Back at it

Ok folks... minor hiatis... now I am back and ready to be a little more diligent with this thing.  Wish me luck!

Oh the weather outside is frightful

This time change winter darkness is KILLING ME!  I can't play after work anymore because it is pitch black by 5:30 and I am having a little withdrawl.  Hopefully getting out this weekend to play, otherwise it will be another TWO WEEKS before I can play.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone

Work Partaaayy

If you have ever played the course in Golden Gate Park you know how nicely laid out, well maintained, and fantastic it is!  Well... a gorgeous course takes a TON of work, and today the SF Disc Golf Club members (myself included!) rolled up their sleeves and helped to spread bark, terrace eroding hillside, and remove invasive plants.  With all the efforts to put in a second course in McLaren Park, it is essential that we show how committed the Club is to give pack to the parks we love so much. 

Now if you know me (or have read any of my blog postings) you will know that I am accident prone and dangerous to be around.  The idea of me wielding sharp objects was too scary, so I took up a position at the first tee and helped to direct the people coming to help.  I also brought some of our petitions and collected signatures from people in the park.  We got about 50 signatures and did a ton of great work, so I think team Disc Golf deserves a gold star!  Next work party is on July 3rd, we would love to see you all out there!

The Eug

I took a road trip to Eugene, Oregon to play a round of disc golf... oh, and while I was in town I caught my little sister Edith's college graduation.  Since I had a few hours to kill before graduation, I got up early and headed to Westmoreland Park.  Surprisingly, there were no other players on the course at 7:30 am!  It was nice to have the place by myself and I got to enjoy a beautiful sunny Eugene morning playing my favorite sport. 

After my round I was practicing my putts when a man and his special needs son walked by.  The little boy was watching me closely, so I offered him a handful of discs and asked if he would like to try.  It was really wonderful to watch his eyes light up as he reached for my bright plastic putters.  I showed him how to throw my discs at the basket, and I gave him a big high-five when he sunk one of his puts.   This little moment reminded me of the power of sports and our responsability to share our love for the game with the youth in our community.


Westmoreland Park Disc Golf Course is made up of 9 holes that wind around the perrimeter of this cute community park.  It is located right next to a school and a community center, and I wonder if the children of Eugene play disc.  The park has a few small hills and trees, but it was not nearly as technical or challenging as I have been playing in San Francisco, Napa, and Vacaville.  It was actually a nice change of pace, and with out any big elevation changes or obstacles in my way I was able to work on the basics.  I had so much fun playing this 9 holes, I almost played it twice... but I had a graduation to get to.  It was pretty muddy out there because they were working on their irrigation system and parts of the course were a bit flooded... so I rinsed off my feet and made my way over to the University of Oregon to celebrate!

For more info on the Westmoreland Course check out the "courses" page. 

Hot hot hot

Phew, who turned up the heat?!?We have been having a long drawn out rainy season, but my last weekend in Napa has me convinced that our next weather pattern is going to be a heat wave. I felt like I was melting, but still managed to get a pretty good score. It is really satisfying to see my scores drop week by week.




If you haven't played the Napa course (aka Skyline Wilderness Park) you just have to get out there. It is so beautiful and many holes have breathtaking views of the valley.

Of course with my uncanny knack for hurting myself, I managed to twist my sprained ankle some more. It hurt so freaking bad I had to sit down!


If you make the trip I suggest bringing plenty of water, wear a hat, and bring your camera!

- Posted from my iPhone

The Disc Golf Diet

You know those people who just love working out... the ones who get cranky if they can't go for their 5 mile run every day?   Ya, I am definitely NOT one of those people.  That is why I am so stoked on disc golf.  Walking a few miles through beautiful terrain, chasing errant discs over the rivers and through the woods has become my exercise of choice and I am so thankful to have found it. 

It may look easy, but I challenge any of you to play 18 holes at Novato or Napa without breaking a sweat or feeling it in your quads the next day!  Since I began playing disc golf on a regular basis I have lost nearly 60 lbs and dropped 4 dress sizes!!!  Playing disc golf has changed my life and I wish I could shout it from the mountain tops... but I played Napa this weekend and I am a little tired of climbing mountains, I guess I will just have to blog about it :)

Rain Rain Go Away

Hope this rain knocks it off soon, I want to play disc tomorrow!  I am really excited lately because I feel like I have been growing so much as a player lately.  My drives are getting much more consistent and my upshots are no longer terrible!  I think that tomorrow I will try to get my groove back with the Wraith, she has been a little inconsitent lately and I just love throwing it.   The white beast (orange one lives at the bottom of the lake in Vacaville) is getting broken in and I am starting to be able to do some cool stuff with it.  :)

I'm baaaaack

Oops... it's been a while since I posted... its a long story, I have been having all sorts of adventures!  Last time I mentioned that I was planning on playing in the disc golf tournament at the Golden Gate Park Disc Golf Course Birthday Bash.  Well I almost wimped out... but don't worry, I had a good breakfast, took some deep breaths, and drove out to the park to play in my first ever tournament.  I didn't know quite what to expect, but everyone there was totally nice and supportive.  I got put into a group with 3 other guys and they were SO kind to me!  They helped answer my questions about the tournament rules, and didn't make fun of me when  I had some "oops" moments. 

In the end I had one of my worst scores since I started keeping track- 86... but I still ended up getting 5th place (out of 6).  It was so exciting to have gotten 5th place because prizes were awarded for 1st-5th!  I keep forgetting to pick them up, but I went and won myself 2 new discs and a t-shirt!!!  Yeah for team Show Me Your Disc.

Owwwwww

Geez, I almost killed myself today out on the course. I was in golden gate park practicing for the tournament tomorrow and I had about 4 freak accidents in a row causing much pain and bloodloss.
1. I was throwing my disc as hard as I could and ended up backhanding a tree that I didn't realize was so close.
2. I step on a branch that ends up stabbing me in the foot
3. then jamming into my calf, it was so painful I had tears in my eyes.
4. I stood up and hit the back of my head on a branch. A small twig the size of a pencil jabbed my right in the middle. It was terrible!!! I had to have my friend check to see if I was bleeding from the skull.



So here I sit... bleeding from the leg and foot, head throbbing, and hand turning black and blue. I can't bend my middle finger all the way, and my knuckle is swollen.

I guess that is what I get for trying to practice!?! I was planning on playing in a tournament that they are having tomorrow in Golden Gate Park. Now I will have to see if I can even use my hand tomorrow. G'night.... and wish me luck!



- Posted from my iPhone

Think pink

I just ordered this new bag and I am too excited!  I have been keeping my discs in a backpack and it works great, however the zipper has broken and it is starting to get annoying.  I figure, if I am going to be serious about this sport I should have all the approptiate gear.  When I added a few new discs to my collection my game improved and I came to appreciate the fact that you really need the right equiptment for the job.  So now I am getting this legit disc golf bag with room for a drink, towel, 10-12 discs, and all the other bells and whistles.  I only have 5 discs right now, and it is plenty for my needs... but as I continue to refine my skills I will be adding different discs for different situations (or if they are really cute!)

So I know what you are thinking... if I want to be taken seriously, why the heck would I get a bright pink bag. Well, for one thing, I like pink!  Plus, because disc golf is such a male dominated sport, I think is fun to embrace my feminine side!  When I step up to the tee box most guys out there think I am going to throw it 5 feet like some of the girls that just get dragged along by their boyfriends.  It is pretty satisfying to launch a really nice 200 ft drive and hear their surprise that I can actually throw. 

So the pink bag is more of a statement in irony.  I am hoping when people see it their initial impression will be "oh geez, who let the sorority girl out here with her pink accessories?"  and then I will kick ass and it will be AWESOME!  I may even bedazzle it

Rocklin and Shady, my Sac Town Adventure!

I headed up to Sacramento for the weekend to check out my buddy Ryan's home turf. We met up with our friend Nathan and took on the 18 hole course at Rocklin on Saturday. This course was a ton of fun with lots of bushy oaks and some LOOOOONG holes (Ryan and Nathan told me they are not always that far). The terrain is fairly flat nestled into an oak grove. There were a great combination of holes, long, short, lots of trees, hills and creeks.

Sunday we hit up Shady Hills Disc Golf Course and I may have a new favorite. No offense Golden Gate Park, you know I left my heart in San Francisco, but I had SUCH A GOOD GAME at Shady that I may have to move to Citrus Heights and make it my home course. I have a few benchmarks that I have set for myself in my quest to learn and master the sport of disc golf. One of these was 9 or less on the front 9.... here I am showing off my score of 8 over par on the 9th hole....which means that I average just under a bogie on each hole. WOOO HOOO!!! I checked that one off the list at Golden Gate Park a few weeks ago, and at that course I am able to get a 7 over par for the front 9... something I am pretty pleased with. I am still at a point where getting par is a big deal, and today I got two pars in a row and three pars total which is a new record for me!!!! It feels awesome to have these clear milestones that I can check off. Another thing I have always wanted to do was beat Ryan on a round. I got half way there today and was able to beat him on the front 9. I am really proud of myself and it is really cool to be able to "keep up with the boys." I even out drove them on a few holes!

This course is notorious for being crowded, so we got there by 10:30 ... which is pretty darn early considering the BBQ Nathan hosted the night before!

Napa time

The course at Napa (aka Skyline Wilderness Park) is the perfect location to bring a picnic and make a day of it. The scenery can't be beat, and many of the holes lay along ridges with breathtaking views of the Napa Valley.


It can be tedious when it has been been raining as the paths get slippery with mud and runoff. This weekend however, things were PERFECT. Not too hot that we were uncomfortable, and the runoff had dried up so everything was lush and green without being soggy. I really couldn't have asked for a better day.

For being so close to my home, I am excited to be making many more trips to the Skyline course and I hope to see you all out there!


As you can see, each tee box is well marked with great signage, and a broom and fire extinguisher in case of an emergencies. This is obviously a well loved and maintained course!!!

- Posted from my iPhone

The Sin City Edition

This just in, giant lizard stole my mid-range disc!!! Ok, well maybe not, but I hear a catchy opener is a good way to get your attention... did it work?

I just got back from a few days in Las Vegas and what a crazy, magical, filthy, entertaining place. If you haven't been recently I highly suggest a trip, with the economy tanking there are some great deals. H0tels are virtually giving rooms away, and if you're lucky you can score some great comps and discounts.

There are several disc golf courses in the Las Vegas area, but they were well off the strip and without a car they were too difficult for me to make it there. Hopefully I will be going back soon and can make a tour of the local courses. Since I didn't get out to play much I had to settle for some practice around town.


While I was there my sister and I checked out LOVE which is the Cirque de Soleil show based on the music of the Beatles. The Beatles have always been one of my all time favorites, and who doesn't like mind bending acrobatics... all in all an exceptional show.

Happy Birthday to me!

'Tis but a flesh wound! I think it is very fitting that my first time getting hit by a disc is on my birthday. I have been playing for a while now, and I have been assured that it would only be a matter of time before I attacked by a stray disc... well, actually in this case it was thrown directly at me, and instead of coming to a skidding halt like I expected, it skipped up and bit my leg while I stood there just staring at it. Oops!

All in all it was a spectacular birthday weekend thanks to my great friends and family. My buddy hooked me up with two really nice new drivers and I had a blast trying them out on Friday AND Saturday in Golden Gate Park. Since I donated my first driver (a Beast that I was just getting the hang of) into the middle of the lake in Vacaville, Ryan got me a sweet Champion Beast and also a really fun Wraith.

Now the disc golfer in me says "awesome, these new discs will be fun to throw"... but I will admit, that as a girl my first reaction was "ohhhh pretty" when I saw the tie-dye and lavender. I now have a well equipped bag with 2 drivers, a mid-range Roc, and an Aviar putt and approach disc.

This week I decided to focus on breaking in the Wraith (and no, it's not because purple is my favorite color... ok, well that may have been part of it). It is a really fun driver, and by Saturday I had really gotten a hang of it. My goal was to bogey or par every hole, and I did pretty well. The last two holes I triple bogeyed and killed my score, but all in all I had some great holes and made some tricky putts. Check out this 30ft put Ryan made on the back 9!

For those of you who haven't played in Golden Gate Park, I highly recommend it. Whenever I play here I feel like I have stepped into Narnia, Middle Earth, or some other forested woodland realm. Dense trees make it easy to forget that you are in the middle of the city. Meadows, stands of trees, and lush canyons make this park unlike the other places I have played. I will state for the record that this is my favorite course to play so far. The scenery is top notch, and most of the locals I have met are very friendly and helpful. Lately I have been playing Golden Gate Park once or twice a week. If anyone would ever like to join me, you should shoot me an email or give me a call.

Well... this girl has to sign out, I am headed to Las Vegas with my sister for a double birthday extravaganza in Sin City!!! Look for pictures when I return. :)

Let me just duck into my phone booth...

I always feel like Clark Kent pulling a fast one when I play disc golf after work. There is something infinitely satisfying about taking off my "grown up" clothes and heading out to the park.

Disc is MY time, and there is nothing better than changing into my favorite shirt (from the time I went to Stanford Swim Camp back in middle school) and throwing on a beanie.


Once we're parked, it is pure freedom for at least an hour. Phones are left in the glove box, and all the worries of the world are put on hold. Sometimes my best days playing are those long work days when everything that can go wrong does! Once I slip out of those heels and throw on my sneakers... phew... much better. So get out there, leave your cares in the parking lot, and have fun! Maybe I will see you there.

Napa

All I can say is WOW... this may be the most beautiful course I have played. Make sure to pack a water bottle and some snacks, because you will be hiking, but it is SO worth it. The Napa course is very hilly, and you have to be careful because once a disc starts rolling it GOES! Luckily I read up about the "Napa Roll" before I came out, and played things a bit more conservatively.

Directions

Skyline Wilderness Park
2201 Imola Avenue
Napa, CA 94559

Vacaville

Located in the Lagoon Valley Park, this course is 18+ holes of hills, water, and tall grasses. With scenery to die for and easy access to public restrooms, this is a nice place to spend a day. Because of the terrain, I would recommend giving yourself plenty of time to enjoy the course. The twilight hours would make disc retrieval a challenge. The tall grasses and vegetation surrounding the course were so dense it was easy to be standing right on top of your disc and never see it.

Make sure to check out the course map before you attempt the back nine. Hole #13 was especially tricky to find (or perhaps my dubious sense of direction strikes again), but it was well worth it. Steeper hills and a really fun valley shot made for a challenging second half.

The Vaca Valley Disc Golf Club has a nice website with additional pictures and more information about each hole.

Directions
Lagoon Valley Park
4600 Pena Adobe Rd
Vacaville, CA 95688