The annual Santa Maria Disc Golf Open took place July 28 and 29 at Santa Maria Waller Pines’ 27-hole course. Orcutt’s Justin Bruner held it down for his hometown—in second place after Day One of the of the two-day tournament—but unfriendly weather conditions pushed him back into a three-person tie for fourth place by the end of the tournament. Still, not bad considering the 27 competitors.
“I had a tough round in the wind yesterday afternoon, but that’s the hand of golf,” Bruner said. “It takes three good rounds to win. I had fun, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Bruner, who recently became a father to a baby girl, decided he was going to take a break from competing at the tournament this year to take on the responsibilities of fatherhood. However his disc golf buddies were also aware he was making good use of the basket installed in his backyard for putting practice, and they convinced him to enter the tournament.
“You drive for show, you putt for dough,” said Bruner, who sank five putts longer than 50 feet on the first day of the tournament.
Bruner was first exposed to disc golf when a friend he worked with invited him to the park to throw flat Frisbees at chains. Soon enough, Bruner fell in love with the sport. He helped organize local tournaments and entered in the amateur division, eventually moving his way up to the pros.
“It’s been a passion ever since I started. It’s good exercise because you end up walking miles when you’re playing, and it’s a good way to get away from everything and hang out with the guys,” Bruner said. “I’ve made a lot of friends from disc golf, and we hang out all the time.”
According to Bruner, the disc golf community is a tight-knight one. He’s made friends with people at tournaments all around the state. Getting to know one another during a match is inevitable, he said, as some matches can take up to three hours to complete.
“Everywhere I go I’ll see guys who I played against a year or two ago, but every time we meet up it’s like we’re brothers again,” he said.
According to Bruner, disc golf is fun and easy to learn. One of his favorite aspects of the sport is that anyone can participate and enjoy its benefits.
“It’s a great friendly family sport. You’ll see a whole family here, people of all different ages, playing and having a great time,” Bruner said.
Although disc golf can be a fun family friendly activity, it doesn’t lack the competitive spirit. Experienced and confident disc golf players can sign up for pro-division tournaments, which involve expensive buy-ins—but larger earnings for winners.
“When you start playing pro, the game changes a bit,” Bruner said. “Pro is more serious. It’s still cordial and fun, but it’s not like you’re rooting on the other guy or offering them advice, you’re more on your own.”
Bruner’s sights are now set at competing at the So-Cal Championships in November. He’s also looking forward to taking his new daughter out to the park and introducing her to the world of disc golf.
This article appears in Aug 2-9, 2012.