Today was a day I had been looking forward to for months. A chance to experience luxury treehouse accommodations at Vertical Horizons Treehouse Paradise near Cave Junction, Oregon. Such an interesting experience! “Glamping” 15+ feet off the ground in one of the more comfortable beds I have slept on in quite a while, complete with its own HVAC, bathroom, refrigerator, and bookshelf stocked with various books and games. The wifi connection in the treehouse I slept in was spotty at best! But if you’re staying DEEP in the woods of Josephine County and need wifi to entertain yourself? You’re doing life wrong.
I spent most of today scanning four luxury treehouses at the property, as well as shared bath/shower accommodations for the property (the ONE thing each treehouse did not have for itself…a shower). But after burning through every last bit of battery that my Matterport Pro 2 scanning unit and iPad had? I needed to find a way to entertain myself while getting more juice in my batteries. And I DID have my disc golf discs with me in the car. So………. 🙂
I made my way over to Illinois River Forks State Park near Cave Junction, Oregon to check out a quick nine holes. I came away mostly impressed! It was a solid nine-hole course with excellent tee surfaces and signage. They also seem as though they are in the process of trying to expand the course to eighteen holes in the future. That should make the course even more of an asset to the area! For the time being, however, that nine-hole course measures 3,473 feet in length. I managed to shoot a solid -1 (27), for an estimated round rating of 1018.
After grabbing a quick lunch in Cave Junction, I made my way back to Vertical Horizons Treehouse Paradise. My equipment still wasn’t finished recharging…so I was “forced” to need to check out the disc golf course on the property. Poor me….ha! 🙂 The course is in tougher shape, as I learned while I was at the property that one of the co-owners of the complex recently passed away. The treehouses and shower facilities are immaculate! But the course has seen its better days. Still, I managed to navigate the holes after getting a guided tour from one of the staff persons on the property, and ended up shooting a -3 (24) over nine holes.
I had been told before arriving that the course was an eleven-hole course! But the person giving me the tour of the course said it has only been a nine-hole course for quite a while. I also was given a map of the course that shows it as a nine-hole course…one of the more artistic, funky course maps I have seen in quite a while.
After that, it was back to scanning! Then hanging out tonight in my treehouse accommodations. Tomorrow, I will hit the road for home.
Magic Number = 19 (1,981 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.