Disc golf

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Image:Disc golf throw.jpg Disc Golf (also known as folf or frolf for frisbee golf) is a game based on the rules of golf (referred to by disc golfers as "ball golf" or "stick golf"). It uses flying discs which are similar to the Frisbee, but usually smaller and more dense. The discs are thrown towards a target, which serves as the "hole". The official targets are metal baskets with hanging chains to catch the discs.

Contents

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Playing

Disc golf is played in a similar manner as ball golf. The initial "drive" is taken from a designated tee area. Each subsequent throw is taken from just behind the spot where the disc came to rest. Each is added to your tally. As with ball golf each hole is given a par rating. A common strategy for a par-three hole, as in golf, would be drive (long throw toward the basket), approach (mid-range throw to the "green"), putt (short throw into the basket). Your hole is scored when the disc has come to rest in the basket of the target or when it hits the designated part of an object if there are no baskets and it is an object course.

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History

The first disc golf games were organized in 1964 by George Sappenfield in Thousand Oaks, CA. The courses were "object courses" and used anything from lamp posts to fire hydrants as holes.

The first official disc golf course was opened in 1975 in what was then known as Oak Grove Park in Pasadena, California. (Today the park is known as Hahamonga Watershed Park.) This park is immediately to the south of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which supplied at least a few of the earliest players. The course itself was designed by Ed Headrick.

"Steady" Ed Headrick is the Father of Disc Golf. Mr. Headrick worked for the San Gabriel, California based Wham-O Corporation and invented many popular children's toys. Headrick's invention of the frisbee led to a life-time devotion to frisbee sports, which he loved and shared with many people. "Steady" also invented the disc golf basket which he sold through his family owned company the Disc Golf Association (DGA) (http://www.discgolfassoc.com/).

For he so loved the sport, he actually was cremated and put into individual frisbees so he could fly forever. [1]. Discraft, did indeed create and sell the frisbee with Headrick's ashes in it. Unfortunately, so many people regard this as such a piece of real disc golf history, very few of the discs actually "fly" - they mainly rest on a nail in a prime location in the living room.

Disc golf has changed the lives of every person who has ever been "bit" with the need to keep playing. It is an obsession of the finest degree. Giving many a social outlet, exercise, and fulfilling many people's lives with the good hearted generosity the sport inspires.

You can learn more about Disc Golf and if there is a course near you at: www.pdga.com

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Course Description

A typical course will have 18 holes. Many smaller courses have only 9 holes, while an increasing number of courses offer an additional 9 holes to make 27 available holes to the disc golfer. Many disc golf courses are in open, grassy public parks, but more challenging courses are set in semi-wooded and hilly areas, some quite rough and natural. One good example of a classic long course with wooded hills is De Laveaga Disc Golf Course in Santa Cruz, California, USA.

The target in disc golf is usually a metal basket that is suspended parallel to the ground about two feet from the ground, and attached to a vertical pole that is a few feet tall. To better allow discs to come to rest in this basket, chains are suspended from another circular section near the top of the pole and allowed to hang limply to a point where they are connected to the pole in or near the receiving basket.

Disc golf is unique in that PDGA and WFDF rules, based in player conservation efforts as well as fair play, make it a violation to cause damage to the course's flora. With most courses not requiring greens fees, the relative low cost of discs, and tournament fees still fairly low, the disc golf social structure may be among the most egalitarian and relaxed in organized sports.

To find a course in your area try the beta application at http://www.referential-integrity.com/DiscGolfCourseGmap/.

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Golf Discs

There are a wide variety of discs, divided into three basic categories: putters, approach discs, and drivers. Within each of these categories, each disc has its own distinct flight characteristics. There are frolf discs designed to fly straight, turn left, or turn right, depending on how they are thrown by the player. There are several classes of drivers intended for different distances. Mid-range drivers tend to be the most versatile discs, and are very good for beginners. For longer drives there are many variations of long-range and extra long-range drivers.

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Throwing style

See Frisbee throws for more details

The two most common throwing techniques are the forehand throw (aka side-arm), and the backhand throw. Of the two the backhand style is most familiar to new players and is the most common.

A right-handed player performing a forehand throw will generally hold the disc in his right hand and throw the disc with the palm of his hand facing the direction of the throw.
A right-handed backhand thrower will throw the disc with the back side of his hand facing the direction of the throw.

The different types of throws spin the disc in opposite directions, causing the disc to turn and fade left or right, depending on type of disc thrown, windage, spin speed and various other variables. Many players try to master both techniques or learn to play both left- and right-handed to account for as many situations as possible.

Another throwing style is the roller, which can be done two different ways. One way a roller can be thrown is with a forehand grip and the disc is released vertically and allowed to roll. The other way a roller can be thrown is with a backhand grip. The person would throw the disc, releasing it vertically. Most people can get more distance with a backhand roller than with a forehand roller.

Additional throwing techniques include (but are not limited to):

  • Tomahawk - A throw where the player holds the disc over his shoulder and releases it vertically, with his thumb on the topside of the frisbee, and the index and middle fingers wrapped around the back edge of the frisbee. The purpose of this is to have a very straight throwing shot that won't turn into a roller and will land relatively flat.
  • Thumber - Also known as a thumbhook. The player will hold the frisbee in the same manner as the Tomahawk, except with the thumb wrapped around the under-edge of the frisbee. In releasing, the frisbee will spin off of the thumb of the thrower, and create a very straight throw, that has the possibility to roll quite far if thrown with enough force and spin.
  • Grenade - an overhand throw with the intention of the disk rolling most of the throw distance (can be very inaccurate and cause the disk to roll way off course)
  • Prebinator - A chip shot where the disc is held upside down and chipped to the basket with a normal forehand toss. The disc flies and dives straight down at the basket. Back spin is generated such that in case the disc misses the basket, it will come to a rest near the basket. The Prebinator takes a great dive down "into" the basket, taking advantage of the larger basket entry area.
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Disc Physics

Stability is one of the most important disc properties when choosing a disc. There are three stability classifications, based on the behavior of a disc when thrown using a level right-handed backhand (reverse the direction for left-handed backhands):

  • Understable: An understable disc has a natural tendency to curve to the right.
  • Stable: A stable disc will maintain a straight flight path.
  • Overstable: An overstable disc that tends to curve to the left.

The stability of a disc depends on a number of factors, including the weight, size and shape of the disc and the speed with which it is thrown. Thus, a disc that is overstable for one player may be stable or even understable for another. The ratio of disc spin, angle upon release, and air speed (partially related to arm speed) are important control factors.

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Disc Golf Hall of Fame

  • 1993: Vanessa Chambers | Dave Dunipace | Ed Headrick | Tom Monroe | Jim Palmeri | Dan Roddick | Ted Smethers
  • 1994: Harold Duvall | Nobuya Kobayashi | Darrell Lynn | Dan Mangone | Doug Newland | Snapper Pierson | Lavone Wolfe
  • 1995: Ken Climo | John David | David Greenwell | Johnny Roberts | Dr. Rick Voakes
  • 1996: Mike Conger | Patti Kunkle | Rick Rothstein | Frank Schmidt
  • 1997: Steve Slasor | Elaine King | Jim Kenner
  • 1998: Gregg Hosfeld | John Houck | Carlton Howard
  • 1999: Sam Ferrans | Steve Wisecup | Tim Selinske
  • 2000: Tom Schot | Royce Racinowski | Steven Yee
  • 2001: Stan McDaniel | Johnny Sias
  • 2002: Alan Beaver | Gary Lewis
  • 2003: Mark Horn | Brian Hoeniger | Dr. Stancil Johnson,
  • 2004: Derek Robins | Geoff Lissaman | Johnny Lissaman | Marty Hapner
  • 2005: Mats Bengtsson | Sylvia Voakes

For more information, visit the website of the Disc Golf Hall of Fame.

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Disc Golfers (external links)

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Disc manufacturers

Image:Discs in basket.jpg

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Courses

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Clubs

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Popular culture

Frisbee golf (Frolf) was referenced in the "Summer of George" episode of Seinfeld. From the realization that each of them, (George and Jerry), are only about "a half man", George starts helping Jerry with his new girlfriend. When George is supposed to be delivering cards for a party Jerry's girlfriend is hosting, he is met by a stranger in the park that asks: "You know we need a 4th for the back 9, you want in?", he decides to partake in the game.

In the 2000 movie The Tao of Steve, Dex and his buddies spend several scenes playing Disc Golf on a course comprised of improvised and home-made targets.

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External links

de:Discgolf fi:Frisbeegolf fr:Disc golf ja:ディスクゴルフ no:Frisbeegolf sv:Discgolf

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