Meet Tapani Aulu: The Finnish Disc Golf Phenom Taking Europe by Storm

Tapani Aulu is a name that may not be immediately familiar to many disc golf enthusiasts, but this talented Finnish player has already made a significant impact on the European scene. With an impressive record of wins in South America, Africa, and Europe, Aulu is undoubtedly one of the most exciting new talents to emerge from the continent.

We recently caught up with Tapani to learn more about his background, playing style, and what drives him to excel in this demanding sport. As we dug deeper into his story, we were struck by the sheer breadth of experiences he has accumulated in a relatively short period.

Born and raised in Finland, Aulu developed a passion for disc golf from an early age. He began playing seriously around 2009 and quickly made a name for himself within the Finnish community. However, it was during his studies as an English translator that Aulu's love of disc golf truly took off. While researching courses to play on in England, he stumbled upon Quarry Park, a private course owned by UK disc golf legend Derek Robins.

Robins, being away at the time for the US Disc Golf Championship, asked Aulu to watch over his course and agreed to let him stay at his house. This chance encounter would prove pivotal in Aulu's career, as he went on to win the Croydon Cyclone tournament by four strokes – a feat all the more impressive given that he was competing in the Open division (essentially professional level) for only the first time.

A few weeks turned into several months as Aulu assisted Robins with course maintenance and helped him get settled back into his routine. This experience not only deepened their friendship but also gave Aulu valuable insight into the world of professional disc golf.

One of the most captivating aspects of Aulu's story is his adaptability in different environments. On visits to his wife's family in São Paulo, Brazil, he would often take his discs out for a spin – literally. While enjoying the sub-equatorial sun, he encountered an interesting situation with a runner who mistook his flying discs for litter and promptly disposed of them.

However, it was during another encounter with wildlife that Aulu found himself on the receiving end of an impromptu wildlife chase. While playing at his own course in Finland, he witnessed a bull moose being pursued by a pint-sized Jack Russell terrier-mix named Rekku. Despite the shock of seeing such a massive animal being chased by a tiny dog, Aulu and his friend couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.

Looking ahead to 2019, Aulu has several high-profile tournaments lined up, including the Vienna Open in Austria and the Tuscany Open in Italy. While he is understandably excited about these events, he also mentioned that his schedule would need to adjust soon – specifically, as his wife is expecting their child this summer.

When asked if he would be playing at the prestigious European Open, Aulu humorously replied, "Well, probably not since it's the exact due date. I didn't know that when signing up." It's clear that family will be taking center stage in the coming months, but we can't wait to see what the future holds for this talented player.

So, readers, which story do you think is a fabrication? Take your best guess and join us in celebrating the remarkable journey of Tapani Aulu – European disc golf phenom extraordinaire.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/youre-europe-tapani-aulu