Morley Field Disc Golf Course

Chris Wymer
Nickname: One Time!!
PDGA#: 35633
Division: Open

Began Playing Disc Golf:
I started playing disc golf in high school in 2001. My friends and I would throw discs and play ultimate at school. One day someone brought a disc golf disc to throw, and the topic of going to play came up. After my first round at Morley I was hooked, and after a brief lull during college I’ve really started to strive to improve my game (I think it’s been paying off a bit.

First Disc:
DX Shark, threw it through the chains on 16 B the very same day.

Favorite Hole at Morley (and why?):
Hole 16. It’s complex, some weeks it’s a simple shot that provides an important birdie (or ace run) in the closing holes. However other weeks, it’s positioned deeper behind the line of bushes, making things more interesting. There are lots of risk/reward shots on the deeper positions, and with each position there’s always the slight chance of taking a tree stroke if you misjudge your drive.

Morley Field Aces:
16 C with a champ Viking and 18 C with a champ Teebird. Both 5 years ago.

Favorite Disc (and why?):
It would have to be the Roc. You can do anything with it. Straight shot? No problem. Slight anhyzer? Sure thing. Headwind? No worries. Hyzer shot? I’ve got it.

Favorite Driver (and why?):
I think quite a few people have heard me ramble on and on about this one, hands down champion Teebirds. It’s a roc that flies further and faster. It’s a really easy disc to control, and very dependable on how it flies it’s lines. Plus, with the smaller rim size, it doesn’t require the mega-snap that discs such as the boss and destroyer do. As a result I have a better ability to focus on controlling my shot.

Favorite Midrange (and why?):
Champion Classic Rocs. It’s the best because it is the middle ground between a roc and a spider. Stable, with a dependable fade at the end of it’s flight. Beyond that, it’s the easiest driver I’ve found to throw side-arm approach shots with. Unfortunately, they’ve been discontinued, so good luck finding one.

Favorite Putter (and why?):
Aviars. All shapes and varieties. With putting it’s the archer, not the arrow, but the aviar is my “arrow” of choice.

In My Bag:
Long Range Drivers:
Champ Orc
Star Excaliber
2 Champ Destroyers
Star Boss
Fairway Drivers:
Champ Leopard
Champ Valkyre
Champ Teebird
Champ Eagle
Champ Firebird
Midrange:
3 Rocs (Star Ontario, KC, DX)
Gateway Blade
Spider

Tourney wins and / or Top 5 finishes (not necessarily from Morley):
Morley (won each division once in a monthly)

Favorite Disc Golf Website (and why?):
PDGA.com. So many resources, and vast amounts of info on up coming tournaments, and course locations.

Favorite Pro Player (and why?):
John Childs. I got to watch him during the final round of the Memorial this year. He’s a lefty holding his own in the right handed world of disc golf!!

Tips for newer players and players looking to improve:
Playing at Morley is fun, however, the one thing that has helped me more than anything with my game has been going to an empty park and throwing every disc in my bag. Find a local park, and learn what your discs want to do. At a park you can take your time and focus on correcting your form, and slowing down your release without having it impact your round. At a park you can figure out how to make your disc fly in specific directions, and more importantly, figure out what it wants to do when released level. It doesn’t take long, set aside maybe 45 minutes a couple of times a week. You’ll be surprised by the improvement in your game.

Tyler Courtney
Intermediate / Recreational

Began Playing Disc Golf:
October 2007 at Morley. Thought the game was pretty lame until I hit my first birdie. Been hooked ever since!

First Disc:
Pro Wraith and yea, it was pink.

Favorite Holes at Morley:
5 (long positions), 8 (any position)

Morley Field Aces:
1! Hole 2. Took me two and a half years to get it!

Favorite Disc:
Champion XCalibur, 175

Favorite Drivers:
Champion Boss, Champion TeeBird

Favorite Midrange:
Champion Spider, Champion Stingray

Favorite Putters:
Magnets (Hard)

In My Bag:
Drivers : 175 Champ Boss, 175 Champ XCalibur, 175 First Run Star XCalibur, 173 First Run Champ Groove, 175 Champ Teebird, 167 CFR Wraith, 171 Star TL. Midrange : 175 Champ Spider, 177 Champ Stingray, 172 Star Gator, 180 Champ Shark, 168 Champ Shark,173 ProD Wasp. Putters : 3 ProD Magnets (Various weights), Max Weight Elite Z Magnet.

Tourney Placements :
None yet. Need to have tourneys on weekdays!

Favorite Disc Golf Website:
dgcoursereview.com

Favorite Pro Player:
Ken Climo

Tips for New Disc Golf Players :
Buy 3 of the exact same putters and practice your form often. Find a field and unload your bag including midrage and putters to get your disc’s flight pattern down. Do this often until comfortable with all your plastic. Always throw at 70% power. Less is more in this game. HAVE FUN and TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

Jonathan Wilson “jdub”
YDGA#: 1
Future Pro Tour Top Money Earners ($100,00 and above)

Began Playing Disc Golf:
2006 at Morley Field. My dad (mdub) brought me when I was 3 years old. My friend at the course is Luke (Kayleen’s son). He and I will be battling it out in a few years just like Micah and Carlo do now!… (and Adazm’s son). I like Morley Field but I wish they had golf carts like Emerald Isle. That place rocks!

First Disc:
100g ROC

Favorite Hole at Morley:
Either hole 5 (which I can crush) so I can hang out with all the dogs (canines) usually resting near the 5 and 7 teepad or hole 15 because its near the snack bar. I have pared holes 1, 2, 16 and 17!

Morley Field Aces:
Zero (the same number that my dad has and he’s been playing 30 years!)

Favorite Disc:
Orange 120g ROC that Steve Rico gave me at Sylmar

In My Bag:
Yellow 100g ROC
Orange 120g ROC
Clear 110g #2 Hyzer
Clear 110g Upshot

Tourney wins and / or Top 5 finishes (not necessarily from Morley):
None yet, but I’ll take on all-comers’ with the proper handicap scoring!

Favorite Disc Golf Website:
http://www.morleyfield.com because my dad does the website

Favorite Pro Player:
Snapper or Steve Rico or KG or Carl Renda

Tips for newer players and players looking to improve:
“Keep your head in the game”

His dad knew long before their first visit with Auntie to Morley Field that the boy could throw a Frisbee. Sure, lots of kids can fling one, but Noah’s first throws as a toddler in the backyard were natural and possessed an uncanny accuracy. His casual nature and competitive drive eventually led him to the first tee. Noah started playing disc golf regularly this year (2009).

At ten years old, he is not the youngest player ever seen at the Morley Field links. But Noah’s enthusiasm for the sport is beginning to attract attention and valuable lessons from more experienced players here. His stature as a novice often leads to friendly advice from players much more “in the know” than his old man. Noah  is soaking up every word.

Disc golf at Morley also seems to be teaching Noah there is more to this disc-shaped world than simply waiting at the next tee. With each round, Noah is recognizing and greeting familiar faces on the course and with that he seems to be learning the meaning of community.

These days, Noah proudly carries a budding collection of discs in his own green shoulder bag and, though he won’t brag, he will tell you about his first hole-five par. Noah is certainly hooked on Disc Golf and he can’t wait to play that next round.

From his dad –
On December 10, 2007 Noah was eight and half. A benign tumor was found on his optic nerve near his pituitary gland nine months earlier. It had to come out because he would likely lose peripheral vision (or worse), if not. Skilled hands at Children’s Hospital removed it; he spent five days at the hospital and recovered at home after that. Back to school in January. Baseball season started in March and he made the allstar roster by May; then allstar soccer in the fall. He is very low-key about it, but it is a significant part of his life and I consider it an amazing life event that he probably won’t fathom until he’s much older.

It certainly helps me with perspective in my life…

————————————————————————————

Say Hi to Noah when you see him on the course. He’s a cool kid!

Dale Chambless “Godfather”
Novice/Rec

Began Playing DG:
My friends brought me out in the summer of 2008.  I was instantly hooked, and by January I was buying monthly passes so I can play everyday.

First Disc:
The first two discs I bought were a first run Champion Boss and an Omega SuperSoft putter after playing for about a month.

Favorite Hole at Morley:
16.  This hole has everything.  Easy ace runs when in the front and long, challenging shots when its deep.

Aces:
I’m coming up on one year of disc golf and I still have no aces. Hit the basket, pole, chains, flag, and everything else I could hit, but nothing has stuck yet.

Favorite Disc:
The one that goes in the basket

Favorite Driver:
Champion Destroyer

Favorite Midrange:
Star Cro

Favorite Putter:
Omega SS

In My Bag:
I often get picked on for carrying way too much plastic, but I feel like I need every disc in my bag to make up for the fact that I’m not very good.  I’ve got a few discs that I’m letting my wife use too, so this week my bag is holding:
Innova:  Star Plastic:  Max, X-Caliber, Destroyer, T-Rex, Gator, Cro. Champion Plastic:  Monster, Destroyer, Boss, Groove, Beast, Starfire, Monarch, Teebird, Leopard, Firebird, Spider. Discraft: Elite X Plastic: Buzz. Z Plastic:  Crystal Challenger, Magnet. Millennium: QJLS, Omega SS (2) Gateway: Assassin

Favorite DG Website:
discgolfersr.us and morleyfield.com

Favorite Pro Player: 
Haven’t met a lot of pros other than the guys that play open at Morley.  The guy that has been the biggest help to game so far is Carlo Pelg.  Friendly, outgoing, helpful, and all business on the course.

Tips for Newer Players:
The less you do, the more you do.  Get out of your head.  Slow it down.  Spend a day at the park playing catch with different discs to learn them.  When you’re on the course let your instincts take over and “Do Less.”

Mike Kvasnicka
PDGA#15431
Advanced Masters

Began Playing Disc Golf:
1978 (with Frisbees) & 1992 (with Golf discs)

First Disc:
Black Shark

Favorite Hole at Morley:
3 in the tree line right

Morley Field Aces: 3

Favorite Disc:
Special Edition Soft Rhyno

Favorite Drivers:
Pro Wraith

Favorite Midranges:
San Marino Roc

Favorite Putter:
Aviar

In My Bag:
All the above + a fourth and fifth Run Candy Valkyrie
a Third run Candy Teebird,
a Z-MRV, a DX whippet,
a Star stamp Destroyer and a Star Wraith

Tourney wins and / or Top 5 finishes (not necessarily from Morley):
2007 EIEIO = 1st (Adv Masters)
2007 Spring Fling = 1st (Adv Masters)
2008 Waller Pines Open = 2nd (Adv Masters)
2003? Old Zoo Fling = 1st (Intermediate)
2004 Memorial = 8th (Advanced)

Favorite Disc Golf Website:
Right now it’s the 2009 KC Worlds site because I’m going

Favorite Pro Player:
Anyone who remains humble (Kenny Jarvis epitomizes this)

Tips for newer players and players looking to improve:
Don’t model your game on mine

Fun Fact:
I have played 179 courses in 27 states plus 3 courses in Canada

Jeff Nichols
San Diego Aces 2009 Club President
PDGA# 5530
Pro Grand Master

Began Playing Disc Golf:
In 1981 I was a young man with too much time on my hands, so I joined some friends at Morley for some “Frisbee Golf”.  I was hooked instantly and started coming back every time I could.  My first aspiration to play competitively was when I saw Donny Olow park a Super Puppy on Hole 7 (now Hole 11) in its short position.  I knew at that time I wanted to play in competition.

First Disc:
First golf disc was a 100 mold Midnight Flyer.

Favorite Disc:
The one I’m going to throw next.

Favorite Drivers:
Boss, Destroyer, TL.

Favorite Midranges:
Rocs beat to various degrees, Cobra.

Favorite Putter:
Super Puppy

In My Bag:
Depends on the course.
My usual Morley bag is:
2 Champion Boss’
2 Star Destroyers
CE Firebird
Tee Bird L
Sidewinder
’02 USDGC Roc
KC Pro Roc
Champion Cobra – super straight flyer
DX Stingray
Star Gator
9x KC Pro Aviar
Super Puppy – sometimes carry one of my vintage ones, circ. 1984

Tourney wins and / or Top 5 finishes (not necessarily from Morley):
1990 San Diego Spring Fling – 4th place
2001 San Diego Open Pro Masters Champ
Santa Maria Open – 2nd place (beat Johnny Lissaman in a playoff for the 2nd place trophy)
2004 Emerald Isle Open Pro Masters Champ
2005 Emerald Isle Open Pro Masters Champ (including a course record 1051 rated round)
2005 World Masters Flying Disc Championships – 2nd Place
2009 EIEIO – 2nd place.

Favorite Disc Golf Website:
PDGA.com

Favorite Pro Player:
“The Champ” – Ken Climo
I had the pleasure to play with him on his home course in Clearwater, FL before he won his first Worlds.  I had met a lot of people who were very passionate about the game, but none more that him.  His skills and professionalism are unsurpassed.

Tips for newer players and players looking to improve:
Beginners should learn to throw a putter or midrange disc before moving on to a driver.  I see many players who think they need to throw drivers while they could probably throw just as far with a midrange disc and retain much more control.  This is a game of control first, and only after control is mastered will distance be of any benefit.

Aaron Van Matre
PDGA#: 35186
Advanced Amateur (927 rating)

Began Playing Disc Golf:
Jan 2007 started playing more often and competitively….before that i was a “one disc” guy throwing thumbers mainly

First Disc:
DX Firebird

Favorite Hole at Morley:
#5, #10, #19

Morley Field Aces:
5 (#1D, #2B, #13E, #14B, #15C twice)

Favorite Disc:
Right now it is the Pro Firebird

Favorite Drivers:
Champion Wraith (165g & 172g) and Boss (Champion and Star)

Favorite Midranges:
Z-Buzz & 1st run Cro

Favorite Putter:
Voodoo & KC Aviar

In My Bag:
Champion Monarch (172), Champion Wraith (165), Champion Wraith (172), 1st run CFR Boss (175), CFR Destroyer (175), Star Boss (167), CFR Xcaliber (175), Champion Leopard (170), CFR TL (172), Pro Firebird (172), Sparkle Tsunami (172), 2 Champion Firebirds (175), Champion Monster (175), Elite-Z Flick (169), Elite-Z Buzz (176), 1st run Star Cro (172), CFR Gator (175), Pro Pig (175), KC Pro Aviar (175g) & SS Voodoo (175).

Tourney Top 5 finishes (not necessarily from Morley):
18th – The Memorial in Scottsdale, AZ (qualified for AM Nationals)
5th – Emerald Isle Open
2nd – 2008 Halloween Classic in Scottsdale, AZ
2nd – 2008 Sun Valley Open
4th – 2008 Santa Maria Open

Favorite Disc Golf Website:
discgolfersr.us, primediscs.com, pdga.com, discgolfcenter.com

Favorite Pro Player:
Dave Feldberg, Nikko Locastro, & Paul McBeth

Tips for newer players and players looking to improve:
Find an open field and throw! just go out and throw as often as you can. good thing about throwing in an open field is that you can see what your disc can do when you throw it with nothing in the way. because when you “learn” your discs and understand what they can do, you build confidence. and confidence on the course will translate to lower scores.
also, practice your putts with purpose. putting practice will also instill confidence in your game. find twenty minutes in the day that is NOT before a round of disc golf. otherwise, you will rush through or even skip putting before playing a round.

editors note – Aaron is the player pictured on the front page of this web site

Clark Jackson
PDGA# 37721
Advanced

Began Playing Disc Golf:
1996 but didn’t get serious till 2005.  (Now I even play in my dreams, it’s an addiction)

First Disc:
Cyclone (and aced with it)

Favorite Hole at Morley:
Hole 3  This is my favorite hole because one I’ve aced it twice.  But mainly it really forced me to learn Anhyzer shorts, which are my favorite shots.  Plus when it’s in the A and B position it’s just a fun line drive.

Morley Field Aces:
18c, 3a (twice), 9c, 1a

Favorite Disc:
Z Buzz (don’t have one…get one) This disc can do anything.  Whatever line you put on it, it holds.  It’s my favorite anhyzer disc.

Favorite Drivers:
Champ Orc This is my go to driver, if I don’t know what to throw, I throw this.  It’s a little understable but very controlable.

Favorite Midranges:
Z Buzz

Favorite Putter:
Omega

In My Bag:
Destroyer
Champ and Star Wraith
Z Buzz
Z Wasp
Gator
TL Champ
Z Comet
Orc
Z Predator

Favorite Disc Golf Website:
DGCourseReview, Disc Golfers r us

Favorite Pro Player:
I don’t know to many of the pro’s.  Mainly just the ones in SD, so…Trey (when he want to be call a Pro)  All the pro players are great!!  Especially SD pro’s I’ve learned so much from them Micah, Miker, Kent, CVK, Carlo, Lust (never taught me a thing but…love ya the same)

Tips for newer players and players looking to improve:
Just have fun, when you’re having fun you play better.  Play more courses then just Morley. Practice and practice!!  and Practice more.  Think you’ve practiced enough, practice more.  (I need to listen to what I preach)