What Disc Golf Means to Me and the Importance of Encouraging Others

There was a time when I was that girl that just watched her boyfriend and his friends play. Even though disc golf intrigued me and I loved being outside, I never really picked up a disc until a couple of years later after just watching for so long. I remember finally having the courage to ask my boyfriend for a disc and to ask his buddies if I could join. I remember feeling embarrassed and not good enough, and I think that's what keeps many people from trying anything in life.  But now I know the importance of taking that first leap and throwing the first disc.  Those feelings i thought I was going to have quickly vanished as I realized how helpful,  motivating and encouraging everyone I met in the disc golf community was. I started playing everyday after that first day and have not put the discs back down.

With a lot of encouragement from the DG community, I registered for my first tournament,  2016 Texas Womens Championships. I didn't know what I was getting myself into because now I was not playing at my "comfort course" or around people I knew, i was playing in a tournament at an unfamiliar course amongst unfamiliar faces. Those scared feelings rushed back in,  but again,  everyone was so welcoming and I felt right at home.  I ended up winning the recreation division and thus began my love for tournaments.

It was really exciting taking that first trophy and getting to stand alongside Paige Pierce and Sarah Hokom and lots of other greats knowing that one day I wanted to be in their shoes.  I have now became great friends with some of those that I admired.  You learn that they are people too. My dream of being a pro player is now.  I have a lot of work to do, but have the full support of my DG family which means so much to me. I wouldn't be where I'm at today without the encouraging words of this community.

Disc Golf means so much to me. It is my calm after a long day at work. It is my happy hour on the weekends. It is my motivation to be a better, more accepting, more patient individual. DG is not just a sport to me.  It is a community that I feel comfortable in and happy and free to be myself.

When I see a group of disc golfers and the randomness of age, ethnicities and beliefs come together to play,  it gives me hope that the world does have good people and that we can get past our differences. I do believe we need to encourage everyone to play, but even if they don't,  I hope they could find something that makes them feel all the things that disc golf makes me feel,  because it really is special.