Whirlwind Disc Golf

06/19/2024

My OTB crew (plus one). Badasses all.

12/03/2023

Great deals at Empire this month. The later you wait, the better it gets -- because the deals overlap and they combine!

I love it when procrastination is rewarded. :)

Another great holiday deal starts today: Spend $60, get a free storage box worth $15-20 (depending on which box you choose).

This goes on top of the deals already in effect! For example, if you buy two $24 T-shirts and a $12 disc ($60 total), you'd get one more $24 T-shirt and a $20 storage box for free.
..

A new holiday deal starts every Sunday and every deal continues through the end of the year. The deals can be combined!

The next deal starts tomorrow 12/3: Buy 2 starter sets or 2 T-shirts, get a 3rd free (equal/lesser value). We've added lots of new sets and new shirts this month for you to enjoy!

Each week, it only gets better. Each deal continues through the rest of the month, so you can get 2, 3, or even 4 deals on a single purchase. For example, if you don't shop until the 17th and you buy $100 worth of sets -- the nieces and nephews will dig it! -- you not only get some free sets, you also get the bonus items for both the $60 level (free storage box) and the $100 level (free bottle or mug).

Update on the Black Friday goodies: We still have a few stock and special edition Time Lapse , but we've sold out the 2023 Gyropalooza boxes. As a consolation, we still have the 2021 and 2022 Gyropalooza at a nice discount.

11/24/2023

See you tomorrow maybe? :)

11/01/2023

Woo-hoo! Setting up shop at NTI this Sunday.

It's such a great event, such a great vibe. It's also lame that this will probably only be my 2nd or 3rd time attending.

Looking forward to seeing lots of new and especially old friends! (Yes, "old friends" in both senses of the phrase.)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/599755763523741

(note: picture is from Mendocino Migration a couple weeks ago. if you squint, you'll see 40+ tables, 400+ bins, 10,000+ discs...)

08/25/2023

RESULTS!!! WINNERS!!!

Total number of Envy+Glitch+Hex+Wave in my mobile store at Three Links this weekend (before any sales): 687

Total number of glow discs within that group: 262
..

1st place (won the tiebreaker!): Johnathan Bionaz - 682 total / 274 glow

2nd place - Gary Jacque - 682 total / 355 glow

3rd place - Travis Wilson Simpson - 676 total / 185 glow



CONTEST! PRIZES! All entries due before 10 pm pt tonight, Sunday Aug 27.

Back in 2020, while operating my mobile store at the Three Links course for the High Sierra Cup (pictured below), I ran an online contest to guess the total number of Destroyers in the store. The total was 513, far more than I would have guessed. But winner Danny Kerfeld's guess of 515 was nearly exact.

This weekend, me and my little store are back at Three Links for the High Sierra Cup, and we're running it back -- with a twist in appreciation for MVP's strong support for this year's event.

WHAT'S YOUR GUESS OF HOW MANY ENVY, GLITCH, HEX, AND WAVE DISCS -- TOTAL OF ALL FOUR MODELS, NOT EACH MODEL SEPARATELY-- ARE IN THE WHIRLWIND STORE THIS WEEKEND? TIE-BREAKER QUESTION: WHAT'S YOUR GUESS HOW MANY OF THOSE DISCS ARE GLOW? (Big hint: In late 2021, when glow Envy became available after scarcity for over a year, I stocked up, big time.)

POST YOUR GUESSES IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. Example: "Total 500, Glow 100". One set of guesses per contestant, of course.

THE CLOSEST GUESS WILL WIN THEIR CHOICE OF ONE OF EACH DISC -- ENVY, GLITCH, HEX, WAVE -- UP TO $100 VALUE. Second place will chose two of these discs (max $50). Third place one disc (max $25).

I'LL ACCEPT GUESSES UNTIL 10 PM PT THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 27. If a winner doesn't expect to attend any Whirlwind events to select their prizes in person, I'll select and ship the discs to them.

04/27/2023

Small quantity of latest releases mixed into the selection at Empire today. Discraft tour series and Discmania FD1.

By next Friday, we'll have the second wave of the amazing OTB limited editions (Total Eclipse Envy, Proton Hex, etc), and the Discmania CD1 (supposed to be the same as the original CD2).

02/03/2023

Most of the time, UPS indeed delivers. It's great!

Unfortunately, today was not one of those days.

Long-story short, it's not clear where my hundreds of McBeth 6X discs currently are or when I'll be able to get them. Odds are, I'll get them tomorrow afternoon. At the moment, given how badly UPS has handled this so far, anything is possible.

MY NEW LAUNCH PLAN, WHICH I HOPE TO CONFIRM TOMORROW AFTERNOON, IS TO HAVE ALL THE MCBETH 6X DISCS AVAILABLE WHEN EMPIRE OPENS AT 10 AM ON *SATURDAY* MORNING. NONE WILL BE AVAILABLE TOMORROW, THE OFFICIAL RELEASE DAY.

For what it's worth, i *will* have the Simon Lizottl glow Hex at Empire when it opens tomorrow, as promised. MVP only sent 30% of the Lizottls I ordered -- backordered the rest -- so I don't know how long they'll last. I doubt there will be any left by Saturday.

Another FWIW: Saturday, I'll also have a bunch of other cool stuff at Empire -- a "sidewalk sale" -- with many special products and huge discounts. More on that in a separate post...

01/21/2023

Heading out to Swenson tomorrow to begin figuring out improvements for the 2023 OTB Open layout. We feel pretty good about the 2022 layout, overall. At the same time, there are lots of things we're eager to improve.

I visited Swenson a few days ago to see the storm damage. Quite a few trees were down, including some trees that play a big role on certain holes. The "casual water" was so massive that I could only reach about half the course. Bummed that I forgot to bring the paddle for my canoe.

OTB Open presented by MVP Disc Sports OTB Discs 1000 Rated Productions Delta Windjammers Disc Golf Club

01/18/2023

Hehe, current Google satellite image of Swenson Park Golf Course shows the 2022 OTB Open -- with only the Whirlwind store set up in the vending area. Must have been taken Wednesday or Thursday.

Zooming out, I can see other event infrastructure -- first tee stage, sponsor truss, etc. And lots of players practicing the holes.

12/16/2022

I would be planning to attend this -- even if I wasn't already invited to be on the Elite Course Design panel with some pretty incredible designers.

For Immediate Release: DGPT to Host Inaugural Disc Golf Industry Conference December 15, 2022: The Disc Golf Pro Tour is excited to invite disc golf’s working professionals to the inaugural...

12/07/2022

Rentable disc golf courses allow interested towns and property owners to sample disc golf before they buy.

02/02/2022

So frickin' excited!!!

We are thrilled to introduce MVP Disc Sports as our new presenting sponsor for the OTB Open DGPT and AM events!

MVP is one of the fastest-growing disc manufacturers that maintains the highest standards for its products. We are so excited to team up with MVP and OTB Discs for 2022 and beyond!

In other big news: We will be taking over the entire Swenson Park Golf Course facility in 2022! This move will allow us to host more spectators and vendors while significantly improving the spectator and player experience. We couldn't promise all of that without the continued partnership with Whirlwind Disc Golf (Leonard Muise), who is currently redesigning the course and helping us plan out the expanded layout!

Please head on over to otbdiscs.com/otb-open to order your tournament stamped discs (PRE-SALE only at this time). We have eight excellent options to choose from, with more on the way!

**LINKS**
DGPT - http://dgscene.com/OTBOPEN2022
Amateur - http://dgscene.com/OTBOPEN2022-AM
Tournament Discs/Title Sponsor - https://otbdiscs.com/otb-open/
Presenting Partner - https://mvpdiscsports.com/

**DATES**
DGPT Event: 5/20 - 5/22
2/7: TIER ONE - MPO 1000+ FPO 900+ & Hole Sponsors
2/14: TIER TWO - MPO 970+ FPO 870+
2/21: TIER THREE - MPO 935+ FPO 835+

AM Event: 5/13 - 5/15
2/8 - 2/18: Early Registration for FA / FJ divisions (no caps)
2/18 - 3/1: Early Registration for Sponsors
3/1: Open Registration

01/30/2022

Good day at Swenson Park today, working on the design for 2022 OTB Open.

10/29/2021

I got tired of constantly switching out the contents of my trailer. One week it's full of landscaping equipment. The next week I change it to 20+ baskets and 20+ tee pads. The next week I change it to 200+ bins of merchandise and 30 tables.

Enough of that. I bought a second trailer.

Now I've gotta pay for it!



UPCOMING MOBILE STORE SALES DAYS

This Saturday Oct 30, 8 am - 2 pm at Hillcrest Park in Concord (Devil Mountain weekly)

Next Saturday Nov 6, 8 am - 5 pm at Monarch Bay in San Leandro -- near the new Oyster Bay course too. (Monarch Bay Bi-Monthly)

Following Saturday Nov 13, 8 am - 5 pm at Newhall Park in Concord (Chain-iacs tourney).

After that? TBD. Probably something in mid-December-ish. (Hoodang?) (Melee?)

05/31/2021

ESPN’s SportsCenter is running a feature story about disc golf as a conduit for self-care.

05/27/2021

Stockton is amazing.

05/26/2021

Hoping my future work lives up to the hype. :)

Thank you for watching JomezPro Disc Golf tournament coverage of the MPO lead card's second round at the 2021 OTB Open.Card: Paul McBeth, Eagle McMahon, Rick...

05/26/2021

05/17/2021

Thanks Jomez and Ryan for such a generous piece. We're lucky to have you in the sport.

05/04/2021

This is nice.

03/13/2021

Oh boy oh boy oh boy.

03/11/2021

**OTB Open presented by Innova - Amateur + WGE**
**Created by Team OTBO and 1000 Rated Productions**
>>Early Registration for Women and Girls Divisions (FA / FJ) Early Registration ENDS Monday, 03/15 @ 4pm (No Division Caps)
> Division caps added, remaining spots re-allocated
> Open Registration BEGINS on Monday, 03/15 @ 6pm
> PDGA True Amateur A-Tier: May 7-9 (3 Rounds)
> Women’s Global Event: May 8 & 9 (Rounds 2 & 3 only) https://www.discgolfscene.com/tournaments/OTB_Open_presented_by_Innova_Amateur_and_WGE_2021/register

IMPORTANT: Due to expected high demand in other divisions, we expect very few (if any) additional spots will be allocated to FA / FJ divisions beyond the early registration period.

In other words, if you plan on playing, please claim your spot BEFORE 4pm on Monday 03/15 :-)
https://www.pdga.com/women/global-event

02/19/2021

Great stuff!

If you're pitching a course and would like to do a "proof of concept" -- a temporary layout to show the decision-makers what disc golf is (and isn't) -- let me know. I have a full-featured portable course with 20 good baskets, turf pads, flags, cones, and lots of related equipment. The course rental is free for proof of concept events.

Best practices and testimonials to help you pitch disc golf to the right decision-makers.

01/26/2021

Boom!

01/22/2021

Update: my Sunday plans were cancelled, so I'll have the store open for business at my house this Sunday as well. Any time of the day. Just ping me if you want to come by.

Bay Area disc golfers -- want to buy some discs?

I'm gonna open the garage to anyone who wants to stop by in the afternoon on Friday (tomorrow), Monday, or Tuesday. (Sorry that I can't do it on the weekend, but I'm away doing course designs both days.)

If you're interested, ping me to let me know when you might come by. I'll give you the address to my home in Hayward.

Meanwhile, yes, I'm still planning to offer at least 100 mystery boxes in the next couple weeks. Just haven't had time to complete the prep yet.

12/10/2020

Current issue of Disc Golfer has my article about designing short courses for novice players. Let me know what you think!

http://www.omagdigital.com/publication/?m=15675&i=672414&p=49&pre=1

How to Design Great Short Courses for Beginners by Leonard Muise If you’re like most disc golfers, you were introduced to the sport when a friend brought you to their favorite course. Odds are, the course was too challenging for a beginner, better suited to your friend’s higher skill level. But ...

09/17/2020

Yes, Bay Area dual golf courses have reflected this trend. Disc golf also appear to be surging right now. The places where we share space with traditional golfers -- e.g., Monarch Bay -- seem much busier than the before times.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/road-to-recovery/2020/09/16/golf-coronavirus-comeback/

Record numbers of rounds. Booming equipment sales. An infusion of youth. How the golf industry survived and thrived in a pandemic.

08/30/2020

Whirlwind mobile store at 3 Links for the High Sierra Cup.

Can I claim the biggest mobile store in disc golf? Could it even be the best in-person selection? I have no idea how many discs the biggest brick and mortars have on their retail floor.

Crazy fact: My store has more Destroyers than the vast majority of retail stores have total discs.

07/08/2020

Thanks Alex & UDisc for bringing lots of good information about dual golf course design and management to the disc golf world.

What do you think of the article? Do the "best practices" they captured make sense? What important stuff did they (we) leave out? What did they (we) get wrong?

https://udisc.com/blog/post/6-best-practices-when-adding-disc-golf-to-a-golf-course

Longtime traditional golfer, disc golfer, and course designer Leonard Muise has advice and tips for those bringing disc golf to the links.

06/25/2020

Sometimes I look at holes I've designed, with some natural element that's central to how the hole is played, and i honestly feel like nature had a more perfect idea of what this hole could be, than I could have ever envisioned on my own.

I mean, c'mon, how could these trees possibly be shaped any better for the shots they encourage/demand?

Monarch #15 - the tree forcing under or around about 60 short of green.

Monarch #12 - the cross-branch about 35 from basket, forcing over or under for many players who only get about 60-70% down this short tight fairway
Monarch #17 - the odd, misshapen tree (backlit by sun, behind the basket in the photo) which forces either faster/riskier under the branch, or flat controlled flick over -- and very subtle options for rhbh.

Monarch #5 - three routes shaped/protected both vertically and horizontally in perfect proportion.