Two fun Texas Summer Disc Golf Tournaments you must register for next year

Hey you guys!

These past two weekends have been filled with so much fun, disc golf tournaments and swimming. What's even better is all three happening at the same time. What, whatttt! You heard that right.


First up was the 1st annual Swordstone Social out in beautiful Spicewood, Texas. The event took place on July 21st and 22nd, and our wonderful TD, Bonner Butler made this a one round a day tournament. Thank you. Thank you very much! When the rounds were over you could find everyone in one of the 2 pools the course had to offer and it was magnificent. Also, a huge thanks to St. Elmo brewery for hooking up some kegs for Saturday, we thank you TJ for bringing those out. You tha real MVP!

On to the course and results. This is a private course that partially runs through a vineyard and overlooks the lake. It is beautiful no doubt. I've heard others compare it to a baby bible ridge and I'd say that is pretty on point. The hills are definitely alive at this course so be prepared to zig zag your way up and down the hills and through the vineyards, although you dont want to land in the vineyards, that's just straight up OB. I highly recommend this tournament for three obvious reasons: the course is beautiful, one round a day, and swimming pools to hang out with the other awesome people that come.

First place in each division:

Open - Timothy Escobedo Jr.
Pro Masters - Gary Marotz
Advanced - Tony Dieterich
Advanced Womens - Renae Farr
AM Masters 40+ - Marty Cooper
AM Masters 50+ - Mitch Justice (has played disc golf for 30 years, in PDGA tournaments for 20 years and this was his first singles tournament ever won. Congrats Mitch!!)
Intermediate - Trevor Morrison
Recreational - Cheay Keomany

Next up: The Sizzler driven by Innova

We played this tournament on July 28th and 29th. The courses are located in small town Junction, Texas by the Llano river.

This is an awesome weekend filled with great friends, disc golf, and you guessed it...a river. There are 3 courses that you will play over the weekend, one of them being a ball golf course. You also have the opportunity to throw down a mountain for a chance to win a basket and other goodies or a hole in 1 takes home a truck!!!

The county course and north course are  smaller, birdie alley style courses. Dont get me wrong, there is plenty of OB to avoid and some longer holes thrown in there but here is where you want to play great, technical golf and get some good scores in, because up next is the ball golf course. The hot round ended up being a 51, with par at 57. There are a few ponds sprinkled in and greens that you need to avoid. This course brings a little more length with a few holes being over 600. Here is where you need to mentally stay in the game, avoid OB and putt like a champ. If you can do those things, you can shoot well here.

First place in each division:

Open - Austin McNabb
Open Women - tying for first Ashley Sloan and Stephanie Vincent with Ashley taking it in the playoffs
Pro Masters 40+ - Jim Davidson
Pro Masters 50+ - J. Shannon Fosdick
Advanced - Tony Dieterich
Advanced Womens - Judy Foster
AM Masters 40+ - Russel Shoffner
AM Masters 50+ - Jay Alba
Intermediate - Eric Lee
Intermediate Women - Melissa Veal
Recreational - David Schutt
Recreational Women - Kristi Gillis
Junior Girls <12 - Emily Weatherman

Congrats to all of our winners. Way to push through in this Texas heat!!!

Stephanie Vincent Disc Golf Q&A

Happy Monday!

Today we are privileged to have a Q&A session with Texas Disc Golfer Stephanie Vincent.  Stephanie is a professional disc golfer who has played in PDGA tournaments since 2006, has played 137 career events, and is sponsored by Mint Discs. In 2018, she has cashed in 4 of her 7 tournaments and has been working hard every day to become a better disc golfer.

How/When did you start playing disc golf? 

Back in 2006 I was sitting around with some college friends and all they would talk about was disc golf. What course they played, what they shot which new disc they were throwing. It sounded fun and I had played competitive softball for 18 years and was beginning to miss playing a sport. I asked if they would teach me and I threw my first disc at Circle R in Wimberly TX and here we are 12 years later. 

What does disc golf mean to you?

It’s a lifestyle so almost everything I do involves playing golf or spending time with people who do play. It has brought some of my best friends into my life and I’m grateful for finding this sport. 

How do some of the disc golf skills you’ve learned translate into teachings in your life?

I used to rage monster all over the course when I was younger. I wanted to be so good and I was terrible at accepting failure. One day I said you look like a crazy lady and it’s not helping your game, wake up! I have learned to be more patient and that failure does not mean you are a failure. 

If you could caddy for one disc golfer, who would you select and why?

Let’s see, Sarah Hokom because she is my bestie and chances are I will be watching 3 other amazing women play on the card too. 

Have you considered going on tour? If so and you have not yet, what things are stopping you from going? If you have, please tell us more about that experience. 

I dream of being on tour every day. 

Since I started I have always been competitive but I wasn’t always that serious. Tournaments use to be a place where I went to play golf and spend time with my friends. 

Now it’s much more competitive and while I still enjoy seeing my friends, I’m much more focused on the course than I use to be. For the last 3 years I have had the drive to tour, I just have to figure out what to do with my house and my job. I know I could sell it and live like a gypsy but I have to face the fact that I’m almost 40 yrs old and if I do go on tour how long could it really last so I don’t want to sell my home then have to start all over again when it’s over. I’m hoping to find someone to lease it to next year and get out there before it’s too late and I’m an old lady full of regrets. 

I did go on a mini tour one summer and I learned a lot of lessons on that trip. I met amazing people I still keep in touch with and realized I had the potential to be better. 

What is your favorite disc golf tournament near or far and why?

Beaver State Fling in Oregon is my favorite out of state tournament because the courses are beautiful and the tournament is well ran and there is always a big ladies field. Locally I love The Waco Annual Charity Open. The beast is my favorite local course and Ryan and Joey work super hard to pull off an outstanding event. 

What do you do to better the disc golf community and grow the sport? If you have not yet, what are some things you’d eventually like to do to help?

I started a club called Women Throwing Frisbees with my friend Laura Coffey. I worked on the PDGA Women’s Committee for a few years. I try to help with work days when I can. I have hosted several clinics and I’m currently the TX State Coordinator. 

Stephanie’s upcoming events include the 2018 Sizzler Driven by Innova and the PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships. Go Stephanie!!! Texas is rooting for you 

HOTT Gonzo Liberty Battle and Q&A with Timothy Escobedo Jr.

Happy Monday!!!


This past Sunday was the Hott Gonzo Liberty Battle. It was hot and there was a battle in the Open Men’s division. 13 guys battled it out over two 19 hole rounds, including 3 Advanced guys making the jump to Open this weekend, Kyle Jones, Zachary Ortega, and Andrew Wikert. But taking the win was Austin’s own Timothy Escobedo Jr. Shooting the hot round of 46 (1062 rated round). Wow! This put him at 5 strokes ahead of 2^nd place Marshall Blanks and Zachary Jansen after the first round. Would Tim be able to hold off the pack for the 2^nd round? Marshall Blanks shot another hot 51 and won the 2^nd round but was just short of clinching the lead from Escobedo.

1^st place winner of all divisions:
Open Men – Timothy Escobedo Jr.
Open Women – Ashley Sloan
Pro Masters 50+ - Michael Ynfante
Pro Masters 60+ - Lance Steck
Advanced – Jordan Knowles
AM 40+ - Armando Martinez Jr
Am 50+ - Fred Needham
Intermediate – Kevin Browning
Intermediate Women – Laura Hovey
Recreational – Cheay Keonmany



Today’s Post is featuring our Open Men’s winner Timothy Escobedo Jr.
Tim has played 40 career events and his current rating is a 999.

How/When did you start playing disc golf?
My Dad started playing back in 1994. I was around 7-8 years old when I started going out to the courses with him.

What does disc golf mean to you?
Disc golf is an outlet for me to relax after a long day. I also like that I can be outside and enjoy nature while playing a sport I love.

What are some important things you’ve learned while playing disc golf?
Even though I have played since 1994, it wasn’t until these last 3 years that I was able to learn body control and the importance of focus in my training.

What is your goal in disc golf?
To play consistently excellent each tournament, mini, and practice.

Have you considered going on tour? If so, what things are stopping you from going?
Yes, I have considered going on tour but need to reach a higher level in my game. Touring professionally will be tough mentally, physically and financially so I am working on all 3 before I commit to touring.

What is your favorite disc golf tournament and why?
My favorite tournament was the Nick Hyde Memorial in 2018. I had so much fun and I also cashed. Cashing in a big event like Nick Hyde is a small milestone towards my end goal.

What do you do to better the disc golf community and grow the sport? If you have not yes, what are some things you’d eventually like to do to help?
While I haven’t been as active as I’d like to in the community other than playing events, I would be open to mentoring individuals that are looking to improve their game, those that are focused on getting better. 

Please Be Kind to Women Disc Golf Players

It takes a lot to get out of your comfort zone for anyone. Especially when you are first starting something new. Guys, you remember how awkward it was to play through a group or when you went to your first mini. Remember those feelings when a lady comes to play.

She is scared. She is embarrassed. It probably took every ounce of courage before she forced herself out the car door when she saw no other ladies. She wants to run away. She doesn't want to be a burden. Depending on how she is treated, this might be the first and last mini/tournament/group round she'll ever play.

We have eyes and ears. We can sense the disappointment in some of those that get partnered up with us. We can see the eye rolls and hear the aggravation in your voices when we missed that putt. It brings us down in a bad way. I am not saying everyone treats women in disc golf this way, but there are enough instances this has happened that it needs to be talked about.

Everyone says they want the sport to grow, and it is. But I think making women feel more comfortable and being more supportive of the women that do come out will help to grow the sport even more. At most tournaments, we dont have good turnouts. I've spoke to several women on what would drive more ladies out and here are some of the responses:

1. Please ensure that there are restrooms available at all events. Why are we having large tournaments and there is not an available portapotty or restroom anywhere near the course?? Sometimes we can go in the woods, sometimes there are no woods to hide in...and sometimes we have our monthly and there NEEDS to be an available restroom.
2. Please give a shout out and thank you to the women that did show. Recognize them in some way. Showing that you care could be enough to keep her coming back and will let others know how welcoming everyone was.
3. Please make sure you have trophies for the ladies. If the guys get trophies the girls should too. I've seen at least twice now that a girl received a generic trophy. The guys trophy lists what division Mens Advanced 2018 winner blah blah and the ladies get a 1st place... 1st place in what??? I've even saw when the ladies trophy said nothing at all.
4. Please make it a point to talk to the ladies. They may not know anyone there and feel like an outcast. Go up and introduce yourselves and let them know you are happy that she was able to make it.
5. When a girl gets placed on your card because there are not enough in her division, please give her the same courtesy you give everyone else, even if she is taking twice as many throws per hole as you are. This is also a patience exercise for all involved. Be encouraging as much as you can.

There are many other ways we can make this sport more enjoyable for the ladies. Do you have any ideas? I'd love to hear them.

What Disc Golf Means to Me and the Importance of Encouraging Others

There was a time when I was that girl that just watched her boyfriend and his friends play. Even though disc golf intrigued me and I loved being outside, I never really picked up a disc until a couple of years later after just watching for so long. I remember finally having the courage to ask my boyfriend for a disc and to ask his buddies if I could join. I remember feeling embarrassed and not good enough, and I think that's what keeps many people from trying anything in life.  But now I know the importance of taking that first leap and throwing the first disc.  Those feelings i thought I was going to have quickly vanished as I realized how helpful,  motivating and encouraging everyone I met in the disc golf community was. I started playing everyday after that first day and have not put the discs back down.

With a lot of encouragement from the DG community, I registered for my first tournament,  2016 Texas Womens Championships. I didn't know what I was getting myself into because now I was not playing at my "comfort course" or around people I knew, i was playing in a tournament at an unfamiliar course amongst unfamiliar faces. Those scared feelings rushed back in,  but again,  everyone was so welcoming and I felt right at home.  I ended up winning the recreation division and thus began my love for tournaments.

It was really exciting taking that first trophy and getting to stand alongside Paige Pierce and Sarah Hokom and lots of other greats knowing that one day I wanted to be in their shoes.  I have now became great friends with some of those that I admired.  You learn that they are people too. My dream of being a pro player is now.  I have a lot of work to do, but have the full support of my DG family which means so much to me. I wouldn't be where I'm at today without the encouraging words of this community.

Disc Golf means so much to me. It is my calm after a long day at work. It is my happy hour on the weekends. It is my motivation to be a better, more accepting, more patient individual. DG is not just a sport to me.  It is a community that I feel comfortable in and happy and free to be myself.

When I see a group of disc golfers and the randomness of age, ethnicities and beliefs come together to play,  it gives me hope that the world does have good people and that we can get past our differences. I do believe we need to encourage everyone to play, but even if they don't,  I hope they could find something that makes them feel all the things that disc golf makes me feel,  because it really is special.