Disc Golf: Rankin Lake

So today i travelled out to Gtown for some one on two time with Michelle and Madison. Before heading out I checked the internet for a dg course in Gastonia, and lo and behold! there was one: Rankin Lake Park. It's 9 holes, tight fairways, few trees, with an evil creek and dense marsh. It's not been there all that long, so there's no map or pars to be found anywhere...so I assume they're all par 3, although holes 5 and 6 are rather long. If they ever hold a tourney out there, i'm signing up. It was pretty, fun, and I hit par on all but two holes.

Hole 5 was no joke, long and then crossing the creek on the right before getting in putting range. Of course i threw my Sidewinder into the cool clear water, half burying it in the sand. Not too bad getting it out though, and the course was empty of witnesses save what could possibly have been drug deals or make out sessions in a couple of vehicles that were idling for several minutes in the parking lot. Hey, who am i to judge?

The blue star is where the basket was.

Hole 6 was a bast-tard of a hole. Landing just barely inside the wood on the left side of the fairway, i figured my Valkyrie could still get some distance on the out. It brushed some of the foliage, then i lost sight of it. That orange disc was nowhere to be found. Traipsing through the mud, water, and attacking plants, i was beginning to think i was going to have to give up. I spotted an orange glimpse deep in a thicket, and braved the thorns to get to it. Of course it was just a plant branch with sunlight on it, but it made me think: perhaps my disc landed in one of the bushes. So i began my careful inspection again, this time raising my eyes from the ground to the trees. Three seconds later i found it, staring at me on the boundary of the woods and the fairway. Bugger.

It was a new course, the weather was perfect, and as i began Hole 7 two other dg-ers started on the 1st hole. When i finished i decided to go ask them whether there were any tourneys held here, and just say hello (where else am i going to meet people between work and sleep?). I get out the phrase: "Hey! i got a question..." when i recognize my old softball coach from high school, Mr Buckner. Blue eyes, great smile. He said my full name. (wahoo! he remembers me after 7 years!). Last i heard he was married and had a kid on the way, and i didn't get any personal info from him today, so i assume i still have no chance to marry him and have lots of little Buckners like i wanted to in school. Oh well, you can't win 'em all...at least he remembered my name right?

So that was my trip to Rankin Lake Park, just off I-85, left on Highway 321, first left at the Sizzler and to the end of the road. Gorgeous. To find out more about the park and the course, click here for the official website.