Dexter man completes 24-hour disc golf challenge

Adam Smith of Dexter, who teaches at the Tri-County Technical Center, played disc golf for 24 hours straight on Saturday, June 20, at Black Stream Disc Golf on Burrough Road in Sangerville.

Smith met and exceeded his goal to complete 240 holes in 24 hours, finishing the timeframe with 266 holes and raising $866. 

Proceeds benefit “Last Card Standing,” a 24-hour disc golf endurance event to help raise funds and awareness for the Paul McBeth Foundation (named for a professional disc golfer). The organization works to bring disc golf to underserved communities by supporting new course installations, providing equipment and developing programs where the sport has never been accessible before.

Last Card Standing is the 24-hour version of the larger Throw for More disc golf fundraiser.

Smith has been playing off and on for about a decade and has been doing so more steadily the last few years, disc golfing several times a week and promoting the outdoor activity on social media.

He believes in the power of the sport to teach life lessons, build relationships and create opportunities.

Smith said the 24 hours went faster than he expected. He started at midnight. 

“Once the sun came up, things around me came to life,” he said. “The birds started chirping and it kind of gave me a little bit of energy.”

Many disc golf courses have glow nights with colored LED lights in the baskets and golfers can use special glowing discs, so Smith played in the dark for a few hours before sunrise and after sunset the day before the summer solstice. He wore a headlamp to help him play.

As he walked the course at Black Stream Disc Golf, people stopped by to support him and others sent encouraging texts. 

A friend who plays Thursday night doubles with Smith came up to play a few holes and encourage his disc golf partner.

A church friend of Smith’s played the sport for the very first time with Smith and loved it.

“That’s really what kept me going,” he said.

“Not only did I accomplish my goal of 240 holes, I surpassed it,” Smith said. 

Holes are tracked via the UDisc app.

He got to 190 holes in the first 12 hours and then reached his 240-hole goal with 6 hours, 49 minutes remaining on the clock. Smith could have paced himself with longer breaks in between rounds if he so chose.

“It was kind of a day full of wind and some showers,” he said. “The wind took a couple of my discs into the trees and that’s where they stayed. They put them up there but the wind was nice enough to bring them back down for me.”

Black Stream Disc Golf has nine holes with three in woods Smith described as quite technical and challenging.

Some sponsors pledged contributions per hole; others gave flat amounts. 

Smith’s knees and hips started aching around hour No. 16 but he pushed through to get to 24 hours.

“Not only was I doing it for the people who donated the money but hopefully for others who want to learn about what I was doing to get out and try throwing some plastic for an hour,” he said.

“I think it was worth it to not only raise money to help bring the equipment and education to the kids through the foundation, but just to get the word out there that disc golf is growing,” Smith said. “It’s fun, it’s accessible to anybody of any skill level and it’s cheap to play.”

After spending a day with heating pads on his knees, Smith was ready play more that evening.

“I would do it in a heartbeat,” he said about another 24-hour session. “Honestly, it was so much fun.”