4-H Disc Golf Club Sparks Youth Interest While Teaching Life Skills
4-H Disc Golfers at the end of a round of Golf. Left to Right, Brandon Stallings, Club Leader Carolyn Saft, Lacey Hermanson, Club Leader Amanda Law, Peyton Hermanson, Austin Stallings, Tanner Hermanson. -Photo: Submitted
By Katie Jones - UF-IFAS
Live Oak, Fla., – Every September, Brandon and Austin Stallings are excited for the return of the Suwannee County 4-H Youth Disc Golf Club. The boys have been playing in the 4-H Youth Club for the last three years. Over that period, they both have progressed as players and now feel confident to offer encouragement and tips to newer players. In addition to learning the rules of the game, Brandon and Austin have learned sportsmanship and confidence while becoming very passionate about the game. According to Austin, he might not have been successful at other sports, but he’s a good disc golfer!
For other players like Peyton and Tanner Hermanson, the disc golf league has brought out some intense family competition! Tanner, the youngest of 5 and only boy, has discovered his own 4-H spark for disc golf. He follows the Professional Disc Golf Association on social media and hopes to one day be a professional disc golfer!
Disc Golf, like regular golf, is a game of strategy and precision where the player’s goal is to throw their disc into the basket in the lowest number of throws. Players learn to keep records of their own scores so that they can see their growth! Like the clubs in regular golf, disc golfers use a variety of discs specially designed for longer or shorter distance throws. Players learn decision making and critical thinking skills when choosing different discs or approaches to each hole- not to mention the physics of flying objects! Before playing, club members learn both the personal safety and game rules that need to be followed so that everyone can enjoy their time on the course!
Research shows that being outside in nature lowers stress levels and playing disc golf provides low impact exercise at the same time. Playing just 9 holes of disc golf equals around 3,000-5,000 steps of the recommended 10,000 steps per day! Mastering disc golf skills can improve self-esteem, while playing through a tough round teaches resiliency and empathy.
The 4-H Youth Disc Golf Club meets at the Heritage Park and Gardens Disc Golf Course on Thursdays from 3:30-5:30 from September to May. Participation is open to all youth ages 8-18 and equipment is provided for new participants. Heritage Park and Garden’s disc golf course, which was established in 2013, consists of 9 holes with two different baskets on each. It is open to the public 7 days a week.
Suwannee County 4-H and UF/IFAS Suwannee County are Equal Opportunity Institutions. For more information about this, or other programs offered by the Suwannee County 4-H please contact
Players take turns throwing based on how far away from the basket their disc landed on the last throw.
-Photo: Submitted
