Today was the perfect day to play my closest remaining unplayed eighteen-hole course to the townhouse and cat we are housesitting for in Hillsboro. So after crossing a few “To Dos” off of my list at work this morning, I headed over to Scoggins Valley Park in Forest Grove, Oregon. Or as locals affectionately refer to it as: Hagg Lake. Henry Hagg Lake is an artificial lake formed from an impoundment of Scoggins Creek.
What a fantastic park and course! I was totally caught off-guard, not expecting the course to be as good as it actually was. The front nine are mostly open, with several “bombs away” opportunities off the tee, while most of the back nine are highly technical in the woods. Something for just about every player to love…and/or struggle with. 🙂 The course totals 5,871 feet in length, with everything from 149-foot technical challenges to a wide open 600-footer.
I flirted with par my entire round, with three deuces and two bogeys. My -1 (56) was good enough for an estimated round rating of 950. But more important than my score, I was introduced to one of the gems in the greater Portland (Oregon) metro to play. I’m not sure how much traffic the course at Hagg Lake receives, but if I were local? This would be a course I would want to be playing…a LOT!
Tomorrow I leave Portland for a quick two-day trip down to Coos Bay. We’ll see how well I am able to do in adding to my Courses Played collection…
Magic Number = 83 (1,917 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.