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NAME: |
Chris Heeren |
| TEAM: |
Tour |
| HOMETOWN: |
Janesville, WI |
| PDGA #: |
18464 |
| 2009 PDGA RATING: |
1008 |
| BORN: |
1980 |
| STARTED IN DISC GOLF: |
2001 |
| day gig: |
General Contractor Estimator, J.P. Cullen & Sons |
| HOT SHOTS: |
35 PDGA Wins - 200+ Pro Events played with a 97% Cashing Rate. Top Worlds Finish: 9th, 2005. Recent 2009 wins include: Mad City Open Supertour, Channahon Open, Iron Lion Safari, Prairie Open, and Homie's Fall Festival. |
| Memorable disc golf moments |
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One of my most memorable moments in disc golf was playing the 2004 Tower Ridge Open. The first round I shot a decent 1010 rated round only 2 strokes back of Barry Schultz, then the 2nd round we moved the baskets to the long pins creating one of the toughest courses in the state. I began by birding every hole that was physically possible for me to reach, I caught up to Barry by hole 5 where we continued to battle it out until the end. After I pared the last hole I finished at the new course record 47 for my highest rated round at the time a 1061. Barry and I were both tied on the day and went to a sudden death play off in 30+ mph winds. Both our drives hit trees early and both our approach shots were left about 50-60' short. I stepped up to my putt first from about 60' looking right at a heavy swirling wind. My caddy, Keith Warren said just go for it and end it now . . . so I did. The putt went up, then a few seconds later the wind gusted and blew the disc straight into the chains for my 3. Barry stepped up to his putt and the wind just pushed it straight to the ground. This was officially my first time beating Barry Schultz in a PDGA tournament after 3 years of finishing behind him and a moment I'll never forget.
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| Chris's Disc Golf Tips |
Keep your priorities straight
The first rule I have for not only beginners but everyone is to have fun out there! Whether it's your 2nd time out or your 50th Pro tournament, I believe the biggest key is to stay in the right mind set and to have fun. If you start losing your temper on a missed put, not only are you bringing yourself down but also the others around you. Keep in mind it is just a game and the world will still be here the next day, even if that putt didn't go in. A good book that teaches you how to put yourself in the right mental state and stay there is 'Mental Toughness Training for Sports: Achieving Athletic Excellence'. I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to improve on their disc golf game.
Eighty percent of disc golf is mental! Learning to replace the negative thoughts of missing a putt or hitting a tree out of your head while throwing with positive thoughts or making the putt or hitting the fairway will drastically increase your chances of actually doing it. When you have confidence you always play better! A great way of building your confidence is practice and repetition. Next time when practicing putting, start out closer to the basket and don't move back until you are hitting the majority of your putts. The more you make, the more confident you'll be on the course.
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| In The Disc Golf Bag: Drivers |
| Disc |
Comments |
Z Force
(172-174 gm) |
I absolutely love the Z Force! It's my go to driver on most holes. It's stable, predictable, and fast! I use this disc for 300 to 450+ foot hyzer shots and also 300+ foot forehands. Since the disc is so predictable, it is also my go to drive for windy days. All around this is my favorite driver on the course. |
ESP Force
(172-174 gm) |
The ESP force tends to beat in slightly faster than Z plastic making them great distance discs or long turnover shots. I use the lighter 170-172 ESP Forces for distance drives in open fields. |
Z Avenger
(174 gm) |
The Z Avenger is another great driver. This is my go to disc for any tunnel, turnover or slow hyzer shot. When trees line the fairway I go straight for the Avenger and let it rip. |
ESP Pulse
(174 gm) |
This is my go-to driver for forehands. It's a fast, very stable disc that great on a hyzer line. |
ESP Avenger SS
(174 gm) |
The Avenger SS is a great roller disc right out of the box. I use this disc for any type of roller or massive turnover shot and typically keep only new SS's in my bag. |
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| In The Disc Golf Bag: Midrange |
| Disc |
Comments |
ESP Buzzz
(178 gm) |
This is quite possibly the best disc Discraft has ever made. This midrange disc flies on whatever line it is thrown on. Very accurate, very consistent and feels great in my hands. This is my favorite disc from Discraft and also my go-to disc for any hole 300 feet or under. |
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| In The Disc Golf Bag: Putt and Approach |
| Disc |
Comments |
D Magnet
(175 gm) |
The Magnet is my main putting disc. I use this for putts anywhere between 5 and 120 feet. It's a straight flying putter that has just the right amount of glide to carry the putt all the way to the basket. |
COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY: |
| Course |
Comments |
Idlewild Park
Burlington, KY |
One of my favorite courses in the country! |
Blue Ribbon Pines
New Bethel, MN |
A very well manicured course with tough shots. |
Pyramids Gold Course
Leicester, MA |
Very scenic and very challenging. |
Telemark Resort
Cable, WI |
A challenging 27 hole course with the most elevation change in WI. |
Renaissance Gold Course
Charlotte, NC |
Another very challenging par 72 course. |
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