I was thinking that it was going to be a few weeks (at least) until I got any more new courses played. Work is kicking my behind, plus I’ve got more than enough to do at “part-time job #2:” helping a great candidate who is running for Minnesota State House try to get elected in November. We’ve all gotta have a “side hustle” to make ends meet in 2020 America, right?! Only I’ve had a side hustle pretty much my entire adult life. The first of which ended up becoming my career and company these past 20+ years (mapformation, LLC). Only with the onset of the coronavirus, I have mapformation work, on top of my side hustle, on top of ANOTHER side hustle. On top of serving as an Ambassador for DGA, serving on five non-profit boards, being a husband and father, etc. Did I mention I could use a nap?!
Anyway, as we were winding down for the evening last night, my wife asked if I wanted to tag along with her and our two daughters to MSP, to get a little more time with my niece before she headed back to California. Roaming around a thrift store, spending hours looking at clothes, shoes, etc.
A fashionista I am not. So I countered with: “I would LOVE to tag along! But how about instead of me spending hours looking at clothes, I spend part of that time checking out a new nine-hole disc golf course I haven’t yet played, ~15 miles away?!” I could see the groan, me mentioning the religion of disc golf (#frisbetarian), even if I couldn’t hear the groan (ha). But my counter-offer was accepted. So this morning, bright and early, we headed up to Minneapolis St. Paul to disc golf…..er, I mean to check out clothes at a thrift store. 😉
After picking up my niece and dropping the four of them off at said thrift store, it was on to Woodbury, Minnesota, so I could play the nine-hole course at New Life Academy. It is a bit tricky to get on and play, since it is a private religious school who doesn’t want outsiders being on campus during school hours. That is what I thought made today so perfect, being Labor Day and classes not being in-session.
I had actually played disc golf on this property before, though I didn’t count that experience as part of my courses played. Actually, if a course is not listed as a course on the DGCourseReview.com website? I haven’t counted it as a course! I have never wanted an asterisk next to my courses played number, with lots of explanations and addendums. Special tournament course this…buddy’s backyard course that. If it isn’t in DGCR? It isn’t in my collection. So when New Life Academy put some effort into re-designing disc golf on the property in 2020, then had the course added to UDisc and DGCR? I thought it was FINALLY my chance to get a legitimate new course played on their property.
I played things fairly conservative, as the rough on Holes 2-4, and Holes 8-9 can be fierce! My score looks fairly conservative as well, at a -5 (24), though the 958 estimated rating looks better than how I played. It’s a pretty easy course to get your 3s! Then on Holes 5, 8 and 9, you can attack those baskets. Holes 3-4 are deucable as well…if you’re willing to risk lost discs and/or several minutes hunting for plastic (I was not).
Rumor has it that I might be able to sneak in a few more new courses in a couple weeks. It’s just a rumor though, as we’ll see if planets align.
Magic Number = 347 (1,653 Courses Played)
How it All Got Started: Tonn’s Travels >>
A main purpose of this blog will be to share information, helpful tips and tricks (everything from health and fitness to methods for saving money while you’re out “bagging courses” of your own), and ideas for better, safer course design. But I am also hoping to inspire others with my passion for the sport, via the stories I can share about all of the interesting experiences I have. All of the interesting people I meet. All of the amazing courses I am blessed to have the opportunity to play. If I can inspire even a handful of individuals to get off the couch, get “out of their bubble” or “security blanket” and explore more of this big, beautiful planet we all call home? Then I will consider this effort a success.
About Derek
Derek Tonn is a member of the DGA’s Ambassador Team. His company, Mapformation, LLC, has been DGA’s partner in the development of disc golf tee signage since 2012. The longer our two companies have worked together, and the more Derek has gotten to know all the great folks at DGA, the more he has wanted to formally sing the company’s praises. The more he has realized that “Steady” Ed the father of disc golf and the modern-day Frisbee vision for the sport and his company perfectly describes his own interests and priorities related to disc golf, and the more Derek has recently been encouraged to share his story.