Uplay’s Community Connect at the Idlewild Disc Golf Pro Tour stop looked a little different this year, but sometimes the unexpected moments create some of the best opportunities.
Historically, Idlewild has taken place during the summer, making it difficult to connect with a local school while students are in session. This year’s schedule gave us that opportunity, and Tournament Directors Adam Jones and Jason Kerl helped connect Uplay with Conner Middle School, located just nine minutes from the course.
After several weeks of planning, everything was ready to go. Coaches were lined up, waivers were completed, and Uplay had already shipped equipment to the school.
Then, just before the event, we learned that the school was unable to process the required background checks for our coaches in time.
Rather than cancel Community Connect altogether, we quickly pivoted. With the help of Adam and Jason, Uplay offered a free community junior clinic during the Idlewild Flymart!
Kelley Foster led the clinic alongside first-time Uplay coach Hannah Lengel, with Maria Liivamägi capturing media from the afternoon. Together, they worked with 20 kids and 5 parents on putting and driving while giving families an opportunity to experience disc golf alongside one of the most exciting stops on the professional tour.
Each participant also received a Trash Panda disc to take home and continue playing after the clinic.
One of our favorite moments from the day came from a young girl who had stopped to watch.
The coaches could tell she wanted to participate, but she seemed intimidated being the only girl and eventually walked away. Hannah noticed, stepped away from the clinic, and personally invited her to come back and play.
That invitation made all the difference.
She returned with her parents, joined the clinic, and had an amazing time learning and playing with Kelley and Hannah. Before leaving, she told the coaches that her family planned to come back the next morning so she could watch them tee off in the tournament.
It was such a great reminder that sometimes creating an opportunity is as simple as noticing someone, making them feel welcome, and personally inviting them to participate.
There was another big win happening behind the scenes.
All of the equipment intended for Conner Middle School had already been delivered. Raven Klein retrieved the shipment and mailed it directly to the school scheduled for our upcoming Community Connect at the MVP Open in Massachusetts. Instead of sitting unused, that equipment is already on its way to our next group of students.
And our relationship with Conner Middle School isn’t finished.
Uplay continued working with the school following the cancellation and received a commitment to host us next year, as long as the 2027 DGPT schedule brings Idlewild back while school is in session.
What initially felt like a roadblock may ultimately create two opportunities for impact: this year’s junior clinic at Idlewild and a full Community Connect at Conner Middle School in 2027.
We are incredibly thankful to Adam Jones and Jason Kerl for their continued support, our Uplay coaches for jumping in wherever they were needed, and the staff at Conner Middle School for continuing to work with us toward the future.
Community Connect doesn’t always go exactly according to plan, but the goal remains the same: creating more opportunities for kids and communities to experience the joy of disc golf.
Community Connect | Idlewild
20 kids + 5 parents introduced to disc golf
25 Trash Panda discs donated
Lead Coach: Kelley Foster
Coaching: Hannah Lengel
Equipment Support: Raven Klein
Media: Maria Liivamägi
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