Essential Discs' story starts with our founders Kathy and senior course designer Larry Leonardi was injured in an accident in 2002 which left him with two herniated discs in his back. Between 2002 and 2006 he was in and out of pain management clinics, rehabilitation facilities, and seeing neuro specialists. With all of the medical help and rehab, nothing helped and Larry was unable to walk for more than a few minutes at a time without the need for a wheelchair.

After completing a degree in geological science in 2006, from Western Michigan University, some friends dragged him to Oshtemo Park to play disc golf along with his wheelchair. When the round was over, he was sore and in pain, but had beaten his friends.

Over the next three months, Larry and his friends went disc golfing every other day. During that time the pain in his back continued to get better. By the end, he no longer needed painkillers to manage his pain.

After disc golf gave him his life and freedom back, Larry decided to dedicate himself to learning more about the sport and teaching others every chance he could. So in 2010, after a discussion with his wife Kathy who had been through everything with him and watched his miraculous recovery through disc golf, they ventured into the world of running events together.