instantly fall in love with disc golf the first time they play, Missy’s friends didn’t get the reaction they were hoping for. Nevertheless, she pushed through to finish the 9-hole course they were on, and she even purchased a disc starter pack just in case she wanted to try again later.

Something Clicked

Missy and her fiancé traveled to Oregon before finally settling in Loveland, CO, and they decided once more to give disc golf a try. Even after this second go of it, she still felt like it wasn’t her thing, but with her competitive nature tugging at her, she couldn’t just give up without giving disc golf the attention that it deserved.

“It ended up becoming something I was doing every weekend. Once we settled in Colorado we went from being avid hikers to playing disc golf more often, and we got involved with local clubs,” she said. It was this community support that really helped Missy to excel both in her skills and her attitude toward the game.

Her first sanctioned event was in the spring of 2016, and she signed up for the Recreational division, not really knowing how her skills would compare against others. To her surprise, not only did she win her very first tournament, but she also would have won by a landslide if she played in the Advanced division! She began to play in tournaments every weekend and from then on was completely hooked.

So how did she go from someone who didn’t really care for disc golf to a member of the DD team now touring the country? You’ll have to wait for the rest of our series to find out! Stay tuned for Part 2 where we learn more about the Colorado disc golf scene and how Missy went from a casual player to a well-known competitor.

The DD Women's Series - Part 4: The Future Is Bright For Cynthia Ricciotti

When you’re only a teen and yet you’re already sponsored by a major disc golf company and you have more wins under your belt than most adults, the sky’s the limit. At least that’s the case for Cynthia Ricciotti - we’ve focused this Women’s Series on the Missouri native who is so passionate about disc golf that it nearly puts the rest of us to shame.

Cynthia is about to enter her sophomore year of high school, and we’ve learned about her practice routines, how she balances school and disc golf, and what got her into the sport to begin with. Now it’s time for the all-important question - what’s next?

Moving On Up

Before Cynthia can even think about college (after all she does have three more years in high school), the next logical step for her in her disc golf career is when to move up and compete in the women’s open division. While she’s had a huge amount of success so far, the leap to pro is a big one.

“I think I’ll know when to move up to pro. As my ratings improve and when I start winning more I’ll move up to pro to see what it’s like. I’m close to being able to play in [the pro division]. Since I’m so young I want to keep grinding on the game and making sure I have all the bases covered before I make such a big leap.”

That calculated level of thinking is exactly how she’s attained so much success already, as she takes the time to make sure her priorities are straight and she’s making good decisions along the way.

College Or Tour?

Young disc golfers always have a crossroads in front of them once they are finished with high school. Do you start college and continue to play local events, traveling only when you can? Or do you forgo the traditional route and embark on tour like we’ve seen several other young players do?

Cynthia has always excelled in school, and explains her viewpoint: “I was a good student and had all the honors before I even knew about disc golf. I had dreams of going to college and doing well, but I want to go to college somewhere warm all year long so I can continue to play. As of right now, I plan to do college and hopefully tour when the time comes.”

Ricciotti is incredibly talented, and she plans on honing in her skills while furthering her education, giving her the best chances to do whatever she pleases as an adult. Thankfully, disc golf has already taught her some important skills: “The sport has really taught me time management - getting my homework done at school or in downtime during the day so I can go play disc golf at night. It’s taught me responsibility about my time and school.”

We are so pleased to have Cynthia as a part of the Dynamic Discs team. She is a true inspiration for younger players who aspire to grow their skills and her drive to accomplish everything she sets her mind to is something that even adults can look up to. Thank you Cynthia for sharing your story with us!

The DD Women's Series - Part 3: Cynthia Gets A Sponsorship!

Getting sponsored to play disc golf is perhaps one of the top priorities of many players out there, and even if you aren’t actively searching for this type of support, at the very least you could say it would be a dream come true!

Now imagine getting sponsored before you even got your driver’s license - for Cynthia Ricciotti, that’s exactly what happened. We’ve learned about her passion for the game and how she stays sharp on the course and excels in school during our first two parts of this DD Women’s Series, and now it’s time to learn how she became aligned with the DD Team.

Putting In The Work

Cynthia played a lot of disc golf before even thinking about becoming a sponsored player, as the bug bit her and she fell for the sport hard and fast. As a lifelong athlete, she finally felt as if she had found the sport that she could grasp onto and actually have a shot at, unlike her previous love of gymnastics.

“Middle school is when you start school sports and having disc golf in my life I knew that I probably couldn’t play school sports because that took a lot of time. At the time I was a gymnast - I was full on into it. I did about two to three years of gymnastics while being a disc golfer, but the turning point for me was a really bad strain in the tendons in my elbow. I basically had to pick one sport or the other. I gave up gymnastics for disc golf, knowing there would be a better future and better chances for success.”

If At First You Don’t Succeed…

With this renewed focus on disc golf, Ricciotti wanted to put it all on the line to become the best player she could be. She shared with us that she had actually been looking for a sponsorship for years prior to joining the DD family and that it was a long road to get where she is now. After the 2017 GBO, she was fortunate enough to play in the Champs Vs. Chumps and gained a lot of attention because of how far she could throw.

Realizing that Dynamic Discs would be a great fit for her, she decided to go for it. “I sent in an application and actually got rejected. I wasn’t expecting much to come from it but I sent one anyway,” she said. However, with patience on her side, Cynthia once again got her chance.

After attending a Luck of the Draw Doubles event and once again showing the DD team her incredible skills, she was approached by Robert McCall to talk about her future. 2018 marks Cynthia’s first year on the team, and she’s already seeing a major difference: “Knowing that I have that kind of support going into a tournament helps with my mental game.”

So what’s in store for Cynthia? She does have three years left in high school, but beyond that, the sky's the limit. Make sure to join us for Part 4 to learn more about her plans for the future.

The DD Women's Series - Part 2: How Cynthia Balances School And Disc Golf

Think back to your high school days - for some, it may not have been that long ago, but for others, it probably feels like an eternity. One thing is consistent for most people, however, and it’s the feeling that being a high school student is a full-time job.

Now imagine that you want to play disc golf 24/7 and hone in your skills with the goal of being one of the top players in your area and perhaps even in the nation. Does that feel like a full-time job? We’d guess it does.

For Cynthia Ricciotti, you could say that she’s balancing two full-time jobs and doing exceptionally well at both of them. In this second part of our DD Women’s Series, we’ll learn a little more about how Cynthia masters everything she puts her mind to.

Keeping A Schedule

If you want to do well at something you can’t just sporadically spend time on it. When it comes to bettering her skills, Cynthia spends a set time each week practicing while also making sure her schoolwork is up to date. “I try to practice as much as I can, at least 4 or 5 times a week if it’s not super hot or super cold. I get in a good balance of playing courses, doing field work, and putting practice - I try to get all the stuff into the week. I’m a really good student so school always mainly comes first, and if I have a ton of homework I’ll skip practice,” she shared.

With her dad as her coach, Ricciotti knows that the time she puts into practice directly translates into her success on the course. Yet there’s another element to her life that blends school and disc golf in a pretty unique way.

Bringing Disc Golf To The Town

“At my high school, I’m part of an advanced education program. I take advanced seminars and it’s all centered around project-based learning. You pick something that you’re passionate about, and my thing was disc golf,” Cynthia explained. This program required her to develop a community project, and her idea was to install a disc golf course at her school:

“My freshman year project was working with the principal and the school to get a 9-hole beginner course on the school property. Unfortunately, the city owns the land and they are planning to put a park there. I’ll need to wait for them to develop the park before they start talking about logistics. I have 3 more years to get that done. That’s my biggest way of trying to give back.”

It’s this attitude of community and giving back that has made Cynthia such an incredible role model not only for the juniors in her area but for all players across the nation. Her determination and commitment to getting good grades while also shredding the disc golf course is something to really admire. It just might even inspire some of us adults to get a little more involved!

Make sure to check back in with us and read the upcoming Part 3 in Cynthia’s blog series, where she’ll explain how she got a sponsorship as a junior player.

The DD Women's Series - Part 1: Cynthia Ricciotti And Growing Up With Disc Golf

Many disc golfers in the casual scene, as well as a good handful on the pro circuit, started disc golfing in their adulthood. For some, they were introduced to the sport in college while for others it took well into their 20’s or even 30’s before they fell in love with it. Yet for DD team member Cynthia Ricciotti, disc golf came into her life at a young age.

This DD Women’s Series is a special one, as we highlight one of our exceptional junior players and learn how she balances competing, practice, and school work! Cynthia gave us some insight into how she started playing and what’s it’s been like to have the support of her friends and family along the way.

Encouragement At School

You could say that Cynthia’s love for disc golf started at school, yet you can’t discount the fact that her own father used to live near La Mirada many years ago. His familiarity with the sport helped when Cynthia was given disc golf as an option at her middle school’s intramural sports program.

“I had never heard of disc golf, so I thought ‘let’s try something new.’ I signed up for disc golf, we went out to the local Play It Again Sports, bought discs, and went out throwing to get a head start,” she says. It was either disc golf or kickball, and Ricciotti wanted to expand her horizons. Both she and her dad instantly gravitated toward the sport, yet before school started she got a bit of bad news.

Only three people had signed up for the disc golf class, so it was canceled. Yet in the short time she spent with her dad at their local course, disc golf had already made its mark. “I wanted to be an athlete but I hadn’t found a sport that I could successfully do that. I knew that I had to keep pushing and keep going. I got the bug super quick,” Ricciotti shared.

Support All Around

With her dad as her coach, Cynthia finds that her love of disc golf has been welcomed by others with open arms. Although her mom doesn’t attend every tournament, you can see Ricciotti and her father traveling to local events as their schedule permits.

“There’s only a few people in my town that are juniors. My best friends don’t play, but they are super supportive and they know how much disc golf means to me,” she shared. With this kind of support, Cynthia has been able to excel at a rapid pace - she’s already collected 10 career wins and will be entering her sophomore year of high school this fall.

So far it seems like it’s been worth it, as she explains, “Getting to the level I’m at took a lot of hard work; especially at my age it included a lot of sacrifice and determination to get where I’m at.” Be sure to stay tuned for Part 2 of Cynthia’s series as we uncover how she balances school and disc golf like a champ!

Honoring The Juniors On Our Team - We Get To Know DD Player Anna Bankus

When you head out to your local course or play a tournament somewhere new, you often end up chatting with others about when they started playing disc golf. More often than not, you’ll hear that people didn’t really start playing until adulthood, with some becoming introduced to the sport by their own children.

Imagine what it would be like to have known about and played disc golf all of your life! For DD team member Anna Bankus, that’s her reality. We recently chatted with the 12-year-old sponsored player to learn more about what it’s like to be surrounded by so much support while competing in a sport that she loves.

Growing Up With Disc Golf

When was the last time you’ve seen a very young child on the disc golf course with their parents? While it happens from time to time, infants and disc golf don’t often mix. Yet for Bankus, her experience is quite different. “I've always had an interest in disc golf ever since I was going to the course in my stroller with my parents, grandparents, and brother,” said Anna.

Although we weren’t there, we can imagine that the Bankus family tradition included regular outings to the course, so for Anna, disc golf was just another thing they did. Some families play board games, others BBQ in the backyard every weekend, but Anna and her family disc golf!

Having the support of her family has been instrumental in Anna’s disc golf success, and the ability for her to travel to some of the nation’s larger events only solidifies her talents and connection with the DD team. When reflecting on last year’s performances, she had a number of highlights come to mind:

“Having Zach Melton and Paige Pierce caddy for me at the 2017 Amateur and Junior Worlds. Meeting a lot of my teammates at Worlds and at other tournaments throughout the season. Playing a round with Eric McCabe at the Dynamic Discs Pocono Experience.”

Those events would be the highlight of anyone’s career!

Balancing It All

As a 12-year-old athlete, it’s important that Anna stays dedicated to her schoolwork while still making time for disc golf. She loves to read and really enjoys learning, and also noted that she has a strong interest in photography. Perhaps when she’s not on the course she could become one of our sport’s photographers someday?

Anna’s main focus for 2018 is Junior Worlds, taking place in Emporia, Kansas. She’s hoping to get in a lot of practice time before then as she’s looking to add distance to her game. However, with 7 career wins to date, we’re guessing that she can already outdrive a ton of people in her division. Bankus continues to hone her skills and said that she loves throwing 50 to 100-foot upshots with her Marshal.
“I'm proud to be on Team DD and belong to such an amazing disc golf family,” Anna explained and having that level of support really makes all the difference for young and growing players. Good luck at Junior Worlds Anna!

The DD Women's Series - Part 4: Zoe's Method Of Reaching Peak Performance

The time, dedication, and persistence needed to become a top disc golf athlete really takes something, and we’ve seen that DD team member Zoe Andyke checks off all of those boxes and more. From learning about how she’s been involved in teaching women across the nation to understanding how her viewpoints on disc golf and life seamlessly intertwine, she’s an inspiring person to look up to no matter where you’re at in your game.

Zoe is a firm believer in taking good care of your body - in fact, the word “good” permeates her motto: “Look good, feel good, play good, be good.” When it comes to health and nutrition, she has her plan dialed in and has found a way to thrive both on and off tour. Let’s take a look at her guiding principles in this final installment of Zoe’s DD Women’s Series.

You Are What You Eat

You won’t catch Zoe with her hands in the cookie jar all too often, as she takes a bold stance on junk food: “I’m a firm believer that fake sugar and corn starches are ruining people’s lives and bodies. I’m at an absolute zero tolerance for fake sugar. I think that’s important for people who are athletic or not athletically focused, from cancer to general health, sugar shouldn’t be a part of your diet.”

When you think about what it takes to play tournaments weekend in and weekend out while competing against the best in the world, there’s really no room for foods that don’t serve your nutritional needs. Alongside her commitment to keeping the bad stuff out, Zoe focuses on filling her plate with dark greens and purples, and integrates fresh items into her salads, smoothies, and meals. Add in at least 70 ounces of water a day and she’s set!

Working It

We previously touched on Zoe’s athletic routine in Part 3 of this series, but it’s worth noting in a little more detail. Despite spending countless hours on the course each week, the disc golf Andyke plays doesn’t really count as exercise for her. “I think a lot of people use disc golf as their main form of basic exercise. I think that’s good and it’s one of the intended uses. At the level I’m playing, my cardio and practice putting/driving have to be separate than my playing on the course.”

With a commitment to get in some form of cardio at least 5 days per week, Zoe is able to keep her body in shape and can handle those days when she might have to play 36 holes on a Saturday.

We can’t forget about the human element here either, where one’s spirit also affects performance both on and off the course: “If I was as good at life as I am at golf, I’d be a professional at life. Breaking my golf game down to the absolute basics is the way that I’ve become so adept at some of the most mastered detailed skills.”

No matter what stage in life you’re at - a new disc golfer looking to learn the basics or you’re a touring pro who needs a little encouragement - the things we’ve learned from Zoe Andyke are applicable across the board. Thank you Zoe for being such an incredible ambassador for our sport!

The DD Women's Series - Part 3: Andyke's Secret To Staying Healthy On The Road

Whether you’re a touring pro who spends months away from home or you’re teaching disc golf clinics in your home state, or if you’re Zoe Andyke you do both, it can be a challenge to keep your mind and body ready to perform at all times. In this installment of our DD Women’s Series, we’re going to be let in on the secrets for success when it comes to staying fit, eating right, and how to balance the pressure of it all.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned so far from Zoe in our first two blog posts, it’s just how dedicated she is to growing disc golf. Her efforts to teach women and children across the nation no doubt take a toll from time to time, because after all, she’s only human. Let’s find out about Zoe’s perspective on maintaining your health.

Health Is Hard

There are no two ways about it - staying healthy is tough for anyone, and just because Zoe is a top-level athlete who travels each year, it doesn’t mean she’s above getting sick. Her mindset around the foods she eats and the exercise she gets in aside from disc golf is perhaps one of the more important facets of her overall success:

“It’s harder [when you’re on tour] to get into a healthy eating routine. [It’s] hard period whether it’s food or exercise just because a regular schedule doesn’t exist. You need to be flexible to change it or to give yourself the grace to put it to the next meal or save the activity for later. The way that you win or actually get something crossed off the list is not having negative pressure or feeling bad about not getting something done the way you wanted it.”

Does that mean you can make excuses left and right and put off your health for another day? No way! Andyke makes sure she eats right and engages in cardio five days a week regardless of her disc golf schedule.

A Positive Mindset

Anyone who has met Zoe can instantly see what a ray of sunshine she is. You’d be hard-pressed to see her in a bad mood and this positive energy carries over to her performance on the disc golf course. What’s her secret?

“Golf is life - life is golf. It helps me in a spiritual way of keeping the pressures light and positive and not having a negative reaction when things don’t go my way. It’s really important - every morning I say my 4 thank you’s before I even get out of bed. In my life routine, being gracious in the morning starts me off optimistic and ready for any opportunity. In golf, I try to bring that over into my game - trying to be thankful or point out what I liked about every shot.”

The aspect of having a strong mental game is so commonly talked about that sometimes as players we forget to focus on all of the ways we can be positive, both on and off the course. This element is a huge part of who Zoe is, not only as a professional disc golfer but as a friend and teacher.

Want to know more about how Andyke’s routines fit into the life of a touring pro? Check out our fourth and final part of this series to learn what Zoe eats, drinks, and how she sets herself up for success each tour season!

The DD Women's Series - Part 2: Where Zoe Spreads The Love To Disc Golfing Women

When you think of women who are making a difference in the sport of disc golf, several prominent names come to mind, including Zoe Andyke. In Part 1 of our DD Women’s Series, we discovered how Zoe got started teaching disc golf and how she’s been able to educate and empower women in the sport.

The truth of the matter is, Andyke is so involved in numerous groups and organizations across the US that we couldn’t fit it all into one blog post! Part 2 is here to further explore where Zoe has made an impact on the growth of women’s disc golf and what may be in store for the future!

Born To Teach

Even before Zoe was laser-focused on teaching women about the sport of disc golf, she found that her own growth as a player naturally drew attention from others. “It started happening early in my professional career where amateur women wanted help with attitude, with sportsmanlike conduct, and just [asking to be] educated about the real rules of the game,” she said. Zoe found that this attraction to helping other ladies in the sport naturally unfolded into some of the activities she’s been hosting for many years.

One such instance is the putting leagues that she runs in Oregon. While they aren’t dedicated to women only, she consistently sees between 5 and 15 women each week. 2018 marks her fifth season of running multiple leagues in both Albany and Eugene, OR along with the help of her touring partner and fellow DD team member Dustin Keegan.

Creating Effective Clinics

The ability to be a touring player not only serves Zoe well regarding her own personal game, but it allows her the chance to teach other women outside of Oregon. This year marks her sixth annual visit to the Daisy Chains Women’s Global Event held in Watsonville, CA. Taking place the weekend before the Masters Cup, it fits in nicely with her schedule and allows her the chance to host a women’s clinic.

“Each year I change up who my co-clinicians are for the clinic, and this year Dustin and I are on Team Disc Golf Strong. I’m one-upping my game, and Seth [Munsey] is going to come and will do a demonstration of our standard performance,” Andyke said excitedly. The Daisy Chains group of ladies are known for being incredibly active in the sport and it’s a natural fit for Zoe to be involved.

She’s also planning on executing her 4th annual clinic just before the Beaver State Fling in June. Working with the Women of DGOD in Portland, she’s had over 70 women attend in past years. “One of the best ways I can locally service players is through my national outreach and friendships in the pro division. I learned so quickly and got so good due to watching others that were better than me, so for me to bring the highest level of female disc golf to the ladies of Oregon is one of my biggest gifts,” Zoe said.

It sounds like Andyke has some exciting events on the horizon outside of her standard touring schedule, so be sure to attend one of her clinics if you’re in the area. Check back with us for Part 3 of this series, where we explore some of the mind-body elements that have helped Zoe to find success.

The DD Women's Series - Part 1: How Zoe Andyke Promotes Women's Disc Golf

Take one look at Zoe Andyke and you’d think disc golf was in her blood. She’s earned 27 career wins to date and tours the country spreading her enthusiasm about the sport while performing at an impressive level. When she’s not on the road, she’s working on the non-profit she founded, Universal Play Disc Golf, which teaches school-aged children the essential skills needed to play disc golf.

But even beyond this long list of accomplishments, Andyke is well-known for her efforts in promoting disc golf to women. Let’s take a brief look at how she’s made an impact for women across the country.

In A State Far, Far Away....

A native Oregonian with a passion for physical education, Zoe didn’t necessarily have her sights set on teaching women disc golf across the country when she first started out. Working with teen girls at a boarding school, however, gave her insight into how she could relate the knowledge she has to a group of women:

“It was a treatment based academy, so not only did I have control of their PE curriculum, but I had to fill their weekend and evening time with outdoor activities and education. We completed wilderness survival, built shelters outdoors, and on the side, I was an Oregon disc golfer on the weekends,” said Andyke.

Eventually, she moved to Alaska to pursue other opportunities, but disc golf came with her. Just before leaving in 2011, she taught her first women’s clinic. With 32 ladies in attendance in Anchorage, she told the group that she didn’t know where her teaching was going, but she knew she was on to something good.

Getting Involved Everywhere

When you talk to Zoe about all the places she’s involved in teaching disc golf to women, it can make your head spin. 2013 saw the development of Portland-based club Women of Disc Golf or Die (Women of DGOD), and together with the founders Zoe offered merchandise, training, and offered to be the club pro. During that year she also went on tour and continued to teach. “At each stop, I wanted to teach a clinic during the event and had about a 70% success rate with that. They were donation based and I was always advertising and aiming at women,” Andyke explained.

Continuing her momentum, she partnered with Huk Lab the following year to create Flight School. The idea took off with the intention of hosting women-only disc golf classes, and as Zoe continued to see success the branding also took off with Nate Sexton providing a male-oriented version. From joining clubs across the nation to becoming involved in classes held during well-known tournaments, Zoe is a teaching force to be reckoned with!

She has a huge mission on her mind, explaining: “The 92% men to 8% female PDGA stats seem to stay stagnant, even with women’s tournaments popping up everywhere. When you look at the rate of the men’s growth - we just can’t keep up with that.” Yet with Zoe’s skills and natural talent for teaching, she’s hoping to change that.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our DD Women’s Series where we explore more about how Zoe is impacting the sport of disc golf and encouraging women worldwide.

The DD Women's Series - Part 4: Natalie Hollokӧi And Mental Pressure

We’ve covered a lot in our last three posts with DD team member Natalie Hollokӧi. From getting to know her disc golf background to learning about competition and touring in Europe, she’s provided us with exceptional insight into what it’s like to be a Swiss female professional disc golfer.

In our last post of this four-part series, we’re going to dig a bit deeper into how Natalie handles the mental pressure of the game both at home and abroad. She has had some interesting experiences and shows us how she manages to keep a positive attitude despite the obstacles she’s encountered.

US Competition

As we learned in our last post, touring in Europe isn’t quite the same as it is in America. “Playing a US tournament was another childhood dream,” Natalie told us, and in 2011 she made that dream a reality by traveling to Santa Cruz to compete in that year’s Worlds event. Citing that she was incredibly honored and proud to play with many other professional women, she ended in 19th place and had a great time.

However, that was just a warm-up for the mental pressure she would experience during the President’s Cup, where for several years in a row she battled against World Champion Paige Pierce. Natalie recalls the events fondly, saying “It was the first time they showed it on TV, and everyone was watching you. I had a caddy with me - he kept telling me to breathe.”

Hollokӧi’s vulnerability is refreshing here, as all too often people think that professional players don’t get nervous. Natalie will be the first to tell you exactly what races through her mind in these high-pressure situations, and most of the time it’s to calm down!

Play Like A Girl

For the most part, men in the United States are incredibly supportive of women in the sport of disc golf. Yet in Switzerland, Natalie feels like she encounters challenges when talking with others on the course: "I have also heard ‘for a woman you are throwing far.’ Once a man talked with me about distance throwing - they think women don’t throw far. The body is different from men to women, that’s science.”

Despite hearing this criticism, she maintains her composure and continues to shred each course she plays. When competing in the US, she does see some of these attitudes trickle over into different elements of the game. “[There’s] always a discussion about doing shorter tees or not. I played for the first time Master Worlds last year. They changed to the short tees and I was shocked!” Even certain tournaments, in general, seem to cater to men only, and rather than let it get Natalie frustrated, she simply finds events where she can truly excel and feel welcomed.

After learning a bit about disc golf in Switzerland and understanding the nuances of the sport here and abroad, does it make you excited to someday travel to Europe and play in a few events? It’s certainly a bucket list item for many! Thanks so much Natalie for sharing your insights with us, and we look forward to seeing what the rest of 2018 has in store for you.

The DD Women's Series - Part 3: Natalie Takes On The European Tour

When we talk about tour life in the context of disc golf, what usually comes to mind? For many, it’s packing your car full of gear and hitting the road for several months, playing event after event. Tour life can be difficult and equally rewarding when it’s done in the United States, but touring in Europe is a bit of a different animal.

In Part 3 of our DD Women’s Series, we'll get to learn from team member Natalie Hollokӧi the ins and outs of touring in Europe and what it’s like for a female pro player to embark on such a journey. If you missed our first two posts where we got to learn more about Natalie, be sure to check them out!

The European Tour

The European disc golf scene is different in a variety of ways from what’s going on in the US, but perhaps one of the major parts has to do with what touring actually looks like. Stateside, we have a wealth of events to choose from, including NT stops, Majors, the Disc Golf Pro Tour, and plenty of A-tiers to fill in the gaps.

In Europe, Natalie broke it down for us quite simply: “We have a European Tour and a European Pro Tour. [The] Pro Tour is only 2 categories: men’s open and women’s open. [The] European Tour is more for ams. As a pro, you can also play, but it’s mostly for ams.”

With only two main tours to choose from, it automatically cuts down on travel time and the grind that comes along with competing for months on end. The flip side, of course, is that there are fewer events to go to in general.

Those who decide to take part in either tour will find tournaments starting up around March and ending in October, and while every effort is made to include as much of Europe as possible, there’s only so many courses and accommodations available in parts outside of Northern and Northeastern Europe.

How Natalie Chooses Her Events

You’d think that with a limited number of tournaments available, Hollokӧi would make a point to visit every single one. Yet with balancing a full-time job and a personal life, she has to make her decisions carefully. “Often I have to fly - if it’s around 6 hours then I’ll drive but any more than [that] it’s not worth it,” she said.

As we learned in Part 2 of this series, there aren’t many professional female disc golfers hailing from Sweden, and that can limit the amount of camaraderie that so many of us love when touring with our friends. “I am often the only Swiss player, [there’s] not a lot of Swiss playing internationally. Often I am alone. I rent a car and have to find everything by myself,” Natalie said.

This doesn’t stop her though - as a self-proclaimed talkative person she meets new people and makes friends everywhere she goes! Natalie has already competed in a few events this year and we’ll no doubt see her perform well in 2018.

Our last segment in this 4-part series will take a look at Natalie’s mental game and how she manages to perform well under the pressure of intense competition. Stay tuned!

The DD Women's Series - Part 2: What Competing Is Like For Natalie

We’re particularly excited about this DD Women’s Series, as we have had the chance to chat with European team member Natalie Hollokӧi. In Part 1 of this four-part series, we learned a bit about her disc golfing background and once again saw how interconnected Ultimate and disc golf are throughout the world.

Natalie’s success has come as a result of hard work and dedication in a disc golf scene that’s completely different from the one we’re most familiar with. In today’s DD Women’s Series entry, let’s explore the European disc golf scene and what it’s like for a female pro player.

Different Divisions

Experienced disc golfers won’t be surprised by this information, but those new to the scene might be shocked to learn that competitive divisions in Europe are quite different. While we make every effort to learn each division and keep up every time the PDGA makes a change, players across the pond have made things much easier.

While this isn’t a hard and fast rule for every event out there, most European tournaments feature simply professional and amateur divisions for both men and women. Forget about FA2, MP40, and the like - it’s kept as straightforward as can be.

Not only are players less confused by this standard, but it also fits in nicely with the way tournament rounds are played. Natalie explains: “When I started to play, what [I noticed that’s] different compared to the US is the first round is always random. You are playing mixed, at least one woman, one master, etc on each card. The second round is by score, again mixed. The third round is by score and category. They still do this in Switzerland.” Utilizing this process allows players of all skill levels to get to know one another and tends to create more camaraderie on the course.

How’s The Competition?

The US always boasts a push for women to join the PDGA and we even hold women’s only events in an effort to have more ladies involved in the sport. In Europe, it can be a bit of a different story, however. “There’s an outdated viewpoint in Europe - some men don’t really want the women there. But some TD’s really push to have more women, and they do get a lot of support,” Natalie explained.

We know that countries like Finland are simply bursting with disc golf activity, and naturally a lot of newer players there must be women. In Switzerland, Hollokӧi has less competition than she would stateside. “In Switzerland, there are only six professional female disc golfers. Three years ago there were only three of them,” she said. While this might lead some to believe that winning an event is easy, the courses in Europe are no less grueling than what we compete on in the United States.

Learning from Natalie about disc golf in Europe and specifically in Switzerland has been eye-opening and we’re excited to bring you more in this DD Women’s Series. Stay tuned for Part 3 where we learn more about what tour life is like for Natalie.

2018 By The Numbers - Where The Ladies Stand

Anyone who’s even remotely involved in disc golf knows that there are typically far more men involved in the sport than women, and it’s a passion of many to bring more ladies into the game. This can be done through female-only events or by offering enticing course layouts and multiple divisions to play in.

We took a peek at where things stand for the 2018 Glass Blown Open and how these figures compare to female participation in other tournaments over the last year. The results are interesting and point to an exciting pattern of growth, which is in part largely due to the efforts of tournament directors across the nation who aim to make their events appealing to all.

2017 In A Glance

We had some pretty spectacular events take place last year, and female participation was certainly at an impressive level. Take for example the Rocky Mountain Women’s Disc Golf Championships, held in Colorado during July of 2017. Approximately 126 ladies came out for this always anticipated tournament, allowing that many more women in the area to become exposed to the sport.

Last year’s GBO was also a pretty big hit on the female side of registration with 118 women competing across all divisions. Since our event fills up so quickly each year, we’d bet that more women would have attended if we’d had the space. Thankfully, 2018 brought about some changes to make that a reality.

Worlds in 2017 may have been a bit on the smaller side, but when you think about how many women were in the competitive realm even 5 years ago, it certainly shows the strides we’ve made. AM Worlds saw 77 women compete, with 18 at Pro Masters Worlds and 44 at Pro Worlds respectively. Across the board, 139 women performed at the highest level possible across all Worlds events.

How Is 2018 Shaping Up?

Of course it’s too early to say how such events as RMWDGC or Worlds will fare, but if the numbers at GBO are anything to go by, it’s going to be epic. Of the 184 spots available across all divisions at this year’s Glass Blown Open, 175 of them are filled. We’ll be seeing some top names in the Open division with a healthy assortment of competitors across many other areas.

2018 is also host to the much-anticipated Women’s Global Event which takes place every other year. As always, organizers there are looking to not only meet but surpass the previous event’s attendance. The WGE has been quite active on social media and really caters their tournament toward women of all experience and skill levels.

If you’re a gal reading this, what events are you looking forward to this year? Do you feel like you’re seeing an increase in women’s attendance at your local tournaments or weekly events? Let us know in the comments below how you think disc golfers across the country can help to encourage more women to show up at events throughout the season.

The DD Women's Series - Part 1: Getting To Know Natalie Hollokӧi

There are many things about Europe that make it quite different than the United States, and when it comes to disc golf, female players certainly experience their game in a unique way. A member of the Dynamic Discs team for 3 years and counting, we chatted with Natalie Hollokӧi to get to know more about her and learn all about European disc golf. In Part 1 of this series, we explored Natalie’s background with disc sports and got clued into a few highlights of her career.

A Star From The Start

Natalie began playing Frisbee back in the 1980’s, and in her home country of Switzerland enjoyed just about every game you can play with a plastic disc. She naturally gravitated toward disc golf and Ultimate specifically, and at the age of 9 really started to improve upon her skills. She notes that her background with discs in general really helped her to understand how to manage specific shots when on the course: “You can really feel the difference in disc golf if [someone has] played Ultimate before or not. The path of the flight is different.”

This ability to finesse a Frisbee is what furthered her interest during her childhood as she preferred Ultimate over disc golf. In her teens, she put down the plastic for a while to focus on her education and employment, yet said that every time she saw a Frisbee she would feel her heart begin to beat faster with excitement.

Entering The Scene

In 2009, Hollokӧi just couldn’t stay away from disc sports any longer but felt she was too old to enjoy Ultimate like she once used to. Deciding to give disc golf a try once again, she set her sights on competing in the 2010 European Championships near Paris. It was a childhood dream of hers yet she found a bit of a setback in her way: invitations were only granted to the event to the current Swiss tour winner or the Swiss champion.

“People said there was no chance but I went for it anyway,” Natalie said, as she recalls deciding to compete in the Swiss Championships only two months before the event. Due to a mixture of nerves and excitement, she found herself in a three-way tie for first place and after a few playoff holes, she secured the win. Hollokӧi made her way to the European Championships and placed 6th, which was the highest female Swiss finish at that time.

Disc Golfing In The USA

As Natalie’s skills grew and she found more confidence in her game, she naturally gravitated toward events in the US. Fondly recalling her first experience at Worlds in 2011, she had told herself: “You are now playing with the big girls, just keep to your game.” Hollokӧi continues to say, “I had the honor to play the first round with Des [Reading]. I was so impressed watching her. I played so well after the first round that I was in 8th place.”

Natalie continues to play numerous events in both the European circuit and the US tour. Her love of disc golf is apparent with each excited laugh and story she shared during our talk. Be sure to check out the upcoming Part 2 in Natalie’s series where we’ll learn more about what the female disc golf scene is like in Europe.

The DD Women's Series - Part 4: Paige's Feelings On Disc Golf Friends

Once again it seems as if this installment of the DD Women’s Series has just flown by! We’ve gotten to learn more about form with Paige Pierce with an extra emphasis on how to find success on the tee box. She’s filled us in on how to stay strong with our mental game even when the guys on the course might be less than enthused that we’re there, and now we come to a topic that Paige is an expert on: making friends within the disc golf community.

If you’ve seen her Instagram or Facebook posts you know that Pierce is always having a good time on and off the course and has cultivated friendships with tons of players across the nation. But how does the element of female friends come into play? She shares with us some of her thoughts on how these relationships help to further her game and the sport as a whole.

Friends Are Family

For a touring pro like Paige, she sees other players on the road more often than she sees her own family, and having a close-knit group of women to hang out with is essential for her. She refers to it as building a family on the road, and notes that having other gals out there is awesome both from a performance standpoint and an interpersonal outlook: “Even though you’re competing and doing it every week to make a living, it adds a different element but we all still respect each other - we know how hard each of us is working.”

Rather than creating the environment for catty competition, the women who are on the pro tour circuit truly rely on one another for moral support and someone to have fun with when tour stop after tour stop becomes the name of the game. Paige herself has met two of her best friends through disc golf, though in completely different ways, and wouldn’t be where she is today without these wonderful women.

Ladies Who Grow The Sport

Not sure how you can make gal pals within disc golf? Paige recommends above all else to hit up a women’s only tournament at least once each season. “It’s the highlight of the year. If you haven’t been to one it’s the perfect starting point; there’s not any other vibe like it,” she says. And she’s totally right! The energy you feel at a ladies event is so different than at any other tournament, and it gives you a great chance to meet other women who are into disc golf.

Ultimately, Paige really believes that these ladies only events are the future of the sport because they help to build camaraderie as well as create an atmosphere in which even the newest player will feel welcomed and at ease. There’s always a push to get more women involved in disc golf, and these events are a great way to get that done.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about Paige’s game, how she’s grown her skills, and what elements contribute to making her the exceptional player that she is. Keep your eyes out for another DD Women’s Series where we chat with another one of our female players!

The DD Women's Series - Part 3: Let's Get Mental With Paige Pierce

Ok, we’re not actually going crazy in this post, but we are exploring all things related to one’s mental game during a round of disc golf. If you’ve missed our previous blogs in Paige’s series, go ahead and check them out now. You’ll learn about form and tee shots along with some good tips that set up nicely for this particular discussion.

Being a female disc golfer brings perks and drawbacks, and it’s managing the challenging aspects of the game that makes the difference between success and giving up. Sure, ladies are celebrated in the sport with their own events, gear, and discs, but there can also be a negative attitude by some when women show up on the tee box.

Let’s see what Paige has done to help her own mental game and how she recommends women excel on the course.

Playing With The Boys

It’s happened to all women, even Paige - you’re playing with a group of guys and your drive comes up the shortest. All of a sudden it seems that you’re invisible as everyone walks in front of your lie and you’re standing to wait to take your next shot. “It was cute when I was 4, but when I got around 7 or 8 they were over it and started walking in front of me. I tried to be polite and wait but it was almost every hole,” Paige recalls.

So what did she do? By tapping into her competitive side, she pushed herself to outdrive the boys and avoid the problem altogether. “Learning is more productive whenever something is on the line and you have pressure on you. You know you have one chance and you have to execute right then and there. You have to focus,” she said. We know, it’s easier said than done, but it’s better for your mental game than getting mad at your cardmates.

What Does Practice Mean?

Taking an interesting perspective, Paige said that one’s mental game while playing casually has a huge impact on how you perform competitively. “People misuse the term ‘practice round’ because people aren’t focused, they’re just chunking discs,” said Pierce. Instead, try looking for a ladies league on Facebook that’s near you and use that time to get into the competitive spirit. There’s a good chance you’ll actually try more in that environment as opposed to just throwing plastic for the heck of it.

Keep Your Focus

Not that we want to harp on this too much, but there’s always something to be said for women having to stand their ground when playing a round with men. Most guys end up being respectful, but there’s always a few that completely take away from the whole experience. What does Paige recommend if you’re a gal who’s being harassed on the course? “Just don’t even talk about it, it’s going to make it more uncomfortable.” Simply ignore them, she says, and they’ll stop.

Ladies, it’s not easy to keep your mental game on point when you’re surrounded by dozens of dudes and there isn’t another gal in sight. However, Paige has been there and with the tips she’s shared, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to kick some butt and earn more respect on the course. Stay tuned for our last post in this 4-part series with Paige Pierce!