Well, the first Major event of the year has come to a close and it has gotten us plenty excited for the 2015 season. The first of its kind in Australia and the southern hemisphere, the 2015 Aussie Open was the culmination of years of education, promotion and preparation for the tournament staff and crew. When the final putt dropped, a prominent, almost proud roar erupted from the gallery; not only to congratulate the winner, but almost as a sigh of relief that they had pulled it off. It was proof that all the blood, sweat and tears was truly worth the effort. And the players noticed too.
The 2015 Aussie Open came to a close today under a big, beautiful Australian sky. Many of the locals came out to see exactly what this sport was all about, and they were treated not only to some great competition, but the true camaraderie that is the very foundation of this great game we all love.
Saturday morning was quite a bit different as we arrived to the course for the third round of the 2015 Aussie Open. Instead of the intense sun, heat and humidity, the skies were overcast and there actually was a chill in the air. After two days of blistering heat, it was a welcome change. As players started to arrive at the Mundaring Sporting Club, they were greeted by a blustery wind that would only continue throughout the morning hours. The locals seem to embrace the wind, as the breeze coming from the southeast means a calm ocean and, apparently, some really low scores…again.
After playing in such difficult conditions yesterday, competitors of the 2015 Aussie Open were hoping for Mother Nature to ease up. Yesterday’s storm had cooled things down quite a bit, but it did leave a lingering breeze which, in Australia, tends to swirl and confuse players to almost maddening proportions. If you have the mental game to combat the humidity and blustery conditions, you seriously have a chance to spring forward to make a big leap on the leaderboard. That is exactly what three particular players intended to do.
Most players were woken up last night by severe thunderstorms in the Perth region. Nearly 30,000 homes were without power for several hours. The storm had moved off by dawn, but the chance of a weather delay for the first round of the 2015 Aussie Open still loomed over the players’ heads.
G ’day, mates! This weekend we will see yet another benchmark not just for disc golf, but more specifically disc golf in Australia. As the sport continues to grow at an astounding pace, we are seeing people in new parts of the world stepping up to offer a quality disc golf experience on a pristine piece of native land. The tournament staff of the 2015 Aussie Open is no exception.
The 2014 United States Disc Golf Championship had it all. Will Schusterick #29064 became a 3X USDGC Champion after winning a sudden death playoff against the world’s #1 ranked player, Paul McBeth #27523. 2X Women’s World Champion, Paige Pierce #29190, became the first woman to take the gold in Performance Flight. And last but not least, an awesome distance showcase over-the-lake wrapped it all up with Jeremy Koling #33705 becoming the first to ever slam a driver into the chains.
As the end of 2014 draws nearer and nearer, all we can do is reflect on what an incredible year it has been for the sport of disc golf. It seems that almost every aspect of the game we know and love is growing at an ever-increasing rate. There were more tournaments, more players, more added cash, more spectators, and more disc golf companies/manufacturers, just to name a few. With that kind of exponential growth, we can and should expect 2015 to be off the charts.
Everybody has a Frisbee story. Whether it’s the first time they played catch in the park, that amazing hole-in-one at the local course or their first Freestyle nail delay. Every country also has a Frisbee story, which is what Australia is beginning to tell.
Views of the Indian Ocean will greet competitors and visitors staying at the beachfront tournament hotel at next year's Aussie Open – the first PDGA Major in the Southern Hemisphere.
Located directly opposite the beautiful Sorrento Beach, where the sun sets over the turquoise blue waters of the Indian Ocean, the Sorrento Beach Hotel has property wide Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool, spa, and sauna to soothe those tired muscles. The hotel is only a short walk to the popular Hillarys Boat Harbour and Sorrento Quay, which features shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, rides, and the Rottnest Island ferry.
Surfer’s Paradise is in the middle of the Gold Coast region that stretches from the southern suburbs of Brisbane down to Tweed Heads, across the Queensland state line into New South Wales. With miles of white-sand beaches facing the Pacific Ocean and a network of canals in the hinterland leading to the rainforest covered Great Dividing Range, 'Surfers' has always been popular with visitors. In recent years, the year-round warm climate and natural environment has also encouraged many elite athletes to use it as a training base – it was inevitable that disc golf would catch on here.
Registration is now open for the first PDGA Major in Australia, the 2015 Aussie Open. The overall tournament field is limited to 168 players. A minimum of 30 spots are reserved for Australian players, and a minimum of 10 spots are reserved for New Zealander players.
Registration Schedule
September 15
MPO players with a rating of 935 and higher as well as all FPO and FA1 players.
October 6
All players with a rating of 850 and higher for MPO, MPM, and MA1.
In January 2015, the first PDGA Major disc golf tournament will take place Down Under in Australia. In fact, the 2015 Aussie Open will be the first PDGA Major in the southern hemisphere.
