If you’ve ever taken a stroll around Hudson Springs Park, you’ve undoubtedly seen many metal baskets scattered throughout the trail. These metal baskets aren’t just heightened trash cans, but valuable assets for the beloved game; disc golf. Disc golf is a mix of golf and ultimate frisbee. The goal of the game is to get your frisbee from the designated starting point to the corresponding metal net in the least amount of throws possible. Players are apt to use different frisbees, some better for long distance and some better for shorter distances to complete their turn.
The past few years disc golf has become increasingly popular, and with that popularity a new club at Hudson High School came with it. The club was founded just a few months ago in April by current seniors Noah Liesen, Ben Pinkerton and Bradley Schuster. The three boys were inspired to create this club after countless afternoons spent together playing. Schuster shares, “We started playing disc golf in our study halls and we discovered how fun it is and we wanted to get more people to play.”
After their original idea to begin the club they began their search for an advisor. The boys soon found Mr.Spohn, a disc golf enthusiast, and also AP Stats teacher to be their advisor. Schuster says, “Mr. Spohn was the perfect choice to be our advisor because he loves the sport of disc golf and also wants to give it recognition. He is also a favorite teacher amongst students at Hudson that many are familiar with.” Mr. Spohn agreed to the boy’s request and the club was then sent to administration for approval. After getting the club approved, the founders sat down together and created a set of goals that they wanted to accomplish by creating this club.
According to Liesen, the goal of the club is “to spread the love of disc golf throughout the entire school and get the sport the recognition it deserves.” Along with this, the founders wanted to utilize the high school’s close proximity to Hudson Springs Park, which features a spectacular disc golf course. Many students are unaware of this rare resource which lies so close to the school and can be easily utilized. Like most clubs at Hudson, the founders simply want to make a positive impact at the school with an activity that they believe would interest others. In the long run, Schuester shares that the boys want to pass down the club and make it a long-lasting club at HHS. “Our members are mostly seniors but we are looking to get more underclassmen involved currently.”
One of the struggles the club faced originally was that new members didn’t have the materials to play. The club quickly met this issue and began handing out discs to those interested in playing who didn’t own the correct materials. Disc golf sets are easily accessible, but with the expertise the founders possess they were able to give multiple students the correct discs. Another challenge the club had at first was that many of the interested students did not know how to play. But as previously mentioned, the club started with a goal to give love to the sport of disc golf, so the founders set out to teach as many students as they could.
Since their origin last April, the club has had a slow start but they have big plans. Liesen even shares that the founders have plans to, “become the biggest club at HHS and spread the word about disc golf to everyone in the school.” So as far as this year is concerned, the club leaders plan to have an outing at Hudson Spring Park this winter or spring, weather permitting. They also encourage club members to play outside club events. Liesen draws attention to courses like Oak Ledges Disk Golf Course in Massillon and Portages Lakes State Park to do this, since playing on at Hudson Springs Park can get repetitive.
To join the club, students can fill out the google form in the hhs disc golf instagram: @hhs.disc.golf.club. The form can be located by scanning the QR code that was posted on the page. Students may also directly message the account or simply email one of the founders with any questions as well.
With the abundance of clubs available to students, everyone should take advantage of the opportunities to join them. Learning a new niche sport or continuing to grow in one alongside your friends is a great way to get involved at HHS. Whether you’re a frequent disc golf player or have never heard of the sport before, all are welcome at HHS’s disc golf club. By joining this club, you’re able to gain more knowledge and enjoy nearby resources of the disc golf course at Hudson Springs Park.
