Between grading papers, preparing lessons, and scruffling through frantic emails, finding the time for leisurely activities is a rarity among both teachers and students. But for some people at North Atlanta, disc golf has been an escape from the stressful day school brings. Balancing between A’s and Aces is a skill only a handful of individuals can manufacture, but the gratification of it makes the effort worthwhile.
Mr. Nelson, an AP and IB teacher, is known for his great intellect and witty dad jokes (they’re hit or miss). For students who pay attention however, know he is an avid disc golf player. When he’s not cheering on Everton soccer or showing his class his favorite cat memes, Mr. Nelson is hitting fairways and throwing darts. A top ranked amateur according to the PDGA (Professional Disc Golf Association), he has gone around the world competing in big events. Although a weekly player nowadays, Mr. Nelson admits that disc golf wasn’t an immediate spark. It wasn’t until he started playing in tournaments with his buddies that an obsession started to form. Apart from winning big bucks from tournaments, Mr. Nelson uses disc golf to explore his competitive drive and stay outside. On the course is where he feels free from the pressure his rigorous classes supply. “Disc golf is hard, but I don’t have to grade an essay out there,” Mr. Nelson said. “Teaching an IB class is one-hundred percent harder to do.”
Another familiar face on the links and in the classroom is Mr. Robinson, an AP World teacher and the head of the debate team. Whether it’s keeping a positive attitude after a bad hole, or recalling everything that’s happened since Mesopotamia, Mr. Robinson finds the perfect balance between competition and the classroom. A combination of mental fortitude and a perfected procedure, Mr. Robinson utilizes these skills in both areas. Carving out the time for a round comes easy as he plays multiple times per week. Mr. Robinson, similarly to Mr. Nelson, uses disc golf to exercise and get outside of the house. “I wouldn’t say that it’s hard to balance, it actually makes balancing everything easier,” Mr. Robinson said. “Most of the time it helps me take a load off.”
The faculty aren’t the only ones chatting about disc golf. A junior here at North Atlanta, Sophia Lane, grew up with disc golf as a part of her routine. She would play every Sunday with her dad–yet another top ranked pro. These days were her favorite and she is sure to cherish those memories forever. Although she doesn’t play as often now, she still credits the sport for teaching her focus and perseverance–traits that have aided her education to where it is today. Lane said, “Aiming for the chains is like aiming for an A, all you can do is try your best.”
The commitment to their craft is one like no other. These scholars go all out in the classroom in order to enjoy the sweet tranquility of the course.
