My own almost Senior Games activity

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Added: Tue. Jan 13, 2009 11:14am
Posted in: Sports

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Over the last couple of weeks, I've been posting stories of encouragement from a variety of Senior athletes who participated in the 17th Annual Florida Senior Games State Championships in Lee County and the City of Cape Coral.

For this post, I'm going to share with you an activity of my own that I've been enjoying for the last few months.  Disc Golf.

Over the years, I've experienced the same frustrations as many others trying to hit that little white ball resting comfortably on the ground.  Now I've never launched a club into the water or nearby woods but I have had some choice words after a shot didn't travel straight down the fairway like I wanted.

But I've always considered myself to be a better than average disc thrower.  Most of the time, my throws have come on the beach to my sons or in an open field with some buddies.

In recreational throwing, if you can get the throw to the person/target within five feet, you're doing good.  The person doesn't have to move too much to get to it.  They catch it and throw it back to you.  Then you repeat the activity until you've had enough.

In my newfound game of Disc Golf, there's trees in the way, you've got to work with the curve to the left that comes with my lefthanded throw, and that five foot range on either side doesn't come into play.  When putting for the basket, it's going to take a pretty accurate throw/shot. 

I took my first disc golf shot at a local Senior Games event for the Good Life Games in the Tampa Bay area a couple years back.  I was there for an awards ceremony at a local park and to spread the news of the State Championships to the qualified athletes.  One of the organizers was a disc golf player and offered me the opportunity to take a few throws.

I had been watching some players during the ceremony and being the self proclaimed "better than average disc thrower," I had that senior games moment of , "If those guys can do it, I should be able to as well," and gave it a shot.

On my first throw, his disc went into some bushes never to be found again.

I found out the hard way that discs for disc golf have a little bit different trajectory than the average Wham-O frisbee.   I was assured by my disc throwing friend, it was no big loss, yet, I was still humbled after my first experience.  I was, however, determined to make a go of this game.

Now a couple of years later, and an arsenal of discs at my disposal, I'm shooting what would be considered respectable scores on an 18-hole golf course.  I've been averaging about a 75 over the last few times I've been out, had my share of pars and a few birdies, and have really enjoyed watching some of my throws float down the fairway, curve to the left and land right where I want them.

I'm still playing from the front tees and have yet to venture away from Tom Brown Park in Tallahassee which is pretty harmless and features a lot of wide open spaces.

Who knows, maybe there's a tournament in the near future where I can match my skills against other mid-to-late-40s disc throwers like myself.  I'm sure a few of my senior athlete friends have been in the same position, as well as athletes of all ages.

That's my activity of late.  Do you have any to share?