Bryan Rauwerda

I found the sport of disc golf at the start of 2021 when a friend from the local ultimate frisbee club asked me to join him in a come-and-try day at the then new, local course Harris Crossing course, run by the North Queensland Disc Golf club. I got out to a few league days in 2021 and competed in the Australia Disc Golf Day event. Though I didn’t really get too serious about the sport until mid-way through 2022. In 2022 I competed in the MA4 division throughout the league days as well as the Queensland Open, North Queensland Open and ADGD. In most cases placing about middle of the division.

It was in 2023 that I stepped up my game and pushed myself to improve. I joined NQDG as a general member and helped plan and organise our local events through the year. I also competed in 4 events throughout the year, again in the MA4 division. Throw May Away PDGA event saw me place 1st in the division, which was a huge boost to my playing confidence. Later in the year at the Kingfisher Disc Golf North Queensland Open I again placed first in MA4. I also competed in my first two away tournaments, the Disc Connection Queensland Open and the Daly Bay Sugar City Open. I was hoping to improve my rating above 850, though I ended the year on about 800, whereas the previous year same time was about 730.

2024 is going to be another full year of disc golf. I hope to compete in several tournaments, including our two local PDGA events, Mackay Open, Queensland Open, and I’d love to make it to Eruption and/or the Australian Open. To get there I’ve stepped up my training drills and fitness regiments and aim to be out on the course at least once a week. This year we should also see a new permanent 9-hole course built that was proposed and initiated by me in late 2022. As a school teacher, I am also hoping to create interest within my school for junior players and in doing so build our roster of junior club players through a school disc golf club and potential course on the school property.

I’m a left-handed, mostly forehand dominate player. Though the backhand is coming along well. My main discs at the moment are a 150g GStar Colossus, Discraft Scorch, Lat64 Grace, Innova Wraith, Innova Halo TL3 and RPM Kea.