Oregon is notorious for having produced some of the Pacific-10 Conference’s best athletes. Many have even possessed the talent to take it to the next level, as was the case with Fred Jones, the Lukes, Joey, Maurice Morris, and Igor. The Oregon Ducks are represented at a higher level. Now they can add David Feldberg and Avery Jenkins to the list.
Feldberg and Jenkins, both accomplished Professional Disc Golf Champions, are competing at the professional level. Jenkins mastered the distance competition, winning the 2005 event at the U.S. Open. He also won the 2004 Canadian Disc Golf Championship and the 2004 Japan Open.
Feldberg, fresh off the tour of his life, won the Triple Crown in disc golf (National Series Title, US Open Title, Cash Title).
“I’ve never been able to break through and beat the game’s greatest players,” Feldberg said. “This was a breakthrough for me. I was able to win easily. I’ve been learning to win, and I finally know how it feels to win.”
Feldberg is relatively new to disc golf. His first experience was eight years ago, when his friends showed him the game. Feldberg remembers: “They said it was a Frisbee golf course, and they handed me a Frisbee and we played 25 cents a hole; $6 later I learned a lesson.”
Numerous lessons and seven years of playing have made the difference.
“I knew what it was like to lose, and now I was feeling what it was like to win,” Feldberg said.
Feldberg finally feels he is in the “happy place” and has the confidence in putting it together. He is finally starting to feel like a champion.
However, feeling like a champion has taken its toll. The pain can be excruciating.
“To throw it as hard as we’re throwing it, you have to give 110 percent on one athletic move in a moment 50 times a round,” Feldberg said. “By the end of it my fingers and hand gets calloused and sore, my shoulder is throbbing, my chest, my legs are super tired, and my knees are bad because I throw so fast my inner leg muscle can’t hold my knee cap.”
Jenkins’ ability to throw the disc 600-plus feet comes from rigorous training.
“Most disc golfers practice, but they don’t train. I train, lift, cardio.” Jenkins said. “I also have to deal with tendinitis in my elbow, and David has tendinitis in his wrist.”
The two have sponsorships from Innova Disc Golf, Solomon Shoes, Huk Lab and Revolution Disc Golf Bags. Jenkins said the sponsors pay for tournaments, take care of hotels and provide meals.
Sponsorship is helping the sport thrive as well. Disc Golf is one of the fastest growing sports around the country. ESPN, Fox Sports and many other media outlets are covering the new golf phenomenon.
“Hopefully, with the increase in prize money, it will raise the level of competition,” Jenkins said. “People would come out of the woodwork.”
The growth of disc golf is all Feldberg and Jenkins desire.
“I really want the game to blow up. It’s the type of sport that once you play it, it’s addicting,” Jenkins said.
The NCAA is now recognizing disc golf programs on the East coast.
“We need to catch up with the rest of the country and get people playing golf here,” Feldberg said.
The two resident professionals are establishing a club team at Oregon. The club is still in the organizational stages and the pair hope to have it up and throwing early next term. Feldberg and Jenkins have a tournament on campus the first or second week of winter term to raise money for Building Blocks, a program for grade school students.
The event is $10. Entrants receive a free disc and a “how-to” clinic from Feldberg and Jenkins.