Cozier than a tent, more rustic than a motel
Back when Rita and I dipped our toes into the housing market, our realtor gave us free passes to Kayak Point Disc Golf Resort. We lived in the southern suburbs of Seattle, and Kayak Point is quite north of Seattle. So, we put the passes on the shelf and let them sit awhile.
Then, near the end of 2023 we found ourselves home for the holidays and without big plans. We decided to take advantage of the free passes and go explore the area. Besides the disc golf, we were excited to explore Camano Island. This is one of Washington’s major islands, although I hadn’t heard anything about it. Port Susan and Davis Slough lie to the east, while Saratoga Passage lies to the west.
Given the short notice, as well as our budget traveler habits, we decided to stay in a yurt. This yurt was deep in the center of Camano Island, in the owner’s backyard. There was room for a bed, desk, sink, wood stove, and a small section of floor space. The wood stove was the highlight of the trip. While in the yurt, we needed to create the fire, maintain it by adding wood, and regulate the flow to control the burn rate. It was fun to learn how people lived back in the day.
Another highlight of the yurt was nightfall. We stayed on an 11-acre, forested property, and they had coyotes. One night I swear the coyotes circled around our yurt, as their howls were loud and clear. Perhaps the smell of our dog, Toad, brought them in. In addition to the sound of coyotes, we heard rainfall, owls, and the mysterious cracking of branches.
Kayak Point
On our first full day we drove back to the mainland and Kayak Point. Disc golf courses are typically open to the public, with no fee other than a suggested donation (sometimes). Walking the course is the only option, and for hanging out afterwards one must hope for a picnic table. Kayak Point Disc Golf Resort is different. Put simply, they are trying to be like a typical golf course.
First, we needed a tee time. Second, we got to pick one of three courses: Intermediate, Advanced, or Pro. We selected the intermediate, also known as the red course. This course was more in the direction of a golf course. The distances were long (for us at least), but the fairways were wide open and well maintained. Now, I’m not saying Kayak Point is better or worse than a typical disc golf course. It is just different, and therefore well worth the visit. For us, it was also free, so maybe I’m biased.
They allow dogs, so we got to take Toad with us. He doesn’t really chase after the discs as one might expect. He’s more interested in other disc golfers and their dogs. As I mentioned, the course was long, so he got his exercise in.
There was one hole with a classic water hazard, maybe 100 feet from the tee. The disc golfer must decide to clear it, lie up, or go around. I decided to go around, but given my inaccuracy, ended up throwing straight at it. Fortunately, my distance wasn’t great either, so I wound up lying just short and cleared it with the next shot.
Reflections in the clubhouse
Other challenges of the course were the frequent hills. Sometimes we found ourselves throwing up a steep bank, while other times we got to let it fly down a grassy slope. There was also one and only one hole with a tight fairway through the woods. Ironically, on this hole I threw a perfect drive, and had a legitimate chance at birdie. My second shot flew just under the cage, and I wound up with par. Overall, I shot +22 on 18 holes, with three pars. Rita did not keep track. For perspective, the course record is -17.
After our round we hung out in another disc golf rarity: the clubhouse. They had a little shop where they checked in disc golfers and sold discs. More importantly, they had an attached BBQ joint. Rita, Toad, and I stayed there for lunch. We reflected on our round, the highs and the lows. I also played Rita in Connect 4 and lost both times.
Our day was not yet done. Kayak Point has a purple course, which is short and kid friendly. For us adults, it is good practice and makes for a chance to get a hole in one. Try and try for a hole in one I did. The closest I got was around hole 15, when my first shot clanged into the chains, but ultimately passed beyond the basket. I also got the fun opportunity to fish my disc out of a pond, using a rake and a grabber.
There’s plenty more I could say about Camano Island, but this is a post about disc golfing, so I’ll keep it brief. We saw a live blues show at Pub 282, and then came back for New Year’s Eve and saw a classic rock band. On New Years Day, the skies cleared, and we walked along Davis Slough with views of the Olympic Mountains to the west and Glacier Peak to the east.
