I am very proud of several players that came out. My boys, Jack and Sammy Fournier (aka the Little Great One) played both rounds with their old man, which was good for me, I made them carry the extra water. Being able to play a sport I love and having my family around is a great feeling. One of the highlights for me of playing disc golf is getting new people into the game. Three players, Chris and Samantha Crane and Robert Baur all came out and gave the RMSG a run. I am very excited about their growth in the sport and proud of their accomplishments. I also get to play with great friends (Jim Lewis and Robert Smith) and met a few new exciting guys as well. This is what makes disc golf a sport for everyone.
When a major tournament goes on, players can feel pressure. Each shot counts, and we all go out there with playing our best game in mind. Sometimes that happens, sometimes it is a challenge. Disc Golf has players that root each other on, pick each other up, and encourage each other to keep pressing along. After a pretty gruesome shot out of the tee box, my fellow player says to me,"well, we all have done that, we got a lot of disc golf left to play". He reminded me not to get hung up on what we can't change, but to go make the change I need on the shot that lies ahead... See? Disc Golf is life lesson worthy!
Whether we play a casual round, tags match or tournament level events, we move through the course as fellow disc-golfers on a journey.
Disc Golf competition is meant as a measuring tool, to mark the improvements we have made through our practice and see how we stack up against players of like, kind and quality. There are rules, regulations, markers, scorecards, mandos and out of bounds to deal with. I recommend even when you play casual rounds, keep these in mind and practice with them so when the day comes you are facing them for real, you will be best prepared to deal with them. Tempers can flare in competitive events, and some heated discussion about score cards. Competition brings out pressure and truly meaningful play, and each of us need to work to keep our heads on straight facing the challenges that arise during play. Remember, cooler heads prevail.
Now we slowly start to head for the winter season, when the evenings get darker sooner and the temps begin to drop. I encourage you all to get out there and throw as many rounds as you can while the tossing it still good. As for me, I am an idiot and have been known to play in freezing temps and driving snow storms. But hey, I never said I was all that bright!
Lastly, a note about family. Practicing for tournaments takes time and effort, and often this time is spent away from our families. I want to thank Jana Fournier (my wife) for allowing me the opportunity to get in the field and put in the practice to get ready. Without support on the home front, it makes doing something I really enjoy, well, less enjoyable. Which brings up another thought.. is there someone you need to thank for pushing you, working with you, supporting you along your disc golf journey? Let them know today!!!
Well, till next month, keep on tossing
David
