Summer has come and gone; leaving behind the taste of salt and sea, the smell of sunscreen still in our noses, and the warmth of the sun on our backs. The leaves have started to change color, washing away the green landscape we'd come to associate with the life of the forest. Fall brings its gorgeous color, smells of cinnamon and bonfires, cuddly nights under the stars.... but it also brings the dreaded offseason.
Fall marks the cold days, the windy afternoons and the rainy mornings. For a disc golf junkie, like myself, it marks the time when competition season is over and instead we're all scrambling to get some semblance of a good day to be able to play. Finding people to play with you may seem easy at first but it's the weather you have to actually account for.
Below are four ways to get past the fall woes and surge into the Spring with a rejuvenated golf game!
1. Practice, Practice, Practice!
(See that play on words there?) The offseason is a great time to work on your putting skills! Whether you have decided to opt for the push putt or the spin putt, you can practice in any weather. Placing up targets in the shape of the center of the chains is helpful when working on accuracy and building up distance on your push putts by working on jump putts can be irreplaceable in the spring! During the offseason, it is always handy to have a practice basket of your own! I always suggest purchasing one!
2. Attend clinics around your state!
Pros are in the same exact boat that you are. Many pros will go on an almost "mini tour" to host clinics around the United States! You can contact clubs or tournament directors in your area to see if any clinics are on the calendar. A clinic is an easy way to improve your skills with only a couple of hours of work. Some advice and techniques cannot be taught over videos!
3. Set up and Attend Club Rounds
Many courses have local clubs that operate within that city. Many of them also have Facebook groups (thankfully)! The best way to keep in shape with the sport is to never stop playing! Remember, if you don't use it you lose it!
4. YouTube Tutorials and Channels
You can always stay up to date with disc golf techniques and news with online outlets for disc golf information. YouTube is a good outlet for tutorials, information, tournament highlights, etc. You can always do a tutorial a week and try to improve one part of your game and keep in shape! Shoutout to Central Coast Disc Golf for their tournament videos and highlights and shout out to The Disc Golf Guy and his insightful videos! Keep up the good work, guys!
Of course, there are other things you could do in the fall and winter time: cook s'mores, sleep, cuddle with cute animals, etc. But, what could beat the snap of a disc leaving your fingers? Or the rush of hitting chains from 200 feet away? Keep at it and it will pay off!
Remember, disc golf is the best kind of golf. Ball golfers agree. Like this one! Happy Golfing!
