Disc Golfers Brave Blistering Heat at Aussie Open in Perth
Date Published
The sun is beating down on the Mundaring Sporting Club in Perth, Australia, where the 2017 Aussie Open disc golf tournament has just begun. For the players, including current World Champion Ricky Wysocki and US Champion Jeremy Koling, it's a challenging start to the season, with temperatures soaring above 100°F (39°C) and high UV indexes making every moment on the course feel like an endurance test.
The Mundaring DiscGolfPark has hosted several major events before, including the first Aussie Open in 2015, when Paul McBeth set a still-standing course record of 52 (13 under par). The course itself is no pushover, measuring 9875 feet (3010 meters) and requiring precision driving to navigate its challenging fairways.
McBeth's strategy on this course has been to play conservatively, using a distance driver only five times out of 18 holes. In contrast, Eagle McMahon uses his distance drivers more frequently, taking an aggressive approach that can pay off on certain holes like the par-4 sixth hole. With its short length and out-of-bounds green, McMahon can take risks and try to clear the OB area, leaving him with a shorter putt.
However, Koling's participation in the tournament remains uncertain due to illness, which has been jokingly referred to as "Wombat Fever" by the staff. Despite his upbeat attitude, Koling is 99% sure he won't be competing tomorrow and may be replaced by Finland's Pasi Koivu if he drops out.
To keep up with the action, fans can follow the Disc Golf World Tour and PDGA media team's coverage, which includes real-time updates, hole-by-hole analysis on the DGWT website, and post-production videos on The SpinTV YouTube channel.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/aussie-open-returns-pdga-tour