Disc Golf soars on par

  • Published
  • By Airman Daniel Lile
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Disc golf is a great outdoor fall activity that is enjoyed by many Airmen on Columbus AFB. Ed Headrick, the father of disc golf, established the baseline rules of the game which are still being used today. There are disc golf courses available to Airmen on base and around the area that are very technical and a lot of fun.

There are also disc golf opportunities in the surrounding area. Each course brings a whole new set of challenges and excitement. Lake Lowndes is just one of the options in the local area that are fun to play.

"I love going to play at Lake Lowndes," said 2nd Lt. Loring Ross, 14th Student Squadron. "It's a great course and you can buy disks there; so if you are just starting out and you don't have equipment it is a great option."

There is a three dollar parking fee at Lake Lowndes to keep in mind. Propst Park is another great option around Columbus AFB.

"I love to play here on base, but another good course is Propst Park in the downtown area," said Schon. "It's about a 15 minute drive. It's a little more open with fewer trees, but you have to throw the disk farther. There is a par five there that is 1,000 feet."

Schon encourages his fellow Airmen to get out and play disc golf with him and enjoy the outdoors.

"The course on-base is definitely challenging." said Senior Airman Daniel Schon, 14th Operations Support Squadron. "There are a ton of trees; there is not a game that we play where I don't hit two or three of them."

"Senior Airman Schon actually got me started playing," said Senior Airman Cole Klubek, 14th Operations Support Squadron. "The first time we played he beat me so I wanted to keep playing to get better. Now it has actually turned into a little rivalry."

Disc golf is always a great option when Airmen are looking for something to do, and you can always find somebody that wants to play especially when all you have to do is walk to the park on base.

"In the summertime I usually try to go out and play on the weekends or whenever I get off work," said Ross. "You can always find someone who is willing to go out and play with; it's just a great time."

The sport of disc golf is growing rapidly in the United States, you almost can't go to another base and not find a course. It's estimated that over 100,000 people in over 40 nations now play disc golf.

"Every place I have moved there always seems to be a course nearby," said Ross. "It really is turning into a big sport; especially in the South where the weather is usually ideal for outdoor activities."

Different disc golf players like different weather conditions to play in, but windy conditions always make for an interesting game.

"I really like playing when it is windy because no matter how good you are if you catch a bad wind that disk is going to go everywhere," said Klubek. "It really makes the game fun and it levels out the playing field."

However playing when the ground is dry might save Airmen some frustration; making early morning games, when dew is on the ground, more challenging.

"You definitely want to play when the ground is dry," said Schon. "You're always walking around and when the disks are wet it makes it a lot harder to grip and throw straight; carrying a towel sometimes helps."

Disc golf is such a good option to Airmen because it is cheap and fun. You only need discs and a course to play on. Discs are available to Airmen in the fitness center for playing the course on base.

"It's a good thing to do with friends, and it's really cheap," said Ross. "All you have to do is get a few disks and you're good to go."

Disk golf is a great way to get outdoors and have fun doing it. Airmen enjoy playing the sport year around.

"I really enjoy being outdoors while playing," said Klubek. "Especially this time of year, it's starting to cool down and get really nice. It's great to do on a lunch break; just getting away from the office for about an hour and calming down outside."