Back again with another Disc Golf player profile. This time with a major winner, past champ, and tour veteran, artist Cameron Todd.
Cameron Todd lives in North Carolina in the Charlotte area. He has been competing for years even with a five year hiatus and a knee injury that sidelined him for weeks. Leading up to the USDGC this year, he had only played a few practice rounds to get into playing form. So far he has just over ten years of competitive play with a solid second place at the USDGC in his past. He has a lot of hope for the future of the game.
Other than a couple of poor rounds he played well most of the week. But it wasn't enough to keep him in contention for the Championship.
Cameron Todd is a past World Champion, a feat that only a handful of players have earned.
But where did he learn of Disc Golf?
"I was hanging around with some guys back in college. They kept saying, come on out and toss some discs. You need to try this game. They had Frisbees and some various discs. They marked some trees as greens and we just played. I really liked it immediately."
Cameron says playing disc golf competitively is perfect for him because "I get to travel, meet other players, get camaraderie going. Enjoy the game."
He is clear about one thing. "Taking those five years off wasn't good for sponsors."
Currently he is sponsored by Birdie Bags, Discraft, and Pocket Disc.
After talking with him round three of the 2012 USDGC, he said "you know, my favorite hole at the Winthrop Gold Course is number five. It doesn't have the rope restrictions that a lot of holes have at the USDGC. The ropes really add to the difficulty of the course. So five is just the fairest overall hole during the championship."
When speaking with Cameron you get the idea that he really has a relationship with the game. He really enjoys the challenge. Getting out for the USDGC is really a big deal. Something he never wants to miss. Which is why he played through the knee injury with only three weeks of rest between the injury and the beginning of the first round. Beyond limiting his ability to practice and get loose, he really couldn't get mentally ready.
We all know, no matter what kind of golf you play, it’s a mental game. Something you play against yourself more than against other players. So when you get out for the USDGC, one of the biggest disc golf tournaments there is, you face off against the best the world has to offer. So you need to be prepared in every facet of your soul.
To help Cameron prepare, he built his own greens, nets, and holes at home. That way he can work from home. His nets are smaller targets, making accuracy a very big part of putting. Something he clearly believes in.
Which brought me to another question.
What kind of gear do you run when at a tournament like the USDGC?
"I use a disc golf bag from Phoenix bags. I carry about twenty or so discs. After shooting a round of seventy three, I needed to get back to what I know. I do as little as possible before taking a shot, especially putting. You just psyche yourself out over thinking it. I take my favorite disc, a Hieser Comet Shot, and just play. Midrange or long, I just grab a disc and try to make a decision. With the low ceiling shots, stuff with a lot of obstructions, I do what I have to with the Comet or similar driver."
But that's enough about playing the game. What brought you to paint such awesome disc golf course holes. "I was painting the Charlotte sky lines, getting into scenic images with wide panoramic scenes. And it was just an obvious fit for me. There were holes that I just loved. So I started painting them."
And let me tell you. He does a really good job creating images that tell the story of the courses. They are great to hang up at home.
To see his work head over to www.Camerontoddart.com
As far as his plans for 2013, “I’m taking it month by month. I have some tournaments that I know I want to compete in, but I have to plan for each one as they come.”
For a much more in depth interview, and further Disc Golf coverage, check back with us here on Examiner.com !
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