Why a disc golf group?

I wanted to start a men's group, but I have many commitments and priorities. With those, I don't get much time for fellowship and recreation. This goes with the territory and isn't unusual. I chose to be a husband and father and with the choice comes different commitments. But, I think it's pretty easy to fit additional things into a hectic schedule; if only one combines.

I combined two interests: disc golf and church. I do this same thing with my kids. I find an interest of their and I do it with them; we get time together, they get an enjoyable activity.

If you have a hobby, any hobby, or recreational pursuit, there is room for God in it. Just make it a men's group and get a couple of guys and go fishing, bowling, golfing, swimming, running, whatever. It matters not except that you are giving guys a chance to be around other Christians and prop them up. The more time we spend around Christians, the more likely we are to become stronger in our faith. Some will be stronger than you. Others might not. You will influence and be influenced. You will give them something to do other than the things they've always done and that have gotten them nowhere. It doesn't need to be a bible study. Just ask a few guys to join you when you are doing something and keep God part of it and you'll be great. I laid out only a few rules: be respectful, keep the smoking and swearing to a minimum (for some it's not easy to eliminate altogether, even if they are trying), leave the beer for other occasions, keep what's said private and be transparent. Those simple rules make for church anywhere you and one other Christian are.

F.ellowship o.f L.ord F.ollowers

F.ellowship o.f L.ord F.ollowers: Okay, what is this, besides a poor stretch at building an acronym? This is me, Hans, trying to find a way to get God involved in my whole life, excluding nothing, but also not excluding me having a life. What I mean is, I'm a changed person, but I still like to recreate and compete.

So, when Pastor Bil said, "men: lead!" I said, okay, okay. What can I lead? What would a Men's Group Hans is leading look like? Well, I am not much for hanging around the living room. I play guitar, but don't know all the words to Kumbaya. But, I do like sports; more the do-sports than the watch-sports, though. I thought, well, there are guys who are Christians who like to compete, but do they have places they can compete with other Christians? Somewhere they can go to compete and recreate at the same time as they hang with other Christian guys? We'll talk God, we'll talk BAF. We'll pray when we start and when we finish. We'll compete for an imaginary weekly championship. Each meeting we won't be embarrassed about competing and after the round we'll be closer friends or ever more bitter rivals.

The beauty of it, in my opinion, is that we can worship God with our recreation and include him in another part of our life. Hopefully committing to God in this form will encourage us to remember Him at all times, and worship Him and glorify Him at all times. I don't think God wants the remainder of our day, I believe He wants us all day. This should supplement daily time with Him in prayer or reading His Bible, but not replace it.

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." - Matthew 18:20 (that "I" is Jesus)

Rules

Here's where I'll set out some guidelines for our groups:


1. If you are one of those long-haired, tattooed, beer-swilling, f-bomb dropping guys... welcome to the group. That's been me, in various stages, sometimes all at the same time. I'll always have the ink but baldness is taking care of the hair. The beer is a bigger challenge and I sometimes still get angry and act like a jerk. So, if you aren't perfect, whew!, neither am I . God loves you, and I want to play disc golf with you.
   
2. BUT... This is a Bay Area Fellowship Men's Group. We should act like it. Be helpful and nice. Ice the f-bombs, leave the beer and smokes and bring a smile. Some in the group (read: me) like(d) beer a little too much, if you knowwhatImean; and some are trying to quit smoking or maybe they once smoked and could easily be led off the ledge again (okay... me again). Let's set an example during these meetings. Bring ice water, though, the more the better on the hot days.


3. If you don't have problems, this group is not for you. Don't worry, I'm sure someone will one day start a disc golf group for perfect souls.


4. Be on time because we're going to start on time (if you are late, you can join in progress, which is fine, so don't be shy, just catch up on the 2nd or 3rd tee, or whereever). When we're done, go home!, especially if you are married and the better half is expecting you to keep your word that you are coming home. And be really nice to her. Oh, hold on, that's its own rule.
   
5. Be really nice and polite to all women, especially your wife, or if you are single, your girlfriend. This has nothing to do with golf.


6. Just you. As much as it is important to spend time with your significant other and your family, I think time with guys who will help you stay accountable is important, too. Spend oodles of time with family, but please bring only yourself and other men to this group. That way we an openly talk about issues that we might have to restrict around more tender ears. If someone is struggling with dishonesty, unfaithfulness or substance abuse, they aren't likely to talk about it with your wife or kids around. That's all this rule is. We need to be transparent, but we aren't going to be if we have to watch what we say because of who is there.


7. Just us. What is said in F.o.L.F. stays in F.o.L.F. We're not going to be grilling each other on problems, but if I tell you I just spent 90 days in jail and not in the Peace Corps like I told everyone else and you go and tell all those other people we both know but I haven't told, then I'm never telling you anything again. This is all about helping, and guys who step up and confess problems deserve respect and help, not gossip.


8. Speak loudly. Your gracious host (ahem, me) is hard of hearing and wears hearing aids that go on the fritz when it's hot and he's sweating. I'm NOT stuck-up. I just didn't catch the punch line, that's all.

What IS disc golf?

Disc golf is golf ("ball golf"), but with frisbees. I grew up calling it Folf. George Costanza calls it "Frolf" in an episode of Seinfeld ("The Summer of George"). Fellowship of Lord Followers (FoLF) is an attempt at linking this Bay Area Fellowship Men's Group to the sport.

For a good outline, here's a video that shows it off a little:




The rules are similar to ball golf, but there are no clubs, balls, expensive greens-fees and jerks yelling at you to hurry up as you slice or hook your fourth fairway shot. Disc golf is nearly free (discs range from $7 to $20 each and you'll eventually end up with a bag full). It's done in under-utilized city and county parks, often in the areas most picnickers avoid. There are no tee times, and little waiting; but abundant are good people and fun. While some guys are amazing, most of us duffers are about equals and after a few tries you'll look good enough that you won't be embarrassed. Some people play ball golf for years and still look horrible. Do a search for "Charles Barkeley's Golf Swing" at youtube (I'd link some, but they go up and come down too often). By comparison, disc golf is quickly learned. Oh, but you'll never master it. Not in two lifetimes.



The object of ball golf is to use clubs to hit the ball into a hole. The object of disc golf is to throw your disc, frisbee style, into a "basket".

We still track shots (most holes are considered par-3, even on some long, difficult holes). You can get aces (no holes-in-one), eagles (if playing a really long course with par-4's), birdies, pars and (gasp!) bogeys. It doesn't end there (at least not for me), there are double bogeys, triple...



You get the picture. It's just as fun as ball golf.