2008
11
Features
Following national trend, disc golf gains local popularity
m
N icholas A rntz ____________
co-Editor-in-Chief
^ Tired of having nothing
to do around the Linn?
Don’t want to spend
much money or see yet
another over-priced film at
Bridgeport Village? Better
yet, since the weather is
getting nicer, wouldn't it
and use during game play.
However, unlike golf, there
are referees to regulate the
rules and settle disputes
between the players, if one
were to arise.
Disc golf has many
perks over regular golf,
although the two really
aren't comparable. Golf can
and essentially, the disc acts
as the club and the ball,
another saving. Still, the
most expensive part of golf
itself is the course fees. Disc
golf courses at an Oregon
state park require a $3
admission for the entry into
the park. However, a $25
annual park pass can save
the avid disc golfer some
serious bank.
The Riverbend Disc Golf
Course at Milo Mclver
State Park in Estacada is
ranked the third best disc
golf course in the nation by
the Professional Disc Golf
Association, and number
one in Oregon. Only about
a 30-35 minute drive from
here, the course has a wide
range of difficulty, making
for a challenge around
every dog-legged, tree-
ridden, river flowing hole.
The holes are much longer
than those at other courses,
which makes par even more
challenging. Riverbend has
27 holes available on three
courses of nine holes apiece,
the same as regular golf.
Timber Park, also in
Estacada, is not currently it
ranked by the PDGA, but
only two courses in Oregon
were. A pretty standard
park, all 18 holes offer
some challenges, including
a few holes straight
through a forest with many
unforgiving trees. The holes
are much shorter, but is a
better alternative for the less
enthusiastic disc golfer, or
a newbie. Like Riverbend,
Timber Park is only about
a 25-30 minute drive from
West Linn. However, unlike
Riverbend, Timber Park
does not charge an entrance
fee, since it is not a state
park.
Champoeg State Park in
Newberg is a little different
from most disc golf courses
in that it offers 15 holes
instead of the traditional
nine, 18, or 27. Plus, the
holes are a little shorter,
making for a faster game.
But don't let the number
of holes or the distance
fool you...the baskets are
strategically placed to add
difficulty. With only 15
holes, and only about a 20-
25 minute drive from West
Linn, Champoeg offers a
quick game for those who
don't have a lot of time, but
want to get out and relax.
”1 brought frisbee
golfing to West Linn. I
like it because you can be
outside in a relaxed, fun
environment. My favorite
course is Riverbend at
Milo Mclver Park because
it is the most challenging
course, but it’s also the most
fun to play," Thomas Lord,
senior, said.
As the school year comes
to a close and the weather is
getting better, head outside
and play disc golf; it's a fun,
active, relaxing game, and
the best part is, it's cheap!
Greg Lord joins son's coaching staff
Loin Legacy_________________
u
continued from page 10
Thomas Lord, senior, employs a standard disc golf throwing technique
to launch his distance driver. After playing disc golf for the first time
last summer, Lord introduced the sport to WLHS and, along with some
friends, founded the Frisbee Golf Club.
Photo by Jon Helmkamp
be great to be outside? But
golf is too expensive at an
average of $20 for 18 holes.
The answer: Frisbee golf,
also known as disc golf.
Much like regular golf,
disc golf has many of
the same rules including
the rule of courtesy, and
nuances such as how many
discs a player may carry
be expensive, and the costs
can really add up after you
factor in the bag, 14 clubs,
balls and finally, course
fees. One can go broke
pretty fast playing golf on
a regular basis. However,
disc golf is different. The
discs themselves range in
price from about $7 to $25
(for a "professional" disc),
"Competing against each
other was fun. It wasn't a
big deal between us, but I
think my players got a kick
out of it. It’s not about us
though, it's about the kids.
I'll tell you though, I never
thought we would be on this
side of the river. I coached
at Oregon City for years and
Mike played there for his
four years of high school.
But when he was given the
opportunity to teach here
and coach baseball, I told
him to go for it. It's been a
great experience for him,"
Greg said.
The thing that Greg wants
the most for his son is for his
son to be a positive influence,
whether in the classroom
or on the field. "The biggest
championship he could win,
bigger than any trophy he
could win and put up in the
hallway in the high school,
would be to have his players
come back 10 to 15 years
later and say "Thank you'
or to come back and be an
assistant on his team. That
would be the biggest win,
knowing that he made a
difference," Greg said.
Greg describes himself
and his coaching style by
one phrase, a phrase that he
tells all of his players. "Good,
better, best, never let it rest,
until you're good is your
better and your better is your
best."
This philosophy is nothing
new to Mike, who knows
it all too well. "I've heard
that quote plenty of times
in the last 30 years. He uses
this quote or part of it in
someway during practice
every day. We are always
asking our kids to get better
every day in whatever they
do," Mike said.
The father-son duo is all
about the game, the kids
they coach and the father-son
baseball tradition.
Family will have little time to adjust to life in Africa before school starts
Sumpston in ISmtiattwre______
u
continued from page 6
Cumpston hopes to stay
in contact with West Linn
and the parents and students
that he has built friendships
with. He plans to keep a blog
that he will update so people
can check in and see what
he and his family are up to
and how they are doing in
Zimbabwe. They also intend
on coming back over the
holidays. In addition, several
people have told him that
they are going to come visit
and he hopes that they will.
Despite few opportunities
to continue performing live
music, Cumpston wants to
be able to see live music.
"When I was talking to
one of the teachers from
Zimbabwe, I asked him if
I’d be able to go into the city
and listen to music and grab
a cup of coffee, and he said
that there were plenty of
opportunities for that."
Leaving around July
20, depending on what
flights are available, gives
Cumpston and his family
only two and a half weeks
to adjust to life in Zimbabwe
before school begins.
Terry will be teaching
kindergarten at the same
school and the children will
be entering sixth and third
grades, respectively.
In addition to adjusting
to a new school, tasks like
a simple trip to the local
grocery store will be a
substantial change. In this
region, grocery shopping
means an uncomfortable
eight hour drive to
Johannesburg, South Africa.
"Many people will leave
Friday afternoon and get
in during the middle of
the night, spend Saturday
shopping and stocking up
on the things they need,.
and drive back Sunday,"
Cumpston said.
Cumpston is feeling
a little uneasy about the
sudden change, but is also
excited. "That’s not a lot of
time for a major lifestyle
change," Cumpston said,
referring to the minimum
amount of time he and his
family will have to adjust to
this new way of life before
starting their new lives.
In Zimbabwe, he and his
family will be provided with
a furnished house within
walking distance of the
school campus. Their house
will have a swimming pool,
a big yard, and greenery and
trees. Cumpston figures that
he and his wife will both
be able to save half of their
salaries since their cost of
living will be low and they
won't have commuting costs.
The family will be
moving into an economically
unstable situation in
Zimbabwe though. "We
were told that there might be
several 'inconveniences,' but
nothing that we would have
to worry about. We've been
in contact with a teacher
from the school, and we
were told to bring with us
at least a six month supply
of food. I was hit with the
reality of it," Cumpston said.
His family will be
provided one 40 foot
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storage container to pack
all of their belongings into.
"We're going to pack as
much stuff as we can. We
were also told it would be
smart to buy as much in
advance as we can because
it might be hard to come
by some things once we're
there."