| Name |
Eric Shaver |
| PDGA Number |
145762 |
| Division |
AM |
| How long have you been playing disc golf? |
~12 Years |
| How did you get your start in disc golf? |
I spent a lot of time in my teenage years playing disc sports. After school, a large group of students from my school would meet up to play ultimate on our football field, or travel to local courses for a round of disc golf. I played casually for many years, but started competing in 2020. |
| What do you love most about the sport? |
Exploring courses. I think the best part of disc golf is being able to get outdoors for long periods of time and navigate both new and familiar landscapes in different ways. |
| What makes disc golf better than the other sports you have played? |
Disc golf is able to be played with any number of people. I love meeting up with friends and meeting new people at events, but sometimes it's great to get out for a morning round by myself. It's meditative in a way. |
| How do you approach a new course? |
Attentively. My goal is to pay attention to the landscape and absorb as much of the space as I can. This is both for practical reasons as a disc golfer who wants to shoot better each time he plays a course, as well as a simple love of nature. |
| What motivates you to continually improve your game? |
Disc golf is in an incredible state of growth at the moment, and I have found myself falling in love with the game more and more every day. I think there are great things on the horizon and I want to be a part of making this game the best it can be. |
| What do you do to stay focused playing in tourneys? |
I am a student (albeit a novice) of mindfulness meditation and have gained a lot of benefit from the work of philosophers such as Sam Harris and his Waking Up program. I look to utilize the skills I have developed in my practice to stay focused and oriented towards my goals while playing under stress. Such simple things as returning to the breath help tremendously when under pressure. |
| What’s your most memorable win? |
The Wild Vines Open 2021. The first tournament I traveled any considerable distance for and the highest division I have won (MA2). I was able to make the trip with my wife and a number of friends from the Western New York disc golf scene. It was great to take down a victory on such a beautiful course alongside so many great people. This trip really solidified these friendships, many of which were in their early stages at the time. Regardless of where disc golf takes me in the future, I will remember this a defining moment in my early career. |
| What’s your most memorable disc golf moment? |
There are many personal moments that could answer this question, including my first ace, which I threw in the 2021 season (after all those years!), but I truly wouldn't feel honest if I didn't mention the extraordinary finish to the most recent disc golf world championships. I watched live, alongside my wife, when James Conrad threw it in to force the playoff, and very few sports moments in my life compare to how that felt. It was a larger than life moment that will continue to fuel player's interest in this sport for years to come. |
| What are your top three favorite discs? |
Star Aviar x3, Star Roc3, Star Destroyer |
| What are your top three courses you have played? |
Bond Lake DGC, Knob Hill Park, Lakeview DGC at Moraine State Park |
| If you could play any course in the world, which would it be? |
I'm really looking forward to playing Maple Hill and have scheduled a trip there this spring! |
| Who is your disc golf hero, and how were you influenced be him or her? |
Nate Sexton, who was a huge part of my early interest in competitive disc golf. Coming into this side of the sport after years of playing casually, I was drawn into the media, tournaments, and disc collection, all of which Sexton has had an incredible impact on. While he might not be the most prolific player, I look to emulate some of the things he has done to help grow the sport. |
| Whats in the bag? |
At this point my bag is entirely Innova. Destroyers and Wraiths for distance. Thunderbirds and Firebirds are the next step down, followed by the Eagle. Roc3, Mako 3 and Gator for the mid slot. Avair x3, Aviar3 and Aviar P&A for the putters. |
| What non-disc golf hobbies do you have? |
I am an avid reader and writer and have a modest book collection. My dream is to publish books of my own. |
| Any superstitions you have before or during a round? |
Not really, I am not a very superstitious person. I suppose the closest thing I have to a superstitious is to comb through my bag before I leave the house to make sure I have everything I need. My worst (disc golf) fear is to show up to an event missing something integral to my game. |
| What does #NoBadRounds mean to you? |
To me, this is a call to have enjoy every moment on the course regardless of how you are playing. In the end, I view it as a privilege to be able to spend any amount of my time playing disc golf and I view "bad" rounds, in terms of score, as an opportunity to learn and adjust my game so that future rounds can be better. |
| What do you love most about your FlighTowel? |
I really like the simplicity of the design. It's a unique tool to have attached to your bag/cart in that it can be used in multiple different circumstances without being a burden to carry around. It's also a great conversation starter. Something about the fob seems to grab people's attention. I think they are genuinely cool things to bring with you to the course. |
| Facebook Link |
https://www.facebook.com/eric.shaver.984/ |
| Instagram Link |
https://www.instagram.com/treedirection_eric/ |
| Twitter Link |
twitter.com/Treedirection_E |
| YouTube Link |
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy27FvY7BUNUgq3K_Ium_ZQ |
