Albert Tamm Nails a Hole-in-One at DGPT Austin – “It Was Just a Smooth Operator”

Estonian disc golf pro Albert Tamm hit a hole-in-one during Round 1 at the DGPT Elite+ event in Austin, acing Hole 8 at Sprinkle Valley. We caught up with him to hear the story behind the shot, what disc he used, and what made everything come together on that throw — a moment he later described as the work of a “smooth operator”, borrowing the phrase from the classic Sade song to describe a disc that flies with effortless control, confidence, and style.

Congratulations on the hole-in-one! Where and how did it happen?

Thanks! It was during Round 1 of the DGPT Elite+ in Austin, on Hole 8 at Sprinkle Valley. I followed my usual routine — the plan was clear, the target was set, and the shot went exactly how I envisioned it.

The disc I used usually skips well when it hits the ground, and this time was no different. When I saw the speed with which it left my hand and how it was about to land, I thought, “Okay, where is this going to end up?” And boom — it ended in the basket!

I wasn’t jumping with joy or anything — more like, “Oh wow, that went in.” It was a nice, calm feeling. There was a Dutch Bros stand right by that hole, and I’d noticed earlier that they were handing out free lemonade. I don’t usually drink anything like that during a round, but after the ace, I thought — this is worth celebrating. So I grabbed one.

What disc did you throw, and why that one?

I threw a trusty Pioneer. I wanted something a bit faster for that hole — it made me feel more confident that I’d reach the basket. Compared to a slower disc, the Pioneer gave me a better chance to park it, even if I missed the ace.

For me, it’s a go-to disc for shots between 70 and 110 meters. My Pioneer is a bit seasoned, which I love — it’s still stable enough to trust the flight and get a reliable fade to the right when I throw forehand, but because it’s not brand new, I don’t have to power it as hard. It has this nice floaty glide to it — a real smooth operator.

Did you plan or hope for it to go in, or was it a total surprise?

I always play with the intention of getting close to the basket. That’s the goal. I stepped onto the tee, looked at the fairway, and knew my plan and where I wanted to land, and the puzzle just came together.

I found a solid aiming point — and when I hit that, I knew it’d get me close. I don’t aim to ace it specifically, but I do aim to give it a chance.

How often does that type of throw happen, and when was your last one?

I’m not exactly sure how many aces I’ve had, but if I get one a year, I’m happy.  I’d estimate I’ve had 20+ aces total, and about half of them have come during tournaments. The last one was sometime last year — I honestly don’t remember where.

What do you think was the “secret sauce” for this shot?

I stayed with the shot longer than I normally do.

After I released it, even though I had no control anymore, I stayed connected to the disc. When I compare it to other shots in that same round, a lot of them were like — disc left my hand, and I was already thinking about the next thing. But this one — I was present the whole way. Focus stayed longer.

No over-effort, just the right amount. Crisp. All the way through.

Image: udisc.com