1000 Rated Disc Golf Players, News, scores, and more

1000 RATED: You and David Wiggins Jr may very well be the current “faces of the future” in disc golf. How does it feel to be experiencing this level of play at such an early age? Do you think as time goes on we will be seeing more young players of your caliber, or do you think you’re just lucky to have caught on quickly?

ZIGGY: I feel privileged to experience this much success at my age. I love this sport and I try and give it my all at ALL times. I’m just lucky to have discovered it. I think we will start to see younger players getting into the sport and being great at it to. I think this because of all the new programs in the schools and all of the new disc golf courses going in all over the country and even the WORLD. Edge is really doing a great job and so is the PDGA

1000 RATED: What was your first Open experience like at the World Championships this past year? Can you elaborate on this? Did it help you mentally that you live only 2 hours from Kalamazoo? Also, were you able to get a fair amount of practice in at the courses during the past year?

ZIGGY: My first Open experience at Worlds was amazing! I loved it. So much competition and great courses. I was so nervous the whole week. To be in the world Championships of something is a surreal feeling. I really enjoyed it and hope to be able to come back to every Worlds that I possibly can. I don’t know if living so close helped that much but it definitely gave me a slight comfort feeling. I didn’t actually go to my house at all during the week. I didn’t get as much practice on the courses as I would have liked. I only live a few hours away but not having a license makes it hard to take advantage of that. I made sure I had seen all the courses before Worlds though.

1000 RATED: Since you are currently in high school, how have you managed to juggle both disc golf and schoolwork? Do some of your classmates know what you’re up to, or do you mostly keep your talents to yourself?

ZIGGY: I think that I manage the two pretty well. My mom makes sure of that. I have a 4.0 which is a pretty good bargaining tool with the parents! I do take time off school sometimes for DG but I make sure to get my school work done. Most of my school mates know that I play disc golf but only some know that I play professionally. I tell them if they ask about disc golf and they are usually astonished when they learn that you can be a pro at disc golf! I wear my sponsors shirts and sweaters to school [Discraft] and some of the students recognize the symbol and name.

1000 RATED: It’s a little off topic - but who is your favorite athlete outside of disc golf and why?

ZIGGY: My favorite athlete outside of disc golf is Brett favre because he never gives up even though he faces injury and adversity more that the usual athlete. He is a great inspiration to always give it your all.

1000 RATED: We’ve asked Paul Ulibarri the same question: In terms of developing your skills, what do you think is the most important piece of advice you’ve learned during your short career thus far? Is there anyone specific you’ve looked up to or learned from?

ZIGGY: The most important piece of advice that I have gotten in disc golf is this: “The hardest course you will ever play is 4 inches long”. When I heard this, I realized that you can have all the talent in the world but, if you don’t have any head game, your not going to experience long term success. I have recently learned to go into a each hole with the intent to have fun. Also to enjoy each hole and consider each a hard shot that I have to hit as a fun challenge. This keeps the game fun and keeps you in a positive mood when you come to a hard hole instead of the stress that you usually experience.

Paul Kenny really helped me to get into tourneys and got me really enthusiastic about the sport. He got me into the sport after I had already started playing - if you know what I mean.

1000 RATED: Since you have a chance here to offer your own advice, what kinds of tips can you offer to players who are trying to up their game?

ZIGGY: A tip that I can give to new players is to always practice new shots. Learn every shot in the book. This makes getting out of trouble easier and you will notice that there is less questioning on the tee pad and you know what you will throw. You have all the shots so you don’t have to decide how you are going to throw your backhand. To develop these new shots, take a whole bunch of discs into a field and throw. Throw until your heart gives out. You will learn the new shots by muscle memory and you do that one way: throwing over and over again!

1000 RATED: Who is your favorite 1000 rated player and why?

ZIGGY: My favorite 1000 rated player is Mike Randolph. Not only is he a great player but a great ambassador for the sport. He is really cool to talk to and doesn’t really have an ego like other 1000 rated disc golfers. He is very social and he doesn’t act like he is better that anyone. He treats everyone like they’re humans and not lesser disc golfers. He’s not afraid to give advice if you ask either. Overall, he is a great golfer and an even better person.