My wife and I had a rare opportunity to sneak off alone today, without our daughters. And while we would be getting together later with extended family in Vancouver, Washington, I talked (begged? coerced? bargained? shock-and-awed? LOL) my way into being able to play two quick nine-hole courses a little North of town. Continuing my slow but steady march toward 2,000 courses played. I’m only teasing, of course. As Becky is an AMAZING wife, friend and partner, who supports me and all I do with/for DGA! I just try and be careful not to “overdo” things. Taking time we need as a couple or a family, and spending too much of it in pursuit of my next “+1.”
Our first stop on the afternoon was at Paradise Point DGC in La Center, Washington. It was a confusing and stressful round, as we couldn’t tell if the disc golf course was pay to play or not! There were signs by the campground we noticed while driving by (in the rain, through our very wet windows) that mentioned paying to use the facilities, and there were more signs East of the course that mentioned paying to use the facilities. But there were no signs at the disc golf course itself. And since I was going to be at the course for probably no more than 15 minutes, and we weren’t sure that we were actually going to be asked to pay $0.67 per MINUTE that I played the course? [sigh] We guessed that the course was not pay to play. It bothered me the entire quick round, however. I am a rule follower, and I don’t want to do anything I am not supposed to…ESPECIALLY as an Ambassador for DGA!
It literally took more time to snap nine quick photos from each tee (to upload to DGCourseReview.com, to help future visitors to the course know what to expect) than it did to throw my discs. And we were out of there in LITERALLY fifteen minutes! A quick -3 (24) for an estimated round rating of 908. But it bothered me…not knowing if I was supposed to pay to play the course or not. So after doing a bit of research after we got back to the townhouse in Hillsboro we are housesitting? I did confirm that we, in fact, had been expected to pay for me to play that course. 🙁 Ugh. I’ll need to mail them a payment after the fact if I can figure out how. But for anyone reading this: if you do visit this course for a QUICK round? It *IS* pay to play.
Heading back toward Vancouver for dinner, I had one more stop on the afternoon: Abrams Park in Ridgefield. I liked this course! It was a bit confusing to play the first couple of holes! But two nice locals talked me through it. It was wet and very slippery, but it was also the type of disc golf course I love to play: lots of trees and elevation changes, rewarding accuracy over a “big arm.” I shot a -2 (25) for an estimated round rating of 914. Getting JUST muddy enough to have an interesting story when we arrived for dinner. 🙂
Magic Number = 61 (1,939 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.