Disc Golf Connect 4

A little ingenuity goes a long way.

Whistle Hop Brewing Company in Fairview, North Carolina — just outside of Asheville — recently introduced an original game to its outdoor area – Disc Golf Connect 4. Players putt discs into a chain net that then filters into stacking rows. The brewery even got custom-stamped Innova Polecats as discs for the game.

Disc Golf Connect 4 is not the first game Whistle Hop has created, as it also had a combination of golf and bocce on the grounds called “Puttcce” in addition to a mini golf course.

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After having to pull out of the 2021 Portland Open late and being unable to defend his 2019 title due to a leg injury, Drew Gibson today announced he’d be continuing to rest in the lead-up to the 2021 Pro Worlds in Utah later this month.

“I’m sad to say this but I’m out of competitive play for the next two weeks at the minimum,” said Gibson. “I’m really hoping I can be ready and 100% confident in my ankle/fibula by Worlds, but if I’m not I’m gonna have to make the tough choice to stay home and protect my body for the next 15+ years [so] I can be competitive in this game!”

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Paul Ulibarri will not be playing this weekend’s Portland Open at Glendoveer.

“I hurt my ribs over a week ago and still don’t feel great,” said Ulibarri. “I did play through the pain at last week’s Masters Cup… This week I don’t want to feel the same way, and it’s a much more physically demanding course here in Portland.

“It’s a 11,000-foot course, and I honestly don’t feel like I would have a chance to win. I never want to, and will never play in a tournament, I don’t truly feel like I can win.”

Ulibarri played a practice round at Glendoveer for Jomez Pro earlier this week, and is currently 13th in DGPT points.

ESPN’s SportsCenter is running a feature story about disc golf as a conduit for self-care. Following the story of Chad Duncan and his father Barry, ESPN explores how disc golf can provide an outlet for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Duncan helped found the group Disc For Life, an organization trying to bring further awareness to suicide, depression, anxiety, and mental health issues.

Watch the clip below and catch it on SportsCenter today on ESPN:

ESPN Disc Golf Mental Health Feature

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or struggling with mental health issues, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

James Conrad ace on hole 20 during round 2. Masters Cup

Having already aced tournament hole 20, AKA “Gravity,” during practice for the 2021 Santa Cruz Masters Cup, James Conrad made good during the event proper and rang it up during round 2 on Saturday.

Conrad’s line was pure and his putter stuck the chains on the easiest hole to par at DeLaveaga. That’s one way to gain strokes on an otherwise must-birdie hole.

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Anthony Barela withdrew from the 2021 Santa Cruz Masters Cup today before the start of the event due to a hand injury sustained in practice.

“I sprained or fractured my throwing hand slamming it into a tree on a follow through,” Barela told Ultiworld. “I’m gonna go home Monday and get an x-ray to see what the deal is.”

Barela was coming off back-to-back second place finishes at the Disc Golf Pro Tour’s OTB Open, his highest career Elite Series finish, and the DGPT Silver Series Challenge at Goat Hill.

Dylan Cease Disc Golf at Ball Park

You no longer have an excuse to say you have no time to practice your field work.

Disc golf enthusiast and Chicago White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease was caught throwing drives at the White Sox’s Guaranteed Rate Park during pregame warm-ups on Wednesday.

White Sox beat reporter Vinnie Duber said Cease later threw a disc into the visiting dugout’s door from center field when throwing back toward home plate. According to the field dimensions, that’s anywhere from 375-400 feet.

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Zach melton ace lake marshall

BellCo Productions caught Zach Melton finding chains at the 2021 Lake Marshall Open during round 2.

According to BellCo, Melton hit the ace with a 2018 Eric Oakley Tour Series Dynamic Discs Felon on The Lair’s hole 14, a treacherous 270′-foot water carry to a tiny peninsula and fast green.

Melton leads the event by eight strokes over Andrew Fish and Matt Hammersten with one round left to play Sunday.

Calvin Heimburg OTB Open Swenson Park Hole 15 Ace

Turning in a hot round 11-under par almost moved Calvin Heimburg back onto the lead card for the final round of the OTB Open, and the highlight of his second round Saturday was an ace on hole 15.

Heimburg threw a pure hyzer on the 339-foot hole and hit the heart of the chains after carrying the water hazard in front of the basket. He is in seventh place at 16-under par total and will be playing on the chase card with Paul McBath, James Conrad, and Nikko Locastro on Sunday.

Aaron Gossage proved round 1 at the OTB Open was no fluke, as he tied Calvin Heimburg for the hot round on Saturday with a 1072-rated, 11-under par and moved up three spots on moving day into a tied for second place with Ricky Wysocki at 19-under par total, four strokes off tournament leader Eagle McMahon.

The Coloradoan has hit the tour for the first time in 2021, playing in four Elite Series events so far, as well as a couple of DGPT Silver Series events. Gossage skipped the Dynamic Discs Open in late April but did win a B-tier back home last week as a warm-up for OTB. If it stands, Gossage’s second round at the OTB Open will be the highest-rated round of his career.

Elsen Productions captured Gossage on his way to a second place finish at last year’s Colorado State Championship. Daniel Elsen, proprietor of Elsen Pro, said Gossage has a reputation for being one of the longer throwers in Colorado, an area known for big arms, and is efficient both backhand and forehand.

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