Sometimes, one good shot is all you need

Disc golf is not always about hitting trees.

Check out the archive for more notes from bogeyland.

It’s not all mayhem and bogies

Lest you think from some of my posts that disc golf is all disaster and heartbreak (for example see Disaster and triumph at Maple Hill, Into the woods, Turning over old leaves), I will tell you that what keeps me coming back is the holes where you throw one magnificent shot that leaves you with a trivial putt for a birdie.

I often play a short nine-hole course just north of Boston that is a nice hike and good practice for approach shots and putting (Vietnam Veterans Park in Billerica, Massachusetts) The other day, I went up there seeking a short, relatively level course, because we had crusty snow over ice. I played only one round because the conditions were very slippery.

I had many good shots, but I came up with a long string of pars (and one double-bogey) — I’m blaming it on the unsteady footing!

However, on hole 8 I threw a lovely forehand Valkyrie down the left-side gap. It flexed slightly to the left, almost to the tree line, then faded right and curled up right near the basket:

Vietnam Veterans Park, Billerica, Massachusetts (hole 8). Parked for a birdie! You can see from the lack of footprints that I was the only fool to venture out in these conditions.

So, fear not: there are good shots to be had. As well as good shots interrupted by trees and purely bad shots. But they're all fun shots – if not, you may be playing the wrong game!

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