Michael Slonim
PDGA# 13348
Open Master / Grandmaster
Began Playing Disc Golf: First played on a disc golf course in the late 70's at Oak Grove. I was living in New York and a friend moved to Pasadena. I came out to visit, and played the course with a 141 gram frisbee as my driver and a Superpro for the putter. I moved to Long Beach, California in 1981 and played El Dorado (before baskets - just posts with red paint on top), Huntington Beach and La Mirada. I competed in golf at the US Opens at La Mirada in the early 80's although I was primarily a freestyler. I moved to San Diego in 1986 and took up golf full time.
First Dic: Probably an 86 mold.
Favorite Hole at Morley: Like them all. If I had to pick one, I'd choose 5 in the long straight positions.
Morley Field Aces: I never counted my aces, so I'd have to say 200,000,000.
Favorite Disc: Roc
Favorite Drivers: Orc, Wraith
Favorite Midranges: Roc
Favorite Putter: JK Aviar
In My Bag: Whippet X, Pro Wraith, 2 Candy Orcs, Squall, KC Gazell, 2 Rocs, 2 JK Aviars, Candy Beast for rollers.
Tourney wins and / or Top 5 finishes (not necessarily from Morley): I can barely remember last week. My only PDGA win was the 1994 Spring Fling at Morley, and my best finish in a supertour was a tie for 4th in Open Masters at the Memorial.
Favorite Disc Golf Website: PDGA.com, MorleyField.com
Favorite Pro Player: Me, of course (just kidding). Too many to mention - I've had loads of fun playing with people from Alaska to Florida and everywhere in between.
Tips for newer players and players looking to improve: Get a rule book and read it. Tighten up your short game. Try to be as consistant as possible. Find a putting style that works for you and practice, practice, practice. Travel and play lots of different courses. Play with players better than you. And my favorite, as anybody who knows me can attest to, play for money. Even if it's just one dollar or less, playing for money will help you focus and make you less nervous when you play tournaments.