CHAIN MUSIC: Full Armor students learn disc golf from a local legend
Published 7:12 am Sunday, February 8, 2026
Full Armor Christian Academy middle and high schoolers spent the week soaking up the sun and learning some valuable lessons with multi-faceted business owner, John Cloutier, as he led the group in a 4 day disc golf workshop.
“This week we introduced the Full Armor students to the basic principles of disc golf,” said Cloutier of his time on the FACA campus. “We gave them a chance to feel some discs and learn about the game. They got to meet a world champ and got to play a little mini round.”
Cloutier was joined by Troup-based PDGA World Champion Gregg Barsby early in the week. A veteran in the sport with over 20 years on tour, he is nicknamed the “Barsbarian” and is widely celebrated for his unique personality and incredible “from way downtown” throw-ins.
Serving as proof that disc golf can be much more than just a fun pastime, Barsby touts 88 career wins and over $282,000 in earnings as of late 2025.
Later in the week a pair of disc golf legends in their own right joined in on the fun.
Mark and Ginger Bowman came out Thursday morning to help facilitate a few surprisingly well-played mini rounds. The sporty couple has been playing the game for more than 24 years.
“He’s in the top five 70-year-olds in the world,” boasted Cloutier of the lasting success of Bowman within the sport.
The Bowmans manned the short round’s second basket and happily handed out helpful pointers as the students lined up for their lengthy shots. They may have rescued a putter or two from the high grass, and the tops of a few smaller trees, as strongly yeeted discs went awry.
As the four man teams made their way through the round, they returned quite a few score cards showing students made par with others coming in with shockingly low scores for brand new players. Cloutier had branded hats and t-shirts for round winners and every student left with their own mini-disc, used to mark the lie of their drivers and putters throughout game play.
He thanked each group for their exemplary behavior throughout the course, saying, “I’m real proud of you. You did a great job, you were extremely well behaved, and you paid attention. You make me feel glad I was here. I can’t thank you enough.”
Always seeking to grow the local disc golf community, Cloutier said, “Those that are interested we look forward to seeing them on a golf course some day soon.”