A Friday meander: Disc golf

First basket.

The tree giveth, the tree taketh away.

Throw long and prosper.

~ Disc Golf jokes/sayings found on Pinterest

Make the wind your friend.

~ Jimmy Lane, disc golf player (found on a disc golf discussion board)

Lost and found.

Wednesday I went to Trap Pond State Park up in Delaware to play a round of disc golf and to do a little hiking.  In case you’re unfamiliar with disc golf, here’s a description from Wikipedia:

Disc golf is a flying disc sport in which players throw a disc at a target; it is played using rules similar to golf. … Usually, the number of throws a player uses to reach each target are tallied (often in relation to par), and players seek to complete each hole, and the course, in the lowest number of total throws.

Think Frisbee, if the idea of a disc is eluding you.  As for the golf part, it’s similar in scoring (lowest score wins), in being outdoors, starting at a tee, and in shooting down a fairway towards a hole although in the case of disc golf it’s often a basket.

The two discs I used. The top one is a putter, the bottom a stability disc although the way I throw is not particularly stable.

There are 18 holes, just as in golf.  There are a variety of discs you can use (just as you use a variety of clubs in golf).  There are stability discs, drivers, mid-range discs, and putters.

The road to the disc golf course.

M and I first started playing disc golf sometime in the 1990’s, I think.  We were living in southern Ohio at the time.  The first course we played on was in Rotary Park in Huntington, West Virginia (across the Ohio River from where we lived).  There are now two disc golf courses there, both designed by World Champion Disc Golfer, Johnny Sias.  It was quite an interesting course where you could easily lose a disc or two.  As I remember it, it involved climbing what felt like a mountain where you had to practically be a mountain goat to hike some of the trails (some tilted sideways, some were steep) on the course.

See the basket? You have to throw the disc and hope you don’t hit the trees on the way towards the basket.

We played a few other courses in Ohio, but I can’t remember the last time I played.  It might have been the 90’s.  Maybe the early 2000’s.  All I know for sure is that it’s been a long time.  Because it’s been so long since I even threw a Frisbee, I was terrible at it.  That’s okay.  I had a ridiculous amount of fun and honestly didn’t care how awful I was at throwing the discs.  By the end, my putting was great.  My long-range throwing didn’t improve at all.

The fairway.

After days and days of cloud cover, the sun finally made an appearance on Wednesday.  Perhaps it was the boost from the light that made it all so much fun.  Or the fresh air.  Or the beauty of the woods.  No matter.  It was a lively, enjoyable day.

Looking up at the blue sky.

Clouds are moving back in today ahead of some expected rain.  We are still in a rain deficit (which seems hard to believe because I feel like I’m always mentioning that rain is on the way!).

Another fairway.

It’s been an interesting week in Yoga Darsana class.  Lots of insights flying around.  I’m learning a lot about yoga and a lot about myself (self-study is one of the eight limbs of yoga so this was to be expected).  This week has brought me a lesson in boundaries and values.  It’s good to have both and to know what they are, don’t you think?  Sometimes I wonder if that’s the problem with politics.  Too little of both, or maybe it’s too little authenticity when it comes to both.  Some are more inclined to talk about values rather than actually live them.

Joined at the twist.

I have tuned in to the Senate hearings when it’s being aired here (we don’t have cable and, as you may recall, I have limited internet data and have to save that for yoga class since it’s online).  It’s hard to bear at times, the hearings, the news, the lies, the people who insist on either believing the lies or not caring about the lies.  (I suppose you could read that any way you like and make it fit your own narrative.)

Interesting fungi. (Even playing disc golf, I found time to crawl around and look at mushrooms and other fungi.)

Well, I should be doing a bit of reading and studying.  Thank you so much for joining me on another meander.  I keep meaning to get back to Monday meanders, but can’t seem to find the time.  That’s okay.  We can meander any old day of the week.  Let’s meet at the dock for sunset, if it looks like there will be anything to see.  The clouds have really thickened throughout the afternoon so it seems unlikely.  Sunset is scheduled for 5:24 PM.  It’s in the 50’s but feels colder.  You’ll probably need a good coat or jacket, a hat, and at least bring along some gloves.  It’s always chillier by the water this time of year.

Be good, be kind, be love.  ♥

We played 9 holes and then went for a hike to visit with the bald cypress trees.

A few of the 10,000 reasons to be happy:  1,236)  Sunshine after days of cloud cover.  1,237)  A lovely walk this morning.  It was frosty and the sunlight turned the frost into glitter.  1,238)  A new photography project that I’m taking a deep dive into.  I’ll probably bring some of it here eventually.  1,239)  Looking at the world with a soft gaze.  It’s an interesting practice.  1,240)  The good people, and there are a lot of them out there working hard, trying to make life better for themselves, for others, and for the future.

Drishti practice. A photo from this morning’s walk.