If you're not familiar with Frisbee golf, you use lighter-bigger discs to hit designated objects on a course to complete holes like golf. When I was young, my Father created a course around the yard and we would play obscurely named events for prizes. Years later I started my freshman year at university, which was conveniently located next to a charming disc golf course called Knollwood. Knollwood's layout complexity and shorter than average hole lengths made it a great course to learn how to throw a disc. At the time, the only other course I was aware of in town was Oshtemo park. If it sounds familiar, it should because it was one of the courses used in the 2008 Pro disc golf World Championship.
The year is 2012 and I just started my new job with a more consistent schedule. Rumors begin to rumble regarding a new course that was put in at the local aerospace and science museum. Little did I know that this new course called Air Zoo would become the training grounds for learning how to consistently throw a disc fast and forward. Unfortunately, the Air Zoo was closed in the summer of 2014, following inappropriate activities not consistent with family friendly values. I can't overstate how incredible the layouts were with a healthy mix of open carrying fields to tree filled fairways. It'd be a great day for disc golf if this course was resurrected. This began my hiatus from disc golf.
In 2020, a friend sent me link to the Jomez youtube channel. After watching all the past tournaments and seeing all the amazing courses, the nostalgia from my past frisbee and disc golf experiences began to set in. I visited my local courses again and engaged the community in ways I hadn't before. Taking experience from failures and missed shot isn't always easy, but always beneficial.
I firmly believe that golf, in any form, doesn't owe any player a single thing. A bad round of golf will kick you when you're down without a second thought. It demands consistency and rewards the extraordinary, but takes every opportunity to break you. Honestly, I think overcoming the stacked odds against the player is what bring people out to their local courses.