Another day on the road to Virginia, another five new courses played. I started my day in Peoria, thinking I would ease into things by playing two shorter nine-hole courses. I could not have been more wrong in that assumption! 🙂 My day began at Alpha Park in Bartonville, Illinois. One of the longest nine-hole courses I’ve ever played, weighing-in at 5,279 feet. Including Hole 8, which was a whopping 1,056 feet in length. Whew! After playing such a long course, I thought I would get a bit of a breather by playing Tuscarora DGC in Peoria, which DGCourseReview said was a modest 2,600 feet in length over nine holes. However, after Hole 3, I was in for a surprise: A trip into the woods for some long holes that have some significant elevation change. An 18-hole course that likely measured nearly 6,000 feet in length. A fun course! Just not the “walk in the park” I had been expecting.
So after 27 holes of slick/muddy “billy goat” disc golf that covered more than 11,000 feet? I was ready for a shorter course and a bit of rest. Goodfield Park in Goodfield, Illinois was just what the doctor ordered. Nine holes, totaling 2,189 feet in length. Aah…that was more like it! A quick chance to catch my breath and take it easy in some wet, sloppy conditions.
After that bit of an easy round, I decided I had better put a number of miles in behind the wheel…getting to suburban Indianapolis, Indiana in time for lunch. But on my way there, I decided to stop and check out a shorter 18-hole course called Northwest Park in Brownsburg. I actually liked that course a lot! Shorter hole lengths, but water and tall rough keeps you honest. I played the course well too, putting a -8 (46) on the card, including a 110-foot throw-in for deuce on Hole 12.
Dealing with more rain after a break for lunch, I decided I could sneak in one more shorter course in Southern Indiana before making my way to my hotel for the evening. A nine-hole course called Linza Graham Park in Scottsburg, Indiana. A fun little nine-hole course! Though after my quick round, I was happy to call it a day and push toward Lexington, Kentucky for the night. Being mostly wet for the past 48 hours wasn’t a lot of fun. But there is NO way I was going to miss the opportunity to add more new courses played.
Magic Number = 551 (1,449 Courses Played)
About Tonn’s Travels
How it All Got Started: Tonn’s Travels >>
A main purpose of this blog will be to share information, helpful tips and tricks (everything from health and fitness to methods for saving money while you’re out “bagging courses” of your own), and ideas for better, safer course design. But I am also hoping to inspire others with my passion for the sport, via the stories I can share about all of the interesting experiences I have. All of the interesting people I meet. All of the amazing courses I am blessed to have the opportunity to play. If I can inspire even a handful of individuals to get off the couch, get “out of their bubble” or “security blanket” and explore more of this big, beautiful planet we all call home? Then I will consider this effort a success.
About Derek
Derek Tonn is a member of the DGA’s Ambassador Team. His company, Mapformation, LLC, has been DGA’s partner in the development of disc golf tee signage since 2012. The longer our two companies have worked together, and the more Derek has gotten to know all the great folks at DGA the more he has wanted to formally sing the company’s praises. The more he has realized that “Steady” Ed the father of disc golf and the modern day Frisbee vision for the sport and his company perfectly describes his own interests and priorities related to disc golf, and the more Derek has recently been encouraged to share his story.