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I'm 35 years old. I'm an average, caucasian, American born man. My first experience with disc golf was when I was eight. I'd played a couple times, but then I hadn't played anymore until 2001, when a new friend I had made took me to play at Seven Oaks DGC in Nashville, TN. At this time I was gong through a busy, hectic and blurry time in life, as I was working two jobs, going to school 4 days a week, commuting an hour and a half, one way, to go to class, and I had a new-born son at home. all this talk isn't about me, as I'm sure almost every player has a very similar, if not more profound or touching story. This essay isn't about me. I can't put my finger on any one incident that embodies the "Spirit of Disc Golf," for there are too many to place as "THE SPIRIT."
Disc golf is a game. Just as any "sport" is a game. Any sport. But, disc golf is different than any media circus that is a "professional sport." The majority of the time, the only stories you hear on TV or radio about good deeds performed by athletes are singular events. A quarterback starts a charity, a starter brings a dying child to a game as his guest. These stories are very heart warming,. I can't downplay any of them. But. They are few and far between.
Disc golf is different because almost every player is a person. An average ordinary person that receives very little credit, recognition or any fame at all. And almost every player I've ever met on any course(I've played over a hundred) I've met is a human being. Not a super star. Not a "god" of the game. None the less, human. I've seen so many good deeds. I've witnessed so many people come together for great causes. I've been the culprit of this trend, as well. I'm not looking for credit. I'm not looking for that "feel good" feeling.
Disc golf is a game. Call it a sport, if you will. But as I stated earlier, any sport is a game, when you boil it down, cook it off and whittle away at the layers that surround it.
Games are in essence, an activity of enjoyment. An activity to bring diverse people together.
An activity of fellowship, of gathering, of enjoyment. Players bring homeless people food on cold mornings. Give others rides home on a rainy, stormy, dreary day. Players organize charity tournaments to raise money for causes. Some as little as helping a fellow player get home, across the entire globe, so they can be home and with their wife on the day their child is born. Funeral costs. Adolescent cancer patient treatment. Dog rescue missions. The list goes on and on.
This is the "Spirit of Disc Golf."
Not in any particular order of importance, the true spirit is the love of the game. The enjoyment of fellowship. The act of being outdoors and getting exercise. To just be alive. What I get from disc golf is much like what some get from going to church on Sunday mornings. Connection with the world. Knowing the sun is shining upon my face, that God's blessings are showered upon this Earth. Socializing with others. No matter how different we may be, it's a common ground. No matter how different we are, no matter our own personal goals, we are all the same on the course. We're there to have fun, to enjoy life and to just be at peace. I gain focus, centering, peace and serenity when ever I throw an ace run. There's something pure and innocent about a true flight down the fairway. There's vibration in the universe when someone hits chains off the drive. The "Spirit of Disc Golf?" Not many see it, but it's the true underlying factor. Love. No matter what your aim, it all comes down to love. Love of the game. Love for others. Bringing glory to the powers behind our existence. That's the true "Spirit of Disc Golf." It's brought so many people out of dark places and has allowed everyone to bring light into the lives of others. Love is the true "Spirit." Call it respect for others. Call it your chance to get out of the house. Call it a chance to hang with your homies. Call it your own thang. It's all related. It's all the same. It's love. Love for others. Love of nature. Love of fellowship. Love of the game.
Disc golf is a game. Just as any "sport" is a game. Any sport. But, disc golf is different than any media circus that is a "professional sport." The majority of the time, the only stories you hear on TV or radio about good deeds performed by athletes are singular events. A quarterback starts a charity, a starter brings a dying child to a game as his guest. These stories are very heart warming,. I can't downplay any of them. But. They are few and far between.
Disc golf is different because almost every player is a person. An average ordinary person that receives very little credit, recognition or any fame at all. And almost every player I've ever met on any course(I've played over a hundred) I've met is a human being. Not a super star. Not a "god" of the game. None the less, human. I've seen so many good deeds. I've witnessed so many people come together for great causes. I've been the culprit of this trend, as well. I'm not looking for credit. I'm not looking for that "feel good" feeling.
Disc golf is a game. Call it a sport, if you will. But as I stated earlier, any sport is a game, when you boil it down, cook it off and whittle away at the layers that surround it.
Games are in essence, an activity of enjoyment. An activity to bring diverse people together.
An activity of fellowship, of gathering, of enjoyment. Players bring homeless people food on cold mornings. Give others rides home on a rainy, stormy, dreary day. Players organize charity tournaments to raise money for causes. Some as little as helping a fellow player get home, across the entire globe, so they can be home and with their wife on the day their child is born. Funeral costs. Adolescent cancer patient treatment. Dog rescue missions. The list goes on and on.
This is the "Spirit of Disc Golf."
Not in any particular order of importance, the true spirit is the love of the game. The enjoyment of fellowship. The act of being outdoors and getting exercise. To just be alive. What I get from disc golf is much like what some get from going to church on Sunday mornings. Connection with the world. Knowing the sun is shining upon my face, that God's blessings are showered upon this Earth. Socializing with others. No matter how different we may be, it's a common ground. No matter how different we are, no matter our own personal goals, we are all the same on the course. We're there to have fun, to enjoy life and to just be at peace. I gain focus, centering, peace and serenity when ever I throw an ace run. There's something pure and innocent about a true flight down the fairway. There's vibration in the universe when someone hits chains off the drive. The "Spirit of Disc Golf?" Not many see it, but it's the true underlying factor. Love. No matter what your aim, it all comes down to love. Love of the game. Love for others. Bringing glory to the powers behind our existence. That's the true "Spirit of Disc Golf." It's brought so many people out of dark places and has allowed everyone to bring light into the lives of others. Love is the true "Spirit." Call it respect for others. Call it your chance to get out of the house. Call it a chance to hang with your homies. Call it your own thang. It's all related. It's all the same. It's love. Love for others. Love of nature. Love of fellowship. Love of the game.
