In July 2007 First Colony opened a new disc golf course at their Aquatic
Center.  I thought it would be a fun thing to try for my girlfriend & I.  We
played for the first time that July.  We started out not knowing any of the
rules other than "get the disc in the basket".  We didn't have any
regulation discs, we didn't even know they existed.  We were each playing
with a single Aerobie Squidgie Disc because we were afraid of hitting cars,
people, etc. on our first time out.  Of course it took us about eight
strokes to make it to a basket with those.
http://aerobie.com/Products/SquidgieDisc.htm

After playing three times with the Squidgies we upgraded to some $3 regular
issue Frisbees and played twice with those.  Then we met a guy who showed us
what real disc golf discs were.  So I went to Play It Again Sports and
bought each of us the requisite three discs.  I didn't really know what I
was buying at the time but I ended up getting a Champion Orc, Star Shark,
and Champion Aviar P&A for me and a Champion Valkyrie, X-out Shark, and DX
Polecat for my girlfriend.

I read in the First Colony Newsletter that there was going to be a disc
golf tournament at the Aquatic Center course in December.  They had a 
beginner division and it said you got a disc with your entry, so for only
$15 each I signed both of us up.

We played one time with the real discs from Play It Again a month before the
First Colony Open I.  I heard that started as a little local tourney that
got sanctioned and grew to almost 100 players.  So the FCOI was just my
second time playing with a real disc and I threw for par from the Rec tees
in my second round and finished in 2nd place in the Rec division.  One of my
sporting accomplishments of which I'm rather proud.

That tournament was an eye-opening experience.  We'd shown up with three
discs in hand, not knowing what to expect but ready to play.  Andi Lehmann
and Dee Hunter helped my girlfriend learn the ropes in her group and I had
the benefit of Jim Hudson who, although not playing, was kind enough to
offer advice in my foursome.  It was funny because we saw all these people
with bags slung over their shoulders full of discs, and we wondered "What
could you possibly need all those discs for?  You can only throw one at
a time right?"

Well... fast forward two months and I'm playing my next tournament with my
own Innova Competition bags filled to capacity with discs.  I've watched
instructional videos on YouTube and read all sorts of articles.  I've
retooled my grip and my throw as well as learning to X-Step.  I've bought a
boatload of discs on ebay looking to inexpensively try out all that I can.
I've given away discs to friends to get them playing this game.  I'm
printing my own score cards, mapping courses and measuring distances with a
GPS device, and I've got a year's worth of tournaments penciled in on my
calendar... I think I'm addicted.  By the way I finished 4th in that second
tournament and I used my "winnings" from the two tourneys to buy a Star TL
and Pro Rhyno from the on site Spring Valley Pro shop folks.

What a great sport; I just wish I'd started sooner.

ERic