The Rocky Mountain Collegian

There is little in life as enjoyable as disc golf. It is one of warm weather's greatest gifts.

As the sun peeks out from behind the Colorado clouds and warms our lush greenish-brown fields the air will be filled with more and more flying spheres.

Why is this game so rad?

It is one of the few sports in which the athlete can get away with wearing nothing but shorts; nothing, mind you. No socks or shoes, no shirt, no underwear... awesome. It's as close as one can get to being in Eden without having charges pressed.

Disc golf is one of the few sports that a person can play while holding a beer. It is not too uncommon to be strolling through the fairway with disc in one hand, Pabst in the other.

Disc provides the greatest way to lose a bet involving a Slurpee or Cherry Limeade and still feel good about life. Sure, a buddy may have gotten the upper hand, but you're only out two bones and you're enjoying a sugar-laced beverage.

It also offers the rare chance to wade through the lagoon and rake the mucky bottom for your errant throw.

Heck, the greatest moment in my life is the time I tossed a hole-in-one at Cottonwood Park in Colorado Springs (maybe this says something about the quality of life I live if that is my greatest moment, hmm).

I've seen a friend get decked and break his nose after he took a disc between the eyes. It was one of those I'm-laughing-but-not-at-you moments.

Obviously, this is a sport worthy of the hour gap in between your classes.

What truly blows my mind is the fact that there are professional disc golfers out there; grown men that participate in this bliss day after chain-clinking day.

This profession is not one loaded with cash flow and screaming babes. The current point leader in the Professional Disc Golf Association, Barry Schultz, made a whopping $40, 896 last year. However, the athletes travel the world hucking a friggin' Frisbee.

There are 108 pros among 20,000 PDGA members from five continents who participate in tournaments from Wisconsin to Japan. There is even talk of having disc golf as an Olympic sport.

And to this I reply: it's about time!

If ballroom dancing and gymnastic/ribbon twirling can be Olympic sports why can't frolf?

So this week pull off your shirt, catch some rays and start practicing, you could be on the U.S. Olympic team in 2008.

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