Building a Disc Golf Course in the Honduran Jungle

Building a disc golf course in the Honduran jungle was not exactly on my bucket list when I grew up. But life had other plans, and I'm grateful for it. My family has strong ties to Honduras, and after my grandmother's passing, we decided to use our skills to give back to the community.

We started brainstorming ideas for a project that would bring people together and provide a fun activity for local kids. That's when disc golf came into the picture. I had always been passionate about the sport, and I thought it would be perfect for this endeavor. My uncle, who runs a youth camp in Honduras, was on board with the idea, and we began to make plans.

Finding sponsors proved to be more challenging than we expected. Most companies are still small and don't have the budget for projects like this one. But then we got some unexpected help from the PDGA's Marco Polo program, which supports the introduction of disc golf into new countries. They pointed us in the right direction and gave us the resources we needed to move forward.

We also received guidance and support from Jay and Des Reading, experienced disc golf educators who provided us with the E.D.G.E. curriculum and helped us procure affordable equipment. With their help, we were able to create a comprehensive plan for introducing disc golf to the local community.

Our team arrived in Honduras during a mild part of the dry season, but Mother Nature had other plans. We encountered severe flooding just days before our arrival, leaving the camp covered in mud. But we didn't let that stop us. We worked tirelessly, clearing paths and digging holes for the baskets.

On our first day, we trudged through the mud with cans of orange spray paint to mark out a fun 9-hole design. Our local workers, Ever and Luis, were superhuman, cutting pathways with machetes and felling large trees with ease. By lunchtime, they had cleared the course and dug the holes for the baskets.

Over the next few days, we continued to work on the course, placing baskets and cinder blocks around their bases. We also trained the camp leaders in basic rules and throwing techniques. On our final day, we played the entire course, enjoying the fruits of our labor.

The experience was truly magical, watching the local kids learn and enjoy the sport. We even set a course record – not that it's hard to do when you build your own course! As we said our goodbyes and left the camp, I felt grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community and share my passion for disc golf.

The project is far from over. The camp will still need support to grow the sport, and we're planning a return trip in 2015 with more experienced disc golfers to assist in training players. We'll continue to donate discs and provide guidance to ensure the success of this incredible initiative.

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This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/building-course-jungle