🎩 Buying up courses like the Monopoly Man

Hello and welcome, this is The Players Meeting. The only newsletter where an off-week plus Opening Day means baseball and waiting for TerBear’s TDTM coverage.

Email Read Time: 5 Minutes & 17 Seconds

If you missed TX States’ recap, then I got you: DGPT’s Yeehaw

Let’s get into it.

DYLAN “THE COLLECTOR” CEASE

Before we get into the good stuff, let’s talk about the G-word… GOAT. Whether you’re a self-admitting Paul McBeth stan or love to see him crash and burn - brace for impact.

At this point, it’s no denying that McBeth’s actions on and off the course are GOAT status. He and the MLB Opening Day starting pitcher - Dylan Cease - just purchased a legendary property in Brooksville, FL.

Here’s what’s crackalackin, according to the power couple on The Nick & Matt Show:

• For 11 years, the Gran Canyon course has been put up and torn down for Throw Down The Mountain’s 4-week event

• In Feb, Mike Barnett of Sun King Discs told McBeth the property owner was going to sell but was open to counteroffers

• McBeth called good friend and owner of Cactus Rock (future world-class destination course) - Dylan Cease

• The duo closed on the 60-acre property on March 6th for $1.2M

Their plan includes…

• New championship layout utilizing entire property

• New amenities: improved parking, pro shop, permanent teepads/baskets

• Pay-to-play, open year-round starting this fall

• 500 lifetime memberships at $2.5k/ea, can be transferable and will come with perks

For years, McBeth has touted this as one of his favorite properties in the world. Now as part-owner, there’s little doubt he’ll mold its unique quarry landscape into his legacy.

Together with Cease, this recent purchase could be the 1st of many passion projects. The MLB star is all in on disc golf and wants to continue investing in it.

Soon, the possibility of the Pro Tour kicking off here is very real. It pairs perfectly with a Silver Event just hours away at The Open @ Tallahassee and makes logistical sense into WACO.

SKIP MONOPOLY, PLAY BIRDIE PRO

Can I be honest? I barely got this section in on time. I went to sleep at 4AM & woke up to write this at 8AM… Why?

I was up all night playing Wingspan online - an award-winning board game about birds. If you’re like me, then you NEED to get in on the best disc golf board game also about birds.

Pick your player, build their skills, lay down some karma, and grab birdies/eagles/albatrosses. You have 10 days before the Kickstarter closes!

THROW DOWN THE MOUNTAIN (A-TIER)

PREVIEW (3/31-4/2)

It’s officially the 2nd off-week of the season. There’s absolutely zero live disc golf happening, so you have no excuses to skip the course this weekend.

At this point, there’s not much else to tell you about this temp course in a quarry. So sit back, relax, and catch the post-produced coverage with Terry Miller “The DG Guy”.

LAST YEAR RECAP

MPO/ 🥇Paul McBeth (-22) 🥈Calvin Heimburg (-21) 🥉Micah Groth (-14)

Skipping last year’s Music City Open (Silver), McBeth & Heimburg dueled it out in their home state. McBeth held onto his 1-stroke lead even as the event got shortened due to severe weather.

FPO/ 🥇Ellen Widboom (-2) 🥈Lisa Fajkus (+2) 🥉Hannah McBeth/Morgan & Jordan Lynds (+7)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

This off-week lineup is far from star-studded. Besides McBeth defending his title on his new course, Thomas Gilbert is on the roster and looking to jumpstart his slow season start - 77th @ LVC, 87th @ WACO, 25th @ The Open.

Over on FPO, Natalie Ryan is making her 2nd A-Tier appearance. And the Lynds Twins continue their journey to joining the Pro Tour. Last weekend, the FL natives placed 1st & 2nd for 4 straight events.

FIND YOUR PUTTER AT POWERGRIP USA

Now that Powergrip has established its roots in 2 countries, they are officially opening the 1st US store tomorrow (3/31). If you’re lucky enough to live in the Central IL area, then this is your chance to find your Goldilocks putter.

Open Mon-Sat from 10AM-5PM, the store is about 30min from Ledgestone’s Northwood course. Visit them at 1716 R T Dunn Drive, Suite 3 in Bloomington to see if McMahon’s Rainmaker feels just right in your hand.

Or if you’re like me, then resort to shopping online until you book your trip out to Powergrip USA & the Ledgestone Open.

RANDOM DUBS

1️⃣ Last week, Andrew Presnell complained about the waitlist for the 1st Major of the year - PDGA Champions Cup (4/20-23) - which includes 16 touring pros. But that doesn’t sound weird… My local C-Tier’s double that.

The real issue is 2021 World Champ James Conrad, 4x Tour winner KJ USA, and other recognizable pros are waitlisted. The notion that their absence could degrade this prestigious event caused a rift between PDGA dissenters and “it’s your job to sign up” believers.

To put a cap on it, the PDGA announced a Monday qualifier for the tournament. Everyone on the waitlist will play for 8 MPO & 4 FPO spots on Monday, 4/17.

They’ve given us a little pregame to see which touring pro wants it more by showing up and proving they deserve to play. Regardless, there are rumors the DGPT will soon take over registration for Majors, and Aderhold will no longer need Gibson’s reminders.

2️⃣ After her 1st DGPT victory, Sai Ananda went on the interview circuit and shared her Cinderella story:

• After 2016 AM Worlds, her personal life became unstable - her mother lost her job and her family lost their home

• From 2017-2020, she couch-hopped, worked full-time, and played events as she could on her own dime

• Now with her 1st car, she’s driving to every event this year and is in the transitional period of surviving vs building her career

• This season she wants to optimize future touring with her sponsor

For Ananda, the best is yet to come. Draw inspiration from her come up, and invoke your inner Sai at your next event…

• Play your game - Understand your skills and execute the 8/10 shots instead of trying for more. Par is GOOD

• Trust yourself - If you put in the work, then hit that 30-footer you’ve been practicing. Bet on yourself even if you mess up

• Embody the spirit of DG - Don’t only focus on just yourself. Be supportive, recognize others, and engage with their game

MEME OF THE WEEK

Thanks for reading today. Get out and charge your phone this weekend!

- Charlie