TooNA
Mar 09 2007, 10:19 PM
The Disc Golf Survivalist
Or
What I pack to survive the round.
How many times has this happened to you: You and your cardmates are waiting for the 4 top to putt out and clear the hole on 18 at Tradewinds Park? It rained buckets 2 nights before and you and the others stand there and get the life force sucked outta you by a herd (Flock? Pack? Whatever) of mosquitoes. Your quick thinking buddy produces a lit cedar and white-sage smudge stick and sends up a smoke shield so you and your friends can keep the rest of their blood while waiting for the hole to clear.
What do YOUR buddies pack? What SHOULD they pack? Here are my top 10 suggestions.
1. Sunscreen. If you are like me you and you get incinerated in 5 minutes out in the summer sun this is a no brainer. Lately I am packing Ocean Potion SPF 30 sunscreen. This stuff dries to a non greasy film of pleasant smelling UV protection. It doesn�t make me feel hot either. I try to lube up every time I play a round.
2. Small Smudge Stick or DEET. Whatever one you like to keep mosquitoes at bay. I prefer not to use mosquito repellent since some ate thru my favorite Disc Golf bag after it leaked in the side pocket. Nasty stuff. I prefer the smudge stick (courtesy of Native Americans) to light up a smoke shield before I enter a known mosquito hang out. I light it and place it nearby or just hold it. When its time to leave the area I extinguish it in the dirt and place it in a small baby food jar and store it in my bag for later use.
3. First Aid Kit. The small one by Johnson and Johnson is a buck in the Dollar Store clearance rack. I buy a small tube of aspirin or acetaminophen with it and it fits in the kit with ease. The small plastic box makes a great stash holder also so buy 2. Use this kit when the saw palmettos rake your shins to shreds in North Fort Myers.
4. Refillable Butane Lighter. More eco-friendlier than a disposable lighter. Use it to light the smudge stick or to be first on the scene to light that lady disc golfer�s cigarette.
5. Water Bottles. I use the kind that also fit on a bicycle. I need at least 28 ounces of fluids every 45 minutes in South Florida whenever we have a 90/90 day. (90 degress, 90% humidity).
6. The Golden retriever. This thing pays for itself the first time you pull a disc from the lake. Some quick thinking designer is on the ball in the Disc Golf World.
7. Birdie Bag. Keeping the hands dry and in control is what a safe disc golfer is all about.
8. Extra Scorecards and Golf Pencils. You never know when you can get a quick pick-up game. Put your company name on the pencils and give them out.
9. Towels. I use one towel for my hands and one for my discs and one small towel folded up in the flap pocket for whatever. I made the towels myself using a grommet and a CARABINER.
10. Carabiners. Clip your keys inside your bag, clip anything to your bag, clip the carabiner to something else and clip THAT to your bag or cart.
Optional: A bag of macaroni noodles and a wooden spatula in case you want to McGyver a nuclear reactor on the fairway.
There is my list. Its far from complete and it changes alot. Add or subtract what you wish.

xterramatt
Mar 10 2007, 08:22 AM
You forgot a shoelace, chewing gum (for the foil wrapper) and a paper clip, MacGyver. Smudge stick sounds interesting, never heard of one.

TooNA
Mar 10 2007, 01:47 PM
I discovered the smudge sticks at the Smithsonian American Indian Museum. Cedar seems to work for bugs the best, and it is GOOD MEDICINE!! :cool:

idahojon
Mar 10 2007, 02:34 PM
I discovered the smudge sticks at the Smithsonian American Indian Museum. Cedar seems to work for bugs the best, and it is GOOD MEDICINE!! :cool:



Actually, Native Americans prefer white sage for insect repellent (I've lived on a reservation for 25 years) but do often use a combination of white sage, cedar, and lavender.

Check at Powwows or other Indian gatherings to get it cheap, but here's an online source that isn't too pricey.

Native American Incense and Smudge Bundles (http://www.incensewarehouse.com/Smudge_c_69.html)

Coryan
Mar 15 2007, 06:15 PM
You and your cardmates are waiting for the 4 top to putt out and clear the hole on 18 at Tradewinds Park? It rained buckets 2 nights before and you and the others stand there and get the life force sucked outta you by a herd (Flock? Pack? Whatever) of mosquitoes.

Ah...memories of my golf days in the mid 90s...playing Tradewinds with a pack of mosquitoes, soggy shoes and still #$*&$! about losing that great driver when it turned on hole one! God, I love this game!

TooNA
Mar 18 2007, 11:59 AM
Tradewinds is a nice place to play as far as South Florida Disc Golf. Holes 6b and 18 are the worst for skeeters. No rain so far this year though so it aint so bad for now.
The tricky thing about Tradwinds is that your disc might not be affected by the wind until its about 100 foot downrange. Then you wonder why the heck your stable disc just flipped and went annie into the drink!
Perhaps I should include swimming goggles in my list.

Bizzle
Mar 19 2007, 01:05 AM
Down here in H-town, I have heard some pretty wild ways to fight of the skeeters.....the best that works for me with my bald head is using a Bounce brand drier sheet.....believe it or not the fragrance keeps them away BIG TIME!! Rub it on all the bare spots and it will do wonders.