Kilgore resident Nikki Cope steps up to the No. 12 tee, a 218-foot par 3. She can see her target in the distance, and she says a little prayer hoping that she'll get close enough to the hole to end on a good note. She reaches into her bag and pulls out her favorite driver — a bright blue 165 gram Innova Star Valkyrie.
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Alise Osborne of Hallsville spends much of her time at Guthrie Creek with Nikki and friends.
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Kilgore resident Nikki Cope gets ready to send her disc flying at Guthrie Creek's disc golf course.
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Guthrie Creek?s course is dog-friendly, so feel free to take your pooch along as you play.
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She takes a step, plants one foot forward, and lets loose, going for a helix effect. The disc narrowly misses the chain-link basket. But, no worries — she's close enough in the circle to pull off an eagle.
Nikki and her friends will continue through the 18-hole course at Guthrie Creek Park in Longview, enjoying the sunshine as they play their favorite sport: disc golf.
"We come out whenever we can, maybe two, three times a week," said Nikki's friend Alise Osborne of Hallsville. "This sport's so appealing because it's a leisure activity, you get to be outside, it's a friendly atmosphere and, best of all, it doesn't cost a thing."
While those are all great reasons to pick up a disc and start tossing, there's another benefit: great exercise.
The game is similar to traditional golf in many ways. There are 18 holes, the object of the game is to make the fewest throws and the same ol' scoring remains true: eagles and birdies are preferred, pars keep you average and bogies suggest you need a little bit of practice. Other similarities include fresh air in beautiful areas, fun times with friends and a challenge to outwit and outplay an opponent.
A great difference between ball golf and disc golf is the amount of exercise you get. In disc golf, golfers always walk; there are no carts. There are no water stands at each hole, so you'll have to take your own. Also, there are no facilities, so you're on your own.
"What's great about disc golf is you're walking around for an hour and a half or two hours, and you don't even feel like you're exercising because you're so focused on chasing your disc around the whole time," said Nikki, a 10-year disc golf veteran.
Occasionally, Nikki and her husband, Leon, will track their "workout" on a pedometer/calorie counter application on her cell phone.
"By the end of the course at Guthrie Creek, we've walked about two miles," she said. "That translates to burning about 500 calories."
She also loves the fact that disc golf keeps her looking and feeling toned.
"It'll keep your arms toned, too, because you're constantly throwing your discs," Nikki said. "You get your lunge workout by bending over and picking up your discs. Disc golf really does keep you feeling fit, which is one of the many reasons I love playing as often as possible!"
The game draws a friendly, easy-going crowd to disc golf courses around the area. All you need in order to join in the fun are a few discs (you can score some great gear at Longview's Racquet and Jog or Academy, among other sports-related retailers in the area).
"This sport is great because the equipment is relatively inexpensive," Nikki said. "Discs last for a long time, unless you lose one on top of a building or in a creek. Creeks are our biggest enemy because discs sink; once your disc is in the creek, it's gone."
But don't worry — if you hear a "splash!", it's not too taxing. Although you may have lost a favorite driver, lost discs are more easily replaced than your typical five-iron. Your average disc retails anywhere from $6.99 to $30.
Forget about green fees, cleats or golf bags. All you need are your discs, some tennis shoes and a love for the outdoors. Check out East Texas disc golf courses including Guthrie Creek Park, LeTourneau's 9-hole course spanning over the southeast corner of campus and a course at Tyler's Lindsey Park.
