For physics and research teacher Chris Spenner, it’s not the direction or speed of the perfect disc-golf shot that captivates him the most: instead, he’s drawn to its natural surroundings. Whether making a hole-in-one or not, Spenner takes in the natural world around him, grounding himself in both athleticism and environmentalism. 

At 16 years old, Spenner discovered disc golf through his brother. He continued playing casually, especially during road trips, when he would stop to throw around a frisbee for a break. He began competing during the pandemic, improving his skills and form by watching YouTube videos. This year alone, he participated in seven tournaments. 

“I grew up playing sports in the backyard, and throwing frisbees was among it,” Spenner said. “It feels like it defies common sense notions of what flying objects ought to do, and when you get good at it, you can do even crazier things with it.”

Disc golf comes with its own distinct set of characteristics from ball golf: players throw a disc instead of hitting a traditional ball, and they target a metal-chain basket instead of a conventional golf hole. One of Spenner’s favorite parts of the game, though, is its accessibility.

“The culture of it definitely attracted me,” Spenner said. “It’s not like ball-golf where you have to be a member of a country club and have expensive equipment. You need a frisbee, you go to these free courses and just show up and play.”

Spenner looks back to one of his most memorable moments in disc golf while playing at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. 

“I was playing solo, but I came upon a group of other players who had a radio going with my favorite song from the ’80s,” Spenner said. “I complimented their song, and they let me play through so I threw my shot. It was a 300-foot throw to a basket that you couldn’t even see, and I got a hole in one. It was just a mad celebration as I was running to retrieve my disc. It was a glorious moment.”

Physics teacher Miriam Allersma, who formerly played competitive Ultimate Frisbee, shared an enthusiasm for disc sports with Spenner. Dr. Allersma praised his dedication not just in his sport but also in other aspects of his life, inside or outside of his job.

“Mr. Spenner is a really thoughtful and deliberate person,” Dr. Allersma said. “I’m always amazed by how deeply he’s thinking about issues, whether it’s a school policy or something about science or the environment.”

An environmentalist, Spenner describes disc golf as a “hike but throwing a frisbee while doing it.” But he also acknowledges the differences between the two, cherishing hiking as an opportunity to deepen his curiosity for the natural world.

“If I’m playing a really familiar course, then I might not even pay that much attention to some of the scenery and I might be more focused on one element of my game,” Spenner said. “If I go hiking in a new place, that’s really more exploratory since it’s new for me—hiking is much more meditative.”

Ella Yee (’24) views Spenner as one of her biggest role models, taking deep appreciation for his thoroughness inside the classroom. She took every class that Spenner taught throughout her time in high school: AP Physics C, Research Methods, Advanced Research and Honors Systems Science. 

“If you’ve ever had Mr. Spenner as a teacher, you know how much he cares about every single one of his students and how he teaches his students to care about their impact in their communities and the world,” Ella said. “He’s changed the way I approach learning and life in general, and I really miss being his student.”

Spenner relishes the thrill of competition in disc golf, but finds greater fulfillment in the environment. For him, the game provides an escape from everyday life in the natural world and a chance to connect with the outdoors. 

“I [play disc golf] knowing that it’s kind of a goofy thing because most people don’t picture it as a serious sport because in a lot of ways it’s not, but it’s also something I enjoy and I kind of don’t care what other people think,” Spenner said. “Disc golf is a way for me to be in a different community and a different physical space—a natural space that feeds my soul.”