So this year I decided to play in as many of the bigger disc golf tournaments that I could. I thought my skill set was at a level where I could at least compete and possible win or finish in the top players. Let’s see how this roller coaster ride turned out for 2025. 😉
Alex Clark Memorial – This is one of the bigger local tournaments. We had a large field of old guys. I played consistently well and won the event. Looking back, the yips were no where in sight. They didn’t really show up at this time. hmm….
Waco Annual Charity Open – Coming into this tournament I thought I had a chance to do well. But unfortunately this is also the tournament where I really felt my putting yips for the first time. I was in last place after the first round that will turn out to be my worst round of the year. I fought back a bit and ended up in 5th place after 3 rounds. Ironically in round 2 we battled 30-40mph winds and I shot the 2nd best round that day. lol.. Still… those yips in round 1 sealed my fate.
Glass Blown Open – This tournament will end up being the one that I will look back and probably be pissed off for the rest of my life. Quite simply, I should have walked away with the win. Round 1 I shoot an incredible round, no pressure, no yips, I end up with a 4 stroke lead going into round 2. Round 2 I know it’s a much harder course, just a bunch of long holes. None of us old guys are going to get a lot of birdies so it’s just course maintenance time. My yips are in full swing, I can’t putt, I can’t drive, but somehow I end up with a 1 stroke lead going into the final round. We’re back at the first course where I played so well. I shoot a horrible +4, yips are in incredible full swing. I make a mental mistake on the last 2 holes because I thought I was out of it. I end up losing by 1 stroke. yah… the poster boy tournament for the yips. bummer….
NADGT North American Disc Golf Championships – I had some serious high hopes for this one. Before the tournament I did a lot of recon to learn the courses. In a 1 round tournament before the main event on one of the courses I won the event and shot one of the best rounds of the year! But during the tournament I had the yips and didn’t really perform well. After 4 rounds I ended up in 9th place. The yips were in full swing and it cost me stroke after stroke.
35th Veterans Park Open – meh… just a horrible tournament. Nothing went well. Waste of time, very disappointed. 1 stroke from last place. Ridiculous….
Waxahachie Open – I try to play this bigger local every year, but I haven’t been able to play it the past few years due to my health or inclement weather. This year I played and ended up in 2nd place, but again the yips were in full swing costing me stroke after stroke. I ended up in 2nd place and yah… should have won this one. Bummer…
I was going to play in the PDGA Worlds tournament which is the very biggest national event every year. But after my horrible yips in the Glass Blown Open I pulled out of the tournament.
My overall health has deteriorated a bit in 2025, my rheumatoid arthritis in my hands is taking it’s toll. The pain in my fingers when throwing a disc comes and goes, who knows, maybe I can get surgery on my fingers. I’ll look into it in 2026. But I’m guessing 2026-2027 will be my last 2 years trying to compete at a high level in disc golf. After that I’ll just play casually locally as a health benefit. I do enjoy walking around and seeing nature when I play disc golf.
Yips Update: Like I’ve said a few times in my blog, I probably “should” be taking some kind of beta blocker for my anxiety, heart issues, etc. But this stubborn old man is just against subscribing to any monthly medical treatment. I prefer to do my own research and supplement with vitamins, and possibly more natural approaches.
So I’ve played in a couple of local tournaments recently and did pretty well. I found a new supplement that has GABA & L-Theanine in it and I’ve been taking it about 20 min before playing disc golf. Knock on wood, it seems to have helped a lot. I’m only going to be taking this before I play disc golf in tournaments so hopefully my body won’t get used to it. We’ll see how this pans out in future tournaments.
My next post will be a quick recap of my entire 2025 disc golf season. This was easily the most roller coaster round year of disc golf in my life. But it’s all about what’s happening from 60ft in, it’s all about the putting. The more I improve my putting (and the yips with it) the more competitive at the top I will be, it’s that simple. 😉
November 29, 2025
