I realized that it was exactly a decade ago that I played in my 1st-ever disc golf world championship. Although the tourney overall did not go as well as planned, the final round featured what remains as one of the best throws of my life.

With just a few holes left to play, I let go of a drive on a 330-foot drive that landed softly in the center of the chains. A hole in one at the world championships. It was an especially cool ace because my dad, who had never seen me play before, was actually in the gallery watching me play that day.

To illustrate for those not familiar with disc golf, this essentially would be like standing in a football endzone, and throwing a (frisbee) disc that hits a basketball on the opposite goal post. And even though the event didn’t result in a world title, I had to wait under one year for that dream to come true.

You can see more photos and disc golf expository here:
Fitness Monday: Disc Golf

This is actually part 2 of a photo essay I have created to document the status of land granted to the local disc golf community several months ago. Since that time, disputes have arisen about the land which was deemed protected riparian habitat in the early 80s.

My aim is to end the stalemate which has pitted the city of Sacramento and its local disc golfers against the environmentalists who have stopped the course from opening at the 11th hour and are threatening legal action. The following is the last paragraph of a document drafted by the people working to enforce high levels of protection for the area- (emphasis mine)

If citizens want to influence government decision-making, they must become technically credible, cognizant of bureaucratic and political pressure points, and skilled at the art of compromise. They must grasp the laws and policies governing their situation, and determine the link between what is desirable and what is possible. They must define their cause in specific terms and use the media to rally support. If a “policy gap” exists that impedes their progress, they must participate in the policy-making arena to fill the void. They must work until their vision becomes an institutionalized part of government’s operation. Finally, they must persevere to ensure that their gains are not eroded by political whim or lost via decay of institutional memory.

There is much more below the fold. Follow along if you want to see more photos, learn, or get involved.

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Sure my streak of nearly 2 years without finishing out of the money in a PDGA event has become a streak of 3 straight tourneys OUT OF the money. But at least this weekend I did get a trophy. Albeit one that I earned last October (read original post & see my mug in the newspaper HERE ).

Do not attempt to drink from this cup.

On my respite from the 100+ degree heat in Sacto, I have been enjoying the local disc golf course in Tahoe on a regular basis in preparation for my next tourney. As I approached the first hole I stumbled upon a family from SoCal who came up to Lake Tahoe prepared to play “frisbee golf” for the 1st time. They had the requisite beach frisbees all loaded into a bag, one for each player. Fortunately, they had also bought actual golf discs and had enough so that each of them could throw their own drivers.

I couldn’t resist offering to “show them the course” as it’s not especially beginner-friendly or well-marked. In essence, I had volunteered to act as their “golf pro” for their foray in the world of golf without balls, carts, and environmental devastation from the clear-cutting of forests and subsequent planting of evil grasses that must then be shorn and chemically fertilized indefinitely.

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While not on a par with Cal Ripkin, my nearly-two-year-long streak of finishing in the money in PDGA-sanctioned events has ended. The very tough field in Sacramento last weekend for the “St. Patrick’s Classic” (yeah, I know; held well after the 17th), was too much for a rolly-polly out of shape professional athlete like myself. I think this proves once and for all that sitting in front of a computer 12-14 hours/day for 6 months straight is NOT good X-training for disc golf. (more…)

What does a guy gotta do to get a fair shake these days? First, I give the guys from the paper my business card with my name on it yet they still misspell it TWICE. My name is a TOTAL of SEVEN LETTERS long. How hard can that be?

Then, they don’t mention the huge 60-foot putt I nailed on the final hole to tie for the win. (Nor did they print the photos they took of that critical moment.)

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