The Zen of Disc Golf

With all the stresses in life, it’s important to find ways to decompress and leave the stress behind for a while. For me, biking off-road and playing disc golf provide exactly that. Lately I’ve been playing disc golf much more than riding and a friend has taken up the sport, so I have a partner on the course.

       Let me start by taking an excerpt from a definition of “zen”: “…its focus on mind-body oneness and a holistic understanding of reality. The term "zen" can also be used colloquially to describe a state of calm, collectedness, and relaxation.” It’s the last part that resonates with me and it’s the state I can get into when tossing discs either alone or with others. That’s not to say the sport is not without its frustrations just as in regular golf, but I gave up getting aggravated a long time ago. It’s just not worth getting pissed-off about a bad shot. That is the revelation that brought me to understand the zen of disc golf.

       To start with, playing disc golf doesn’t cost anything other than whatever discs you choose to throw. Most courses are in parks so by default you are out in nature when you play. Wooded courses are especially peaceful, though much harder than open ones. However, the trade-off is well worth bouncing a few discs off of trees on their way to the basket. Having been created by Frisbee players, most people you meet on the course are low key and friendly.

       Whether playing alone or with others I find it easy to get into the zone early in a round. One perfect shot will trigger my mind and body to exhale and focus on the moment and the round. As players usually are rooting for each other to do well, it is easy to maintain that state, even being brought into it by a partner’s amazing shot. Focusing on the disc in hand and the shot to be made, being in the moment is the natural state and can be maintained with little effort – even during a bad round.

       While there is joy in that perfect shot, there is also joy in recovering from a poor shot. Sometimes that is even more satisfying. That joy quickly erases the negative of the shot that got away and brings me back to the moment and the zone. Even an almost-shot can do that. A couple of weeks ago I was about 120 feet from the basket, and I tossed a disc I haven’t used in a while. It sailed in an arc toward the basket and tipped just off the top of it – within an inch of an amazing shot! The sheer joy of coming that close was enough for me. Don’t get me wrong, making that shot would have brought me even more joy - and for days.

       There’s also karma on the course. Discs are often lost in the woods or heavy rough and for that reason most players put their name and phone number on the underside of their discs. When finding a disc, it is proper etiquette to contact the owner and let him/her know the spot where you are leaving their disc for pickup (usually a known hiding spot to keep poachers away). I have done this many times. Karma comes in when someone finds one of your lost discs and you get that phone call. Regular readers will remember the post, “Disc Golf Restored My Faith in People” about receiving such a call after losing one of my favorite discs.

      No matter what your mechanism of de-compressing is, make time for it. Exhale, be in the moment, and let yourself become immersed in whatever it is. And if that activity produces growth or learning, all the better, you’ve multiplied the benefits for yourself and those around you.

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

www.RetiredandInspiredat55.com  11-17-2025