Today’s Interview is with Matt from the UK. He is a Black Ink Discs sponsored player. He absolutely loves his Legacy Outlaw as his main distance driver and bags 6 of them.
He would love to win the lottery, buy some land and build his own course.
Taking some of the money to attract big named pros to come over to the UK with a world class course and a decent payout. He feels the UK is often overshadowed by other countries when it comes to disc golf.
Name: Matt Bowden
Country: United Kingdom
Home Course: Central park, Plymouth, UK
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How did you get into disc golf and how long have you been playing?
I started playing disc golf in June of 2016. Myself and a friend of mine were at the local skate park which is about a 2 minute walk away from the disc golf course.
We were bored and considered doing something else, I knew there was a pitch and putt course close but didn’t know at the time that disc golf was there. So we tried that instead and I instantly fell in love with it.
What is your dominant hand?
Right
Are you Backhand or forehand dominate?
I’d say probably 60/40 backhand forehand.
What was the first disc you threw and where is it now?
The first disc I threw was a mercy which would probably still be in the shop at central park.
You’re on the first hole at your local course, what disc do you reach for?
The first hole at the my local is a fairly long par three with a golf green in front of the basket which plays OB. I always reach for a legacy outlaw.
All my distance drivers are outlaws, all different stabilities.
What is your favourite course and why?
My favourite course is another local one to me called mount edgecumbe.
The reason for this is that it has everything you want from a course. You have big open par fives where your drive and approach you have to think about.
You have tight par fours with lots of OB. You also have technical wooded holes. On this course you tend to throw pretty much every shot you have.
Your disc golf bag catches on fire. You can only save 3 discs, What are those discs and why?
Probably my minty green black ink stamped outlaw as that disc absolutely bombs! My new blend pinnacle rival as that disc is so versatile, it holds up to wind in every direction.
And finally probably one of my two minty green Mcpro Aviars as ever since I’ve had them my putting has become so consistent, every putt I have I feel like I can make it with them.
What is your favourite disc and why?
Probably the Legacy discs Outlaw.
I trust this disc so much. It’s my main distance driver. I believe I have six of them currently in my bag ranging from understable to very overstable.
Whichever way the wind is blowing I know exactly which one to pull out. I like having that sort of confidence in my discs. Most of my outlaws have black Ink Discs stamps on them.
What is your favourite throw to play during a round of disc golf?
I mean I love throwing a huge hyzer, but for me my favourite shot is probably a midrange forehand shot. When I hit the correct angle I find it so satisfying.
I just really enjoy seeing the slower flight. I often throw a mortar for this shot. I have two in my bag with very different stabilities.
Are you part of a league, if so what is your handicap?
Currently not as I have a three month old boy so currently he takes up a lot of my time. I currently have the number four bag tag for my area but I’m looking to get the number one tag back very soon.
How many times a week do you get to play or do field work?
I try to play about four times a week. I often get up early before work to play which is usually around 5 am as having a baby makes it slightly more difficult to play more often.
The discs that you regularly bag are they all one manufacturer or a mix bag?
They tend to be a mix of Legacy discs and Discmania with my putters being innova. The majority of the discs in my bag are black ink discs stamped as they’re my sponsor.
Do you have any superstitions or quirks when on the course. Such as like flipping your disc 3 times or special hat?
Not that I’m aware of.
What do you love about disc golf?
I have always loved the community that comes with it.
Everyone has always been so friendly, even people o ‘ll e that you have never met. I also like the challenge of it, the fact you have to think before every shot.
What part of disc golf do you find the most challenging?
Correcting form. When you get into a bad habit it’s very hard to fix that. It takes a lot of time and hard work but once you fix that you can always see the difference it makes.
What has been your greatest achievement to date in disc golf?
Probably getting sponsored by Black ink discs. I never thought anything like that would happen.
If you could change anything about disc golf what would it be?
We don’t play it here in the UK but I’d probably change the two meter rule.
If given the chance how would you grow the sport of disc golf?
I have thought about this a lot and it would consist of me winning the lottery, not aiming high at all with that.
But I would like to buy some land and build my own course. And with the money I make from winning try to attract big named pros to come over to the UK with a world class course and a decent payout.
The UK quite often gets overshadowed.
If you could play any course in the world, what would that course be and who are the other three players on your card?
It would probably be both courses at smugglers notch with Simon lizotte, eagle McMahon and Will Schusterick
What’s your embarrassing disc golf story?
Probably at the British open last year playing my first hole which was a wooded par three. Where I carded an eight which pretty much ruined my whole round. Still had fun though.
What advice would you give to a new player starting out?
Learn to throw putters before moving onto faster discs. Don’t try too hard to throw far.