One of the challenges I often face on the road while course collecting is being in the neighborhood of courses that are not available for play on the days or times I happen to be passing through an area. K-12 schools from 8:00am to 4:00pm on school days. Church courses on Sundays. Etc. So with today being Sunday, I did my best to look for K-12 courses that I could play without needing to worry about time of day.
My first stop on the day was at Bethel Elementary School in Canton, North Carolina. The last time I was in the Asheville area, this was one of the courses I happened to pass within a few miles of. However, I could not stop and play, as I was passing through during business hours on a weekday. So today I would make sure to get it played while the getting was good! Though it was a little unsettling, seeing a part of the course (Holes 3-5) crossing into an area of land that had signs saying something along the lines of “trespassers will be prosecuted.” I had to believe that it meant trespassers on the land immediately to the North of the course/campus! But it wasn’t entirely clear…so I tried to play those three holes as quickly as was absolutely possible. I managed a -3 (24) and an estimated round rating of 939. But more importantly, I did not wind up behind bars. 🙂
My next stop on the day was at Meadowbrook Elementary DGC in Canton, North Carolina. I liked this course a lot more than Bethel, not to mention no worries about if I would be visiting with local police as a result of playing there. 🙂 I shot a -2 (26), for an estimated round rating of 968. A good course for a K-12 school! At least it was better than I had expected it to be before I arrived.
My third course played today was Enka High School, a short 18-hole course, measuring only 4,062 feet. But there were a number of challenging shots out there to keep you honest. I was disappointed with my round, shooting (only) a -7 (47). But it came with an estimated round rating of 952, and I got to have some fun conversations with three of the locals who happened to be playing while I was there.
One of the nice men was chatting me up after seeing me park a couple of tee shots. Even better at “sandbagging” than I am, talking about how he was impressed by my tee shots. 🙂 But what he really wanted to talk about is how that course was where Nate Sexton, a well-known professional player, spent a lot of time learning the game when he was younger. I had been thinking what a fun course that might be to learn how to throw discs like the DGA Steady or the DGA ProLine Squall. I’ll never be HALF as good as Nate Sexton at disc golf! But I really don’t ever want to be, if I am completely honest. As what it would cost me in my work, my marriage, my relationship with my daughters, my course collecting? Wouldn’t be worth the trade. In the spirit of “the player that has the most fun wins,” copyright: Steady Ed Headrick? I’m having too much fun as a course collector to want to go back sweating place/payouts/ratings rocking some C-Tiers and/or sanctioned leagues to care.
Hooray! Three K-12 courses cleared off of my Unplayed Courses Map in UDisc today! Hopefully, the weather will hold, work will cooperate, and I can get some additional courses played tomorrow.
Magic Number = 181 (1,819 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.