Welcome to parenthood, pops.
Whether you’re reading this in anticipation of your newest family member, or they’ve been around for a while, having kids is one of life’s greatest blessings – and an exhausting one at that.
Trust me on this – I know it from experience: When you’ve got a little one back at the house, your better half’s not going to be nearly as pumped as you’d think for you to bail for a few hours to hit up the local D.G. course with the boys. She’s tired. She’s stressed. She’s needing your help.
And you’re dad, so get with the program – now’s NOT the time to be a scrub.
Still, when things start to settle down, and you two fall into some sort of routine, call upon the following tips to whip you back into disc golf shape – when you’re not trying to sleep, of course:
1. Back to the basics, dude
With a newborn in the house, you can kiss your precious fieldwork sessions goodbye for a few solid months. That is, unless your backyard qualifies as a “field,” in which case – I hate you. For the rest of us, you’ll have to make do with the room you have within the walls of your home.
That means it’s time for these kinds of drills:
- Practice your footwork in the living room – slow, deliberate walkthroughs.
- Without pointing it at anybody’s buttocks, snap a towel or two to stay sharp.
- Film your form. Then, watch it back a few times to see how you can improve.
Even better, these are ALL ways to work on your game, while Jr. saws logs in the nursery.
2. Get well-acquainted with your putter
You’ve heard it before – you’re about to hear it again …
“Drive for show, putt for dough.”
[Insert Massive Yawn]
Roll your eyes all you want at the oft-cited saying, but it gets plenty of play for a reason – it’s true. No, you might not be able to play as many actual rounds of disc golf as you’d like, but use the down time with your little bundle of joy to work on your money-maker: circle-one putting.
In fact, Simon Lizotte said after his son was born, that’s EXACTLY what he did:
“The work and preparation really happens at home. Where I have my basement. Where I can putt 30-footers. Where I try to putt like 200 to 400 putts a night.”
These days, nabbing an affordable practice basket isn’t too tough, but after having a baby, money is tight – I get that. If you can’t (yet) spring for a portable setup, you can always use a makeshift one. Laundry hampers and plastic bins aren’t PDGA-approved, but your secret’s safe with me.
3. Ask family and friends to help out
If you have family or friends that live in the area, ask if they’d be cool covering for you while you go bust out a few quick holes of disc golf. Do keep at the forefront of your mind, however, that while you want a break, your wife actually DESERVES one – don’t hog all the help, Biff.
4. Make the first outing manageable
When mom feels up for it, take her out for a MILD round of disc golf. And when I say “mild,” I mean it – something short and strollable. If there are paved walkways out there, even better.
You might be chomping at the bit to hardcore smash some chains, but the goal of the first few jaunts isn’t to play a full 18 holes – it’s simply to get out of the house. The two of you are outside. You’re walking. And if there happen to be a few baskets along the way, perfect.
Here’s how this should play out:
- Throw a few discs – or not.
- Practice some putts and approaches – or not.
- From tee to pin, play one or two holes – or not.
Whatever you’re doing, don’t be a tool-brain: Be ready (and happy) to take the child you’re responsible for bringing into the world from mom. Or, should the sacrifice be required, cut the whole “round” short and head home if everybody’s pooped – figuratively OR literally.
Any amount of time on the course is a success.
Remember: baby steps.
5. Pimp your (baby’s) ride
After a few months, your kiddo should be shaving, filing their own tax returns and able to stand longer stints out and about in the stroller. To get mine ready for some pedestrian-level play, I used an Infinite Discs Power Pocket Pouch and a few carabiners – not too shabby, eh?
Pimped my ride 😎 #discgolf pic.twitter.com/QQqaIHmkra
— RyMo🥸 (@RyanMouat) June 2, 2022
ZÜCA is interested in buying the design off me – it’s all very “hush-hush,” at this point.
One FINAL word to the wise: Be patient with all of this.
Getting back to what once scratched your disc-golf itch before babies can be frustrating. Just because your kid managed 18 holes last week, doesn’t mean he won’t lose his mind after four this time around. I’ve got good news, though – something you can always come back to …
Being a good father is INFINITELY more important (and rewarding) than throwing plastic. Lost time with a child is just that – lost. Don’t blink, or you’ll miss out on a host of incredible things.
Besides, disc golf will be there when you’re ready …
Father first. Disc golfer second.
Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
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