A Brief History Of Disc Golf And The Innovators Behind It
The documented beginning days of Disc Golf puts its' birth around the mid to
late 1960's. Depending who you believe, it was invented in on the west coast, in
the Midwest and on the East Coast simultaneously.
Regardless, two California men are generally credited for their early
involvement in the growth of the sport. Both have their followers. Both are
credited separately for their contributions to the sport.
"Steady Ed" Headrick
Ed (Steady Ed) Headrick a designer for Wham-o toys is credited with designing
the modern day Frisbee while employed at Wham-o toys. While at Wham-O, Headrick
redesigned the Pluto Platter, one of the products made by Wham-o. He
reworked the rim height, disc shape, diameter, weight and plastics, creating a
disc that could be thrown accurately. He then founded "The International Frisbee
Association (IFA)" and began establishing standards for various sports using the
Frisbee such as Distance, Freestyle and Guts.
It was Headrick who coined and trademarked the term "Disc Golf". "He also
invented the Disc Pole Hole". Realizing a need for governance of the game, he
went on to found the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), Disc Golf
Association (DGA), and Recreational Disc Golf Association (RDGA). When Steady Ed
later turned over the PDGA to a group of Disc Golfers so that he could devote
his time to more inventions for Disc Golf, he selflessly gave the Disc Golf
trademark to the organization. There is little question as to why Steady Ed is
universally recognized throughout the sport as the "Father of Disc Golf"
George Sappenfield
As a counselor at a playground during the summer break from college, George
Sappenfield began nurturing his ideas for a new sport using the Frisbee. One
afternoon while playing golf, he began thinking that it would be fun for the
kids at the playground if they could play "golf" with a Frisbee. He set up
object courses which the kids played on. It quickly became a popular past time
for many who were introduced to it.
After graduation, George became a Supervisor for the Parks and Recreation
Board of Thousand Oaks, California. It was while in this position that George
setup the first known Disc Golf Tournament for adults in the community. He
contacted Wham-O Toys asking for their assistance with the tournament. They
gladly provided Frisbees and Hula Hoops, that were used as targets. When
attending UC Berkley, some of Georges friends set up the first course at the
University. In 1970, one of the first known permanent courses was set up there.
During the early 70's word of this new game had spread to the Midwest and the
East Coast. Courses began to crop up throughout the country.
Disc Golf Today
Today, there are more than 1, 600 Disc Golf Courses in the country. Some
estimates place the number of regular players at over 500, 000. There are over
9, 000 members of the Pro Disc Golf Association. If Steady Ed were alive today, I
would surmise that he would be very proud of his "baby".
Rule Differences Between Golf and Disc Golf
(as
published by en.wikipedia.org)
In Disc Golf, it is acceptable for a player to 'fall' in front of their
lie after the release. This allowance does NOT apply to putting.
[12]
A throw is officially considered a putt in Disc Golf if the lie is marked
within what is known as 'The Circle'. This is a circle with a 10-meter
(33 feet) radius, with the pin at its center. Within the circle, after
putting, a player must not advance beyond the marked lie toward the pin until
establishing balance and control, normally by picking up the marker disc.
However, like golfers putting from the fringe, rough or fairway, most Disc
Golfers still use a putting motion on shots that are longer than 10 meters,
often called "being out of the circle" or "being outside." The player may
follow through on these shots and many players develop a jump putt where the
golfer jumps towards the target. This allows a combination of the accuracy
that putting provides and more power on the putt.
Drives are made from a designated tee pad. These are usually made of
concrete and have a dimension of about six by ten feet. Players must release
the disc while inside the box, but may step out/off of it after the release.
Tournaments may have different guidelines depending on the course and the
nature of the event. It is allowed for players to take a running start as long
as they are supported by the tee pad at the time of release.[13]
Although concrete is the most common material for the tee pad, some courses
have sand, wood chips, dirt, or bricks instead. On nicer courses the tee box
will have a sign that tells the player which hole it is and the distance to
the basket.
Falling putts (when the player follows through [as described above] on a
putt 10 meters or shorter) and foot faults (when a player does not release the
disc behind their mark or within the required distance of the mark, when a
player has a part of their body touching the ground on release past their mark
or when their tee shot is released from off the teeing area) are penalized in
a unique way. The first offense is not penalized a stroke, but the golfer is
required to re-throw the shot and then is warned for the offense. Any
subsequent fouls, however, are penalized one stroke and the golfer must
re-throw.
Disc golf doesn't have "hazards" as defined in golf. Bodies of water, park
roads and areas of concrete are typically defined as out-of-bounds in Disc
Golf, however, sometimes these are not. Most courses define these areas as out
of bounds or in bounds on tee signs at each hole, however, there is no
universal standard for these. As in golf, any out-of-bounds shot is a one
stroke penalty, however, the rules for spotting the lie for the next shot are
quite different than those in golf. If a throw lands out of bounds, unless
defined by the hole, the thrower has the option of playing from the previous
lie, or playing from the approximate spot where the disc crossed into the
out-of-bound territory.
If they choose to play from where the disc crossed
out-of-bounds, they may take a one-meter relief from the out-of-bounds area,
even if it puts them closer to the pin. The rules do not permit a player to
have a supporting point touching out of bounds on release so this is the
reason for the relief. If a player lands within a meter of the out of bounds
and is in bounds, they are still granted this relief for the same reasoning.
This relief is an option, the only rule regarding this is when the disc is
released. Most golfers use this rule to their advantage to make putts closer
or to improve their lie. Some holes may require a throw from a Drop Zone. If
that is the case, the thrower moves to the drop zone to play the next shot. A
disc is considered out-of-bounds if it is completely surrounded by
out-of-bounds or is touching the out-of bounds line. If the disc cannot be
found, there must be "reasonable evidence" that the disc went out-of bounds
for the penalty to apply.[14]
Another difference is the optional penalty for a disc that lands more than
2 meters above the playing surface. The course designer may specify that on
particular trees, holes, or the whole course, a disc landing above 2 meters
will receive a one throw penalty. This is known as the 2-Meter Rule. If not
specified, there's no penalty for a disc landing any height above the ground.
In golf, it's likely a player will need to take an unplayable penalty if their
ball lands above the ground. On the other hand, balls are much less likely to
remain stuck above ground than discs are as they fly through trees. When the
disc is stuck above ground (including on top of baskets and those that land in
the wrong basket) are to be marked directly below the disc. Even if the disc
is not retrievable, as long as the player can identify it, they are not
penalized (assuming the 2-meter rule is not in effect). A tournament director
has the option of enforcing the 2-meter Rule regardless of whether or not the
course enforces the rule. Many casual Disc Golfers often choose whether to
play with the 2-meter rule at the beginning of a round.Disc Golf holes may also have what are known as 'mandatories' or what are
commonly called "mandos". These are obstacles that a disc must pass in a
certain way. For example, a tree may be marked as a 'right mandatory', meaning
a disc must pass that tree on the right side. Failure to hit a mandatory is a
one-stroke penalty, and the thrower must play from their previous lie or a
drop zone if provided. Mandos are usually put in place to force a player to
play down a fairway instead of down another fairway to help with safety.
Ok...So What Do I Need To Know Before
Playing The Game?
Equipment
Disc
Let's start with the
basics. First and foremost, you will need a disc.
As a beginner, you may use any type of Frisbee that feels
right to you.
However, if you are going to take up Frisbee Golf as a
hobby and become a true Disc Golf aficionado, you may want to consider upgrading
to a disc that has been designed for the game.
While it is true that any Frisbee or disc can technically be used for
Disc Golf, the discs designed specifically for Disc Golf are not the same as a standard
Frisbee. Disc Golf discs are smaller, heavier, and designed with denser materials
than normal Frisbees. Their shape and size are closer to that of the track
and field discus, and usually have a thick, harder edge.
All Disc Golf discs are constructed to allow for more distance than a standard
Frisbee. Because of this construction design, discs tend to have a right or left
pull which is called its fade at the end of a throw. Since the fade is
indigenous to the individual disc, as one gets more proficient, they will
purchase discs that have fades that favor their individual expertise.
Skilled players (and often not so skilled players) carry
different discs for different shots, just as regular golfers do. Following are
some examples:
Distance Driver
The distance driver (as the name indicates) is the primary long range disc in a
Disc Golfer's bag. This disc is designed to allow for maximum flight, so it
is generally flatter and has a wider, heavier outer ring than other discs. The
added weight allows the distance driver to be more effective when used in a
breeze or with a tailwind.
A good durable distance driver will likely be the first disc new Disc Golf
players will purchase when upgrading from a standard Frisbee. For average
recreational use, entire games can be played using only a distance driver.
Though they are not ideal for putting, a distance driver will give new players a
slight advantage in the longer-range throws versus playing with only a mid-range
disc. When used for putting, the distance driver often gets damaged by the
basket. This damage will negatively the flight patterns of the distance driver.
Mid-Range Disc
The mid-range is the staple of any serious Disc Golfer's game. As
described by the name, these discs are good for medium-range shots. The main
strength is that they combine good
distance flight with superior accuracy. The mid-range disc typically offers
significant loft, or hover, which results in lower speed throws.
Since these discs can offer a wide variety of fades, hovers, and weights, there
are many different options when selecting a mid-range disc. Most players will
carry at least four different mid-range discs in their bag. They will typically
carry one or two favorites. The mid-range disc allows the
experienced player plenty of options when facing a difficult shot.
The mid-range disc often is the last purchase a Disc Golfer makes when
building their "toolbox" of discs.
Putt And Approach
The putt and approach disc, or putter, is the most accurate disc in the Disc
Golfers bag. These discs are extremely accurate, have a slow flight speed,
and produce tons of loft. The disc is usually very tall, which allows throws to
drop off quickly at the end, making it easier to "drop" the disc into the
scoring basket.
Putt and approach discs are usually made out of a soft, tacky material that can
promote ricochets off of trees and other hazards, and allow the disc to "grip"
the chains and stay in the basket more easily.
A putter can significantly improve a Disc Golfers game. For people
getting into Disc Golf for the first time it would be advisable to have a putter
in your disc bag. That said, only have the option of having one disc, skip the putter and just
buy a driver.
Miscellaneous Equipment
Just like with all sports, Disc Golf has a variety of accessories to make the
game more enjoyable. The first accessory I would recommend is a good durable bag to
carry your discs. As
time progresses you will accumulate a variety of discs. You will probably have
to upgrade to a larger bag as your experience grows along with the amount of
equipment you will carry. A good bag to start with will hold 6 to14 discs
and contain a drink holder and
also pockets for extra items. Can you get a bigger bag. Certainly. Beware
however, if the bag is too large, and packed with discs, it may become
heavier than you bargained for, while lugging it around the course.
An excellent bag accessory to consider is a back strap.
It will make the bag less cumbersome. A good back strap will have hooks that will
allow you to lift the bag off your back when you are ready to throw.
Do not forget to take a damp towel and a dry towel along.
You will want to clean your
disc off after you have thrown it. They tend to get dirty over time
and that dirt will affect the way your disc will fly through the air. It is also
good to dry your hands and disc on those days when it is raining, or if your
disc ends up in the water. Speaking of water, another excellent accessory to
carry is a disc retriever.
It will help you retrieve your disc should it end up in water.
Try It...It Is Great Fun And Promotes
Lasting Friendships
Disc Golf is a fun sport that can be very relaxing. Go out, have fun, and enjoy the scenery of the course and get some good
out door exercise. Most important, enjoy the camaraderie you will share with
your fellow Disc Golfers in this unique specialized game!
