A Story in a Banner

A Story in a Banner.

Today, I returned to Glendoveer Disc Golf Course for the first time since 2021. That year, it stepped in as the emergency host of the Portland Open after a massive ice storm devastated the original venue, Milo McIver State Park.

The event became a story of resilience. Dustin Keegan—pro player and course designer—built a full championship layout in just three weeksAnd Eagle McMahon stole the show.

His performance that year was unforgettable—especially on the tournament’s final hole, a 1,200-foot par 5 that demanded everything. Players had to scale two steep hills, navigate a 600-foot fairway, and throw a blind approach to a tucked-away basket, with out-of-bounds everywhere.

Eagle reached pin-high in just two throws. In two straight rounds.

Today, Glendoveer looks different. It’s now home to a permanent, even more demanding layout. As I entered the grounds, a banner caught my eye—and it told a deeper story. A visual timeline of how far the sport has come.

At the bottom: two familiar names. Missy Gannon, fresh off her first major win. And Simon Lizotte, once known as a trick-shot wizard and “Crush Boy,” now a more mature, well-rounded pro. Simon signed the sport’s third million-dollar contract—without ever winning a World Championship. While his best may be behind him, his legacy is secure.

To the right: Eveliina Salonen, focused and poised. A lead-card staple from Finland, Eveliina represents Europe’s growing dominance in professional disc golf.

At the center: Paul McBeth, the GOAT. Once untouchable, Paul is no longer the machine he was during his six World Championship runs. He’s lost a step in precision and fire. But any given day, he can still post an 1100-rated round. He remains the standard—the benchmark others still chase.

And towering above all: Kristin Tattar, the reigning queen of women’s disc golf, and Gannon Buhr, the young phenom defining the sport’s future. Gannon’s size and skill set recall a young McBeth, but with even more velocity and flair. When Gannon is dialed in, he’s virtually unbeatable

Five years ago, my friend Sebastian and I talked about where the sport might go. We imagined a generation of “pandemic boomers”—kids introduced to disc golf during the lockdown surge in 2020 and 2021. We guessed those players would surface in a decade, pushing the baseline throwing speed into the 70s.

But the future is already here.

As group after group passed through Glendoveer today, it became clear: the game has leveled up. Players throw farther, faster, and smarter. It’s now common for top men to throw over 80 MPH. One woman recently hit 72 MPH.

The next generation has arrived. Led by players like Gannon Buhr and inspired by legends like Paul McBeth, they’re not just carrying the torch.

They’re setting it on fire.

“Which current pro do you think best represents the future of disc golf—and why?”

“What moment made you realize disc golf had entered a new era?”

“Do you think the sport is evolving too fast, not fast enough, or just right?”