Legacy Lives On as Disc Golf Community Mourns the Loss of a True Champion

In a world where few disc golf legends have had to bid farewell to their founding fathers, the passing of Tim Selinkse was a devastating blow to the community. The affable and charismatic entrepreneur devoted his life to growing the sport he loved, first as a career at Wham-O and later as one of the founders of Innova Champion Discs. While it was his passion for disc golf that endeared him to fans, it was his warm and lovable personality that made him truly unforgettable.

Sadly, Tim's eight-month battle against Langerhans' Cell Histiocytosis came to an end on August 14th, 2009, just four days after his 50th birthday. The news spread quickly, leaving the disc golf world reeling in shock and grief. As Brian Graham so eloquently put it, "As the voice and face of Innova over the years, Tim's affability gave Innova a warm, friendly persona that will be very difficult to replace. The Frisbee family will miss him. Disc Golf will miss him. We were all richer for having known him. We will all be poorer for his passing."

On the same day as the news of Tim's passing, one of his close friends and fellow disc golf enthusiasts, Barry Schultz, was in the midst of competing at the 2009 Vibram Open. Despite the emotional toll of losing a dear friend, Barry went on to dominate the event, throwing a remarkable round of 49 that still stands as one of the greatest performances in disc golf history. His win marked an incredible tribute to Tim's legacy and serves as a testament to the enduring impact he had on the sport.

Eight years later, Barry is once again competing at the top level, fresh from his recent victory at the inaugural PDGA Pro Masters Disc Golf World Championships. As he sets his sights on claiming the title of US Masters Champion for the sixth time, the disc golf community comes together to celebrate Tim's remarkable journey and lasting impact.

The 2017 Tim Selinske US Masters Championships are being held in Des Moines, Iowa, a city renowned for its vibrant disc golf scene. Over 330 competitors from across the nation have gathered to compete in 11 divisions of Pros and Ams on five different courses in the area. As the tournament gets underway, fans can follow along with scores, updates, photos, and videos on pdgalive.com all weekend.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/tim-selinske-us-masters-brings-pdga-major-back-des-moines