Traditional golf has Augusta in the international spotlight this week, but the Garden City also has a vibrant community of players for a non-traditional form of the sport: disc golf. Over the weekend, the two communities intersected at the Lake Olmstead disc golf course.
Seth Straughn is a novice at disc golf. He started playing about five months ago.
“I’m addicted to it now,” Straughn said.
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He normally doesn’t play at Lake Olmstead but there’s a meet coming up and he wanted to get better acquainted with the course, which he said is one of the most challenging ones in the Augusta-Aiken area. He headed to the lake Tuesday afternoon with his seven-year-old son Parker and Parker’s friend Nathan Barette.
That’s when fate stepped in.
In the group behind him, Straughn noticed a man who looked familiar. The man was wearing Puma sportwear. When asked, the man said his name was Bryson. Straughn realized he was talking with Bryson DeChambeau, one of the top golfers on the PGA Tour and current U.S. Open champion.
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“There’s no way to stay calm!” Straughn said.
DeChambeau said it was just his second time playing disc golf. He added that it was a good way to get out, do some walking and relax. They decided to skip a couple holes to get ahead of a large group in front of them. Straughn expected DeChambeau and his friends to move on, but they stayed together and Straughn gave DeChambeau tips on how to develop his disc golf technique.
Straughn was very impressed with how easygoing DeChambeau was and how he was joking around with Parker and Nathan.
“Bryson has a reputation on the golf course for being very methodical and I wondered if he’s the same off the course,” Straughn said. “He’s not. He was so laid back, relaxed and kind to Parker and Nathan.”
As the round ended, DeChambeau got more disc golf tips from Straughn. Photos were taken and discs were autographed.
Another local disc golfer ran into DeChambeau at Lake Olmstead last Saturday.
James Dean had just pulled a disc from his bag and noticed another pair of players watching from a ways off. As Dean lined up his shot, the pair wanted to watch.
Dean, as a new player, warned it likely would not be good.
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“As I faced the basket preparing to throw, I remembered who he reminded me of,” Dean said. “I asked ‘Are you Bryson?'”
DeChambeau responded, “Yeah, I’m that guy.”
The three men ultimately played holes nine through 18 together with Dean supplying the discs.
Dean asked DeChambeau about the upcoming tournament. DeChambeau said he was testing a new driver and he was excited about the tournament. According to Dean, DeChambeau was relaxed but still competitive, asking questions on how to improve.
“I think he knows when it’s time to be serious and work on his craft, and when it is time to relax, take your mind off of it and give yourself a minute to recover.” Dean said. “I think the thing that struck me the most was his humanity. He was humble and kind and human.”
As for the traditional golf tournament going on this weekend, Seth Straughn knows who he wants wearing the coveted Green Jacket.
“That’s a no-brainer! Bryson has a lifetime fan in me!” Straughn said.
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If you want to learn more about disc golf and what is available in the Augusta-Aiken area, visit https://www.csradiscgolf.com/
The website has a map of all area courses and what each one features. There is also a list of upcoming events.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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