“I originally joined the PDGA in 1999 for no other reason than I thought it would be cool to say I was a member. Those were the days of buying discs for the names and graphics and not really understanding the flight numbers, weights or other characteristics…Outside of disc golf I love hiking, kayaking, running, yoga and meditation…“
Welcome to another edition of our Disc Golf Player Profile publication – where we feature disc golfers that you may or may not have heard of before. Everybody has their own disc golf story to tell. This is the place where those stories are being told and shared with the world!
Meet Jack Reid (PDGA #15434)
Tell us about yourself! How old are you? Where do you live? What do you do (work/school/etc.)?
I am 48 years old. I am an Illinois native but my family and I currently live in Frederick, Maryland. I am the Regional Quality Manager for the Heavy Civil / Transportation Group with Walsh Construction / Archer Western working out of our Washington D.C. office.
Tell us about the most important people in your life! Who do you live with (family, friends, etc.)?
The most important people in my life are also those I live with. My wife Sara, son Crimson (19) and daughters Daelyn (17) and Jillian (14).
Do you have a nickname or just something else that you go by?
My UDisc name and Instagram handle is Goofazi. Give me a follow.
Disc Golf Journey
How long have you been playing disc golf?
I have been playing on and off for 24 years.
How did you get started with disc golf?
I originally joined the PDGA in 1999 for no other reason than I thought it would be cool to say I was a member. Those were the days of buying discs for the names and graphics and not really understanding the flight numbers, weights or other characteristics. I was only playing recreationally with friends but we played courses all over the Chicago suburbs. I took many years off once I started having kids in 2003 and didn’t really get back into the sport seriously until 2017 when I moved to Maryland and met a neighbor who played and hooked me up with a local club called Fredrock Disc Golf.
Share some of your memorable disc golf moments…
My favorite thing about disc golf is meeting players on the course and helping grow the sport, whether it be in casual rounds or during tournament play. I have had the honor of sharing the card with some really cool people. My wife also likes to play so we try to get out as often as possible for casual rounds and I can sometimes convince her to join doubles tournaments. In 2023 I was selected as a Ranger team member for Lone Star Disc. This has been a cool journey, meeting new people and learning new plastics. My wife rolls her eyes when I am watching PDGA events and I mention I am teammates with the likes of Nikko Locastro and Robert Burridge.
Some Random Personal Stuff
What do you do when you’re not playing disc golf?
Outside of disc golf I love hiking, kayaking, running, yoga and meditation. I was a youth soccer coach for many years. I am also a brand ambassador for Athletic Brewing Company.
What is your absolute favorite food (something you couldn’t live without)?
If I could only eat one type of food for the rest of my life it would be Mediterranean cuisine.
What’s your favorite fast-food restaurant?
Taco Bell is a guilty pleasure.
What are some of your favorite movies of all time?
A few of the movies I can watch over and over again include; Caddyshack, Stand by Me, The Goonies, Reservoir Dogs, Night of the Living Dead, Halloween.
What are some of your favorite TV shows/series?
My current favorite shows include Ted Lasso, Welcome to Wrexham, Silo, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Dark Winds, The Walking Dead.
Do you have any pro or college sports teams you are fanatic about?
Arsenal F.C., Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburgh Penguins
In the Bag
What is the first disc golf disc that you ever owned?
Probably something out of my talent level at the time like a Destroyer. I do remember using a Teebird and Shark a lot back then.
What are some of your favorite discs that are in your bag right now?
My current favs / most often used are the Lone Star Disc; Bravo Tumbleweed, Robert Burridge Tour Series Mockingbird, Glow Harpoon, V1 Copperhead, V2 Bullsnake and Bravo Armadillo.
What else is always in your bag other than discs?
I always carry a copy of the PDGA rule book, a cheat sheet I created about disc selection in tricky scenarios, sunscreen, bug spray, disc golf towel, chalk sack, a selfie stick / tripod, and plenty of water.
Disc Golf Courses
Do you have a course that you consider your ‘home course’? Tell us about it.
My home course is Woodsboro Regional Park in Woodsboro, MD. It is currently ranked #2 in the state on UDisc. The course is predominantly wooded, requiring finesse shots on almost all holes. It is immaculately maintained by members of the Fredrock Disc Golf Club.
What are a few of your favorite disc golf courses to play?
A few of my favs are Woodsboro Regional Park (Woodsboro MD), Seneca Creek Park (Gaithersburg, MD), Mayflower Hills (Roanoke, VA), West Park (Rockdale, IL) The Canyons at Dellwood (Lockport, IL) Plantation Ruins at Winget (Charlotte, NC), Rolling Pines (Wilkesboro, NC)
What is a dream disc golf course for you that you hope to play someday?
There are a lot of courses in the UDisc Top 100 that I would love to play, and it would be easy to say Maple Hill in Massachusetts but I think Brewster Ridge in Vermont tops my U.S. list, with Hillcrest Farm in Canada and Krokhol in Norway rounding out my top 3.
Let’s Play Disc Golf
Do you have any pre-round or post-round rituals that you do when you play disc golf?
No
Do you drink, smoke, snack, or partake in anything else while playing disc golf? What’s your go-to?
Beef jerky and sunflower seeds are my main snacks. As an Athletic Brewing Ambassador I can often be seen carrying a few of their NA brews.
Are you just a casual disc golfer? Do you participate in any local leagues? Do you compete in disc golf tournaments?
I travel for work which allows me to play casual rounds all over Maryland and Virginia. I also take part in both sanctioned and unsanctioned tournaments and league events.
Do you have any tips for aspiring disc golfers?
YouTube is your best friend for training videos. Lower speed discs are your friend starting out. Don’t be afraid to ask questions on the course and don’t be intimidated by other players. The majority of players I’ve met over my years are passionate about the sport and love to give advice. Try out discs from different manufacturers and different plastic types from each. You’d be surprised by the differences.
Disc Golf Fun Stuff
Do you have any favorite professional disc golfers that you follow?
My current favorites to follow are Robert Burridge, Adam Hammes, Eagle McMahon, Kat Mertsch, Sai Ananda, and Anniken Steen.
Do you have any disc golf goals that you are trying to achieve?
Continuing to put in the work to be the best player and advocate I can be.
Who do you typically play disc golf with?
My wife, friends and members of my local club Fredrock Disc Golf.
What would a perfect disc golf round look like for you?
Simply put. A clean round.
Let’s Get Social
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/goofazi
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/goofazi