Flagstaff youth learn valuable life lessons through disc golf program

Eddie Diaz stands with a group of children from the Flagstaff Unified School District FACTS program who participated in his Discing4Kids program this summer. Jake Bacon, Arizona Daily Sun BRADY WHEELER Sun Staff Reporter From the corner of his eye, Eddie Diaz saw a sixth-grader whiz an orange disc about 50 yards. It was an impressive shot -- even if it narrowly missed the chain-link disc net that stood in Thorpe Park. Diaz stopped mid-conversation and turned to the kid. “Nice way to rip it!” he yelled. “Thanks, Mr. Eddie!” the kid excitedly replied. Eight years ago, “Mr. Eddie,” as he is known, was a Flagstaff local with a dream: to grow the popularity of disc golf. He first picked up the sport while rehabilitating an ankle injury that kept him from skiing, but quickly it became more than just a hobby. “The next thing you know, I started a program and now this is my life,” Diaz said. Diaz started his program, Discing4Kids, seven years ago with just 20 students. He made it his mission not just to share his love for disc golf with the local youth, but to serve as their mentor, teaching them fundamental life skills. The core values of the program, Diaz said, are integrity, respect, leadership, conflict resolution, accountability, safety and a healthy lifestyle. As Diaz refined the curriculum, he watched as more than 3,500 students would eventually pass through the program. He now partners with local elementary schools and like-minded nonprofit youth organizations and even teaches a disc golfing course at Northern Arizona University.