Skip to navigation
Your location
Members > Member directory > dizzydevo's profile
Print this pageE-mail a link

dizzydevo's profile

Go flip a disc.

Player Stats

  • Full name: Tim Devore
  • Date joined: January 3rd, 2008
  • Last login: July 4th, 2008
  • Home Course: Freedlander Park
  • Years playing: 1
  • Division: Recreational
  • Throw type: mainly backhand but others as needed
  • Favorite driver: Star Stingray
  • Favorite mid-range: Star Shark
  • Favorite putter: Star Aviar

dizzydevo's Blog

Do things really happen for a reason?

Posted by dizzydevo January 11th, 2008. Discuss

Back in 1988 when I turned 21, not that it ment much as far as legality to drink. They changed the laws and I was grandfathered in so at age 18 I was a booze hound. O-tay back to subject.... I was intorduced to Disc Golf by a friend Corey who lived in Canton, OH. Canton had just gotten the first course in with 9 holes at Spiker park if I remember right and the other 9 to come later in the year. The year may be off but it was the year that they were gonna add 9 holes. So Corey took me my friend Tim Hurley and his cousin who introduced us to Corey out for a round. I was hooked then and so Corey gave Tim and I 2 discs to play with 1 being a DX Stringray of which is now at the bottom of Freedlander Park Pond, the other I think was a Comet?? not sure but it was a putter or multi-purpose disc of which I do not have.

I played for another 4 rounds over the summer that year and lost interest and drive to play. So now comes yet another friend Ryan Watson who was playing DG at Freedlander Park. He gives me a call to join him out on the course for a round and I eagerly join with my trusted empty head. He gives me a couple discs to use to try and play a couple holes. I do so and feel that I can get back into it. I just need my Stingray and I will show them....Ha ha ha ha such fools I've played before so I know what to do and I can show them a few things......

I grab my trusted never used since the last time I played Stingray and went out for another round with Ryan and the WOODGA club members. My head swelled with now know stupidity instead of ability to throw. I step up and make the very first throw ever in quite a few years. You guessed it wild off into the never never land and underbrush. I trudged on bragging about my playing before and everyone else just going about their thing and my abilities will show again just wait give me the next hole. No wait how about the next. This goes on until hole 9. On the left the dreaded pond of doom and on the right the dreaded slope of out of bounds. A narrow path for a straight shot thrower that has lost total control over what they had. I make my throw and in the drink it goes. That does it I'm done for the day this isn't going as the brain claimed. We mark the spot where it went in to retrieve it after the round, a good swim in stinky water was cooling but the after smell was left to be desired.

I find out where to obtain some discs and a bag thinking that I can do better with the right look. Ya gotta have the look man otherwise how can they tell your a Disc Golfer dude. So I figure it's close enough to my birthday so why not get a starter bag and a few discs to check out as well. The BIG 40 was close at hand and I went out each Sunday I could and as many days throughout the week as I could fit in. I want more!!!! So I buy an el-cheapo portable basket that came with 3 discs and I figure the kids can use those ones. I set the basket up in the back yard and start chucking discs like a mad man after his prey. They were all over the back yard, across the railroad tracks, across and in the road, on top of a parked semi truck. My goal was if I couldn't make the basket then I want to get it inside the open door of the factory across the railroad tracks. At least I would get longer second shot practice along the way.

The seaosn goes on and I hear about all the tourny's people have played in and this person made xx amount of $ in this tourny etc.. Ron Howiler and Tabi Alltop kept telling me that I should play in at least one tourny before the season is over. So I had it set once I heard about the Dover course and the Very first tourny there.

Dover was just finished being installed and the people getting the Dover club started had the first tourny. This was my first tourny being in and I was fidgity all these pro's around and 2 womens world champions. I got Valarie Jenkins autograph on a new White Dragon. Well I'm movin' on up, to the east side hey hey yeah.

Swelled head aside I sat there most of the time not even able to get much of a word in edgewise with everyone catching up on times and getting things going for the tourny to start etc.. I kept hearing a few things that I have heard before from people about clubs and joining one and participating in one. Most of the experienced player want to play and that is it. They don't want anyting to do with the course maint./upkeep. They don't care if you lose a disc that is marked. They were bragging on how they removed the names and kept them without attempting to call the person. They kept saying that they have paid their dues coming up in ranks and now it's their turn to bilk the Ams for all they can they are owed that.

This is what I got from both the Dover tourny and the Canton Turkey Bowl. Now me as an Am sitting back listening to this take most with the grain of salt intended but the way others kept on let me know that not all think that way, just a select few and they are usually the ones that show up for the tourny hoping that there are tons of Ams to pay them the winnings they might win.
Not thinking or caring that what they are saying around newbie players/tourny players is not presenting the best side of DG. So I started asking the same questions a few other WOODGA members were asking late in the season. "What does the Club have to offer me for the money I put in?"

So I have been researching way to answer this question and have a satisfied recipient. Details on this stuff later.

Anyway, I sat back one Sunday afternoon when the club scrambles were done and had a thought. That being this, If I were to have stayed with DG back when I was first introduced, how would things be with me compared to now.

One I would prolly still be the big drunk I was back then but playing DG tourny's and winning some money along the way...prolly not the best of things mentally speaking either. I would be burnout with clubs and fund raising for tourny's. The fun would be drained from me because I would burnout fast given the mentality I had back then. I prolly would be one of those that just play to win money no matter where, who or how. I would prolly be one of those that go diving for discs and not calling the numbers but instead removing them and keeping the disc for myself or selling them for a quick buck.

I look at myself now with DG and how I am thinking about the game/sport now compared to then. I will still make a few bucks along the way but I will do it with honesty and integrity. I will play in more tourny's along the way, stay with the club and help it grow. But mainly the most I get from DG is the peace of mind I get when I play even on the bad days. I can say this now that the fog of booze has been lifted for the past 7 yrs with a few special occasions for relapse. I see a way to help kids find an activity that is good for them no matter how skilled/unskilled they are at playing. All are good in their own eyes so lets keep the fantasy going man.

So I wrap this up with the same question as the title.

Cruising Along

Posted by dizzydevo January 10th, 2008. Discuss

I have been constantlly talking about DG ever since I got back into it on a regular basis. I am now in the process of getting a business going selling DG equipment etc., along with camping equipment to be added soon.

Along the way some of the people I have just talked about the game/sport to have shown major interest in learning and playing. They have been talking about it to others telling what I have told them about the game/sport. One person I will be in contact with here soon owns their own business already and has had health problems. One being a heart attack and surgury. My friend talked to them about DG and they went and asked their doctor if this was something they could do. The responce was an overwhelming YES!! He said that it provides an excellent way for the upper body to get a good workout and the walking of the course will fill in the rest. So as a result they want me to teach them the basics and show them what DG is about.

I have been given a slight heads up that they are very religeous so how I approach them will set the tone. I will give them, with experienced club member help, as much as they want to absorb. But the main thing I stress is exactly what they are looking for, HEALTHY RECREATION!!! If I present this to them in the proper manor I should have a loyal Sponsor for events and someone with a large outlet to youth to help the game/sport grow even more.

I see this as a major step business wise but as I look at it, I still see the fact that I can make a difference in someones life for the good instead of the easy put down. I look at this as an opportunity to present my DG club in a positive way and gain new members/players.
The club gaining notoriety around locally will help gain the trust of other businesses and open more doors than we have now. If we don't put back into the community that you ask to support you then they will stop supporting or not even support at all.

Ode the the best unwitnessed round.

Posted by dizzydevo January 4th, 2008. Discuss

As I brave the chill of the day knowing that with this round I still have the edge for the Ice Bowl coming up, just need to see if the backyard practice has helped or not.

I don the bundles of clothing and the wonderful pocket warmer I found. I grab my trusted new Star Stingray and my Star Aviar. Knowing that is the only 2 discs needed, as they are the best assult I have for now. I take a warm up throw to get the coat adjusted and the layers fitting just right. Bam 40 feet into the righthand side tree that I have hit many times before, not a good sign. I take a drag off my now almost finished smoke, walk down humblely to retrieve the bad throw.

Taking my time to get back to the 1st tee I ponder the tips from Ron Howiler. I set everything down and grab my trust Stingray, I know this disc, it is the better version of the very first on I threw back in 1988. I have thrown this disc many times and have done well.

Step up and take a deep breath, relax, take a few aiming fakes, yeah that feels right. I make the drive with a good hardy release but darn (not what was really said), to high and it's in the lower branches, not to good. Crash, bang, thud and in the mud but still in play with not the worst location for a 2nd throw.

I grab the Aviar knowing that this is the putter I need to learn better. If I can make putts with this one then I am well on the way to a better 2nd year. I think of what Ron has told me for a putting style that should work for me. I go through the motions he had shown me and got a breathing rythem going, this feels good, the release and ching off the chains from 50 feet out. That is a good sign, I had a good 3rd shot for an easy par.

The 2nd hole was a cake walk, heck I almost aced it 2 months into playing. Same thoughts and the same bad high release with a good landing for an easy deuce 30 feet no problem. Over confidence kills the best intentions. I take the needed new technique for putting and I hit the top of the basket into the chains and flop off the rim and on the ground. So it's one of those gonna fight for the deuces that's 2 already and hole 3 is next.

I feel less confident now but assured that I would at least have par but now much over par at worst. I take aim and let loose with the best throw yet good height maybe a bit to high but had the distance. Bam of the edge of a tree near the basket with a bad flight off to the left. Not a good spot but manageable for a par. I take aim and bam off the same darn (see above) tree I just hit before but at least the lie is a good one not to hard to make. I take aim and ching, through the chains and past the basket by 15 feet. One under par now that is not a good sign but at least the putts have been closer and more on target than in the past.

Hole 4 the worst case senario for a righthanded disc chucker like me. During the summer the hole has a completely different view and once the leaves are gone some new flight paths can be seen. I found one that would work for me that had the hook to the left. A good strong throw with the Stingray and whoosh right through the line I wanted and into the side of the hill but safe and stable enough for a possible deuce shot. Uphill works for me it plays to my one strength, throwing up. Just wish it had the extra distance to make it to the green just 6 feet uphill. I take my time and plant my feet, take aim and Ching My Deuce!!!! Yes that's what I'm talking about man. Hole 5 here I come look out I'm back to par.

I take a small rest break at the picnic table pondering the rest of the day and rolling a smoke, darn nic fits are a pain when it's cold out and you roll your own (and don't say the obvious "why didn't ya just roll a few ahead of time?", like duh, I did have, but not enough made for the hole round. 2 isn't enough and the first one was during the arrival and practice). Anyway, after the 5 min rest and thrist quenching I take aim on tee 5. Yeah this feels good and swoosh down to the right but straight into a tree to a dead stop and a bad lie. O-tay I can recover, NOT!!!! I make the 2nd throw and bam into another tree and yet another bad lie but possible to make, NOT!!!!! the 3rd throw does clear the trees and make the green but that puts me back to 1 over. So much for the deuces effort.

Hole 6 yeah this is gonna be good. I have done well with this hole no problem I want to try a new way to throw for the hole. I almost aced this one with my leopard so why not try it that way to throw maybe that will get he hook to the left to make the basket.
Cool good line got the distance cool got the hook going, clack into a small branch and kills the hook and drops but a good lie for a deuce or easy par, 55 maybe 60 feet tops. I grab the Aviar and take the needed warm up and make the throw right past the basket but online to make it if it was to the left a foot but to hard. 30 feet over thrown but still a good shot for par, NOT!!!! Hit the chains and flop to the ground. 2 over now not looking good.

Hole 7 and the dreaded telephone pole and lines with the dreaded tree not even 15 feet away giving a narrow path from the tee for the ams to make. I've hit both pole and tree so many times but I have made it through cleanly with some good throws in the past to the odds look good. I sail the Stingray with surgical precision through the pole and tree with an excellent height. Yes a good strong throw with a favorable hook to the left. Sweet it's gonna get close to the basket, it nicks a tree and dies on the downward flight and lands 15 feet fromthe basket. Looking at the lie I say to myself, "you can make this for a deuce just follow through". I make the deuce and dance the jig of extasy. Cool back to 1 over. Hole 8 and Hell's Hallway are next.

I get to the tee and set my bag down and take a good look down the dreaded path of doom. Only good straight throws can get you to the basket, either side is a tree line of doom or hillside and tree line of doom. The saplings make your discs do wierd things when hit. I grab the Stingray and do the warm up and swoosh down the path but slightly off to the right, if it stays straight I could be doomed I see the ending and it didn't look good. To my surprise it hits the lower branch of a smaller tree and took a good hook to the left I was 35-40 feet from the basket Whoo Hoo!! Relying on the the tips and what I have learned with the past 7 holes and putting should get me what I was wanting. Bam the duece was made and the jig was a going strong now. Hole 9 look out I'm on a roll.

I would have attempted the long tee over the pond but didn't take to well of the idea loosing my best disc. So off to the short tee I am not that confident in making it over the pond yet. I take my usual aim on this hole and I have gotten to a regular landing zone each time recently so I have gotten past this hole fairly well. You land enough in the drink with bad throws you tend to want to throw better the next time to help lessen the chance of that happening. I make the throw and it goes to the left slightly off target but still looks good to get past the water and to dry land at the end. It glances off the right of the big tree in front of the basket but it goes to the "landing zone" cool I have a shot for a deuce a again, NOT!!! Denied by the bottom pole of the basket and a low throw. Oh well I'm still 1 under.

Hole 10 the fine line of oops. I have had a good mix of both good and bad throws on this hole. I have not tamed it yet. I step up to the tee feeling the buzz of being 1 under and on hole 10 with knowing I have that many deuces and almost deuces I was feeling it. I let loose with an over height chunk that fell way short of anything worthy of calling a good throw followed with a bad spot.
I take the 2nd shot and it lands solid close to the basket for an easy par. Cool still 1 under.

Hole 11 here I R. I look around to make sure no other kids are close by because a family is by the gazebo with a young kid and possiblly another. I take my time to make sure they are in a safe zone for my throwing distances and they are. I take a good aim and get a good feeling about the throw before it was made. I look off to the right still clear and I still see them in the safe zone. I let loose and it's a good one with a good line off to the right, it makes a hook to the left and drops for a solid thud 30 feet from the basket. An easy slightly downhill toss if you take the time. I wind up and ching in the chains I R 2 under now Whoo Hoo!!!!

I gather my composure after doing my jig of victory and look up and see the family there still watching me. I stroll off to hole 12. I place my bag on the bag holder and take a drink grab my Stingray and start lining up the shot. The way I have been throwing on this hole I either thread the needle and make it past the trees or I choke and die behind them. At least it's not it the water as much anymore. I take another look and start aiming up the throw. I let loose and it threads the needle like it was meant to be and I hear the family behind me saying wow nice throw, of which it was, (thank god for that one). It makes a good landing about 50 feet from the basket but still a trickky shot through the trees to the basket. I let loose with the 2nd throw and it hits one of the trees close to the basket and dies, easy par and still 2 under.

Hole 13 fairs no better on the list of good holes for me but I have had moments. I figure I take the usual throw with the emphesis on a strong level throw. It was level but a bit to low to the ground, maybe 4-5 feet tops but not much more than that. It hooks to the left slightly but made it past that pasky little evergreen next to the basket. It looks to be a fairly doable shot through the backside of the branches on the tree but some of the basket is open. I make for the safe shot and land it close to the basket for the easy par.

Hole 14 I take aim for the throw. The lines to the baskets have all changed without all the growth around to block the views. Is there a line I can take other than what I have been shooting for? Odds don't look good in that department. I let loose and swoosh off it goes, best bee line stright throw down the left side of the fairway and on to the long tee area for hole 15 but still a tad short for that spot. I have a good open line to the basket so as long as I don't over throw I should be fine. I make my par and off to 15 I go.

The basket has been moved to the winter location and the short tee location has been moved as well. I have only played from this spot 3-4 times before this so still not to sure with the hole this way. I look down at the basket straight ahead. I look at the 4 foot high electic box post just 20 feet directly in front of the tee. I look at the trees I have hit before. I take a deep breath follow the tips and let loose a mean flight just the perfect height to get over the electric post, it stays level about 10-15 feet off the ground. Wow this is going straight for the basket I'm gonna get an ACE!!! NOT!!!!! It takes a drop in height and goes down quick landing just 10 feet short of the basket. I got another deuce Whoo Hoo!!!!!! 3 under and Quiggly can't beat me. Jig dancing all the way to the tee for 16.

Hole 16 yet another disappointing almost ace in the past here. I take the usual confident stance for this hole trying to keep in mind that I need to continue to follow through. I take aim and let loose with the throw. It's off to the right and into the patch of trees in that direction not looking good but at least it's not as bad as it has been. I get a typical 2nd shot from the tree patch landing it for an easy par. Whew that was almost a killer.

Hole 17 and I am 3 under best game ever going on and I am riding the jig wave. I take a breather and smoke a cigarette (kind of an oxymoron), quench the thirst again and grab the trusty Stingray. It has done me well. I take aim and let loose. It's a bit higher than I wanted but it has the distance. Noooo not the the left, to the right you dumb bunny with a splash in the creek and an OB, not looking to good here folks. After about a 10 minute search for the disc I locate it and determine the OB spot take aim and it looks good. Nice spot for a par shot, Not I hit the rim then the chains and onto the ground, darn (see way above). Back to 2 under, oh well it's where I was at for the best game ever so far, I can live with that. On to 18!!!!

I get to the long tee on 18 because I like the uphill challenge with the tree line the way it is compared to the short tee. I have deuced the hole before from the long tee so why change a good thing. I stand there looking for the line I want to take I make my throw and it looks good. Sweet 20 feet or so from the hole with no obstuctions. I DEUCE IT!!! 3 under. Whoo Hoo!!!!

Since getting back into the game/sport this past year after a 18+ year absence this has been the best round ever for me at the Freedlander Park Course. My goal for the end of the season was par or better and I have been getting close to consistent pars for the course. Don't get me wrong the +6 games are still gonna creep up on me but that is starting to look like it will be longer between them.

What a difference a year makes. I started with having +15-20 down to a steady +4 to +8 to hitting a steady par to +6. What will this next season have in store for me?

The loss of a disc that never gets returned when found.

Posted by dizzydevo January 3rd, 2008. Discuss

I recently played in the Canton, Oh courses Turkey Bowl this past November. This was the second tourny I have played in and had a blast. I was miffed when I lost the brand new Star Stingray on hole 24. the water it was in was to deep for me to see it to retrieve at the time and figured I would take the time to get it after the round was over. During the rest of the tourny I had let others know that I had lost a disc that was retrievable but wanted to get the round done before gettng it back. Someone else that was in the tourny had retrieved it and I had it clearly labeled with my name and phone number. The reported first coment from the person who retrieved it said "Dam this is a nice disc I am going to keep it". If it wasn't for the fact that another local club member I was there with was with them at the time and laid claim to it and made sure that I got it back.

I thanked Tabi for the help and the person for retrieving it for me but that shows me the mentality of some people that want to play the game/sport but not pay for the discs they use. They would rather find the disc you lose and use them after removing your info from them without even a flinch of a hint that they want to try and get the disc back to you. Granted at times the distances to travel to return/obtain a lost disc may not be worth it but at least give the effort and call the number. You may find that you make more friends and supporters than ememies. If you show the dishonest side and not make the effort to return a disc that is clearly labeled with a phone number, you contribute to the bad names and reps courses get because of your dishonesty.

Be better than that and show your humanity in this small way and I will garuntee that more people will want to join the local clubs if they feel the people already in the club are honest and can be relied on to return lost discs/items.

It's one thing for an adult working and earning money to just go out and buy more discs, it's another when a Jr. player that has to rely on allowances or odd jobs to buy the 2-4 discs they want to play with and lost and never returned.

The kids that stay with the game/sport are the future and by doing the dishonest way and not returning the lost discs you discourage the future players.

It's one thing if you don't wish to label your discs and when they get lost oh well, it's another when it is labeled and you lose it expecting a hopefull ring on the phone with someone that wants to return the disc you lost.

Keep yourself honest in this manner and the game/sport will maintain the integrity needed to grow.

See all of dizzydevo's blog entries...