Family Reunion and Frisbee Golf, Our Way

One of the highlights of our family reunion this past weekend was this game of Frisbee Golf. Actually, if you click on the link about Frisbee golf, you also might click on this one about Calvinball -- the version we play is also reminiscent of that. I've never quite been sure whether my cousin, Scott, taught us a game he has played before, or a game he's making up as we go along.

If you want a fun outdoor game for your next family, church, or neighborhood event, start with between two and twenty people, ready to have fun. Our group ranged in age from 6 to 55, though last year the group range was more like 5-70. Anyone who can throw a Frisbee and is mobile enough to navigate your terrain is eligible. Skill is not required, and may not even be helpful. It's better if everyone has their own disc -- lots of us used discs we'd gotten for free somewhere. The kind of discs MADE for Frisbee golf might work well, but I think you'd have to be more careful not to hit anyone with one of them, so be careful if that's your choice.

All players take turn naming holes. In a small group, each person might get more than one turn. We had about 18 people, so we each got to call one. A hole is more than just saying "throw your Frisbee and hit that tree", though that could work. The hole you can see us playing in this picture went something like, "your Frisbee has to land in that far sprinkler, then you go through the gap in the trees and your Frisbee has to hit the stage in the outdoor chapel. The hole is par 8." Other holes involved throwing discs under tables, on the left side of trees, etc. Whoever calls the hole gets to call par as well. It doesn't really matter how accurately "par" is calculated, since the score will be what the score will be, anyway. Everyone keeps track of their own score, though we've been know to "help" folks keep track of scores that are suspiciously low. Everyone throws at their own pace (or all at once), so your fellow players are part of the hazards of the course.

Besides great glory and acclaim, the winner of this game got to name the person who would say grace at the next meal. This then was either a great favor to bestow or a punishment to inflict depending on one's outlook. Other years, the prize has been a popsicle for everyone.

Attendance at L___ Camp was a little low this year, which got us to talking about why folks come, or don't come. Those of us who do come really love these yearly weekends. Die-hard fans of "family camp" exist in every generation -- grandparents, parents and kids; and some of the "in-laws and out-laws" are as dedicated to camp as those of us born to it.

One of my cousins shared that when he told folks he worked with that his vacation included a family reunion, they thought that was "too bad". I guess they imagined "having" to be with people he didn't know or like so well. We enjoy a weekend of three generations eating, playing and catching up on the news of the past year. But obviously not everyone who's invited sees it that way. I suspect it's possible for the same event to be a real drag and a great blessing.

Still, it was a great weekend. And next year, when some of the folks who wanted to be there but couldn't are there, it'll be even better.

How about you - are you a fan of family reunions? Or not?