Unstable Discourse - A Disc Golf Podcast · Top Secret Studios

Season 5 Episode 11 - When you Serve, You Win with Jim Schultz

October 18, 2024·1 hr 13 min·5 clips

The hosts are recording from a silo studio at Lake Arvesta Disc Golf Course, a property built from a lawn-mowing business into a family entertainment complex.

The episode begins with the hosts introducing their unique recording location: a silo studio at Lake Arvesta Disc Golf Course in Michigan. They welcome guest Jim Schultz, a hall of fame disc golfer and course designer. The hosts recount their experience playing the white layout of the course, which is about 8,000 feet and par 68, noting the challenging winds and lost discs during their round. Schultz lists his credentials, including being inducted into the Michigan Disc Golf Hall of Fame in 2023, winning the 1998 Amateur World Championship, and co-founding Eagles Wings, an international youth disc golf program. He shares a story about introducing disc golf in Zambia, where a 450-foot drive convinced soccer-loving kids to switch sports, leading to a national championship. The conversation shifts to the Lake Arvesta property, built by owner Brian DeBest from a lawn-mowing business into a family-focused complex with water parks, pickleball, mini-golf, and lodging. Schultz describes the course design process, highlighting the owner's willingness to use heavy machinery to realize design dreams. He explains the inspiration for round tee pads made of porous pave material, borrowed from courses in Phoenix, for better traction and flexibility. The hosts and Schultz discuss the potential for the venue to host large, innovative disc golf events beyond traditional elite series tournaments, envisioning week-long camps or expos that leverage the property's amenities. Schultz recounts his 1998 Amateur World Championship win, where he realized his purpose was to serve others through disc golf, leading to the founding of Eagles Wings. He talks about starting an interscholastic disc golf conference in Michigan, emphasizing the importance of being a good steward when working with schools. The episode includes a mailbag segment where the hosts answer listener questions about dream cars and what drives their passion for running tournaments. Schultz concludes by thanking the hosts and attributing his work to his faith.

As heard by us

A loose disc golf hangout that makes tee pad design feel worth the debate.

This episode follows a silo-top hangout at Lake Arvesta and stays grounded in course design. Jim Schultz sits in with Alex Seminary, Ryan Fancher, Sean Callahan, and Jason Callahan for a long, practical conversation about tee pads, basket placement, and the choices that shape a…

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Why you'd press play

You want practical disc golf talk that starts in a silo and stays useful.

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