A Crazy Disc Golf Travel Experience
Today I had had an interesting disc golf related experience, and I thought I would share it with the world. I had to go to the Texas/Mexico border for work (McAllen, TX). Prior to going, I coordinated with the local disc golf club (Rio Grand Valley Disc Golf Club) in order to meet up and play their new course that plays on an old golf course (It is called Green Jay, but is not on UDisc or DGCR yet).
I flew in this morning, did the work thing, and then met up with 4 guys to play a course that probably averages 350′ per hole. We had a great time, and the course is going to turn into something amazing as it matures. I was able to share Vibram Disc Golf with a disc golf community that is relatively Vibram free (when I travel I try to bring a disc and leave it to the card/round winner as way was to say thanks for taking me around, and to share the rubber). The guy that won the disc was excited, and has been bragging about it to all his Facebook buddies in the local group.
The craziest part of the day though came when I got back to the airport in order to return to Houston. Since it was a one day trip, I only brought my Latitude 64 Luxury bag, and a tablet on the plane. (I have been using this bag more ofter for flights since I can put a change of clothes in the top storage compartment, along with my tablet. It allows me to bring all I need in 1 bag for the day.) When I went through TSA on the return flight, my bag was flagged for something inside (“large round circular objects”). Part of the process included a pat down. After the pat down, they swipe their hands with a special pad, and then run the pad through a computer. Unfortunately, the testing pad that they use to screen for explosive materials caused the computer to start going nuts. Immediately everyone in TSA perked up, and about 6 agents came by and they all escorted me to a holding area where they stayed to watch me, and I was able to participate in the super special TSA screening that is reserved for people that cause their machines to go nuts. I assume they thought I was a flight risk…
I fly a few times a month and have never had this happen to me so I was kind of interested in the process. (I wasn’t too worried since I’m not a terrorist =p ). After about 20 minutes of going through my stuff, special screenings, etc. We had the chance to talk a lot about disc golf.
A few of the agents realized I wasn’t a threat, and started asking a lot about it, asking me questions, and examining the various drivers, mid-ranges, and putters that I had in the bag, etc. One of them even said that their morning supervisor had been trying to organize an outside activity for the agents, and that disc golf was on their short list. They didn’t know what it was, but they said after talking with me for so long that it sounded fun. After I was released to go on, I messaged the local disc golf club, and told them the story, and it appears that the club president knows a TSA agent, and has already put feelers out to try to make it happen.
When all is said and done, I was able to get on the plane, return to Houston, and have a funny story to share. In case you were wondering, the positive substance that caused all of the drama was nitrogen, and apparently it was all over my pants and shoes when they scanned them. We all agreed that it was probably from the golf course fertilizer.
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