NAME:	Jeremy 'Big Jerm' Koling
	TEAM:	Tour
	HOMETOWN:	Charlotte, NC
	PDGA #:	33705
	2009 PDGA RATING:	1010
	BORN:	1985
	STARTED IN DISC GOLF:	2006
	day gig:	Graphic Designer, Basketball Trainer
	HOT FINISHES:	2009 PDGA Pro Rookie of the Year 2008 Amateur World Champion 1st, Sneeky Pete Open '09 1st, Charleston Classic '09 1st, High Cntry Throwdown '08, '09 4th, Vibrm Open '09 Runner up, 09 Vibrm Open distance and putting competition First person to flick a forehand across Lake Winthrop in the King Masher Competition!!

MEMORABLE DISC GOLF MOMENTs:

Getting an eagle on the last hole of the final 9 at the 2008 Am worlds was very special for me. Winning am worlds was a very big deal and to finish like that made the experience that much more memorable. Going into the 09 NT in Leicester MA, I was unsure of how well I could compete against a stacked field of solid pros. I had never finished what I considered to be a good finish in a large pro field before. Although I had played in a couple majors before, I had never actually competed in an NT event to that point. I realized not long after I got there that there was something about the atmosphere that made it really easy for me calm down and focus on golf. There are so many things going on when you get up there that it just makes the entire event so much fun and I think that it really helped me realize that that is what the game is all about; having fun! I ended up putting up 3 solid rounds of disc golf and finished 4th, not bad for my first NT!

Big Jerm's Disc Golf Tips

When throwing sidearms, newer players tend to throw with only their upper body. It is just as important to have good footwork for sidearms as it is for backhands. Stay low and try to incorporate an x step into your forearm drives and see how much more power can be achieved. Try throwing less stable discs to start off with. Great discs to start off with are the Comet, Meteor, Stratus or Avenger SS. Try going to an open field and work on the basics of the X-step. Ask a local pro to critique your form and be open for advice. Wanna get better? Make practice fun! OK, so you want to make more putts but backyard putting is boring and repetitive? Make a game out of it! Practice can be fun if you use your creativity. Here's something that I do when I'm putting out back. I call it my 12 step program to putting success. Take 2 putters and putt from 5 steps away from the basket. If both putters go in (which hopefully shouldn't be too big of a problem :D) then back it up to 6 steps. Do this until you get to up 12 steps away from the basket. After you make both putts from 12 steps away work your way down until you get back to 5 steps. Here's the catch: if you only make one of the putters, then you cannot advance. If you miss BOTH of the putts then you go BACK a step. Don't finish putting until you have completed the game. This adds pressure to each putt which is something that's really important for practicing stressful tournament situations. Having trouble with your straddle putts? Try my 12 step program with straddle putts! Many people come to me for advice on how to throw sidearms smooth and controlled. I discovered disc golf after playing competitive Ultimate in college for 2 years. In Ultimate knowing how to throw flick is crucial so that you can keep your body open to the playing field. When I first got into the sport of disc golf I focused primarily on throwing sidearm as that was what was most comfortable to me. I threw discs of all levels of stability and had to teach myself how to keep my wrist from rolling over. It is just as important to have good footwork for sidearms as it is for backhands. Stay low and try to incorporate an x step into your forearm drives and see how much more power can be achieved. The best advice I can give to someone who wants to learn how to control a smooth sidearm is go to a field, practice and learn how to throw hyzer flip forehand shots with less stable discs. Then work you way up the stability chart until you have a good feel on how discs of all levels of stability will fly. Make every casual round count. In the weeks leading up to a tournament, play your casual rounds with a purpose. I find that this is the best way to prepare for tournament like pressure situations. Go out to your local course and push yourself to try and lower your personal best score. Resist the urge to throw extra shots (save that for the field) and really treat the round as if you were really in a tournament. Remember to still have fun with it! There's always room for improvement. Since I began playing disc golf two years ago, my game has and continues to improve dramatically. The only way that this has been possible is by being open minded and paying close attention to those players who are better than me. I've been fortunate to live in Charlotte and be mentored by Stan McDaniel, one the games best players and course designers. Find someone whose game and attitude you admire, make friends with them, and watch how fast your game will improve!

Pro Clinics Featuring Jerm:

Discraft Pro Clinic: Distance Driving Techniques

COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY:
Course	Comments
Maple Hill Leicester, MA	Has everything from flat holes to elevated, short and technical shots to long and open, water hazards, manmade greens, OB defined by rock walls, you name Maple Hill has it. Most importantly, it's a heck of a lot of fun to play!
Hornet's Nest Charlotte, NC	Legendary Stan McDaniel course design in a beautiful park. Fairly open front 9 with tricky greens that leads into a technical back 9 which punishes errant shots. My home course.
The High Country DGC Jefferson, NC	High Country has everything you would want when playing disc golf in the mountains. The scenery in beautiful and the shots are one of a kind. Its really fun stepping up to a reachable 650+ foot hole that plays out of a tight gap and then straight down a mountain.
Hawk Hollow Spotsylvania, VA	Long open course that plays through a cow pasture. Fun shots that incorporate a lot of elevation change and dodging cow pies.
Winthrop Gold Rock Hill, SC	When the ropes are up you immediately understand what tournament golf is supposed to be.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Drivers
Disc	Comments
ESP and Z Surge (172 - 174)	The perfect combination of speed and glide makes Surge the most reliable and accurate driver I have ever thrown. I carry at least 3 in my bag at all times. I always have a brand new stable one that I use for long sidearm and backhand bombs. A semi beat Surge for LONG turnovers, hyzer flips and controlled sidearm drives through the woods. Last but certainly not least, I have a very beat 'good old standby' that I use for tricky backhand/ sidearm touch shots and long rollers.
ESP NUKE (174 gm)	Fast is too slow of a word to describe the Nuke. Don't know what I'm talking about? Get one and experience the speed.
Z Force (174 gm)	Fastest, longest disc on the market, but you already knew that. If I'm not throwing a Surge off the tee you can bet money that a Force is in my hands. My favorite overstable sidearm bomber. It makes throwing over 600 feet seem semi normal.
Z Flick (174 gm)	Best thumber disc I have ever thrown. It pans slower than the predator for overhand shots which means more distance. With a slight tailwind, I have thrown a thumber with a Z Flick 400+. Hands down one of the best headwind/ sidearm discs on the market.
ESP Avenger (174 gm)	Controllable overstable driver that I use for straight shots that absolutely have to fade left. I use this disc for shots that the Wasp cannot reach.
Z Stalker (174 gm)	This disc serves as a hybrid for my bag. It has Buzzz-like control but I can throw it over 400 ft and not worry about the disc flipping over or losing its flight characteristics. Great addition to my bag for 2009, looking forward to what it brings me in 2010!
ESP Avenger SS (174 gm)	The best out of the box roller ever! In my bag for one purpose, to roll a long way..
Z Predator (174 gm)	The most versatile disc in my bag. I use it for controlled flex backhands, flat and spike hyzers, sidearms and occasionally overhand throws that have to flip quicker than a Z Flick.
In The Disc Golf Bag: Midrange
Disc	Comments
ESP and Z Buzzz (177 - 179)	This disc simply does what you want a midrange to do. It holds the line put on it with a soft predictable hyzer finish every time. My go-to disc for most shots between 175-350 feet.
Z Comet (179 gm)	A classic. One of the straightest midrange discs ever made.
ESP and Z Wasp (177 - 179)	My overstable sidearm midrange. You can put a bunch of snap into it and be sure that it will hyzer back. Flies predictably straight into a headwind.
FLX Drone (176 gm)	It goes left. The most consistent disc I have ever thrown. I cannot recall one single time ever saying to myself 'hmmm, that Drone didn't fly like it normally does.' It just doesn't happen, it does the same thing every time you throw and that is exactly what you want in a beefy midrange.
ESP Meteor (179 gm)	Amazing disc! Release softly with hyzer and watch it stand up and glide. Great midrange disc that I use for controlled rollers and short, dead straight approaches in the woods.
In The Disc Golf Bag: Putt and Approach
Disc	Comments
D Challenger (174 gm)	The most cherished disc on my bag. I've tried other putters, but always come back to my Challengers. Stiff, tacky plastic feels great in my hand but the main reason I love this disc is that it knows its place. In the basket. The best feeling putter I have ever thrown.
ESP Zone (174 gm)	Its overstability makes it great in the wind and a favorite addition to my bag. Maintains integrity when thrown with a lot of snap, even with a sidearm! Great trick disc for shorter shots when skips and blow bys can mean trouble.
D Soft Magnet (174 gm)	After I put this disc in my bag I realized that I could get greedy on my 120 foot approaches. So true and straight. If my eyes are set on running at the basket, I'm going to be throwing a Magnet.