Have I Mentioned Disc Golf?

Since retiring, I’ve focused on improving my fitness, primarily through weight loss (more on that in a future post). My main forms of exercise are simple and cost-effective: walking and playing a game I love—disc golf. Poor fitness had previously held me back in the sport, so as my health improved, I naturally expected my game to follow suit. The results, however, have been mixed. While I can walk more comfortably, which certainly helps during a game, my overall performance has yet to reflect the improvements in my fitness.

Take today’s practice game, for instance. I scored a -3 on Liberty Park’s 9-hole, Par 27 course. A -3 might sound respectable, but it falls short of my lifetime average of -7. To make matters worse, today’s round included an out-of-bounds bogey and a lost disc.

The biggest challenge has been consistency. Over my 45 years of playing disc golf, consistency has always been my strong suit. I’m known for being a reliable player, similar to what golfers might call “Old Reliable” in ball golf. I typically know exactly where my disc is going and can hit my targets with precision. On most local courses, I used to be a scratch or better player. Emphasis on “used to be.” Lately, my game has fallen off significantly.

Today’s performance was worlds apart from my -6 game yesterday. Today, I had some wild results: hitting the pin on two shots, overshooting my target by 50 feet twice, sending a disc 100 feet over a fence on a short hole, and making two incredible 50-foot putts while missing three from just 20 feet away. It was a mess. Yesterday, though, was a different story. I had a string of solid drives and easy drop-in putts. I could have used yesterday’s consistency today.

Disc golf is undeniably a sport—trust me on this. But for me, it’s about more than just competition. I love walking in solitude, headphones in, getting my steps in while enjoying the feeling of a well-thrown disc. I can’t help but wonder: what will tomorrow’s game bring?