Zambia Disc Golf

Zambia Disc Golf

     I was jet lagged but too excited to notice as I sat in the back of the land cruiser going down an incredibly bumpy road. My internship had begun. I was finally in Macha. The conversation in the front seat had shifted to disc golf talk. One of the guys serving here began to talk about how disc golf had really taken off and about how much the people here love it. I started to get really excited but still had no clue what I was getting myself into.

     I was shocked when I first stepped foot on the course and heard the sound of chains and a bunch of small boys making noise. “Look! There is a group of boys just playing because they want to!” Even in the US where disc golf is becoming very popular, you don't often if ever see that many small kids playing on the course. It wasn't just the kids who surprised us. When clearing the course with a group of guys, one would bring his discs to test out the holes as they were coming to life. We didn't realise how much people enjoyed disc golf here. 

     Nowadays, the sound of random chains have become the norm and I even see some of the guys playing alone and practicing to get better. I am used to the fact that there is a big group of both young and old Zambian disc golfers who love to play and do it often. A community of disc golfers is beginning to come to life. 

     Another thing that took me a while to get used to was how fast people play here. Lining up and thinking about your shot for long periods of time is not a thing here. You just step up and throw. It took me some time to get used to this pace of play but now I think it may be a challenge to play with people who take 20 seconds to throw the thing.

     It has been really refreshing to see disc golf from a different perspective. These people have never seen Paul McBeth or Paige Peirce throw. They have never been at a tournament where people carry 20+ discs in the newest bags and nicest golf gear. They don’t see the need to play in shoes with the best grip on the bottom and four discs is more than the average disc golfers uses. 

     Lastly, the biggest thing that surprised me about disc golf here is how simple it is. A couple of whatever discs you are given is all that you need to shoot really well and have a really great time. When someone throws a really terrible shot it is typically followed my laughter both from the player and the other card mates. Rounds are fast and often played spontaneously. 
    

    I am beginning to embraced the simplicity of Zambia disc golf. I still wear my disc golf shoes but often only carry a couple of discs and take no time to throw my shots. Disc golf is played to have fun. If you are failing to do so, you are doing something wrong. The people of Zambia may not be following all of the "rules" correctly but they are having so much fun therefore nothing else really matters in my opinion. I wish every disc golfer could experience Zambia disc golf. 

    I pray that the disc golf mindset that I have experienced here will continue to change the way I play disc golf even in the US. I truly believe that this is the best way to play. That excited girl bumping around in the back of a land cruiser almost three months ago had no idea how much this experience would impact the rest of her disc golf career and life forever. I am incredibly thankful every time that I throw a disc in this Zambian bush.