“I have 4 aces. The most memorable being with my brothers playing a round and I threw an errant shot in the direction of the long basket and my brothers heckle me for it then it ricocheted off a tree into the basket for the ace and I ran it all the way in!…I also enjoy the course design aspect of disc golf and hope to help improve disc golf courses as much as I can in my area...”
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 Austin Berntsen (PDGA #102014)
Tell us about yourself! How old are you? Where do you live? What do you do (work/school/etc.)?
I am 24 years old. I have been playing disc golf for about 9 years. I live in the Oklahoma City Metro. I work at a landscape architecture office in Oklahoma City.
Tell us about the most important people in your life! Who do you live with (family, friends, etc.)?
I live with my wife whom I have been married to for a year and play disc golf with my 2 older brothers Josh and Zack, and also my good friend CJ.
Do you have a nickname or just something else that you go by?
N/A
Disc Golf Journey
How long have you been playing disc golf?
I have been playing disc golf for about 9 years.
How did you get started with disc golf?
I would go to work with my mom when I was a kid at a college and they installed a course on the campus and I would rent discs from the college and play for hours until I got my first discs for my 16th birthday.
Share some of your memorable disc golf moments…
I have 4 aces. The most memorable being with my brothers playing a round and I threw an errant shot in the direction of the long basket and my brothers heckle me for it then it ricocheted off a tree into the basket for the ace and I ran it all the way in!
Some Random Personal Stuff
What do you do when you’re not playing disc golf?
In my free time I enjoy playing games and watching movies and being outdoors. I also enjoy the course design aspect of disc golf and hope to help improve disc golf courses as much as I can in my area.
What is your absolute favorite food (something you couldn’t live without)?
My favorite food would probably be southern comfort food as a genre.
What’s your favorite fast-food restaurant?
My favorite fast food restaurant is probably Braum’s, an Oklahoma local restaurant chain.
What are some of your favorite movies of all time?
Some of my favorite movies are the Harry Potter series of movies.
What are some of your favorite TV shows/series?
I really like some older Disney shows like Avatar The Last Airbender and some anime shows like Black Clover.
Do you have any pro or college sports teams you are fanatic about?
I graduated From Oklahoma State University so Go Pokes!
In the Bag
What is the first disc golf disc that you ever owned?
My first 3 discs that were given to me were a Z comet, Z Crank, and Soft Magnet
What are some of your favorite discs that are in your bag right now?
Some of my favorite discs in my bag are my PFN Maxes, my old beat in Pigs, also my 10+ year old 150 gram DX Aviar.
What else is always in your bag other than discs?
I like to carry towels, snacks, minis, bug spray, sun screen, a disc retriever, and water bottles.
Disc Golf Courses
Do you have a course that you consider your ‘home course’? Tell us about it.
Shannon Springs in Chickasha, Oklahoma is my home course as it taught me competitive disc golf through a club that I am still involved with today. We are working on expanding and making the course better so that makes it feel like I can make disc golf better than I found it.
What are a few of your favorite disc golf courses to play?
Ruby Grant in Norman, Oklahoma
Dragon DGC Purcell, Oklahoma
What is a dream disc golf course for you that you hope to play someday?
I hope to play Eagle’s Crossing one day with my brothers as it looks like one of the best developed courses in the world.
Let’s Play Disc Golf
Do you have any pre-round or post-round rituals that you do when you play disc golf?
N/A
Do you drink, smoke, snack, or partake in anything else while playing disc golf? What’s your go-to?
I like to snack when I play disc golf, I really enjoy granola bars and beef jerky.
Are you just a casual disc golfer? Do you participate in any local leagues? Do you compete in disc golf tournaments?
I participate with the Chickasha Disc Golf club and I have played a B-Tier with a C-Tier coming soon.
Do you have any tips for aspiring disc golfers?
The best tip I would give is to start with a lower speed disc and learn how to throw a left finishing, straight, and right finishing shot with that one disc to learn technique, angle control, and mechanics of how your body throws a disc.
Disc Golf Fun Stuff
Do you have any favorite professional disc golfers that you follow?
I think my favorite professional I follow is Emily Beach, our Oklahoma local that is doing well in the FPO division.
Do you have any disc golf goals that you are trying to achieve?
I think it would be really cool to get a win in a PDGA sanctioned event. I also would like to attend a DGPT event some day.
Who do you typically play disc golf with?
Mostly I play casual rounds by myself with my wife keeping score. Sometimes I play with friends in league rounds or if someone asks to play with me that’s always a good time too.
What would a perfect disc golf round look like for you?
It would be playing with my two brothers and my good friend CJ. We would all be shooting under par while at the same time having a blast with minor verbal jabs at each other just to keep the atmosphere light and fun. Ideally it would be at a blast of a course that has a wide variety of shots and hole lengths with par 4’s and 5’s where everyone has a chance to shine.
Let’s Get Social
N/A