first day throwing discs around... 25 March 2017

...in my back yard.  And with the perfect target for putting accuracy - better than a basket, imho...

No proper disc golf courses for me just yet...  Before I do that, I want to have at least a rudimentary idea of what it is to throw a disc around.  This back yard is small, but it at least has enough space to allow me to practice putting and the shortest of short 'approach' shots.

Richard Rasch and I sang together almost twenty years ago in the Houston Chamber Choir.  Richard had cottoned on disc golf at about that time, but he and all the rest of us in the choir to whom he talked about the sport dismissed it (at least I did).

Last August, I saw a random Facebook post of his, and I decided to check out the game on YouTube.  Alas, I was too busy to actually go out, buy discs, and give the game a whirl, but disc golf stayed in the back of my mind.

My research (such as it was) led me to the understanding for an absolute beginner like myself, a simple putter was all I needed.  In late January, I went to Rick's Darts & Games in far-west Houston to buy three of the same putter.  Rick cottoned me to a DiscCraft starter set. 

     

Yes, my initials are on each disc and my phone number as well.  From what I've heard, it's easier to lose discs in bushes and plants than one thinks.  For that reason, I like the bright colors here.  (I estimate there have been at least a fifty-to-a-hundred-thousand different disc golf discs manufactured/stamped since the sport began.)

I threw discs around in three stints, the first being trying to putt (as in hit the metal pole head-on) from various distances up to three meters.  Even at one meter, I realized putting is far more of a technical exercise (like free throws in basketball) than it looks and is a thing apart from driving and approach shots: its own thing.

I then threw the driver and mid-range around and even nearly threw the putter over the fence (tree caught it).  Back yard will be a nice test of nerves for me: I absolutely do *not* want to throw a disc over the fence into a neighbor's yard.

Second stint today saw me 'create' a 'course' of two 'holes'.  Photos next time (once back yard is cleaned up a bit)...

Third stint saw me play my improvised course some more.  Lots of fun, and while I am a lifetime away from being able to guide any disc at will, I have a rudimentary sense of what my mid-range at this short distance wants to do.

The week after this one will see me hit a proper course for the first time.  More soon!