Just last weekend, I played a few rounds at a small, short, fun course in Glencoe, IL. I played with my older cousin (24) and two younger ones (7 and 8). The two little guys had an absolute BLAST!!! They were each throwing slightly beat 150-class DX Rocs, an actually got pretty good after a few rounds, paring a couple longer holes. They had never played before and had giant smiles on their faces the entire time we were out there. Surprisingly there were very receptive to the bits of coaching my older cousin and I were offering, and were VERY sad when we had to leave the course, begging to come back soon. This post is really only to share how much fun I had throwin with the kids...

Anybody else get out and throw with the youngsters? :D

i heard hawkgammon likes to play with little boys.

Yep, I've played several smaller IL and WIS courses with my 16-year-old son as well as my 7-year-old son. I used to run a Juniors league and installed a very small course in Wildwood, IL last year. It is ALWAYS fun to play disc golf with kids. They ARE the future.

My experience has shown me that, after instructing them, allowing the younger ones to throw whatever comes naturally is best. They want to discover for themselves what the disc can do once it leaves their hands. They'll eventually seek more traditional help from experienced players and will develop their own techniques simultaneously. Just like we did. :-)

The best 'disc golf w/youth' experience I've had was just a few weeks ago when my 7-year-old son and I played around with a mini for 2 hours. We were in our long hallway, each at one end, experimenting with different grips and types of throws: thumbers, flicks, pancakes, etc. We both learned a lot from that playtime.

I started taking the kids to the course when they were about 6 and 9. My son and I had a great outing to Michigan for Worlds in 2000, and then my daughter and I went to Miami in 2002. Awesome trips with plenty of disc golf bonding.

Then this year my wife, daughter, and I went to Des Moines for another fantastic vacation. I'm hoping we can swing all four of us for Flagstaff.

I'm hoping we can swing all four of us for Flagstaff.


Another reason not to 'move up', eh CHAMP? ;)

A few months ago, my 7 year old son said the coolest thing I've ever heard. We just got done playing a round with his new disc, a 150 Z Storm. He shot 7 strokes better than his previous best. We got in the car and he said "can we come back after dinner and play another round, I really like this disc"!! Those of you that have seen me throw, I really dig my fingers into the plastic before I rip, he was gripping it the same way when he said it!! Priceless!!!!
He's a lefty, I have me a sweet doubles partner in a few years! :D

My 2 boys are 5 & 7 and they play mostly in our backyard with 2 baskets or we go out and play 9 holes at Tinicum. This year they both have asked more than once to go play frisbee golf. They are throwing 145 g roc and/or sharks as well as the 110 g birdie's. BTW Tim, both throw lefty also! :D

Getting the kids their own discs is important. I bought Megan a rental from out of the rental pile when she was small. It was a 150g Polecat with a cute wolf-pup face hotstamp ("Best of the Best" or something like that.) She dug having her own disc and she liked having a cute hot stamp. Ryan rpeferred the Ching! full color Skull on an Aviar. :)

I take my 2 1/2 year old daughter out with me pretty regularly, she can last about 12 holes. She throws a mini after all the adults have teed off. She gets in a ver dramatic stance, somewhat like my follow through and throws side arm, pretty good for 2 1/2.

I also get to take kids out Golfing as part of my job about 3 times a week. I mentor 6-7 kids and three of them are really hooked on DG. I was lucky enought ot find a couple of DGer's from around the states that donated discs for these kids to have so they could have their own discs. Talk about big smiles.

I've taken my son (just turned 15) out for my five years of play. I messed up, he is out driving me consistently now. I told him the other day that when he beats me, straight up, full round, home course...I'll shave my head. The best time I ever had playing was when he and I teamed up for Sipapu Doubles '04...gave winning advanced a pretty good run. I also enjoy play with my 21 year old lefty daughter, my girlfriend, and her 10 year old daughter. I've skipped many, many competitive and club events to play with my family. This 2005 should be a good kid year as the plan is to go to Flagstaff and see what I can do (MMI) and what my son can do.

Don't overlook the new Mid-Nationals for family fun. Website with details coming soon: www.midnationals.com (http://www.midnationals.com)

Back in the early 90's I used to push my 2 and 1 year old girls around the local course in a double stroller! I got strong legs! Now they are 13 and 12 and really starting to show an actual interest in the sport. They just love throwing at the basket I have in the apartment. :p

The hardest thing for me with Megan was letting her stop play and walk some holes when she lost interest in a round but was in the process of crushing her personal best score. Sometimes young kids just need to kick rocks or throw sticks. Best thing I ever did as she loves the game now. But it was really hard to do.

Ryan was older and was already focused on trying to get better and beat me, so he never wanted to quit during a round. :)

The best 'disc golf w/youth' experience I've had was just a few weeks ago when my 7-year-old son and I played around with a mini for 2 hours. We were in our long hallway, each at one end, experimenting with different grips and types of throws: thumbers, flicks, pancakes, etc.



My daughters (ages 5 & 7) and I will set out a (ice cream) pail and get out some mini's and play inside the house during the winter months.

I take them along with me to my local course (Grignon). They play along at times during the front 9. About the time they are getting bored we hit the back 9 which has a playground off to the side. They hit the swings and slide while I play on.

My girls are also good at helping me pick up trash as we play. Never too early to start them on good habits.

My daughters (ages 5 & 7) and I will set out a (ice cream) pail and get out some mini's and play inside the house during the winter months.

I take them along with me to my local course (Grignon). They play along at times during the front 9. About the time they are getting bored we hit the back 9 which has a playground off to the side. They hit the swings and slide while I play on.

My girls are also good at helping me pick up trash as we play. Never too early to start them on good habits.


Perfect. This is how we'll get more women playing disc golf. :)

I think you need to go to the DGA website and order a Mini-Mach, aka Mach.5, minibasket as a "to Family, from Santa" present for under the ole Xmas tree. They're $85, but that's pretty cheap if there are three of you in the house who will love it.

http://discgolfassoc.com/phmini.html

Those little baskets kick butt.

[quoteI think you need to go to the DGA website and order a Mini-Mach, aka Mach.5, minibasket as a "to Family, from Santa" present for under the ole Xmas tree. They're $85, but that's pretty cheap if there are three of you in the house who will love it.

http://discgolfassoc.com/phmini.html

Those little baskets kick butt.

[/QUOTE]

That is cool but I'm having a vision of a mini hitting a Precious Moment or some other knick-knack my wife has placed around the house. :eek: Then there would be some butt kicking going on. :(

hhhmmmm, I still might do it though (risk vs reward).

Thanks.

You're already taking the risk every time you break out the bucket. So go ahead and give yourself the reward! :)

You're already taking the risk every time you break out the bucket. So go ahead and give yourself the reward! :)


Good point. I like the way you think. :D