“If you’re looking for some fun that’s out in the sun- disc golf.
If you wanna exercise then you can realize disc golf.
When you’re down on your luck and don’t have a buck- disc golf.
In our community we play for free- disc golf.
If you can throw a disc than you can play this- disc golf.
It doesn’t take time or you can play nine- disc golf.
Bring the family along, you’ll be singing this song,
Out and having fun it’s our number one- disc golf.”
The Disc Golf Song- Claude Dubé (2021)
As much as I love hiking, it’s getting harder and harder for me to go on a long hike because of my arthritic knees. I’m trying to hold off on surgery as long as possible, so I’m keeping busy with physical therapy exercises and trying to find ways to stay active without killing my joints. I tried pickleball, but the fast starts and stops diving for the ball were too much- I was sore for weeks afterwards. Then my friend Tony asked if I wanted to try disc golf. If you are not familiar with the game, disc golf (also known as “frisbee golf”), is usually played on a course with 9 or 18 holes (baskets). Each hole includes a tee position for starting play and a disc golf target some distance away, often with obstacles such as trees, hills or bodies of water in between. I threw a frisbee around when I was young, so, I figured I’d give it a try. I loved it. And now I have a new way to walk around in the woods, take in the fresh air, and still get a good workout!
All my life, from the time I was young, I’ve loved sports. And all of my life, from the time I was young, I’ve sucked at sports. But it never stopped me from having fun. I played in one little league game in my life. I had one at-bat and struck out in three swings. My dad was watching and feared I would get hurt, watching a bigger kid throw blazing fastballs at me that I had zero chance of hitting, and that was my last organized game. But it did not stop me from playing with the neighborhood kids. We played year ’round- baseball in the vacant field at the end of my block, basketball in the driveway behind my house, handball and touch football on Bingham Street (“Car coming!”). I was always the last kid picked, but I didn’t care- we always had a good time. And so it is with disc golf- like most of my sporting endeavors, I am not very good. I have a bad arm which limits my ability to throw forehand, so I just stick my backhand so I don’t hurt myself. I’ve played many times, and I always have the highest score amongst my friends- every single time. On a course where the holes are all par 3, I’m usually good for a 4 or 5. The few times when I make par are a cause for celebration! But that’s OK. I’m close enough to make it fun.
There is a wide variety of discs used in disc golf and they are generally divided into three categories: drivers, mid-range discs, and putters. I have my own set of discs, but with my skill level I’m likely to end up in the shrubs or the creek regardless of which disc I use. They are getting pretty beat up from hitting so many trees, so it may be time to buy some new ones. But I try to act like a pro, assess the situation and distance and wind and obstacles and peruse my bag- “ah, this shot definitely requires my red disc!” And then I inevitably toss it right into the stream…
I was amazed to see how many disc golf courses are in the area. Fun fact: There are more disc golf courses in the United States than there are Dunkin’ Donuts shops. I’ve played at Hickory Run State Park, Upper Salford Park, Sellersville, Fort Washington, Sedgley Woods, Kenilworth Disc Golf, Boyertown, Skippack, and the Haverford Reserve to name a few. Some are more challenging than others- in distance to the basket, obstacles, hilly terrain, distance walked over 18 holes, or all of the above. But even when my knees are bothering me, I can still get from hole to hole, taking a break to make my throws. We typically walk about 2 – 3 miles over an 18-hole course, frequently going up and down wooded hills along the way. It’s the perfect workout for where I am at physically right now. If you’ve never given it a try, you’re missing out!
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