With over 40 years in the sport, Kim has done it all. His experience and knowledge of all aspects of disc golf is unmatched. He’s a natural teacher who will always make time to share valuable advice, particularly with newer players. For his dedication to the sport and service to the disc golf community Kim was inducted into the ADG Hall of Fame in 2013.
Although recently turning 70, Kim remains a force to be reckoned with on the course, competing regularly and very often taking out a trophy. His PDGA record goes back just 10 years but during which he’s clocked up 34 wins from 67 events. He’s known for consistency and accuracy and if you want to beat him in competition you are going to have to come up with something special. You can get witty one liners and great advice for free, but strokes for free you will not.
In WA, when stuck in a difficult spot you’ll often hear a player ask themselves “W.W.K.D.”, standing for What Would Kim Do?. It’s a reminder to play the percentage shot that deep down you know you should…Let’s learn some more from the man himself.
Image by Kingsley Flett
Playing Division: MA50 Current Rating: 893 Predominant throw: Right Hand Back Hand
Q: What are your strengths as a player?
A: I try to make decisions based on minimizing risk of damage to my score by events like going OB, missing a Mando or running a death putt. When I make a mistake, my response is to try to sharpen my focus.
Q: What is your best or most memorbale competition result to date?
A: Finally making the Semifinals at Am Worlds in 2019 after years and years of coming up short. The icing on the cake was playing the last qualifying Round while having my dear friend and wonderful host Mark Hauser as my Caddie and doing him proud with a fantastic Birdie on my finishing hole, the dangerous Ninth Hole at Kline’s Run.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to every new player for lowering scores, what would that be?
A: See my answer to Q1, consider risks and play appropriately.
Q: Upshots. What is your secret for (your remarkable) consistency in hitting your mark?
A: Chose the slowest speed disc that you know will comfortably get to the basket and try to execute the throw so that the technique would have appeared slow and smooth on a video replay. Consistent with my answer to Q1, the video replay is of a park job, not a Go Pro of an Ace run, unless you are collecting Aces at Chichester Park.
Q: Currently, what disc do you find yourself pulling out of the bag more than most, and what do you use it for? A: I am quite often using a Pig as an overstable Putter to attempt a soft sidearm run at the Basket from Circle’s edge out to 20m.
Q: What top pro player do you look up to and why? A: For backhand drives I hope that eventually an adaption of the technique of Catrina Allen is key for controlled distance; for sidearm drives I hope that (Estonian) Silver Latt’s form will egg me on to discover the golden goose and Paul McBeth is a good role model for how to aspire to improve course management. I know the question only asked for one player, but as my late Mum used to say “things always happen in threes”. Thanks Kim, and good luck for ADGD!
by Dave Kynaston and thanks and credit to Kingsley Flett for all images.
The 2020 tour was cancelled and 2021 was disrupted but in 2022 the ADG tour will be relaunched with more players, more events and more points on offer. Here is what you need to know.
Timeframe
Each year’s tour will begin in January and finish at the Australian Disc Golf Championships (ADGC) in November. Tour winners and prize recipients will then be announced at an online event following ADGC. Events in December will not count towards tour points. Note however that the 2021 tour will include December events and will finish 31st December 2021. 2022 will be unique in having two ADGC events as part of the tour.
Events
The tour will have levels – Australian Disc Golf Championships (ADGC), Major, A-Tier and B-Tier events. Each year there will be one ADGC or one Major per state or territory; and unlimited A/B-Tier events. Majors are being added as the premier event in each state/territory each year. They will have a minimum of 2 playing days, minimum capacity of 144 players and minimum of 18 unique baskets. The ADGC and Majors will offer the highest available tour points at 150 and 120 base points respectively. See here for all tier level requirements.
The ADGC will be held on a fixed cycle rotation. This will begin with 2022 in QLD then TAS (2023), NSW (2024), WA (2025), ACT (2026), SA (2027) and back to VIC (2028). This will allow states to plan around when they are hosting. The cycle may change if needed – if the last 2 years have taught us anything it’s that nothing is set in stone.
Divisions
The tour will have 5 new divisions added: FPO, FA2, FA40, MP40 and MA3. These divisions must be offered at tour events. However, following PDGA guidelines if there are fewer than 4 players registered in a division it can be combined with an appropriate division and players notified of the change. MA4 will be offered at events but will not accumulate tour points. This brings the total number of tour divisions to 14 (MPO, FPO, MA1, FA1, MA2, FA2, MA3, FA4, MP40, MA40, FA40, MA50, MJ15, FJ15). Players will accumulate tour points in the division registered at each event.
Players
A player needs to be an ADG and a PDGA member to accumulate tour points. Players who are not a PDGA member can still play events but won’t be awarded ADG tour points. This requirement does not apply to Junior players playing in MJ15 or FJ15 who only need to be ADG members.
There are some big changes here so we value your constructive feedback and appreciate your patience as we implement the changes and make any necessary adjustments. If you have any questions or comments about the relaunched tour, please contact your state rep We will follow up with an FAQ as needed.
SARS-CoV-2 just didn’t know who it was messing with when it crossed us in 2020. In the face of having to cancel the ADG tour and our Australian Championships, the Aussie Disc Golf community came together in an unprecedented way, connected with each other across the country and dragged a whole new bunch of players into the game – our numbers grew by more than 35% that year.
As ADG 006 Albert Munoz could tell you, robustness is the ability to withstand the storm, resilience the ability to get up off the canvas and anti-fragility is how you turn tough times to your advantage. As far as that goes, Aussie Disc Golf is the Chuck Norris of sporting tribes – we made Covid sick.
In 2021 we are asking you to do it all again. Recent developments have made the sideshow the big show once more. Small events will be popping up all over the country. Events you won’t have to travel very far to. Events that can be popped down again at minimal cost should local health orders require it.
Living somewhere where the odds of restrictions lifting by November are slim? We’ve got you covered with a nationwide putting competition, that’ll be running parallel with the event – so you can even be part of the Aussie Disc Golf Day from your backyard.
Contact secretary@australiandiscgolf.com to place an order for the once off Fourth Circle Discs Hunstsman Zero1 disc. Disc orders are closing at the end of the month so get in quick. These will be a collector’s item.
Carn Straya. Let’s show everyone, new disc golfers, old disc golfers, local government, potential sponsors and the media, what a robust and dynamic sporting movement we are. Nothing can stop us.
More details on the event, including the putting competition, coming soon.
To kick off our ‘local legend’ series of player profiles we feature a player who left this world too early; but who’s love for the sport, spirit and generosity left lasting memories with those who knew him.
Iain Smith was a friend to many in Tassie disc golf but also across Australia. He started playing in 2014; developing his game on the steep hills of the world-renowned Poimena Reserve. Within a year of playing seriously he won the MA1 division in the Australian Championships on his home course. He followed this up with a further four-from-four MA1 wins over 2016 and 2017 including twice in the Two Heads Open.
He was known as a naturally talented player who practiced hard and quickly mastered the technical side of the game. His form was smooth, and he specialised in controlling mid-ranges and fairway drivers on shots where many others would use faster discs. He also worked hard to develop an excellent putting stroke, somewhat reminiscent of his hero Paul McBeth.
Of the man himself, one of his disc golf mates said:
Iain was a really lovely guy who was easy to get along with. He made everyone around him feel welcome and comfortable. On the course he was certainly focused on his game, but he was also really encouraging of those around him and maintained a positive mindset.
Steven Wright
Iain’s legacy and allegiance to disc golf is celebrated each year in a memorial event in his name held at Poimena.
Many thanks and credit for input, quotes and images to: Ollie Mundy-Castle, Damien Williams, Steven Wright, Chris Wright, Richard Sampson, Kingsley Flett
Connor Donnelly receives his TD mentoring certificate from Ken Summers
We should all be able to answer this question – what does Disc Golf have to give? Check out our ‘why disc golf’ document if you need a few ideas because ‘disc golf’s great! It’s awesome! Everyone should play it!’ is not enough.
One way our sport can give is by developing its people. In future, given enough time and resources, we’ll have structured pathways (like coaching programs) that people can follow to acquire skills. Skills that don’t just increase their impact in Disc Golf, but that are transferrable to other aspects of their lives and careers.
The gradual building process has begun with the TD mentoring program. A way for experienced TD’s to guide new candidates into developing the confidence and skills they need to run an event. Also a way for us to formally recognize those skills so they’ll look good on anyone’s resume.
As far as developing Connor Donnelly as a person goes, there wasn’t much work required. He arrived as an impressive young man. You can see an interview of him here. After being mentored by ADG Vice President Ken Summers during the The Mundilorian at Mundaring Disc Golf Club in May, Connor, at 18, became the youngest person to graduate from our mentoring process. Connor will be directing his maiden event, solo, later this year where we believe he’ll become the youngest TD in Australia. Connor also serves on the Mundaring Disc Golf Club executive as a secretary.
Congratulations to Connor, Ken and the Mundaring Disc Golf Club for recognizing that not all the talent that needs nurturing in our sport involves throwing frisbees.
Life gave the world lemons last year, but the unbreakable Aussie Disc Golf community used them to make lemonade. We turned nation-wide shutdowns, travel bans and the forced cancellation of our national championships into an unprecedented event that brought our whole community together and introduced hundreds of new people to our game.
This year it’s on again. Why two weeks before the nationals? In a perfect world, it will give everyone across the country a chance for a local competitive hit-out before the big dance later in November. The small, local events, all connected into one scoring system will kick of a big Aussie Disc Golf Month. In an imperfect world? Well lets not talk about that just yet, but the Aussie Disc Golf day served us well in that way-less-than-perfect 2020. The format will be the same as last year. A one day event with 2 rounds of the same course in the day. Bragging rights winners will be the highest average rated rounds across all divisions.
Recent times seems to have made disc collectors of us all and this year we have a one-of-a-kind, once-off, Aussie made Fourth Circle Discs disc produced expressly for the day that your club or event TD can order. Stay tuned for details on how to register and where to hit up your local club for a location near you.
Event fees will be minimal. If your event is cancelled due to a change in Covid-19 restrictions in your area, you will be issued a partial refund but you get to keep your disc.
Want to organize an Aussie Disc Golf Day event in your area? Send an email to competitions@australiandiscgolf.com with the venue and name of your event and we’ll get you started.
Keep up to date with all the latest Aussie Disc Golf Day shenanigans on our Instagram or on the Australian Disc Golf Facebook page. And feel free to join in using #aussiediscgolfday tags on your social media of choice.
Since the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic in November 2019, we’ve seen differing views about the virus, and the measures that our local, state, and federal governments are taking to combat its spread.
All ADG members should realize however, that your views don’t matter when it comes to obeying the law. Several state governments have invoked temporary lockdowns as a measure to combat the spread of the virus. Depending on their severity, these lockdowns have included restrictions on sport, recreation, and exercise. The lockdowns often allow for exercise, alone (or with a member of the same household), within a specified distance from home. The lockdowns usually prohibit participation in indoor or outdoor sports and the use of public exercise and play equipment. Depending on the state, the lockdown conditions will sometimes explicitly refer to outdoor sports like disc golf, sometimes they won’t. However, each time we have sought clarification from the relevant municipal body it has been made clear to us that Disc Golf is considered an outdoor sport making use of public facilities (ie baskets).
The message here is clear. You must follow local public health orders and stop playing Disc Golf during a lockdown when outdoor sports are prohibited. Continuing to play harms the reputation of our sport and is not in accordance with our goal to be respectful members of the community in which our sport is played. The Australian Disc Golf Respect Agreement, includes following local bylaws and regulations in the public or private property on which the sport is played. Alleged breaches of our respect agreement are reviewed by the ADG board and actions taken can include warnings, temporary suspensions, and permanent bans.
To continue the growth of your sport that we have enjoyed in Australia, every Disc Golfer needs to show some cultural leadership in these difficult times.
Luke Bayne has rocketed up through the divisions in Queensland this past year to the point that, after barely more than a year playing, he’ll be a factor at the Queensland Championships this weekend. Along with Abra Garfield, he’s one of the crew of Ultimate players who’ve made the switch to Disc Golf in recent times.
Luke Bayne – Picture Tim Marchbank
Did you have much of a sporting history before Ultimate? Any sports you played growing up?
Growing up I was pretty sporty I would say. I mostly played basketball for about 10 years from early primary to late high school. It was fun and I was really competitive, playing at one state championships. I was always throwing something around though. I played a lot of catch with a good friend so I guess I was decently coordinated. Then when I got to Uni I played a little bit of touch football and got into Ultimate straight away.
How did you get into Ultimate?
At UQ a some friends that I was living with and I went to the O (orientation) day where there was a bunch of sporting clubs. Ultimate caught our eye straight away and fortunately for us we were living right across from where they were holding their regular league days; this wasn’t just super convenient to go play, but any time that we didn’t have uni, we would just go throw. With that gang of ultimate minded frisbee friends we must have racked up like, 2-hours a day of throwing for that first couple of years.
Were you aware of disc golf for long before you first started playing it?
Over that time we became aware of the other frisbee disciplines. We played guts sometimes and we’d do MTA’s a lot. We used to play our version of object golf too, with a bunch of other Ultimate friends. We had a few different courses: one for day and one for night and the layouts would vary depending on traffic. That was a lot of fun, we’d try rollers and shots that we’d usually not go for. Formal disc golf used to pop up in the conversation from time to time, maybe through a youtube highlight or something like that. When I was in the US on a summer exchange program I got a golf disc – a champion blue Monarch (I think). We went down to Walmart, into the sports section and grabbed the fastest driver they had. We had fun with that disc, just throwing it during our breaks all summer.
Any particular reason for taking up disc golf lately? Was it because of covid-19?
Yes, it was a Covid thing partly. Around 2019 I had moved away from Brisbane for work and had stopped playing ultimate aside from the occasional tournament. We had played the Annerley course (Yeronga) a few times, with lids, before it was removed and that was fun. Then I think an invite went out from Bruce McNaughton for the Marchbank-McNaughton cup in 2019 and I thought ‘this’d be a good time to have a go.’ I remember playing with Stephen Kearney and Kerrod Steel with some borrowed discs. Then on the second card I had a round with Bruce McNaughton, got lots of tips and heard lots of stories which was nice. That tournament really piqued my interest. I got very keen to keep playing and improve.
But before Disc Golf, even when I was playing heaps of Ultimate I still wanted to go out afterwards and keep throwing. We got inspired by the Brodie Smith trick shot videos and tried to go out and make our own. A friend and I had a channel called The Ulti Mates, our first video hit 50,000 views. Because of that interest I kept trying to do trick shots when I could. Trick shotting is essentially disc golf but with lids. Inventing different shots, the repetitive aspect, dialling it, figuring out the wind and the conditions, working out the best line of attack etc.
By 2020 I’d got quite curious and purchased my first discs (an Innova beginners pack). I also noticed that Abra Garfield had really got into disc golf and he’d recommended a few for me to buy. I was still out in Gympie way so I hadn’t been around any leagues or anything. But I came down for the Queensland champs, where I won by a shot or two and got my Ricky Wysoki bag which I’m still using. That was really good motivation and inspiration to keep going.
Was it a slow adaptation to throwing golf discs? Or did you get used to fast discs fairly easily?
One of my early discs was a 150g DX Ape. With some of those early discs it was terrible. I didn’t really understand what was happening. At the Queensland championships I borrowed (and then bought off him) a TL3 from Abra. That was a perfect straight flying disc for whatever distance I wanted. Then I got a Shryke, a Corvette, a couple of Buzzzes, a Zombie and a few others like that.
But the adaptation to faster discs was definitely funky. As an Ultimate player you are used to throwing this hyzer, inside-out throw and letting the disc naturally flip up. Early on my shots were released early and faded short. It was a good 3-4 months of practice at home before I started seeing results. The Shryke was less of an adaptation because I could release that on hyzer and let it flip up for huge distance, but then I moved on to the stuff I’m throwing now, like the Firestorm. I’m more dialled in now after I spent a good chunk of time down at the park doing field work. Now I’ve come to favouring really over-stable discs; because once you work out how the disc wants to be thrown, you know it’s always going to fade back.
Where does Disc Golf fit into the long-term picture for you? Can you see yourself ever identifying as primarily a disc golfer? Or will it be secondary to Ultimate?
I think I reached that point somewhere before or soon after that first Queensland Championships. I mean I learned to weld just so I could build my own putting basket. But it was during practice that I realised I was committed, because it meant that I could play on my own and didn’t need a partner to throw with. It’s been almost 12 months since I’ve been fairly sure that disc golf is going to be a big part of my life. The objective so far this year has been to get down to Brisbane and compete as much as I can. Disc Golf really works well with me. I’m rapt with it. It’s a fun activity to be playing with other people; but I don’t feel like I am playing against anyone, I’m just competing with myself. If someone else is putting really well or whatever I’m usually stoked for them, it lifts me up.
The issue with most disc golfers is that they linger for as long as possible in the lower divisions to increase their chances of winning a trophy. You seem to be doing the opposite. You’ve moved up through the divisions very fast. Since September last year you have played Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and then Open, with two wins, a second and a fourth. Has there been any particular reason why you have chosen to play higher divisions as soon as possible like this?
I don’t care about winning prizes or beating other people. I care about playing to the level I think I can play and playing with people that I think are at a similar level. I’m glad I played novice early on but I’m glad I moved up early on. I was influenced by Abra because I played Ultimate with him for twelve years. He’s been a pretty good metric to measure against. I’d say he was a slightly better ultimate thrower than me – I reckon he was in the top- 5 throwers in Ultimate in Australia when he was playing. Him moving up early on was good motivation because I knew I could play at a similar level to him just from playing lots of object golf on the Gold Coast or at Uni or wherever.
It sounds like a bit of ego but I was just being a realist. After so many years of throwing discs and being accurate, I knew early on I could play just as well as the open guys. It was just about gaining as much experience, particularly in playing with people who are emotional during rounds and playing with some nerves. All the time playing ultimate I don’t ever remember being that nervous, but I was a bit during the Queensland Champs. But honestly, overall, I just look at it as a fun day out where I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing. If I’m not going to enjoy it and then what’s the point? I’m motivated by fun and if doing well is a by product of that, then so be it.
I’m glad I moved up. I was hoping to move up even earlier. I feel comfortable playing open. I really look forward to playing with guys like Rhys, Michael Durand, Abra and Aaron Morton. I want everyone to be playing well and to be pushed by them.
What is the biggest difference in your game now, compared to when you started. It’s clear that you are better – but in what ways?
Putting is the biggest change. I still don’t think I’m as dialled in as I will be. But in terms of consistently hitting from inside circle one I’m getting quite confident. My home-made basket has been a big help. Ideally, I’ll sink 100-200 putts in about 4 sessions a week. I got some advice from people, but I’ve also watched a lot of video. I’m a big fan of Calvin Heimburgs putt; not that I emulate it completely but just seeing the way his form his: how straight and consistent and how little effort has helped a lot. I saw him putting with the pointer finger on the outside of the rim to stabilise the disc, so I started doing that. It caused a lot of rubbing on my index finger and it took a few band aids and some time to build up a callous there. It’s kind of a spin putt but I’m really just working on a putt that s straight for as long as possible.
I’ve also taken some good advice from Eagle, from a video of his about 12 months ago where he was talking about putting from 5m a lot. Getting used to the muscle memory of doing it right. Also using the disc doctor app to have a metric to play against has been really handy to get the reps in and to understand how much effort needs to go into it. But overall I’ve learned to be confident, sure and assertive with my putting.
From ultimate there is a lot of mid-game and short game action already so I feel like I’ve already got a good handle on disc angles etc, so I didn’t really prioritize that. I worked on distance to make sure I had good from throwing 100%. I had some good advice from Abra about only throwing 80% early on, just be smooth and slide it across the table. So I did that early on, but have now started to increase the effort.
I realised recently that, ‘ok I need a forehand now’. I had one from Ultimate but I never converted it. I spent two sessions throwing all the discs in my bag to get that dialled in. I’ve had some good advice from Rhys and Bruce McNaughton to keep my elbow close to my hip so I’m driving the disc with more momentum from my body. Before three weeks ago I’d only throw a forehand if it was a delicate touch shot close to my body. But that’s changing.
I’m also now playing the smart shot. Playing golf instead of going for distance all the time.
What other players have you learned the most from? (either via youtube or in person)
Abra, Rhys Kruger, Tim Marchbank. I watch a bit of Simon Lizotte and some of the Brodie Smith videos early on because that was good inspiration to get me moving on the conversion. That’s it really. Everyone has got to find their own game and find out what works for you. I want to go pro one day. That’s what I’m looking for. I want to get there.
The future is bright for this remarkable young player. Blake is 15 years old and has been playing for just two years. He’s a state level athlete in discus and javelin and when he’s not competing or training (or at school) he’s clocking up countless hours on the disc golf course or local oval. He is a natural talent for sure, but he’s also worked hard to progress his game and is already firmly amongst the top flight of WA’s MPO division.
Here’s some numbers: In 2021 Blake has competed (in MPO) in five tournaments and has taken second places four times, and just last weekend a third place at Pine Lines in the A-tier Perth Open. He’s thrown two 1,000+ rated rounds in competition and his current rating is 956. He drives 450 feet without breaking sweat and his form, arm speed and shot shaping are truly impressive.
If he can get to this level in his first two years, where can he go in the next few??
Q: What are your strengths as a player? A: Distance Drives and touchy upshots
Q: What is your best or favourite competition result to date? A: Probably the Red Tail Open 2021 where I shot a 9 under 1017 rated round on the blue layout at Mundaring and finished second place in MPO.
Q: What are your disc golfing ambitions and plans for the next two or three years? A: I’d love to keep improving my game and to play the ADG Aussie tour events when possible and play Am Worlds or Junior Worlds when international travel returns.
Q: Can you share a top form tip or something that substantially helped you improve your play? A: I believe lots of field work and getting to know how your discs fly on an open oval will add touch and control to your game. Practicing your putting and driving technique is also key for developing a smooth comfortable routine.
Q: What top pro player do you look up to and why? A: My favourite pro is Eagle McMahon. We have similar game aspects such as big distance and playing aggressively to gain strokes. I love how he leaves the Jomez Pro commentators speechless from throwing ridiculous shots. Eagle is definitely my top pick for the world title this year.
Q: What is your favourite disc in your bag right now and what do you use it for? A: I love my Discraft Brodie Smith Crystal Zflx Zone. It’s a gummy stable approach disc that sticks and I can shape any shot with this disc. The Zone is probably the most thrown disc in my bag.
