Sporting Summer
Text by Erica DeSpain, Photos by Patrick Hood
Erica DeSpain, founder of local lifestyle and travel website All Things Madison explores disc golf with one of her favorite players-her dad
A few weeks ago, my dad called to ask if he could take our two elementary-aged daughters to play disc golf. They squealed with delight and grabbed their shoes as fast as they could. Not only were they excited about playing the game on a small course a few miles away, but they were excited to spend time with their grandpa doing something he loves. They wanted to know everything they could about the sport and learn how to play better, which are feelings that I can relate to when I think back to my own childhood. I loved watching my dad pursue his newfound interest in playing disc golf and enjoyed learning to play the game too.
Though I can’t remember a time when disc golf wasn’t a part of my dad’s life, he says that he clearly remembers his initial introduction to the sport here in North Alabama.
He shared with me a story about the 1992 World Disc Golf Championship coming to Huntsville and watching a co-worker compete as a professional player.
“My co-worker Mike and I were intrigued by the sport, so we decided to go out and learn to play.”
He says that one of the city’s only disc golf courses was right across the street from their engineering office building, which made lunchtime recreation on the course a nearly daily activity.
“We were immediately hooked,” he laughs as he recalls running to the UAH bookstore and buying a handful of new discs to play around with.
He and Mike joined the Professional Disc Golf Association after just a few short months of playing and began competing in tournaments.
“My PDGA number is 7614, but now new player numbers are in the 99,000 range,” he shares, referencing how seemingly young the sport was at the time he got started and how rapidly it has grown in the three decades he’s been playing.
As a young professional and father of three small children, he says that playing disc golf was a welcome challenge and something new and fun to do.
““It’s like regular golf, but instead you’re throwing a disc into a basket.” ”
“I really enjoyed the competitive aspect of it,” he says. “There were also a handful of health benefits too, though I didn’t quite see those back then like I do now.”
My dad, Ron Olsen, played consistently for 10 years but says he began scaling back his time on the course to do other things. He picked back up with his favorite youth hobby of distance running and completed several half marathons and one full marathon. He dove headfirst into raising three teenagers with my mom and then eventually traveling up and down I-65 several times a month when we were all in college.
“I never fully stopped playing though,” he shares. “Disc golf is one of those things that you can do anywhere, so I always made sure to pack a disc.”
My dad has now played all over the country when traveling for business or leisure but says that he has especially enjoyed seeing how the sport’s popularity has grown here in North Alabama.
In the early 1990s, there were only three courses: Braham Springs, Redstone Arsenal, and UAH.
“I can’t tell you how many there are now,” he laughs.
When asked what he believes has led to the growth in popularity, he says that it’s a sport anyone can play for a really low financial investment.
“As long as you have a disc, you can play,” he says, suggesting that the ideal number of discs to start with is three: a drive, a putter, and a mid-range.
For people who are unfamiliar with the game, Olsen describes it simply: “It’s like regular golf, but instead you’re throwing a disc into a basket.”
He continued to explain that courses typically consist of nine or 18 holes. Players start on the tee pad designated No. 1 and then work to get the disc in the basket.
“You’re generally striving for three throws: a drive, then an upshot, and then a put.”
Olsen says that beginners should look for a disc that’s around 170 grams as a starter disc, though notes not to be alarmed when you see players on the course with bags full of 10 discs or more.
When asked what his motivation is to continue playing now, he says that he has really enjoyed getting back into tournament play and enjoys the health benefits of the fresh air and doing something physical.
He has courses all over North Alabama that he enjoys frequenting but says that he especially enjoys Kudzu Cove in Guntersville, Calhoun Community College in Huntsville (a good recreational course for all skill levels), and Indian Creek on the Huntsville/Madison line (great for experienced players).
For those who are interested in learning more about playing disc golf, Olsen suggests visiting PDGA.com.