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improve my game and hungry for more of that pressure that only comes with competition .I kept practicing every day, played new courses, talked to more experienced players and eventually I was able to shoot lower scores than my opponents. So, I moved up to play professionally.

QCDG.com: You turned Pro in 2007, and in your first year at that level you had seven wins and fourteen top 5"s. What was that first year like for you, and was there a specific moment when you realized you could not only compete with but also win against the top players?

Liz: My first year of professional golf was a blast! To the best of my ability, I tried to just ride the tidal wave of ups and down that come along with playing competivley against women I had only heard about in disc golf magazines and on the internet. During my first year, I learned a great deal about myself, traveled to many new places and met dozens of amazing people. I still think disc golf is charming and wild crazy and can offer people a chance to connect and grow.

QCDG.com: In 2009 you played in eight tournaments in which you competed as and amateur against the men. What is the benefit of that for you and how does it help you advance your game?

Liz: The universal women's disc golf problem: there are not enough women competitors! So I wasn't playing with the men for any other reason than I wanted to have a division larger than just myself. I chose a men's division based on my rating to the PDGA guidelines and ended up learning more in those rounds than I would have ever learned playing without the pressure of the competition.

QCDG.com: Have you had a role model or mentor to help you as you advance in your disc golf career, and if so how did that person help you become the player you are today?

Liz: Yes, I've had many role models and mentors. Always listen to the advice of more experienced players because you never know what tasty information nugget will pop out. Bill "Critter" Themm was a big mentor in developing my love for the game and my love for practicing the game. Not only was he an excellent golfer, he could explain to me what needed to happen physically between the disc and myself to achieve the intended flight. Mark Ellis, another Discraft teammate, was always pushing me to explore new shots and helped opened my mind up to new possibilities on the fairway, or more aptly put, how to throw a roller out from underneath a pine tree. It's always wise to listen to those who have been playing a while. The advice given doesn't necessarily always need to be put into practice but never turn it down because it could help save some strokes!

QCDG.com: The ladies on the Pro tour all seem to get along very well. What's it like for you traveling to tourneys across the country and hanging out with the other players on the tour?

Liz: That's the best part of all of it! Every tournament is different and the journeys we all separately took to get there are all unique. But we all made it to these events to play together. I feel very lucky to be part of a division that, for the most part, gets along very well both on and off the course. Each individual brings a different dynamic to the fairway and it's fun to see how we all interact.

QCDG.com: How do you feel that the women's side of disc golf compares to that of the men's, and what steps do you feel would help advance disc golf for women as well as get more ladies playing?

Liz: I wish I had the answer to that question. Women's disc golf is a great way to spend time! I'd recommend, to a new lady, about going to a women's only tournament before attending a regular tournament. It may be less overwhelming in the competition realm to enter an event that is geared towards women and their needs. I keep finding new women's leagues across the country and I think if we could find a way to unite all the smaller sects it'd make communication and coordination that much easier for women's only events and committees.

QCDG.com: What do you feel are the strongest parts of your game and could you give a specific example of how those strengths helped you during a tourney?

Liz: I feel I have a strong approach game. At distances inside 200 feet I can utilize a number if different types of shots to get closer to the basket. I feel comfortable with my forehand, backhand, overhead ad rollers at close range. This really came in handy at Oshtemo Park in Kalamazoo, Michigan for the 2008 World Championships. With long narrow fairways and plenty of trouble near the pin, I rarely found myself throwing backhand from the shule. Instead, I was able to go to a step-out forehand or controlled roller. When drives aren't landing in the fairways, it's a huge advantage to be able to pull from the arsenal of different shots.

QCDG.com: When playing a tournament round, would you consider yourself an aggressive player or does a more conservative approach suit your game plan? Could you give an example of when you had to make that decision and your thought process as you decided to “go for it” or “play it safe”?

Liz: I am always evolving as a player both on and off the course. In my earlier competitive days, I would have really considered myself as an aggressive player. Aggressive because I didn't know any better and because I wanted to see all the shots bang chains. Now, after being punished by steep slopes and brutal rough, I base my type of play on the situation. Either playing too aggressively or conservatively can lead to bad results, so I try to find a happy medium between "going for it" or "laying up".

QCDG.com: A strong mental approach and focus are critical for success in disc golf. As you’re playing what do you do to help yourself stay in the right frame of mind or to shake off a bad shot / round? Can you give an example of how that helped you through a tough situation on the course?

Liz: Well, that's the hardest part, staying positive. I do know that if I get negative after a flailed putt or out of bounds penalty, I will carry that negativity with me and turn it into a few more strokes. That is NOT what I want to happen, so I do my best to immediately start thinking of good things that I'm dong, like maybe "wow, I missed that putt, but the stroke looked clean, I'll make the next one!". Just a little bit of positivity can sometimes make the difference to the very next shot in the queue.

QCDG.com: Many players have a “pre-shot” routine they go through before making a shot or putt. Do you have one and if so what things are you focusing on during that process?

Liz: My pre-shot routine is not as regimented or habituated as some players I've encountered, but there are a few things that happen regularly. Questions arise on every tee box, What type of shot will reach the basket? Is that the path of least resistance? Where is the "no go" zone? What's the best utilization of the tee pad to better achieve success? Once the shot has been chosen, I'll probably grab my disc and try to get my body and mind to fully commit to throwing the shot I have decided upon. From here, it's all about focus and trust. I have to trust my disc AND myself before it flies out of my hand. The mental pre-shot routine rarely changes but the physical aspect, like taking practice swings, is all based on the situation.

QCDG.com: Do you have a specific practice routine that you follow, and if so how did you develop that routine and how does it help improve your game.

Liz: There are many things that make up a good practice day. Some days I practice without even throwing a disc. I believe that in order to get everything out of your body that it's capable of, you need to take care of it. So I do lots of cross training, including jogging, roller blading, Scratch-tivities, etc. All these things help me to have better control of my body during a round. If I'm not out of breath or feeling weak, I can put all that energy into my shot and mental stability.

QCDG.com: You were able to make it here to the Quad Cities this year for the US Women’s Disc Golf Championships. It was great having you and all the other ladies for the tournament. What was that experience like for you?

Liz: I had a blast!! It's always great to connect with other female golfers. The course selection suited the dynamic needs of all the divisions and were well maintained. The tournament director, staff and volunteers were warm and welcoming. As a player, I could feel all the love and energy that went into every aspect of the tournament.

QCDG.com: During your travels to tournaments across the country, I’m sure you meet some interesting people and get asked some interesting things. Do you have a favorite story you’d like to share?

Liz: One of my favorite experiences on the road so far has been at an elementary school in South Carolina. A crew of golfers and myself went to teach some kids, with the help of the Educational Disc Golf Experience (EDGE), about disc golf. Seeing all the amazement in those young eyes when we first started to throw discs will not soon be forgotten! I can see myself looking through those same eyes when I first found this sport.

QCDG.com: What are your short term and long term goals as a disc golf player? Are there any specific tournaments or titles that you would like to add to your disc golf resume?

Liz: I want disc golf to be in my life forever. Whether I will find myself playing, promoting, or designing courses, I will want to contribute to this sport just as much as it has contributed to me.

QCDG.com: What advice would you give to new players who are looking to improve their games?

Liz: Take it easy on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes, I make them all the time. It's important to remember the good shots that happen during your round. A positive mental state has helped my game more than any number of practice putts or drives. On a more technical level, I'd recommend getting beginner discs, a putter, mid-range and a driver and figure those discs out before trying something new.

QCDG.com: What do you like to do when you’re not playing disc golf to help clear your mind and to help “get away” from the stresses of the tour?

Liz: I really enjoy catching up with friends and family from back home or hanging with new friends, in new places! Playing with my dog, Scratch, is a great way to clear my mind. I love taking her to a park where I can watch her run her little legs off. Occasionally, we'll find a trail that we can both run!

Thanks so much to Liz for sharing her time with us at QuadCityDiscGolf.com!