This morning I was up with the sun, quite a bit earlier than my “roomies.” So I knew I HAD to sneak off to check out a bit more of the disc golf scene in Wilmington.
My first stop on the morning was at Arrowhead Park in Wilmington, and I must say what a treat it was! The course itself was incredibly short, measuring only 3,207 feet over eighteen holes! But as you’ll see in the photo above, the combination of essentially beach sand and pine straw made this one of the more unique courses I have played on the trip. With the longest hole on the course being only 266 feet, one would expect to post a score in the lower 40s (or maybe even upper 30s). I managed a -12 (42), for an estimated round rating of 998. I’m sure I left at LEAST 2-3 deuces out there though…as the course is about as “putt and approach” as it gets. So, SO fun though, and beautiful in the morning sun.
After playing Arrowhead a lot quicker than I expected, I decided to take my chances and sneak in one more nine-holer before heading back to the hotel: Harbor United Methodist Church in Wilmington. With it being Sunday morning, I ALSO had to hustle to make sure I was done playing that course before a lot of church-goers made their way to the parking lot for Sunday morning services. I ended up talking with the worship leader’s husband, asking if it was okay for me to be there. He said I was absolutely welcome, and to enjoy my round.
I played the course “okay,” carding a -5 (22) and an estimated round rating of 972. I was more worried about being finished before church started than my score, however. So I was just glad to quickly add another +1 to my Courses Played Collection.
After heading back to the hotel to see if folks were awake and ready to hit the road, we headed up Interstate 40 in an effort to make our way to Kernersville. A woman I have gotten to know with Epilepsy Alliance North Carolina and her husband had very graciously offered to allow my wife, daughter and I to spend two nights in their home before starting Housesit #3. Just the nicest people, who I have gotten to know over the past two years, after volunteering to run a kids clinic on the basics of disc golf at a May fundraising event. I was very excited to see them again!
On our way to Kernersville, we all decided we needed a stretch break from hours in the van. So we ended up pulling into Springwood Players’ Course in Burlington, North Carolina. A 19-holer, and 6,926 feet at that (off the Blue tees), that course kicked my behind! I ended up shooting a +1 (62) and an estimated round rating of 901. Pretty underwhelming. Not the course! Just my mediocre play. But I was thankful for the opportunity to sneak in a third course on the day, and a 18+ holer to boot! I’ve been purposefully playing as many 18+ hole courses on this trip as I can, as I want to get my average holes per course number up closer to 12.5 holes/course as I can. TONS of nine-hole courses in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota mean I have work to do! But well over half of the courses I have played on this trip have been 18+ holes, and I expect that trend to continue all the way back to Minnesota.
Magic Number = 164 (1,836 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.