Meet this up-and-coming disc golf phenom

• Young Kelowna resident competed in junior world championships
• Local recreational community helped mold his talents

Sheldon Whitford had only played disc golf for a few years before be brought his baby boy to the new Knox Mountain course; back when houses separated it from the lake.

Little Carver, who like his dad was born with only a few digits on each hand, would try tossing the discs from inside his stroller.

At six years old, he was throwing them 190 feet, and by eight, was playing in games.

“I thought, ‘oh, I’ll try this one day,’ and then the first time I came out, I just loved it at first sight,” Carver told Kelowna10.

Eventually, his skill overtook his dad’s, and he was beating most local adult players.

“I think at 10 years old he beat me at our first tournament. Everyone thought it was awesome. Not me so much,” Sheldon joked. “We knew the day was coming but we just didn’t think it was going to be at that age. I just play now because there’s no use competing against him.”

Now 15, Carver just competed at the Junior Disc Golf World Championships in Peoria, Illinois, notching a Top 20 finish.

Despite having three less fingers on each hand than most people, Carver doesn’t see his physical differences as limiting factors.

“I think it helps my game out a lot,” Carver remarked. “I don’t know why. I just think I have an advantage over people because they have all those finders in the way. I only have to worry about one and two.”

Carver aspires to compete on the pro tour and make money doing what he loves. He’s already sponsored and even has his own custom discs.

His advice to other people looking for a passion who may have physical limitations is to just try it.

“You can’t just let the world come at you, you’ve got to come at it,” Carver said.

Unlike Carver’s mom and brother, he and his dad have similar unique hands. They bond over that and the shared love of the sport.

Sheldon also credits the disc golf community in Kelowna with his son’s success, explaining how other players helped foster and coach his growing skills, even driving Carver to tournaments.

“The community is amazing,” Sheldon said. “It takes a village and part of who he is, is part of the village … it’s not just about him and I.”

Sheldon has help guide Carver through life through their shared lack of dexterity, and also makes the most of his own situation.

“I’ve found that everything that I’ve tried to do, I can pretty much get through. I can play most sports,” Sheldon said. “Ten-pin bowling, maybe not so much. There’s three holes and only two fingers. So, that’s a little rough.”