Disc golf: The feeling of a disc (maybe) en route to an ace? Unreal

Do you remember your first kiss?

Random question, I know.

I was talking to an old buddy from back in Oklahoma the other night on the phone. We were reminiscing about high school, swapping stories and telling jokes. I forget what brought up the subject of planting first-time smoothes, but he said something to the effect of the following:

“I loved losing my virgin lips, but the pursuit was just as much fun as crossing the finish line.”

Assuming you’ve finished this race, you’re well aware of what it takes to get the job done. There’s some painfully bad flirting, perhaps a well-timed brush of the shoulders and intense hand-holding. Throw some direct, awkward eye contact in there, and three, two, one …

Boom.

The deed is done.

Stay with me on this one …

But I think my friend’s claim about the journey of the first kiss being just as much of a thrill as the final destination has plenty to do with carding an ace in disc golf, be it the first or hundredth.

And when I say “journey,” I’m less referring to the hundreds (or thousands) of throws between aces and more the literal flight path the disc takes from hand to chains to bottom of the cage.

The emotion a disc golfer experiences in those few seconds?

The headline labels it best:

Unreal.

Heck, the ace run doesn’t even have to stick for excitement to fill the air …

Garrett Gurthie starts his tournament off with some fireworks 🎆

Catch coverage of the 2023 South Florida Open on Gatekeeper Media's YouTube channel: https://t.co/N0lSyR6ZpC pic.twitter.com/z6P8jPGOUO

— Disc Golf Pro Tour (@DiscGolfProTour) February 3, 2024

In my own words, if I had to describe this mid-flight feeling, I’d say it’s somewhat similar to what a drop in a roller coaster does to the gut, but less extreme. For example, on the Incredible Hulk Coaster at Islands of Adventure in Orlando, the pit in the tummy you feel is your body telling you something intense is about to happen: a drop, loop, corkscrew, decapitation, etc.

I’m sure science disagrees with that analysis, but work with me. In disc golf, there’s no physical thrill, but the mind can’t help but anticipate the possibility of a hole-in-one on the horizon.

While airborne, when it looks like there’s a slight chance of a one-time wonder, it can feel as if a higher power’s steering the frisbee to its destined resting place – like somebody’s hiding behind a tree with a remote synced to your disc. Watch tons of these highlights, and you’ll feel it, too.

There’s a late flip, sudden fade or undeviating B-line that seemingly can’t be explained.

• If you’ve smashed an ace, you know this feeling well.
• If you’ve come close, but not yet nabbed one, you still know it.
• And if all of this might as well be Chinese, keep at it – she’s not far off.

Know this much, though …

Once you’ve experienced this high, you’ll be chasing it for the rest of your disc golf career. You’ll never tire of it; you’ll want others to taste it, too. So much so, in fact, you might even document the never-ending quest on YouTube. That way, others can get a hit of this stuff vicariously through you: Foundation Disc Golf, Bear Bite Disc, Another Round, etc.

Even Simon Lizotte piggybacks the hunt for aces to claim subscribers.

And with good reason …

It’s a proven formula.

Does the pleasure of a successful pin-seeker rival that of a premier peck?

No, but it’s just as memorable – and not far behind in feeling.

Pucker up, peeps.

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Editor’s Suggestions:

• Mini disc golf tournaments will forever look dumb
• Disc golfers: Pay attention during players meetings
• Use this simple, homemade tool for getting golf discs out of trees

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