After getting caught up on a little work today, and before celebrating our youngest daughter’s 16th birthday (where has that time flown?), I decided that today would be the day to sneak in eighteen holes at Buxton Woods DGC in Buxton, Oregon. The course came highly recommended to me several years ago! But I was unable to carve out the time on my last two trips to the area to play it. But today, the third time was the charm! 🙂
The course was every bit as good as advertised. I started out shaky on the first two holes, with underwhelming tee shots and scrambles on my second and third shots for par! But after that, I settled in to get five deuces against two bogeys, for a -3 (54) and an estimated round rating of 1017. The course had a little bit of everything…even one hole with water (Hole 10, where I managed to park my tee shot for a deuce with my trusty ProLine Squall). A lot of fun and a lot of variety, with a great deal of technical precision required if you wanted any hope of getting deuce looks or pars.
There was a nice local man playing with his dog in front of me. He didn’t want to pair up on our round, as his dog was a little rambunctious around flying discs…potentially putting a few teeth marks and/or returning your discs to you if you weren’t careful. 🙂 But we saw each other in the parking lot after our rounds and he asked how I liked the course…how I did. When I told him I got a 54, he got a bit more serious look on his face and said: “That’s better than I’ve ever shot out here.” It really was a rock-solid round. Probably my best round of the trip so far. Two mistakes, along with a couple of outstanding tee shots and putts. But on a course like Buxton Woods, where making a couple dozen mistakes in your round is certainly possible? I will happily take my 54 and run.
Not quite sure which unplayed course in the area will be next on my hit list, but after seeing Buxton Woods? I am anxious to get out to L.L. Stub Stewart, Hagg Lake and others.
Magic Number = 90 (1,910 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’s (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.