It has been far, FAR too long since I have been able to get out to play and enjoy some disc golf. It has been a combination of factors. Work kicking my behind on two fronts. Some things happening with my family. And some ongoing health complications. I have had today circled on my calendar for at least 5-6 weeks, however. Because today I was “forced” to head up to Portland to complete a three-day housesit via TrustedHousesitters.com while I prepare to present a workshop at the Community Development Society annual conference. Nothing to do today except drive up to Portland for my housesit, knocking out some courses around the greater Salem, Oregon area on my way.
My day started at Cascade High School, near Turner, Oregon. I wasn’t 100 percent confident I was allowed to be there, so after finding a spot in their parking lot I thought was legal to park in? I headed into the administrative building to see if they would be calling the police and escorting me off the property. 🙂 My experience there was the EXACT opposite! Friendly staff, saying to park anywhere I wanted to and to enjoy checking out their course. The only word of warning? Two of the holes had sort of become overgrown with Himilayean blackberries.
For having about three inches of rust on my disc golf game? I played the course very well. I managed a -8 (46) and an estimated round rating of 988. My best shot on the day came on Hole 13 (above), where I threw the perfect S-curve off the tee, landing about three feet left of the basket for the drop-in deuce.
After finishing up at the high school, it was time to “cheat” via my course collecting numbers and add three nine-holers and a FOUR-holer to my collection. 🙂 My first round was at Pioneer Park in Stayton, Oregon. A VERY short, quick, easy nine, I shot a -4 (19) for an estimated round rating of 961. My score would have been better, but I had to be careful to steer well-clear of a young woman who was out sunbathing near two of the holes. #1, I didn’t want to risk hitting her with a disc, and #2, I didn’t want her to think I was a middle-aged “creeper.” Playing extra slow and close to her enjoying the bright sunshine (as I am sure most women need to struggle with that type of uncomfortable behavior from men as it is).
My second nine in the community was at Stayton Middle School. This was another course where I felt a little uneasy…not knowing if I was actually allowed to be there. But UDisc said it is available from dawn to dusk in the Summer (even though signage at the property said otherwise), so I took my chances on UDisc getting things right. It didn’t help that the layout was a bit confusing, although I eventually figured it out. My -2 (25) was the opposite of impressive…an estimated round rating of 801 (ha)! 🙂 But that’s okay. The only number that mattered here was the +1 in my Course Collection.
Next on the afternoon was Church Park in Sublimity, Oregon. I LOVED this nine-holer! Best course I played on the day, by a wide margin! It was scenic and easy to play/navigate. There was a bit of shot variety. Plus I got to chat up a few friendly locals. My -7 (20) and estimated round rating of 982 didn’t hurt either…but I know better than to judge a course based upon how I play it. Particularly as a LHBH, since ~93 percent of courses aren’t designed by designers who throw like I do.
After “cheating” my way to a quick +3 in my course collection via 27 shorter holes, now it was time to REALLY “cheat:” The four-hole Porter Boone Park DGC in Aumsville, Oregon. 🙂 One of the four baskets, and one of the tee areas, was stuck behind a large fence…so I had to pick a tree as one of the baskets, then throw my next tee shot from as close to that tee as I could get. I only managed a -2 (10) across four holes, for what might be my lowest estimated round rating ever recorded: 657. Back to the Rec division for me! [sigh]
My last round on the day was at a course I’ve wanted to play for almost two years: Cascades Gateway. I’ve driven past in a dozen times, but all of the reviews on UDisc said to avoid the course like the plague…since it had been overrun with homeless individuals. Presenting safety hazards for both the homeless (flying discs) and disc golfers (the occasional homeless person who was under the influence of substances and/or violent). But I wasn’t going to drive past this course yet-another time. So I decided to take my chances.
I got an uneasy feeling in the parking lot, as there were people who looked like they’ve been living at/in the park for a long time! But as I got out and played the course? I didn’t encounter a single homeless individual. I saw all sorts of places that people could live and hide if they wanted to, so my “radar” was scanning the park the entire time I was there. But I did not have any issues at all. Shooting a -4 (50) for an estimated round rating of 945.
Now it is time to get more acquainted with my SIX roommates (cats) that I’ll be caring for over the next couple of days. I would prefer to only be responsible for 1-2 pets, but here is hoping for the best!
Magic Number = -21 (2,021 Courses Played)
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.