A first...tournament...win...

Joseph played in his first formal Disc Golf Tournament this past Saturday. Joseph has participated in doubles (league) play in the past. This was his first official tournament where he played solo.

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He was the only player in the Juniors division, which made him more excited to play. The first round (which I was not there for) he shot a 112 for 18 holes. The second round (which I caddied) he shot a 109.

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Joseph has only been playing disc golf for about a year and only became serious about the sport over this past summer. He has improved his putting game tremendously by practicing in the yard. The picture above gives you an idea about how good his form is becoming.

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For winning the Juniors division Joseph received dog tags (as all division winners received) and a $10 merchandise certificate. He also won a CTP (closest to the pin) and that prize was two golf discs and a backpack. The best part of all (at least for me as the caddie/Dad watching him play) was his play on #1 during the second round.

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Here's the story...

Innova Champion Discs is very good with helping out local tournaments. They made available several brand new Star Cro Golf Discs. They were given away to players based on how they played #1 during the second round. There was one disc per group on the course. The player who was closest to the hole on #1 from their drive would win the golf disc. Joseph was playing with three intermediate men. All more experienced than Joseph. Well wouldn't you know it? Joseph out drove them all and won the disc! That was very cool.

Disc Golf Baskets

After working toward buying three disc golf baskets by selling vintage golf discs on eBay, I have accomplished my goal. This past Thursday I received my third basket. Here is how the three baskets compare (in order that I received them)

This is the DGA (Disc Golf Association) M-14 Basket. A very light weight basket and the only lightweight portable that has duel chains. It only weighs 25 pounds...so it is easy to move around the yard.

The best part about this basket is the dual chains. The basket as a whole is a bit wobbly and not as sturdy as others. It tips over easily. As was proven not once but twice with Kallsen trying to get discs out of the basket. It doesn't have full nubs on the basket but does have a smaller sized nubs that helps stop discs from being flung when ringing the basket.

The M-14 does have the most 'pure' ring of any of the three baskets.

The DGA M-14 costs $145 delivered from GottaGoGottaThrow.com.

The second basket I purchased was the In Step portable. The best priced basket on the market. I paid $80 delivered through an ebay store.

The basket is single chain and has heavier chains than the M-14. The basket is more shallow and has no nubs so beware of sling-shot effects when putts are wide and low but still hit the basket rim. The basket is lightweight at 30 lbs.

The basket was advertised as having three different setting for basket height. I was hoping that would allow me to lower the basket height so both Kallsen and Parker could also have fun putting in the yard with their Dad and big brother Joseph. The basket does have two settings but the chain assemble does not move so there really is little advantage to moving the basket.

The Innova DisCatcher portable is by far the best basket of the three. While it only has one set of chains, the chains are closer together than the In Step basket. The basket is deeper than the M-14 or the In Step basket and has regular sized nubs. Blow-throughs are more frequent than the M-14 but over all the Innova DisCatcher is the best regular designed portable. Available for between $160 and $200 delivered depending on where you buy it.

All three baskets are better than not having a basket. If you're in the market and have a small budget buy the In Step from an ebay store ($80 delivered.) If you like the DGA dual chain and the crisp, clean sound of the chains when you hit a money putt, the DGA is $145 delivered from GottaGoGottaThrow.com. If you want the best portable without having a full-size basket, the Innova Discatcher is what you'll want to purchase.

My long term goal is to one day own 9 baskets and have enough land to have a decent course of my own to play. I will not, however, buy another lightweight basket (other than a true portable) and instead wait until I can afford a full-sized Mach II or Mach III from the DGA.

And on another note...I have noticed an increase in my confidence when playing Disc Golf and I have noticed an improved confidence when watching Joseph putt at the local course. I look forward to years of Disc Golf fun with my three boys. Soon I'll post pictures of some of the holes we've designed in the yard. Currently all the baskets are in the carport due to a forecast of rain recently.

Down 61

I stepped on the scale the other morning and weighed 259. That's down 61 pounds since I began my program. And I am to the second to last hole on my belt. The belt I bought brand new in February and was on the first hole then. That's a five hole decrease on my waist since buying this belt. A new belt will be needed soon.

Man, I hope I don't end up disappearing.

"Give me kisses, Daddy"

That's the words my son Kallsen says to his Daddy several times a day. It started at bedtime. After reading two books and singing four songs I have to kiss him several times. And he needs to talk me through each kiss.

It starts with "Give me kisses, Daddy." So I lean down and he turns one cheek for me to kiss...and then turns the other cheek. Then he tells me, "now my forehead...and my nose...and my bellybutton (he says this as he pulls up his shirt) and my knees. " And I have learned that kisses on clothes over his knees do not count.

The funny thing is this current week when I dropped him and Parker off at school Kallsen goes through the same routine...in front of the teachers, the aides and all the other students. And then he makes sure I give Parker plenty of kisses too. And then they both wave bye bye as I walk toward the door. The whole time saying, "bye bye Daddy."

It certainly is good to be a Daddy.

Band Aid Cures...no matter where you hurt...

Kallsen decided that he wanted to play with our lint shaver this afternoon. He then decided he had lint on his lips. For those parents out there...lint shavers and three year-old lips don't go together. After shaving his lip, Kallsen decided that the only cure that would make him feel better was to have a band aid on his lip.