Community

Who needs a ball?

A former softball-playing couple shifted to disc golf and are loving it.

By KELLIE DIXON, Times Staff Writer
Published August 28, 2007

Brandi Laudermilch, 36, of Spring Hill, among the top U.S. amateurs, poses among discs at Sun King Disc Sports in Brooksville.
	[Danny Ghitis | Times]

BROOKSVILLE -- Brandi Laudermilch always considered herself a softball player. After all the South Carolina native grew up playing the sport and was a utility player at Furman. Despite a bad shoulder, she continued to play as an adult.

But a new sport has etched its name onto her resume. Five years ago, the Spring Hill resident picked up disc golf and now, at age 36, Laudermilch is on top in her division. She has won two tournaments this year and is registered for this weekend's Labor Day Luau at the Quarry Golf Course in Brooksville.

Laudermilch started playing disc golf along with her husband after he suggested they take up the sport five years ago. He had played occasionally in college so he was familiar with it. Laudermilch also knew what it was about because they sometimes played when they visited his parents in Melbourne.

Ultimately, they were addicted. The duo gave up playing softball to focus on disc golf, a lower impact sport that often rewards technique more than strength.

"All you've gotta do is make that one great shot and you're hooked," Laudermilch said.

Laudermilch and her husband practice three times a week, often at Floral Park in Floral City. They've got a hole set up in the backyard so they can finetune their putting. Heck, they even packed their discs when they went on vacation earlier this month.

All the practice is paying off for Laudermilch, although the natural athlete hasn't appeared to struggle much since entering her first tournament four years ago. In 2005, she joined the Professional Disc Golf Association and since has recorded 12 amateur PDGA wins, including two this year in the advanced women's category.

There isn't a large number of women involved in disc golf, although Laudermilch said she's seen the average attendance grow. Mike Barnett, owner of Sun King Disc Sports in Brooksville and Laudermilch's boss, said the average number of female entrants hovers around 5 percent.

Laudermilch, ranked fifth best among amateur women in the country, hopes participation grows. She loves the competition. That's why she played softball, and that's why she is sticking with disc golf.

Contact Kellie Dixon at kdixon@sptimes.com or 352 544-9480.

[Last modified August 27, 2007, 19:08:14]