Lending a helping hand
CRANBERRY TWP — Andrew Greenslade admits he was humbled in 2015.
He had picked up disc golf a couple of years earlier while a student at Slippery Rock University and decided to take in a few rounds of the World Championship tournament.
"It was being held at four different courses in the region, including the ones at Moraine State Park and at SRU," said Greenslade. "I thought I was pretty good, but seeing what those players could do, I realized I knew nothing. There was so much about the sport that I didn't understand.
"That got my competitive juices going and I wanted to learn as much about it as I could."
Greenslade, now a resident of Canonsburg, had competed in the decathlon while in college, and coached throwing events at Washington & Jefferson College and Seton Hill in the years after graduating. He focused on improving in his new sport of choice and began competing in amateur tournaments.
"Then came 2020 and the interest in disc golf blew up during COVID," said Greenslade. "A friend contacted me. He knew I had a background in competing in and coaching throwing events and asked if I would work with him in disc golf. It allowed me to scratch that itch I had for coaching."
A year later, Greenslade officially began his coaching business: "Grow Your Game: Disc Golf Lessons". Much of his work with golfers takes place at North Strabane Park in Washington County.
He was giving lessons for free Aug. 19 at North Boundary Park and Ellwood City resident Jiana Vander Plaats took him up on the offer.
"I've been thinking about trying disc golf for a while and a friend told me about the lessons today," she said. "I like it (at North Boundary) because they have a beginner's course."
Greenslade worked with Vander Plaats on her technique and offered a number of helpful tips.
One is that a golfer’s feet should not be in a straight line with each other. Being that she is right-handed, Vander Plaats needed to place her left foot a few inches behind her right before releasing the disc.
“Some people think it’s just a question of throwing, but it’s full body movement and the proper footwork is important,” said Greenslade. “You have to put your lower body into the throw and rotate your hips.”
Vander Plaats first worked throwing into a net just feet in front of her. Then, with her improved form, she nearly aced a hole from 20 yards.
“Making sure I have the right foundation with my legs and feet before I throw ... the things he told me helped a lot,” she said.