Prologue
Five players from Switzerland are competing in the 37th Berlin Open: Oli Baumgartner, Mike Leu, Peter “Güschtu” Hüsler, Stee Braun, and myself (Martin Jenny, author of this report and Swiss team captain). It’s a tournament steeped in tradition and a great start to this unforgettable disc golf adventure. I finish the tournament with an ACE on my last hole. After the award ceremony, Mike, Oli, and I head straight for Norway and take the ferry from Rostock to Trelleborg. Hey Oli, that’s a rope, not a cable.
The next morning, we make a quick stop at the Åle Disc Golf Center and meet Camilla Jernberg. By the way, “Hejhej” means hello. Then it’s back on the road, with more than 800 km still ahead of us. An unforgettable drive through the middle of Norway. Night falls, but it doesn’t get dark. We drive through a steep valley, huge rivers and waterfalls plunge down the mountain sides, it rushes and thunders, crashes and roars along the river, huge boulders everywhere, and water, water, water.
Langevåg, Ålesund
The Swiss Team’s villa is fantastic! Three windows offer views of the sea and the large bay of Ålesund. There is a well-equipped kitchen, a disc golf basket in the garden, and a large barbecue. We register the team and hand out two pairs of merino socks as part of the player pack. In the evening, Mike plays his practice round (as a substitute player, he can only start after the last practice tee time).
Silva Saarinen, Jenni Karpinen, and Jakub Semerad are waiting on hole 5 and ask Mike if he wants to play through. Mike seizes the opportunity and throws his yellow Halo Wraith with a little too much power into the middle of the lake in front of an illustrious audience. But Vasset DiscGolfPark is a special place and returns the discs (Vasset means “water,” by the way). The extensive lost and found in the pro shop is sorted by color, and there is a constant coming and going. Mike finds his Halo Wraith the very next day. The Norwegians look surprised. In the middle of the lake? It’s deep there. But there are always strong currents down there. Unfortunately, the clubhouse was broken into last summer and over 200 discs were stolen from the Lost & Found. If only people had a little decency.
Jonas (DGN) issues me with media accreditation. Because the media rights for this European Championship have been transferred in full to DGN, I must wear a DGN media badge at all times on the course when I have my large camera (5D Mark IV with 70-200F4) in my hands.
Opening Ceremony
In the evening, all teams gather at an inconspicuous but well-signposted landing stage and board two ships. The boats depart on time and head southeast through a narrow passage (Langevåg is an island), crossing a huge fjord towards the interior. Five minutes after departure, there is great excitement in the captain’s chat: the French are at the wrong landing stage and have missed the boat. The faster boat picks up the French shortly afterwards at the Sundje Hotel and then races at full speed across the large expanse of water after the other boat, up the increasingly narrow fjord.
The windbreakers are great, the sun is shining, and the organizers are standing there in shorts (their long pants are on the other ship) but are happy that it’s finally starting and the sun is shining! The trip to the opening ceremony was the highlight. After we arrived, everyone got a burger, and after a few short speeches in front of a spectacular backdrop, the opening ceremony was over, and the second highlight followed: the return trip. There’s just something special about boat trips.
The competition begins
FPO always plays early in the morning, followed by FJ18, MJ18, and MPO. This is probably an idea from the DGN to give the MDG camera crew a break. The conditions at the challenging Vasset DiscGolfPark, which is laid out around a lake, are varied and very challenging. The elements increasingly interfere with the competition. Water, wind, and OB.
Overall, the course is very lively, with nature, the surroundings, and 150 volunteers helping out at the event. Several kids have set up tables along the lake shore and are selling coffee, cake, soft drinks, and chips. Public participation and sharing communal spaces is a tradition in Norway and is enshrined in the right of public access. In contrast, the ProTour’s ticket system seems a little out of place.
The music playing at the tee on hole 1 sends shivers down your spine. Natalie gets off to a great start and finishes with a +7 (21st). Tony struggles in the first round but finishes strongly with two birdies (+3, 56th place). Chris hits his very first roller at this European Championship and finds the gap in the barrier on the left side. Oli and Chris both shoot +9 (T79). The Swiss get off to a fairly modest start to the tournament, but with low expectations, they manage to develop a good drive. In the evening, there is a team barbecue with Chris and Nadia.
Second round
Nadia caddies for Chris and films every shot so that Chris can study the footage and his game in the evening. In the second round, Chris plays a +7 (birdie with a roller on hole 1). Tony is on fire and fights his way back to par. In Switzerland, AemJaY publishes the videos sent in from the round at almost the same time as the live scores. Our social media accounts are buzzing. On hole 18, his driver never comes back from OB, and Tony slips on the stairs. He plays through the pain, takes a triple bogey, and finishes the round at par (1011 rated). One of the bearded paramedics at the Red Cross tent says he would have finished playing too if he were in his place.
We decide to go to the hospital after all, and Mike comes with us. At 11:59 p.m., the doctor finally arrives and looks at the X-ray. Not a good night to end up in a provincial hospital. The diagnosis, however, is good. Tony can even play if he can stand the pain. I explain to Tony that the goal of this European Championship, which is to prepare for the EMDGC, has already been achieved for him. And the sooner the healing process can begin, the better. Tony decides the next morning to DNF.
Round 3 – Moving Day
On Saturday, the tournament enters its decisive phase: it’s Moving Day.
The approaching storm is making itself felt and the weather is becoming increasingly rough, but the competition continues at the highest level. Niklas Antilla plays bogey-free until the middle of the third round. Natalie starts on the cutline, and mistakes are inevitable. Par is good, par is very good! With a few too many mistakes (+25), Natalie misses the cut in 22nd place (+43). After his DNF, Tony takes over as caddy for Oli, who had played +15 on the back nine in the second round and starts the third round on the penultimate card. Oli manages three birdies in difficult conditions and finishes his European Championship with +39 in 79th place. Chris plays a +13 in the third round and finishes the tournament with +29 in 75th place. The cutline is +8.
Storm and final day
Due to the storm, the organizers have adjusted the format for the final day, raising the cut line and reducing the field. The shotgun start for the final round is at 3 p.m.
Niklas Antilla (FIN) wins the MPO with -32 and a 16-stroke lead over Timo Hartmann (DE). Eveliina Salonen (FIN) takes the FPO title after a playoff with Kristin Lätt (EST).
Epilogue
Even before the final round starts, I get in my car and 48 hours later pull into the parking lot at Salzgittersee, the venue for the Masters EM EMDGC at the end of August, where I will be competing alongside Stephan Müller in MP50. Paul Francz starts as defending champion in MP65, Tony Ferro, Lukas Schär, and Ivo Blättler start in MP40, and Mona Blättler in FP40 with Peter “Güschtu” Hüsler as captain. (Natalie is currently ranked first on the EMDGC waiting list). The lake is warm, and you can see baskets on the island. The bridge is closed, so I swim across and walk around the island. It’s a wonderful place to play Frisbee, with thick rough and long, wide, undulating fairways. All around is the lake, shady trees, and lots of birds.
Tony Ferro (SUI.144)
“I have been part of the Swiss team since 2010 and have played in all European Championships except for 2012 and 2023. It was my first time in Norway and I really liked the course. It’s a difficult but fair course, and I was very motivated for these European Championships. The start didn’t go as planned, but I was able to play with great focus in the second round and improve my result. It’s a shame I slipped on the stairs on the 18th and couldn’t finish the tournament, but luckily it wasn’t anything serious. I’m taking my motivation and focus with me and looking forward to ZDGO, the Swiss Championships, the World Championships, and the Masters European Championships! Thanks to the whole team and the captain, and especially to Natalie, who accompanied and supported me as my caddy. It was my first European Championships where the whole team really supported each other across the board, which I thought was really nice and incredibly important.”
Natalie Holloköi (SUI.142)
“It felt like I had played three different courses. Sunshine and easy going, then the next level with rain and wind, and a third round with the first signs of a storm. It was great as an ”oldie” to take part in an Open European Championship again and experience the development of the sport, both in terms of organization and in terms of the course layout and the level of play. I’m satisfied with my tournament, even though the last round was littered with missed opportunities. But I putted very well. I’m tired and happy, and I’m super grateful to my caddy Mike Leu. Priceless!”
Chris Walker (SUI.374)
“It was a wonderful experience and the biggest tournament of my career so far. Of course, I would have liked to have played better, but it was also new territory for me. Next time, I’ll be able to approach a competition like this differently because I’ve learned so much. I’m extremely grateful that I was able to represent Switzerland. You feel much less like an individual player when you’re playing for the Swiss team. It’s very motivating to watch the best players in Europe and see what’s possible. This experience will stay with me for the next two years and push me to work hard on my game.”
Oliver Baumgartner (SUI.377)
“Great weather in Norway. I had lots of cool and wonderful experiences. It was my second time playing for the Swiss Disc Golf Team after the Team World Championships. It was incredibly exciting, thrilling, and fun, and the experience completely lived up to my expectations. Great team spirit, we all supported each other. The course was certainly very challenging with narrow fairways, water, and lots of OB. It’s a very beautiful course, with great attention to detail. The layout was very technical, and the wind raised the level even higher. You need a solid backhand and sidearm on a course like this, and the holes are very long compared to courses in Switzerland. I’m now much more aware of what I need to work on. All in all, a great time, I’d love to come back!”
Mike Leu (SUI.426)
What a crazy experience! Of course, I had a unique perspective: I had traveled there as a substitute player without a spot, and I knew that my role in the team would mainly be a supporting one. The whole Swiss team was together right from the practice rounds. That was important and laid the foundation for team spirit. It was very important for me because I saw the game from the perspective of the whole team and was then able to work much better as a caddy. For the next European Championships, I think it would be important to invest more time in preparing for the course, analyzing the layout and conditions in detail, and making the necessary preparations. The atmosphere was fantastic, despite some disappointing results. As a player, I took a lot away from these European Championships and learned a great deal from the experience. I am now even more motivated to train hard!
