Today was the day I embarked upon my “heck week” (censored, ha) at work. Four hours of driving on Monday to a conference in Redmond, then four hours of driving to Cave Junction, Oregon on Thursday for three days of work (using vacation days), only to have around four hours of driving to complete on Sunday…returning back home to Coos Bay. It should be a wonderful-yet-exhausting week! And I am hopeful that I will be much more exhausted than I might normally be, as that means that I will have played a bunch of new disc golf courses during my travels as well.
I was able to get things off to a good start, playing two new courses in Oregon! My first stop was at Westmoreland DGC in Eugene, a nine-hole course that I ran out of time to play the last time I was in town. I liked Westmoreland a lot! A fun recreational course, with just enough length and trees to keep holes from being gimme deuces. I left two deuces out there that I should have gotten, but I left not feeling too bad about my -4 (23) and an estimated round rating of 929. The air quality in Eugene today was terrible, as a result of some nearby fires. My throat and eyes burned the entire round. Probably not the smartest thing, playing disc golf when it hurt to be outside! But I wasn’t leaving this course behind for the third time since I moved to Coos Bay. And a 23 was solid, considering the circumstances.
After finishing up in Eugene, and driving East to get out of the smoke and haze, I had the privilege of playing a private course at Camp Yale. I texted Spencer Wallace, the contact for the course, a few days before I knew I would be passing through, and by the time I arrived at the property, I still had not heard back from him. I thought I would take my chances (asking forgiveness, if necessary) …since I had asked permission before showing up to play, and by the sixth hole, Spencer texted me to say that I was welcome to play a round. I teased and texted back: “Good, as I am already on Hole 6!” 😀
Spencer seems like a great guy, and I made sure to give him some good feedback after shooting a -3 (29) on the 3,789-foot nine-hole course before I hit the road for Redmond. I thought that getting my magic number (to 2000 courses played) under thirty was a BIG accomplishment today! Considering how hard a year it has been on the health front. Now let’s see how I do at shrinking that magic number even further later this week…
Magic Number = 29 (1,971 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.