MARK DAKIV

Q*When did you first discover disc golf and when did you know you absolutely loved it?

-Back in the late 70’s, I borrowed a book from the public library called “Frisbee by the Masters”, which explained all the different disc sports. That’s where I first read about disc golf. Immediately I grabbed my 119g, 133g, 141g, and 165g World Class Frisbees and laid out some holes in my neighborhood… “from here to the stop sign”, or “around the telephone pole and hit the big maple tree”. Of course the discs got chewed up playing on the road, so I biked to the nearest park and laid out more elaborate holes…”mandatory through the soccer goals, around the slide, and has to come to rest on the merry-go-round”. Obviously I was hooked instantly, and for anyone who has ever had the pleasure of playing impromptu mini disc golf with Simon and myself, that’s a bit of its genesis.

Q*What are some goals of yours for the 2019 season?

-To play more golf than previous years, improve my rating into the 990’s, and win the Alberta Open Tour, although there’s some pretty hefty competition now, with the seasoned players getting better, and newer players getting stronger and throwing longer which is nauseatingly inversely proportional to my recent prowess.

Q*What’s your favourite RPM Disc in your bag right now and why?

-Tough call, loved the Tui right from the get go (I was a die-hard XD fan… ask Simon about “Oma”). But I’d have to say it’s the Piwakawaka. First of all, best name for a disc ever. EVER!! (second would have to be RURU) And it has such a beautiful slow transition into an understable long-gliding finish. That has got to be the sexiest shot in disc golf… a high, long, slow, slight anhyzer that just floats and floats and keeps on floating.

Q*For you, are there any practice routines or drills you do to improve your game?

-Practice? Throw lots.

Q*With our sport growing at the rate it is what advice would you give to a newer player just starting out that may help improve their score on the course?

-I’d say to stick to only a few discs, and learn how to throw properly. There are so many discs out there, and new ones coming out all the time, that it’s pretty tempting to try out the “latest hot disc” that the pros are raving about. But unless you can master the throwing techniques, even the best disc in the world won’t help your game. Master the throwing techniques, learn how to throw straight most importantly, then learn anhyzers, and THEN work on distance. Once you’ve got them down, then you can start experimenting with different discs to see how they can enhance your game.

Q*Do you intend to travel out side of your country at all this season?

-Last year was able to hit Master’s World’s in Kansas, and Canadian Nationals in P.E.I., and am working on some business goals this year, so not sure if much travel is in the cards for me this year.

Q*A fun one: You can play any course in the world, If you could choose your other 3 card mates who would they be?

-Course – Having too tough a time to pick only one.

Player 1 – Bruce Lee. Loved his films, growing up as a kid and still today, and I love his philosophies. Would be great to see how he’d initially throw a disc, and how quickly he would perfect it.

Player 2 – The Man with No Name, played by Clint Eastwood in those old spaghetti westerns “A Fistful of Dollars”, “For a Few Dollars More”, and “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. Such a cool dude, wouldn’t talk much though, and probably shoot holes in your discs while in flight!

Player 3 – Ken Climo. Would be nice to play with the Legend, and hear some of his stories.