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A Chapter in Kansas City Disc Golf: Knowledge and Ignorance

Writer's picture: ourrawmaterialourrawmaterial


The Iconic Unused Lion's Den Roc
The Iconic Unused Lion's Den Roc

My friend Dick Parker (aka Parker Lewis, Leo Extraordinaire, and Wreck of Honor) was recently invited to be a guest on Kansas City’s new Disc Golf Podcast C1X. His position with GRIP, course designing skills, social media presence and earnest desire to share what he knows pretty much ensure that he would be a solid interview. Their podcast format is designed for four people, so when he asked me to join him on the show, I agreed without even knowing what it was about, because that’s just how we roll. 


I was happy to show up and lend my support, and in my back pocket I knew it would give me the chance to shout out Sarah Nicholson’s Throw Pink. I just joined their Board and I am excited to promote their mission around women’s health. Also, I was pretty excited to learn a little about what the new generation of disc golfers are bringing to the scene, because I’m not the best at keeping up with what is happening unless someone fills me in. A big thanks to all of you who do that - It means a lot to me!


Combined, Parker Lewis and I share 50+ years of disc golf experience, which makes for a whole-freaking-lot of stories. Looking back on all the roads we have traveled and the people we have met, it is clear that he and I have covered a lot of disc golf ground, both together and apart. The coolest thing about it, in my opinion, is that we have always had each other as an interested audience for ongoing discussions about the overall journey. In so many ways, Disc golf is a huge, thriving family and we both LOVE this family with our hearts wide open. I’m sure it’s a reason we keep each other close. 


Which leads me back to the main point I wanted to make when I began writing this piece: It is wholly impossible to capture any kind of true accounting of Kansas City’s Disc Golf history in just a few hours; or from two intricately-woven perspectives, alone. There is so much more to it all than either of us could possibly know! That said, I believe this conversation is a really good starting place for other opinions and discussions… I can think of at least 100 people whose input would be needed to make this story anywhere near complete, and even then, I don’t think the re-telling could ever quite capture the magic of what it truly feels like to belong to this local Kansas City scene, as well as our older sibling – The Disc Golf Community, at large. 


That was a long way to say that it was a challenge to choose which tales to tell in the moment, as we were recording. I didn’t want to get myself in trouble by saying something snarky out of context  – our inside jokes have naturally become slang within our conversations – and that stuff is always less funny when it needs to be explained. Honestly, I had anticipated a strong focus on Dick’s road to his dream job because that is such a story in itself. Hi. Pro Listening Tip: If you’re looking to make a drinking game out of these couple hours, a good word to drink on is Leo, as in Dick’s astrological sign. It is briefly mentioned that I am an astrologer, but our Leo friend takes the cake in discussing it. And funny how no other signs were acknowledged. Hmmm… 


C1X Studio has a lot of great energy and I could feel it walking in the door. I had listened to a few of their episodes, which allowed me to get a sense of their enthusiasm, but I hadn’t met the hosts. And I wasn’t sure what they had in mind for this particular show. The only intentional direction we were given was that they like to keep it loose and conversational, which is definitely my style. I felt comfortable right away, which was helpful because I certainly wasn’t expecting some of the questions about my own personal journey (especially about my writing or Our Raw Material), which threw me for second. It was unsettling at my core, but in a good way, if that makes sense? Soul growth, for sure.


Whatever ‘it’ is that makes disc golfers feel accepted by each other, the C1X hosts, Bren and Scott both have it. This was obvious from the first episode I heard. Although it might not be easy to describe succinctly, the emotional call and response that we experience when we love this sport is instantly recognizable. Scott, Bren, and the C1X Bullpen, along with the guests they have chosen for their show, definitely have that. Shout out to Ali and Mary, up next on Episode 8, who embody it all so well on tour! It is a gloriously palpable energy and really I love watching it light up in people I don’t even know, simply because I am so familiar with the glow of its natural beauty. Thanks C1X.


As most disc golfers can attest, there comes a moment where you feel, instinctively, that you are a part of something bigger than you, and that you feel free and welcomed when you step onto a course. It might be your first birdie, first long putt, first ace, first disc golf friend: any of these types of things can be the catalyst for this awareness. The heart energy that beats from the center of every small disc golf family, resonates out into the larger course of disc golf’s direction, even when the members struggle to find agreement or consensus about what that ought to be. 


Our energy is always growing: connecting us all in big ways that are easy to see, and in small ways that are easy to take for granted. As a result, disc golf generally makes us better at life. I believe this to be a fundamental truth that goes back to the beginning of our sport, where those intentions were originally formed.


As far as I can tell, the newer members of our community are called to join by the same undertones and nuances that brought each of us to the game, and on top of that, they bring an increasing level of competition that makes me excitedly engaged in our future. Who would have thought we’d be watching disc golf inside on the weekends? Certainly not me, which helps me remember that being wrong is always an opportunity to be impressed by what I am able to learn every day.


From the beloved people we have lost over time to the people who just now felt their heart skip a beat for the first time because their disc did something amazing, we are all a part of this uniquely connected material that finds a way to keep reaching out with a solid intention: building and growing as a sport, yes, but doing so with integrity and acknowledgement of the people, courses and clubs that have paved the way so beautifully. The strength of our community is predicated by the actions of a whole lot more people than we mentioned – who are integral to what we have created here in Kansas City, and I am delighted to know, after talking with these guys, that the list continues to grow.


Driving home, I tried to recall the different avenues our conversation took, but I quickly became distracted by some of the answers I didn’t give, and some of the people who went unmentioned. I had no issue with the responses I gave, but there is always so much more to the story than we get to reveal, no? I think we hit on a nice variety of subjects, but the sheer volume of anecdotes that were briefly teed up in my mind and rejected carried some questions for me. No regrets here! – I just want to acknowledge publicly that we were only scratching the surface of who and what has had an impact on Kansas City Disc Golf, and all of the myriad ways that they remain tied together.


We really had a lot of fun recording this. We touched on so many different topics that my memories have been fired up ever since. I appreciate the prompts that have placed me back in time, and reminded me how much MORE my life has been because of my involvement with disc golf. I can’t recall every round or even every tournament, but I have amassed so many incredible moments within this sport that when they come back to me, sparked by something someone says or does, it brings me the very same joy that I felt the first time it sparked.  (Sparks! — Anyone?!) 


Which brings me to the one thing I wanted to talk about that we didn’t make time for, and that is all of the phenomenal golf shots we have gotten to witness over the years, and will get to in the future. You could make a whole show of it! How many times have you seen a disc do something that you probably needed to see to believe? Watching a disc fly is still one of my favorite things to do in life, and I’m serious when I say that I live for truly fantastic shots - mine or anyone else’s! 


Ever since the 2003 DGLO when I was practicing and let Barry Schultz play through from basically the same lie that I had, behind a large bush. He lined up an overhand shot as I watched, and we stepped out to see it finish, making its way to within 30 feet of the basket. He turned to me and said, “your turn”, so I walked back over and did what he had done. Imagine the look of surprise for both of us when mine landed under the basket! For the record: I didn’t know how to execute that shot – I just matched Barry’s energy and the shot was there! The result still blows my mind as they remind me that on the disc golf course, anything is possible.. 


This is why I love meeting people who haven’t been playing as long as I have, but I know they are carrying around the same enthusiasm and love for the game that I expect will always be with me.

C1X Podcast? Hell yes. Highly recommend.




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