South Dakota

I first played south Dakota six or seven years ago. The whole family traveled up here as part of a bigger trip that also included the badlands, devils tower, and a swing back through Yellowstone and the Tetons. We stayed at angostura recreation area, which has a really nice lake, and a decent disc golf course.

Now once again we find ourselves in this park on the southern edge of the black hills, staying in a nice little cabin for dirt cheap. The swimming is excellent, with clear, nippy water and clean sand beaches.

And of course the disc golf is always near at hand, with a somewhat challenging nine hole course right in the park. Virtually the entire course is played on ridge tops around several coves on the lake. On several of the holes, the trick its to keep your disc in or near the narrow mown part of the fairway. Off the fairway the grass is thick and a fair number of small cacti await the unsuspecting foot.

But the really cool part of the course is a handful of holes in which you are tempted to drive across part off the cove to reach a basket on a ridge, where an errant throw could go all the way down a steep slope 150 feet to the lake. I know because the first time I played here six or seven years ago, I did roll all the way down one. But I learned my lesson, and today kept it on the ridge tops. Got eaten alive on hole two, but otherwise played a solid round, hit several long putts, and ended at thirty four.

Nebraska

So, the funny thing about Nebraska is I once tried to play here, about seven years ago, and was thwarted. The course, in a state park, had been removed, and we went on or way, into the black hills, without having played Nebraska. Never thought I'd be back by here again.

But here we are again, on our way to the black hills. And you can bet I came prepared with plans a through z, for playing Nebraska. One promising course, Kelley park in MCcook, was on or way, and sounded decent in reviews, so we checked it out.

Three first few holes, up and down a big hill, were not too exciting, but after I jumped from six to fifteen, I found several really beautiful holes. The course mostly kicked my butt, as i couldn't hit a putt to save mtg life, but I had a nice shot on sixteen that was leaning against the pole. That one is in the pics here, along with a few others

Oklahoma!

One word: windy!

If you don't already know what your discs do in the wind, you will find out here. The course in Foss state park is laid out on a ridge, above this nice lake. The holes would not be very challenging if not for the wind. And the home-made-looking baskets can spit out even the nicest putt. The tire bottom is a good idea, but the chains are too light.

It was a nice way to break up a drive, though. I played nine holes with a pitiful score of thirty four, with most of the bogeys coming on one headwind hole where several throws got me no closer to the basket.

Strange that with Oklahoma being right next door, it has taken me this long to play it. But it just never worked out, until now. If I am counting right, this its my thirty ninth state playing disc golf.I hope too hit forty in a couple of days!