🎸 Disc golfing the NashVegas way

Hello and welcome, this is The Players Meeting. Spend the next 4 minutes and 57 seconds with us and you’ll be the smartest person at league tonight.

If you missed TDTM’s recap, then I got you: Caddies in disc golf?

Let’s get into it.

A NEW REMIX NOT BY KJ USA

There are two things the disc golf space loves:

1. Hopping on the latest hype train

2. Saving money on new, premium plastic

And just last week, that’s exactly what MVP Disc Sports is making happen in 2023. Up until March 27th, the brand Remix Disc Golf has been under the radar.

The “brand-new” disc line officially became PDGA Approved with 16 total molds. Sure, there are new brands popping up weekly but not at this scale.

After some digging, Remix was trademarked by MVP back in January 2021. There are many discussion threads speculating on this brand’s purpose, association with MVP, and future.

So what’s going on? Over the years, it’s been mostly public knowledge that MVP is manufacturing Mint Discs & Thought Space Athletics. While these partnerships aren’t official, the plastic and mold styles speak for themselves.

Since Remix’s trademark, MVP has been quietly selling these discs strictly through Amazon at bargain price points - Baseline $10, Premium $12, Glow $13.

So if these discs are made from the same high-quality plastics used in MVP/Axiom/Streamline, then why undercut themselves with an “economy line”? Several conspiracy theories have spun up to answer that question…

• Remix discs are prototypes for Mint runs. This “ghost brand” can recoup the cost of creating those molds

• Expand the market and sell cheap discs to casual players

• Test plastic blends, temperatures, molding processes, etc.

• Use up excess plastic colors and clear old inventory

To those wanting to save a buck or two, the recent PDGA approval is amazing news. You can finally leave F2 Fridays behind… Or maybe just double down with Remix Saturdays.

OWN DISC GOLF HISTORY WITH BIRDIE PRO

After a successful month, the Birdie Pro Kickstarter ends this weekend. The disc golf board game has undergone iteration after iteration to simplify it and add more ways to win.

The juice is certainly worth the squeeze. And Steve Dodge promises, “There’s no better feeling than playing Birdie Pro while watching disc golf live.”

Support this game and get a great piece of disc golf history. The last day to grab your copy at 20% off is Sunday (4/9). Check it out!

MUSIC CITY OPEN

PREVIEW (4/7-9)

The city of hot chicken and Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk & Rock ‘n’ Roll Steakhouse is also the Tour’s next Elite stop. Upgraded from its Silver status last year, MCO is going to be a banger.

For 3 straight days, the temp course - Mill Ridge Park - will showcase bomber throws over rolling hills mixed with gap tee shots and water carries. Used for the past 2 years, this farmland layout has seen many changes, and this year’s has been praised by players.

There’s nearly a full field to watch this weekend. The top competitors are itching to get out there after flying home and skipping the recent Silver and A-Tiers.

One, in particular, is Ricky Wysocki. He’s currently tracking to be 100% ready by Friday and wants to redeem his playoff loss in 2021. Will we see Raptor Legs or DNF Sockibomb?

LAST YEAR RECAP

MPO/ 🥇Chris Dickerson (-28) 🥈Adam Hammes (-25) 🥉Lauri Lehtinen (-24)

As the local and reigning champ, Chris “Limestone Laser” Dickerson deserves the highest honor at this event. Simply put, he owns MCO nearly every year.

FPO/ 🥇Missy Gannon (-6) 🥈Kat Mertsch (-2) 🥉Macie Velediaz (-1)

Being a Silver, the field lacked certain challengers, but Gannon took no prisoners in this wire-to-wire victory. She averaged a 974 rating and cashed in $1,250.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Turning 18 in 2 weeks, Aidan Scott is a TN native and Prodigy-sponsored pro who’s been steadily rising in notoriety. Just last weekend, he placed 5th at TDTM while averaging 1025.

Currently rated 1018 with 3 B-Tier wins, Scott has much to prove as the Tour rolls into his home state. For reference, many players like Ulibarri, Austin Turner, Hannum, and Thomas Gilbert all sit below Scott in rating.

THROW SIMON LINES WITH POWERGRIP USA

Originally in Finland, Powergrip is the world’s 1st disc golf retailer to operate on 2 continents. They’ve finally brought their talents to the US and along with it the nicest team in the sport - Sexton, Koling, & Lizotte.

Available now is Discmania’s re-release of the C-Line MD1. Harness this stiffer version of Simon’s Mind Bender for straight ace runs, OR browse his latest MVP crushes - Entropy, Pyro, Delirium.

RANDOM DUBS

1️⃣ The recent Throw Down the Mountain stirred up conversations surrounding private courses, Pro Tour involvement, and PDGA’s transgender policy. Being a USDGC/Throw Pink qualifying event, the FPO winner - Natalie Ryan - received an invitation to Winthrop Arena in October.

As an A-Tier, Ryan is fully within the policy rules to play in the TPWDGC, and that caused an eruption on social media… Specifically, Tonya Lynds - mother of the Lynds twins - angrily posted on FB of her daughters being robbed out of the prestigious event.

Arguments supporting both sides of the controversial occurrence have been discussed ad nauseam. So who’s to blame? The PDGA? The public hate on both sides?

Whether this was an oversight by the PDGA or something they want to ignore… it’ll be a spicy road leading up to Throw Pink.

2️⃣ Negative self-talk is something everyone suffers from. The phrase, “You suck", could be the catchphrase of our sport, but bringing your own game down never helps.

On PDGA Radio, Grant Zellner gave one tip that brings together his two favorite hobbies - poker & disc golf. To be successful in poker, you need the mentality that your chips aren’t money until you cash out.

If you’re like Grant, then at your next competitive event carry some poker chips in your pocket. As you step up to a pressure putt or drive, reach in and remind yourself that you already bought into the tournament so stop stressing until the final results are in.

Focus on the moment. Not on the outcome.

MEME OF THE WEEK

Thanks for reading today. Get out and make your C2 putts this weekend!

- Charlie