The Reichmuth Safari
It was a big week of disc golf for me. I played a few times during the week, capped off by a big outing on Saturday.
Saturday
On Saturday, I got together with Steven and Teresa. I had first met them when I placed an ad online looking for disc golf partners a few months ago. Steven replied and said, “I love disc golf, I will play anytime!” so Steven, Teresa and I have played many times, and they’ve taken me to some nice courses. They are pretty much my disc golf gurus. I’ve played with them a lot and they have been patient and taught me more than anyone else!
On this day we were at Reichmuth park in Sacramento. I like that course- it’s a fun combination of open shots and tight woods. When we got to the park we were able to get on the course for our first 9, but later things were very crowded- there was a tournament going on. So we decided to go off the beaten path and play some Safari Golf.
Disc golf explorers ready to go on safari
Safari golf is exactly what my boys and I used to play. Just find a tree that is far away, and use that as a target. We could move throught the park tree by tree having a great time coming up with new holes to play. It was fun, and kept us away from all of the crowds.
A little bit of ‘field work’ before we started playing. But we wanted to get to the fun part- playing Safari Golf.
Teresa using the range finder to plan out the course. Most of the holes were played about 200-250 feet. This was a damn fun game!
Designing each hole was as much fun as playing them. And we felt so official using the rangefinder! We rotated between us to be the ‘course designer’. Whoever designed each hole was the person who tee’d off first, to take the first crack at the unknown layout!
Teresa is left handed. I am right-handed without a forehand. Steven can throw either way. So each hole played different for each person. My big claim to fame would be a couple long approach shots that hit the tree- like really long putts. I hit a couple 50 footers that kept me in the game.
We played for a couple of hours- and it was a ton of fun spending time with friends chuckin’ plastic and making up a tough new course. The morning flew by!
Massive bonus: Teresa made these home-made fig newtons with figs from their backyard. These were GOOD! Soft, smooth (not gritty and sandy) and delicious. Perfect snack while playing Safari Golf!
Sunday
I can’t pass up the opportunity to play disc golf on a beautiful Sunday morning, so I went out to play the next morning at my ‘home course’- Ferns Park in Woodland.
The park was just starting to wake up when I got there- a couple guys playing handball, the roller derby girls were getting ready, and there were one or two disc golfers on the course. I saw one guy jamming out to the Psychadelic Furs as he tee’d off on hole #1 and I thought, “That guy looks like he’s out here to have a good time.”
That’s me on the left, to the right is Corey.
When I see someone like that, I just know I have to talk to him, so I did. We got together and played great round of disc golf, and talked the entire time. Super nice guy, and he told me about his life, where he’s been and where he is now.
Cory can throw a forehand, has pretty good distance, and is just generally better than me. He got a lot of birdies, but I got one. That’s enough for me to say it was a successful round! I hope to play with Corey again pretty soon.
This ended up a fabulous week of playing golf, and being at the park.
Disc News
I got some new discs!
Two Star Wedges, a Star Shark and a GStar Shark
A note about discs: There are two important parts of describing a disc- the shape of it, which is called the ‘mold’ and the second part is the type of plastic used- some plastics are softer, some are more stiff. Both of these factors shape/plastic are important and there are names to determine the differences between the thousands of possibilities.
A ‘GStar Shark’ means that the disc has the ‘Shark’ shape, or mold, and in this case it is made from ‘GStar’ plastic, which is softer than most. I usually throw discs made by a company called Innova. So, an ‘Innova GStar Shark’ means a fairly soft disc, in the Shark shape, made by Innova. People who play disc golf love to talk about discs!
I got all 4 of these new discs to try to replace my DX Shark (DX is a different type of plastic). The DX Shark is my most reliable disc, giving me the most reliable shots like those 50 foot putts while playing Safari Golf. If ever someone says, “Nice shot!” it’s always that same disc. For some dumb reason, I thought I needed to replace what is really my most reliable disc and I bought new ones.
The two new Sharks are nice, but they don’t float and glide like the DX Shark. And the Wedge is completely different- it flies very straight, but not very far. I will keep working with them to see how it goes.
State of the Bag
This is real disc golf geekery here- disc golfers will care!
My bag is finally full! The discs right now are:
Aviar (x3)
Pure (x2)
Wedge (x2)
Shark (x3)
Roc
Leopard (x3)
River
TeeBird
Tremor
Buzzz (x2)
I’m happy with just about everything in here. None of these discs are holding me back at all- which could be said about any disc really. I’m the problem, not the discs!
Teresa designing the course in Safari Golf
It was a really, really good week of disc golf. And my life is better because of it!
