Let’s say you recently took up disc golf and are wondering if you have what it takes to play in a charity disc golf tournament.

For those unfamiliar with the sport, it’s similar to golf, but rather than clubs and golf balls, participants toss a specialized disc. The holes are chain baskets elevated off the ground. The way the sport began in the 1960s is a little hazy, with some accounts having it beginning organically with college students designating trees or trash cans as the targets. Others say it was started by team members at Wham-O Inc., which marketed and sold the Frisbee. In any case, disc golf is experiencing growing popularity – the Professional Disc Golf Association has more than 50,000 U.S. members, and the sport is played all over the world.

We asked Director of Purchasing and Procurement Zach Hodson, our resident disc golf expert, what beginners can expect if they sign up to play in the Cornerstones of Care Disc Golf Tournament on September 21.

Zach will be playing in the disc golf tournament for the first time this year, teaming with Director of Managed Care and Clinical Services Jason Ruoff. The pair placed second in disc golf at this summer’s Kansas City Corporate Challenge games. Zach has been playing for about 10 years, mostly with friends at Legacy Park, his “home course” in Lee’s Summit. His best advice for disc golfers playing in their first tournament: go out and have fun.

“If you’re starting out, you get a chance to meet people in the disc golf community,” Zach said. “It’s a tight-knit, welcoming group and larger than you might think.”

According to U Disc, an app disc golfers use to find courses in their area, Kansas City is the 16th best disc golf destination in the United States. Locally, the Kansas City Disc Golf Club lists 500 members and 18 courses in the area.

“It’s a niche enough hobby that there is a community aspect to it,” Zach said. “No one feels that they are too good to be playing next to a beginner or intermediate player.”

The tournament will again be played on the Thornfield Disc Golf Course in Stilwell, Kan, which is Zach’s second good reason to play in the tournament: It’s a rare opportunity to play at the private course owned by Suburban Lawn and Garden. Thornfield is a moderately-challenging 18-hole course that is reserved solely for fundraising tournaments for non-profit organizations.

Disc golfers can stoke their competitive spirit with closest-to-the-pin and longest-drive competitions, as well as a Vegas hole, in which disc golfers wager to see who can land their tee shots into a circle marked around the hole. Those who can land within the circle win their wager, and those who don’t land in the zone have their money donated to Cornerstones of Care. Essentially, there are no losers.

Zach played competitive soccer when he was younger and plans to take a more Zen approach to this tournament. He will focus on enjoying the day, making friends, and having fun. He also wants to remind disc golfers that they are supporting a good cause.

“For me, it’s a chance to bridge the disc golf community I’m part of and my work life,” Zach said. “It’s a chance for me to represent Cornerstones of Care and talk about how we support children and families. And it’s a great opportunity to enjoy the beginning of fall and have some fun.”