Basic skills clinic on Nov 9, 08 in Michigan

Folks,
Mark Ellis here. Some of you have seen the Discraft Pro Clinics on Youtube.com and elsewhere. Because I have been involved in hosting some of the clinics, I am often contacted with questions about when the next clinic may happen or whether I would be willing to work with a golfer on a particular skill.

I was recently contacted by a new disc golfer who wanted me to look at his game and make suggestions. We talked about it and he didn't mind the idea of having other new golfers join in with a clinic and filming it so others not present might benefit. I spoke with Discraft's marketing and publishing guru, Brian Sullivan, and he is on board. So the next clinic is set for Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 9:30 am at Kensington Metro Park Disc Golf course in Milford, Michigan.

Each clinic takes on a particular topic. This one is basic skills, intended for someone either new to the game or someone whose self-taught attempts are not working. Ideally, we would like 10 or so participants who are open to having their Grips and throwing forms evaluated and perhaps improved upon. I would prefer to have diversity in our participants so women or juniors or senior citizens or first time players would be ideal. Many disc golfers at this website are accomplished players well beyond the scope of this topic. But if you know of someone who might benefit from basic instruction please let them know.

There is no charge for participating in the clinic. A participant needs to allow us to film it and perhaps publish it. Anyone interested should contact me and request admission. I can be reached through this website or at [phone].

The clinic may last a couple hours or extend into other dates depending on the needs of the players or the needs of publishing a video. For anyone whose schedule does not allow them to join us next week but would like to meet with me or another Discraft Pro (perhaps from your geographical area) for an informal lesson, please contact me or Brian Sullivan.

[Bobby Durrant]

i would love to be there and if i am attending i should be bringing a new player.

[Jack Davis]

I will be looking forward to viewing these new installments of your video clinics. I have watched all of the others more than a dozen times a piece and every time I watch I pick up some new tip or tweek that makes my game just a bit better. I wish you could put that program on the road and move from place to place giving these clinics to people like myself that would benefit from them. Keep up the good work and good luck, I will keep an eye out for the new videos.

Jack Davis

[mark ellis]

Upon further discussion with interested others, the scope of the clinic is expanding. I'm now hoping for around 20 new players and about 10 Discraft teaching pros. I have learned that predicting the size of a clinic is difficult but there has been an energetic response already.

I don't have my notes with me and I am approaching senility but the Pros who have signed on to help include: Liz Carr, Sarah Demar, Darren Harper, Mike Raley, Ziggy Bierikoven(sp?), Josh Romine, Kevin Tomaisitis (sp?), Bill Themm and Jim Kenner. I was happy to see Jim Kenner (Discraft prez) join us. I have been lobbying to have him in a video for some time. He has forgotten more about discs than I will ever know.

Scott Ransley, you are in. Cassidy Mayne is in. Please give me a call.

Bobby Durrant, please give me a call so we can discuss you and your friend.

Jack Davis, thanks for the kind words. I agree, it would be nice if clinics happened in lots of places at lots of times. Since that isn't easily done, we put them on the internet so others can benefit.

[Scott Ransley]

I am looking forward to it.

Thanks

[mark ellis]

It looks like cold weather is coming in for this weekend. I fear that some of my participants may not show. Are there any other prospects out there? Few newbies get the chance to have one-on-one instruction from a Pro.

The very best time for instruction is when a player is just starting. It is easier to learn to do it right than to try to fix what isn't working later.

Spectators are welcome. Even a good player might learn something. (Maybe someone can teach me a backhand.)

There is a noon $5 doubles every Sunday at Kensington, so after the video shoot you can join the firsbee shoot.

[glane]

i thought being old prevented you from throwing backhand?

[Lotto]

being young at heart enables it. ill be there even if aliens attack.

[Wicked Dyes]

I will be there rain, snow, shine, hot, or cold. I am looking forward to this weekend

[jd]

The last time I saw Mark throw a backhand was at State Finals -- Goliath -- after warning us how much the throw was going to suck, he proceeded to park the hole.

[mark ellis]

jd said:

The last time I saw Mark throw a backhand was at State Finals -- Goliath -- after warning us how much the throw was going to suck, he proceeded to park the hole.

I am not a suspicious guy but why would my competitors encourage me to throw backhands?

What I would like to see is Jim Daniels putting left-handed, blindfolded. I think he could be really good at it. Lord knows he currently misses about one putt every decade or so, so it must be time to try something different. :)

[Jester]

I would love to attend this but its around 80 miles away from me. Im not even sure if I could get a group of friends to go but they all play only with Discraft - The Best! lol. I would love to see some pro's at my home park. We had one semi pro who use to hang around alot but you never see him anymore. My friends and I have developed our skills the best that we can without the use of having a Pro handy. We're all wanting to learn, and wanting to improve enough to play in and win tournaments....and maybe someday join Team Discraft..

[mark ellis]

Jester said:

I would love to attend this but its around 80 miles away from me. Im not even sure if I could get a group of friends to go but they all play only with Discraft - The Best! lol. I would love to see some pro's at my home park. We had one semi pro who use to hang around alot but you never see him anymore. My friends and I have developed our skills the best that we can without the use of having a Pro handy. We're all wanting to learn, and wanting to improve enough to play in and win tournaments....and maybe someday join Team Discraft..

Hey Jester, if you start walking now...

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the frisbeee's so delightful...

For someone who wants to play tournaments and join Team Discraft, there is probably no reason to learn good form...and hang with a bunch of the Discract Pros...and meet the owner of Discraft. Its probably not worth the drive.

For the others in the clinic or anyone who wants to spectate, we are showing up even if the weather sucks. See you tomorrow morning.