Photo: Alyssa Van Lanen
Kristin Tattar is a 4x Estonian Champion who only started playing Disc Golf in 2014. Five years later in 2019 she would not only take the women’s Canadian Nationals title, but also take the 2019 United States Women’s Disc Golf Championships win becoming the first European to do so.
We asked Kristin a few questions about the Disc Golf scene in Estonia and her journey into the sport.
How did you first learn about disc golf?
I heard about it from my friends and since it seemed like a fun game, I tried it out. It was still pretty unknown in Estonia. Most of the people didn’t know what the baskets were for.
Is the game enjoyed equally by both males and females in Estonia?
Disc golf is mostly played by men everywhere in the world and it is the same way in Estonia. But I would say that we have a decent amount of women playing and this number is increasing every day it feels like.
How popular is the sport amongst the people of Estonia now? Is it popular amongst all ages?
Disc golf is mostly played by adults. I wish we could bring more juniors into this game.
Why do you think disc golf has expanded the way it has in Estonia over the last 10 years?
I think there are many reasons behind it. For example, Estonians invented dgmtrx.com and that made scoring a lot easier. Also the number of courses that we have here makes it almost impossible to not know what disc golf is or not play this game (we have over 100 courses and our country is super small).
When did you know you were hooked? What was your Woohoo moment?
I think that moment came when I finally got the disc flying properly. At first I had no idea what to do and I was mostly “putting” and not driving. But at one point when someone showed me forehand, then I actually got some distance with it. Backhand seemed too hard for me at first.
Your home course has in fact three different courses, one 9 hole, one 18 hole and one 27 hole. Did you start on the 9 hole course?
No. I actually lived elsewhere when I started and it was a 9 hole course that I played. But it expanded to an 18 hole course. It was pretty similar to the one right now – wooded with narrow fairways.
Did you ever get frustrated with the game to the point of giving it up? If so what kept you going?
I can´t say that I’ve ever been that frustrated. Of course there have been moments and tournaments where nothing is working out the way I want, but I know that it is just one tournament or one day and then everything falls back into place again.
How did you become such an amazing champion of the game so quickly?
I don’t think of myself as a champion of the game. In my opinion there is always room to improve and get better and that’s what Im trying to do. But when I think about how I achieved this level that I have right now, I think the reason is my passion for the game and always trying to find tournaments where I have the opportunity to compete with the best. This is the best training.
Watch Kristin Tattar drill a 122 meter (400ft) ace at Konopiste on hole 1.
What size course do you recommend beginners start with?
My suggestion is to play different kinds of courses. If you only play a short course then at one point it doesn’t challenge you anymore. But for beginners, I guess a shorter wooded course would be a great way to learn to throw different angles and in that way it helps you to improve your skills pretty fast.
What obstacles did you have to overcome when learning if any? How did you do it?
I think my biggest obstacle was learning backhand. I remember it well, because there was no one to learn from – disc golf was not very popular at that moment here so I had to teach myself by watching videos from youtube. Then I went on a field and tried to copy what I had seen. Thanks to being very consistent and not giving up, I’m now a backhand dominant player.
Why should every town have at least one course even if it is only a 9 hole course?
I think disc golf is a very fun and healthy way to spend your free time. It is also cheap and there are no age limitations.
How would you go about convincing women (of all ages) that Disc Golf is something worth becoming involved with?
I think the answer is pretty much the same as the last one. It is a great way to spend your free time with friends out in nature. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to do it and it is not very demanding from the physical aspect as well.
Shout out to The Canadian Nationals:
I have only great memories from Canadian Nationals. I think the location was absolutely beautiful and the tournament was run very well. Even though we had some tough weather conditions, I look back at that tournament with a smile on my face.
The Kristin Tattar Tip: What is the one tip above all others you can give beginners to help them improve their game?
I would suggest everyone go out and play one-disc rounds in wooded courses. I think this helps you a lot in knowing which angle to throw and how to throw it.