2023-04-10 Birdie on Hole #1 On 2023-03-17 finally it happened: I got my first birdie on #1 at Soehnstetten. Unbelievably how long that took me. The hole is tricky and it's the first hole, but it's not that difficult ei- ther. After a Zone backhand slight turnover/flexshot I got it with a 5m putt. Hole #5 is the last one I haven't birdied yet (except of the old #17). But #5 is simply too long. I would need a perfect drive (in usually difficult wind) plus a long putt. The rest of the round on this day wasn't too good. Well, I got four birdies (#1 from 5m, #7 from 5m, #11 from 7m, #15 from 9m). But I also missed several putts and got bogeys: Bogey on #3 after a missed putt. Bogey on #6 after three-putting. Bogey on #8 after a missed putt. Double Bogey on #10 after three-putting. Triple Bogey on #14 after 6m missputt and roll, then 7m missputt and roll, then 20m approach, another 6m missputt, and finally a drop-in. Today I played another round. There was a bit more wind, but I had hardly any problems dealing with it. Again I played with three discs: D P3, JB Zone, and the new pink Star Valkyrie. The pink Valkyrie is a bit more understable than my yellow one. Espe- cially on #3, #5, and #16 this is favorable. I play these holes noticably better with the more understable Valk. Overall it were four birdies and four bogeys. The bogeys were rather unfortunate and avoidable: On #2 the disc got caught by a twig on a short layup, then I missed the following putt. On #7 again caught by twigs on a layup from within the scrubs. On #10 an approach left short, missing the 6m putt. And on #18 hitting the top of the basket from 9m, then missing the 5m comebacker. On the other hand, however, I made good putts today: On #5 from 9m. On #8 from 7m. The other putts felt good as well. It just worked and I went for them. Sometimes I missed, but I wasn't shy. I am happy about the birdies and par-saves. Plus, the drives were good: On #3 landing at the ladder, thus having something like a putt. On #5 probably my best drive yet. On #9 almost an ace run: perfectly around the mando, missing the basket by about a meter and hitting in the backstop 4m from the pin. What a drive! :-) Then Zone backhand drives on #11 and #12 for drop-in and 3m putt for birdies. And about the best drive yet on #16, making the 5m straddle putt around the mozarella stick for birdie. Overall I'm happy with the round. The birdies were good and the bogeys were rather small mistakes. It easily could have become a PB round. This round, I'd say, shows that I've become better. Now experience it starting to show. I make less beginner mistakes and don't have to actively think everything through, but can rely on feel and previous experiences. If I think about the pink and yellow Valkyries, I can understand the reason to bag two similar discs with slightly different sta- bility. On some holes (like #3) the more understable disc makes the drive much easier, whereas on other holes (like #10) the greater resistance to turn provides safety. Usually I rather pick one driver and adjust my throws, but I see the sense in taking (more of) the other approach. I also had the Felon with me for some practice throws. It's been some time since I've thrown it. I was positively surprised by it yet again. The speed 9 does show. On #4 I had a great drive into a slight headwind. It's so fast a disc! I can hammer it and it goes straight with a reliable fade. This it provides in a way my Teebirds and Banshee cannot. They aren't as fast, neither. I do understand how Eric Oakley had it as his favorite disc. Probably I should get a second one, just to have it. http://marmaro.de/discgolf/ markus schnalke