Pine Beetles Bring The End of an Era for W.R. Jackson...

It’s BEAUTIFUL in southern NV right now. Temps ranging between 65-85 degrees fahrenheit, wind is down, and fall is here.

Melissa and I are LOVING all the league play and tourney’s that are being hosted at all the courses here.

It’s been such a thrill to continue meeting all the great local disc throwers as well as get a chance to continually improve our play.

The Halloween Classic is coming up and there’s a couple BIG names coming to town. Will be exciting to watch how things turn out.

Let’s get into today’s newsletter…

Estimated read time: 4 minutes 8 seconds

THIS WEEK’S SCOOP:

The End Of An Era for W.R. Jackson

This week, we take a somewhat somber journey to Appling, Georgia, where there's been some buzz - and not the kind we like.

The Heartbreaking Scoop

Ready for the not-so-fun fact of the day?

A monstrous army of southern pine beetles has absolutely wrecked a "substantial chunk" of the W.R. Jackson.

For those not in the disc-golf-know (hey, we were all rookies once), W.R. Jackson is kinda like the Beyoncé of disc golf courses.

Seriously, it's top-tier and home of the swanky Champions Cup.

But here’s the kicker: 129 acres of the Wildwood Park, including 29 acres of primo disc golf real estate, are about to undergo a tree-geddon.

We’re talking a massive "cut-and-remove" operation.

Treehuggers, look away.

Rolling Down Memory Fairway

But before we dive into that, let's take a disc-down-memory-lane, shall we?

Sponsored by the legendary Jay Townsend in memory of his granddaddy, W.R. Jackson was the industrial genius who turned PDM, a steel fabrication company, into a Fortune 500 superstar.

You know the iconic St. Louis Arch?

Yep, that was them!

Designed by the hall-of-famer, John Houck, this course was a dream.

Imagine teeing off on a championship-caliber course, surrounded by pristine fairways, weaving through a breathtaking forest.

Trust me; even if you flung your disc into a tree (hey, we've all been there), the beauty of the place would still make your day.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The situation's grim, with tee signs already gone and benches getting yanked.

But the course?
Ah, a dreamland - for now.

The fairways?
Picture-perfect - for now.

The views?
Even without the lakeside glam of other IDGC courses, it’s still an Instagram goldmine - for now.

But let's not sugar-coat it.

The pine beetle situation is like a bad movie.

The sight of majestic pines at W.R. Jackson are oozing sap and creaking due to this infestation - it’s a total gut-punch.

If you’d like to learn more about why this is happening, here’s a great vid on the Pine Beetles…

Let’s Talk Champions Cup

To add a sprinkle of stardust to this tale, the Champions Cup, a newbie in the PDGA Pro Major since 2022, went down right here at W.R. Jackson.

We witnessed 155 players battling it out for a whopping $140,000!

Big shoutout to the champs, Isaac Robinson and Kristin Tattar.

So, What Now?

What’s the plan, you ask?

The PDGA has this under control (mostly).

They’re brewing a design for two new championship courses and a newbie-friendly track.

However, the Champions Cup?

Pushed back to late 2024.

You see, they want to spruce things up, test the waters, and keep things top-notch.

And as for you, my daily disc golfer compadre?

If you've been humming and hawing about visiting IDGC, now’s your time!

Grab your disc, hit the road, and give W.R. Jackson the send-off it deserves.

And don't forget, September 27th is your last shot before the chainsaws roll in.

Now, off you go.

Fly, my disc golf warriors, fly! 🚀 

Just for fun - the DGPT put together the top 5 MPO throws,

and the top 5 FPO shots from this year’s Champions Cup. Enjoy!

PRO-TIP:

6X World Champion, Paul McBeth, shares 5 things you need to know…

Thank you to Jomez Pro for getting Paul to help EVERYONE else who plays disc golf.

We've all tossed a frisbee, but how about flinging it like one of the reigning kings?

Drum roll, please 🥁...

Presenting the one and only - Paul McBeth!

With a whopping 6 World Championships under his belt, this guy's upshot game is nothing short of legendary.

If you haven't been living under a disc, you'd know that Mr. McBeth is the talk of the town.

Heck, we’re not just talking ‘pro’ here; we’re talking the “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) in disc golf!

Two decades in, and the man's still making waves.

If disc golf had a Mount Rushmore, Paul's face would be etched in stone.

But what's the secret sauce behind his unyielding reign?

Well, folks, good news!

He's spilled the beans in a crisp 5:35 video. Check it out right here!

From efficient practice routines to the sacred art of grip commitment (yup, that’s a thing), Paul covers it all.

Wind speed? Check.

Situational play? Double-check.

Aiming tactics? Oh, you bet.

It's like getting a playbook from Michael Jordan, but for disc golf!

So, what's stopping you? 🚫 

If you've ever daydreamed about elevating your disc golf game or simply fancy a delightful dose of pro wisdom, this video's your golden ticket.

Honestly, even if disc golf isn’t your jam, Paul's charisma is so contagious, you might just get hooked.

And if anything, this will help you add at least 1 new element into your game. 😄

Click, watch, and thank me later! 📺

And remember, every pro was once an amateur, and every expert was once a beginner.

So dream big and start now.

Catch you on the flip side! ✌️

Feeling inspired? Share this with another daily disc golfer buddy!

Happy throwing!

-sean 🔥🕺

Enjoying the newsletter?
Please forward to another Daily Disc Golf friend.
It only takes 24 seconds.

New round here? 👉 Join the newsletter (it's free).