The first time I came across the disc golf art of Tom Holsten was a post by Joe Holmes on the Broward Disc Golf Association‘s Facebook Page. It was a picture of a disc golf basket that Holsten created. Right away I thought how freakin cool it would be to have one of these babies installed in one of our local disc golf courses in South Florida. My disc golf curiosity got the best of me so I decided to contact this creator of cool disc golf art.

As it turns out he is an artist and disc golfer living in Caledonia, WI who has been married to Mary for 27 years. His Disc Golf Addiction began back in 1986/87 when his neighbor talked him into playing disc golf in the rain at 11 PM (???!!!). He was immediately addicted for life and registered with the PDGA to make it official. His PDGA# is 6315. His quiver consists of mostly old school discs such as Hammer, San Marino Roc, Starfire, Rogue, Super Puppy, Buzz, and the Aviar.

I wonder if many people know that Steady Ed (PDGA# 1) stayed at Holsten’s place for a week, or that he has golfed with some of the biggest names in the sport? He has golfed with Dave Greenwell, Ken Climo, Dr Rick Volkes, Steve Wisecup, Crazy John Brooks, Brian Cummings, Johnny Pecunia, and many, many, more.

Holsten is a disc golf advocate, having helped to design/install over a half dozen disc golf courses. He is currently working on one of the premier winter disc golf events in the world, the Big Freeze Disc Golf Tournament.

Holsten is also a disc golf enthusiast, currently displaying 366 discs hanging on his wall and installing a 9 hole course in his back yard (jealous!) as well as golfing 2 to 3 times a week at Dretzka Park in Milwaukee, WI, with his favorite course overall being Seven Oaks in Nashville, TN.

And of course Holsten is a disc golf artist, having made at least 1500 to 2000 disc golf trophies, hundreds of disc stands, 60 portable custom Disc Golf Baskets, more than 200 ”Putz3” (24” metal art of hand throwing a disc), a hundred or so small disc golf figurines (golfers putting), 45 – 50 disc hot-stamps, a dozen or so mini hot-stamps, countless metal-art wall designs, a couple disc golf carts, and the list goes on and on. No machines are used to bend Holsten’s metal because it is all done by hand!

Overall I would say anyone who is a disc golf advocate/enthusiast/artist is ok in my book, and someone who has put this much of themselves into this sport leads by example in my humble opinion. Looking forward to shaking your hand one day Mr. Holsten.