After a brief recess, it's back to the park!
Welcome to Hot Springs, South Dakota, and the Angostura State Recreation Area for today's match. As Angostura is located within a state park, there is an entrance fee required, whether by one day or annual pass. This is a nine-hole hilly course with one tee/basket combination set and fairly noticeable elevation increases before returning to lake level. A map is available at the beginning of the course, which will certainly be needed because some of the holes are near each other, making the course slightly confusing. Before getting into the match, we have a bit of an equipment change.
Between this and the previous match, we picked up some additional discs for our arsenal; shout-out to Parked-It Disc Golf Emporium in Corpus Christi, Texas for offering an array of new and used discs for sale at a reasonable price. He has inherited the Innova Sidewinder 9/5/-3/1 distance driver, the Discraft Hawk 0^ mid-range, and Innova Colt 3/4/-1/1 putter, along with a Dynamic Discs commemorative 7/5/0/2 fairway driver from the KDGA Food Drive annual tournament. Her selection include a Latitude Rover 7/7/-1/1 fairway driver, a Dynamic Discs Evader 7/5/0/2 fairway driver, a Clash Berry 5/5/-1/1 mid-range, and a Latitude Royal Hope Prototype 2/3/0/1 putter.
With equipment out of the way, along with the pup that remained at home, how did this match go?
Course Result:
His Holes: 3
Halved: 5
Her Holes: 1
Course Record: Him 4 - 2 - 3 Her
Holes Record: Him 25 - 20 Her
Needless to say, the terrain showed its face early and often on this course. After a halved hole 1, hole 2 being perched on a steep incline, combined with a couple of missed putts, gave him an awful 9-11 edge. After a couple of halves, he made up for the previous mistake with a Larry Mize-like long chip into the hole on the 5th green to take it. This was short lived, as his tee-off on the 6th green went down into the valley, adding a couple strokes as we play as it lies. She was unable to capitalize on this mistake, though, as this and the next hole were halved. She was able to bring it back to within one on the 8th, but the hole win was traded back on the 9th. The shots were more than difficult on this Par 36, with him having a 58-62 edge.
He may have been able to take the lead with the new equipment, but will she bring it back? Until the next course, remember to Follow Your Internal Compass.
The next disc golf match is upon us.
Welcome to Ingleside, Texas, and Live Oak Park for the site of this match. Live Oak Park is a free-to-access municipal park and is home to two disc golf courses, and we are playing the easier Red course. Although the concrete tees and holes are numbered, some of the signs have since faded making it difficult to know where to go. Thankfully, along with an online map, we were joined by two somewhat experienced gentlemen on our trip through the front nine; we'd like to thank Eric and Matthew for playing along with us.
Our session saw the four of us playing the front nine. No pup, handicap still in play, and thanks to our guests for allowing us to sample some of the other discs that are available to the discerning disc golf player. Some of the holes were a little tricky, but we were able to get through them with only a couple of discs in the trees, this time choosing to drop without penalty. How did the scores go?
Course Result:
Front Nine:
His Holes: 3
Halved: 2
Her Holes: 4
Course Record: Him 3 - 2 - 3 Her
Holes Record: Him 22 - 19 Her
This match found him having a dreadful start, hitting tree after tree by allowing her to take an early two hole lead. He started to pull it back in hole 3, but some awful putt luck (dinged off the hole, similar to a lip-out on the ball-and-club counterpart) meant a trade back in hole 4. He brought it back to even in the next two holes, while seven and eight were halved, leaving the lunch prize to the ninth hole. A choke on the tee, followed by yet even more bad putt luck gave her the win in the match play. He was able to win the strokes 54-55, but it's the match play that counts for the record books.
This brings us to a tie in course record, with him having an edge on holes. Who will take the edge on the next course? We'll find out next time, but until then, Follow your Internal Compass.
Time to go back to the links!
We're coming to you from beautiful Mustang Island, at the Community Park in Port Aransas, Texas. Today's course lies within a free-to-access municipal park along a walking trail near the Nature Preserve. Port Aransas Community Park is unique in that although it is a nine-hole course, there are three bonus holes offered along the vehicle right of way, which means this will be a twelve hole match. Although no map exists outside the course, here is a map of the first 9 holes. The tees are well marked, although there are no concrete tees.
This match in the late morning consisted of 12 holes, using the red markers for the front 9, and the only markers available (blue) for the bonus holes. No pup, same handicap for the discs. Because of the limited discs and the corresponding inability to throw over a marsh, the participants agreed to play hole 3 starting from the location of hole 2, as opposed to the tee. How'd this one go?
Course Result:
Front Nine:
His Holes: 2
Halved: 5
Her Holes: 2
Bonus Holes:
His Holes: 0
Halved: 3
Her Holes: 0
Total:
His Holes: 2
Halved: 8
Her Holes: 2
Course Record: Him 3 - 2 - 2 Her
Holes Record: Him 19 - 15 Her
This match went back and forth. He took hole one, but she immediately answered back with hole two. After a few halves, he was able to clinch hole seven, but she answered right back with a par of hole eight. However, hole nine saw both players achieving par, him for the first time, as the match ended not only halved, but a draw in terms of stroke count: 39-39 on the front nine par 27, and 16-16 on the bonus holes as a par 9.
With a draw this time around, she's able to keep pace, but he maintains the one course lead. Who will take the next course? Stay tuned as we Follow our Internal Compass to another match.
Once again near some courses, it's time to hit the park!
Welcome to the Waldron Park Disc Golf Course, located just off the Gulf coast in Corpus Christi, Texas. This is a free access park, albeit tucked deep within a sizable residential area. Waldron Park is a nine-hole course, with two tee pads marked to emulate a total of eighteen holes. Most of the course is fairly straight-forward, although hole eight is very difficult if you don't have good distance because of the water hazard. A billboard with a map of the course is available near hole one.
Our session around noon found us only playing the front nine, seeing how there's no real difference other than angle of tee shot. No pup, same handicap as always with discs. Who took this match?
Course Result:
His Holes: 5
Halved: 2
Her Holes: 2
Course Record: Him 3 - 1 - 2 Her
Holes Record: Him 17 - 13 Her
He started off with a hole lead, and basically ran away with it, including a lucky long putt on hole 5. She started to catch up on holes 8 and 9, but by then, it was too little, too late. The shot count ended in his favor at 43-48 on a Par 27, but we must give her a special commendation on hole 9 for achieving the first "par" in our disc golf series.
He may now be up in both course and holes, but that ending may leave her some room for momentum. Can she cash in on it and even things up? We'll see when we Follow our Internal Compass to the next course.
Let's go to Brandon, and play some more disc golf!
We're coming to you, almost live, from the beautiful Big Sioux Recreation Area Nature Trail Disc Golf Course, within the Sioux Falls suburb of Brandon, South Dakota. This is a more difficult course with more hazards, including the Big Sioux River. Again, this is within a state recreation area requiring a fee to enter by one day or annual pass. This course is designed to be challenging yet good for all players, with the front and back nine easily able to be played on separate occasions. The "B" baskets are not standing, forcing players onto the "A" baskets. However, the park was gracious enough to provide scorecards with a map and the "par" rating.
The morning session saw the front nine, this time without the pup. The handicap was in play, where she gets the driver, and he gets the mid-range, with both sharing the putter. Plenty of shots made the tall grass and hit a few trees along the way, but with all that, how did we fare?
Front 9: His holes: 4 Halved: 1 Her holes: 4
Course Record: Him 1 - 1 - 2 Her Holes Record: Him 7 - 9 Her
The front nine saw us going back and forth. Three times she'd win a hole, and three times he'd pull it back even, even with a halved hole in the way. Although unofficial, we decided to keep track of the shots to see how we'd do, and as a result of his terrible first hole, she won the shot count 64-67. This was on a Par 31, so needless to say we'll be sticking to match play for a while. However, with the first nine a draw, what will happen on the back nine?
Back 9: His holes: 5 Halved: 2 Her holes: 2
Course Record: Him 2 - 1 - 2 Her Holes Record: Him 12 - 11 Her
Once again without the pup, after a little more back and forth, along with some terrible hazard luck for him coupled with "tree love" (favorable bounce off a tree) for her on 13, he knew he had to turn it around. However, one shot deep into the rough on 15 and she just wasn't the same, allowing him to take the back nine going away. Unofficially, because of hole 13, he still barely eked out the shot count 57-58 on a Par 30, leaving the entire course to her, 122-124.
However, by all official counts, although he's up one hole in the aggregate, the course record is tied. Which way will it go next time? Find out when we Follow our Internal Compass to the next course.
It's a wonderful day back at the park, as we are ready to take to our next disc golf course!
Welcome to Powerhouse Alley, located at Oahe Downstream State Recreation Area just outside Fort Pierre, South Dakota. As with most of the state parks, there is an entrance fee required, whether by a one-day or annual pass. This is an easier course that is good for beginners, but the par number of throws is designed for the player with the strong arm. The course is designed for the player to be able to play the front or back 9 and easily head out for something else, or to play all 18 holes at once. The course is well marked with different tees to suit your difficulty rating, as well as an online map to help guide your way. Be careful of traffic driving around while you play.
We spent a morning playing the front 9. This time, we had the pup with us, and his disc of choice was from our "Can Slam" set that he chased while we played with our starter pack, and not once did he try to pick up our discs. Once again, the handicap was in play, and with such a long course, it made things relatively even. The score ended up as such:
Front 9: His holes: 2 Halved: 7 Her holes: 0
Course Record: Him 1 - 1 Her Holes Record: Him 3 - 3 Her
It was a fairly even game without too much break in number of throws, and only a couple times were the discs "brought out" from the rough with even throw penalty so nothing was lost. On the seventh "green", she was nearly able to pull within one after some difficulty with which goal was to be used, but a successful long putt attempt by him was able to halve the hole. A double-or-nothing was offered on the ninth hole to even up the game, but with it being halved, no change was made. Everything is all even-steven, so who will break the deadlock?
Back 9: His holes: 0 Halved: 7 Her holes: 2
Course Record: Him 1 - 2 Her Holes Record: Him 3 - 5 Her
The next morning was a great day for her on the somewhat more challenging back 9, with plenty more hazards. He tried to hold on as best he could, including long putts to halve holes, but in the end it wasn't enough, as she took the final two targets to seal the win and even up the course as a whole. She remains in the lead overall, with a two hole edge.
Be sure to stay tuned for the next time we Follow our Internal Compass to another disc golf course, and see what happens.
Once again in a new series, time to hit the links and throw some discs. What, discs you say? Not clubs and balls? What sort of sorcery is this?
Many parks today are placing disc golf on their grounds. For the uninitiated, this combines then fun of throwing a Frisbee or similar brand disc with the challenge of a golf course. Mind you, a typical Frisbee-brand disc is not used in playing, as there are specially made discs made for all different sorts of distances and curves for any throw you wish to make. Instead of your traditional hole you'd see in golf, the "hole" is a metal bowl-like structure with suspended chains above, all mounted on a short pole or hung from a tree. Hazards range from tall grass to tree branches and trunks, and sometimes a small stream. The course length is a bit shorter because throwing the disc covers less distance than hitting a ball, but there's a good amount of ground to cover for a full 18-hole course.
We first tried disc golf a few years before getting the RV. Picking up a good deal on a starter pack of discs at the Mall of America during one of our road trips, between hectic work schedules, home improvements, and inclement weather, time was finally found to play a bit. The first ever match was at Clay Park Central in Liverpool NY. Located within a municipal park, this is a much more challenging course to play, even more so when there were no maps or signs explaining the course along the path. If it wasn't for painted hole numbers on the tees, we would have been completely lost. Plenty of hazards exist, and the course is designed to play the entire 18 holes in one go, meaning an awkward hike was awaiting for us, when we only wanted to play 9 holes.
Although each hole has a "par", for us, Match Play is the way to go. During match play, the "winner" of the hole is determined by who gets the disc in the "hole" in the fewest number of throws. If each player uses the same number of throws, the hole is "halved". Unlike James Bond and Goldfinger, there aren't any big prizes for winning a hole, not even who has to dump and flush the black tank. However, we'll keep score during the series so you can root for who you want. Each "match" is going to consist of 9 holes since that's what we usually play at a time, although we may be inclined to go for all 18 at a course, whether across two sessions or all at once. For those curious, a "starter pack" consisting of a distance driver (Innova Sidewinder, 9/5/-3/1), mid-range (Discraft Hawk, 0^), and putter (Innova Colt, 3/4/-1/1) are what we are using, and we'll make an update if we get new discs. She gets the distance driver while he gets the mid-range disc as the handicap, and the putter disc is shared as desired.
Not too much of specifics are remembered with this match other than her winning, and there's some question as to how many holes were actually won, but we have agreed to the following score:
Front 9: His holes: 1 Halved: 5 Her holes: 3
Back 9: Not played
Course Record: Him 0 - 1 Her Holes Record: Him 1 - 3 Her
Looks as if she has the advantage. How long will she be able to hold this? Stay tuned as we Follow our Internal Compass points towards the next course.
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