It’s always interesting to read cool details from USDGC competitors about the Championship, especially in their own words. USDGC.com sent a handful of questions to these notable USDGC players and here’s what they wrote back:
| Player | Ken Climo |
Nate Doss |
Dave Feldberg |
Simon Lizotte |
Paul McBeth |
| Home | Clearwater, FL | Bend, OR | Greenwood, DE | Bremen, Germany | Huntington Beach, CA |
| USDGC Appearances | All 17 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 7 |
| Best Finish | 5 US titles | 2008 Champ | 2005 Champ | 13th | 2nd |
| Player | Karl Johan Nybo |
Barry Schultz |
Will Schusterick |
Tim Skellenger |
|
| Home | Copenhagen, Denmark | Charlotte, NC | Madison, TN | Portland, OR | |
| USDGC Appearances | 5 | All 17 | 8 | 6 | |
| Best Finish | 9th | 3 US titles | 3 US titles | 29th |
"Hole 5. No yellow rope needed on this gem of a hole!"
"Hole 5... The shot into the green is one of the most physically and mentally challenging shots of not only the course but the entire year. A 350 to 400 foot shot over a 40ft tree with water left, player and spectator alike have to respect that."
"My favorite hole changes from year to year. But this year after five practice rounds, I think I would say hole #10 as it challenges you whether you play for a birdie to the left or an eagle right at the pin. It is the perfect distance to make the player really think."
"Hole 5 is my favorite disc golf hole in the world! The way it looks, feels and played is amazing and I'm looking forward to playing that hole every round."
"Hole 5 for the tee shot, water hazard and the always challenging wind and approach."
“There is a few favorites, but I really like hole #3, a simple throw but if you miss the angle up or down it is an easy bird or bogey.”
"I would say hole 5. Beauty and the Beast is what I call it! The tee shot has lost some luster in my view with the move to the left, but I understand why the change was made. I have heard some rumors about the last part of the hole for this year, so we shall see...."
"It is hard to choose my favorite hole across the entire course. I love courses that are challenging and make you work to get a good score. I will go with #5."
“My favorite hole at Winthrop Gold is #5. I love playing around the water.”
"Getting a hole in one on #17 in the inaugural event, and the 5 wins of course!"
"It has to be my win in 2008. Incredible week, I could never forget that!"
"My favorite USDGC memory was seeing my picture on one of Sammy Poole's ice cream pails. He called it Feldberg's mounds of coconut. Just sitting around with Sammy eating different flavors are my best memories. He would have me try like 10 flavors throughout the week!"
"I wasn't there unfortunately, but the Schultz vs. Climo playoff a couple years ago was unbelievable to watch. That inspired me to become a great player myself."
"2008 I had the opportunity to play with Climo, Jenkins and Doss (eventual winner) in the final round of my first ever USDGC."
“My favorite memory: after a party in downtown charlotte, after the tournament had ended. Philo (Brathwaite), Espen (Møkkelgjerd) and me were driving home from a loooong night. I was asleep and Espen too … Philo was driving and what a great driver.....Suddenly me and Espen woke up because we were slaloming through a herd of deer on the freeway.....thanks for driving Philo."
"The easy answer is the lengthy playoff with KC in 2003. But I have to say more specifically that round, I believe, was the last time we used original hole 16 on the rock wall near the water which is now the protected swamp area. Both Ken and I threw great rollers and had chances for the deuce in front of a modest but loud crowd! Great moment!"
"Besides winning the event 3x, my favorite memory would have to be from my first round from 2007. It was my first time playing the event, and I was the first person to tee off at 7am in the morning. I remember only having 3 people in the group and it taking us less than 2hrs to play the whole round."
“My favorite USDGC memory was getting a 2 on hole 12. I threw in my second shot from about 400ft. My longest throw-in ever.”
"Demanding."
"Adversity."
"Intense."
"Goodluck."
"Emotional."
"Tuff..."
"Unrelenting!"
"Demanding"
"Exhilarating!”
"Sake Express (scallops) at least twice during the week."
"I try to never have anything that I have to do before any event. I feel that you have to let every single day be different and flow."
"My rituals include eating at Sake Express for hibachi like five times at least. I have a daily ritual, but it would be boring to describe. I visit Earth Fare grocery for the best snacks daily!"
"Not that I can think of."
"No rituals for me, just be prepared as if it were any other tournament. I need to make sure all my shots are on point and my mental state is where it needs to be."
“Flying 12 hours I think is my ritual....and be there in good time for some practice...like every tournament I play...6 holes gameplay a day. And then a few one-disc rounds.”
"A few small things. I tend to throw red, white, or blue discs if I have the choice, it is our U.S. Champ after all. I have a few specific discs that are dyed with flag patterns or only bring out for this event. I also have done this for a few years now. I grab some new stable Rocs. Sometimes KC, DX, bottom stamp, whatever I can find. I put a new one in the bag each round and have my group sign it each day. It is usually used 2-5 times a round, like 10 tee or 17 tee. I also may bring an extra disc along and also have my group sign it and give it away to a volunteer or spectator at some point during the round."
"I always arrive at least a week in advance and eat breakfast everyday at EarthFare down the road from the course."
“I have a ritual that I have, especially at USDGC, I make sure to always practice hole 1, 17, and 18 the day before the tournament.”
