Disc Golf Rules!

Earlier this month while at the Scouts "Roundtable" meeting, an innocuous flier was on the table near the entrance.  It called to me though... stirring a spirit from the way back days:  "Free Disc Golf Clinic", sponsored by the Youth Disc Golf Association (YDGA).  I knew then that the boys needed to experience the coolness of disc golf (AKA "frisbee golf" to the unitiated!).

I sent the message out to Pack 621 and announced it at our monthly meeting.  Still... only 4 boys accepted the challenge - the rest will come to learn what they missed!  LOL.  The course we were to play was in San Marcos, and I found it it was fairly recent - only about 18 months old. 

The YDGA folks, as well as members of the San Diego Aces, a competitive disc golf team, were as friendly as they could be.  Cold water, plenty of discs, and an approach to teaching the kids that was genuine, fun and informative. 

After just 20 minutes of rules, practice, and Q&A, the boys trudged off towards Hole #1, a 150 footer with a ditch just to one side of the hole.  I was proud of Ethan and his friends, open and eager to learn.

Discs for disc golf come in a wide variety of weights and aerobatic properties.  There are discs for driving, mid-range, putting, for flying around trees, and more. 

A couple of the instructors had bags holding a dozen or more specialized discs.  Here's a picture of a full-on kit.

After the boys were on the 4th tee or so, several parents went out with one of the instructors who was quite skilled and taught us the ropes as well.  He had a wicked drive and a throwing technique on one hole where the disc literally knife-edged it's way between two trees to drop within a few yards of the chains.

Oh, so a little about the "chains":  The holes are actually posts with a tulip-shaped series of hanging chains that do a decent job of trapping the discs when hit properly.  Or, in many cases, they can be tricky little chains of denial, swatting away even the most skilled players' flying putters.

The boys seemed to love the whole experience, recounting different holes and shots over a sub sandwich later.  I think this is a fire that can be stoked...