Disc Golf

Junior disc golfer Tom Brash and friends were on a local course one evening last week, letting off steam after a long day. \n"We had to get a round in before (the recent snowstorm) came," he says.\nDisc golf is the newest craze that is sweeping over semi-active recreational enthusiasts who don't have the money to play golf or join a gym to work out. Not to be confused with the Frisbee, disc golf has all its own equipment, although any flying disc will work if you're only into it for fun.\nLet's talk about the basics. A "hole" of disc golf consists of two main parts. The tee pad is the place from where you throw your drive, while the "hole" is what you are trying to hit. The preferred "hole" among disc golfers consists of a pole with a basket mounted to it about three feet off of the ground. Above the basket is a steel ring with strands of chains dangling from it. These are present so a disc golfer can throw the disc into the chains, thereby stopping the disc's momentum and allowing it to come to rest inside the basket.\nIn disk golf's earlier days, the golfer would simply choose an object (trash can, tree, telephone pole) and try to hit it in the fewest number of throws. Today when a park does not have the means to finance an entire course complete with disc golf baskets (there are a variety of types of these, most costing in the $300-$400 range), poles are installed in which you have to strike a painted portion of the pole to consider the hole completed. \nSteve Madsen, a 30-year disc golf enthusiast, says the sport originated with the invention of the Frisbee-brand flying disc. On the underside of the original Frisbee, it encouraged the purchaser to invent games. Within days the Cro-Magnon form of disc golf surfaced.\nNow there are organized competitions, and even sanctioned tournaments that one can enter. The sport's governing body is the Professional Disc Golf Association whose Web page is www.pdga.com. It was founded in 1976 and has been the definitive word on the rules of the sport. Each course is different and has its own rules for out-of-bounds and penalty strokes. Much like in regular golf there is a par, which is usually three, and the average player should be able to complete the hole in this number of strokes.\nDisc golf courses have sprung up all across the country, and most are listed in local park guides. \nThere are two 18-hole courses here in Bloomington. One is west of town at Karst Farm Park, just south of the Monroe County Fairgrounds off of Airport Road. The other is at Crestmont Park, just west of Tri-North Middle School off of 17th Street. Each course is equipped with baskets (18 at Karst, 12 at Crestmont), and enthusiasts frequent them daily, weather permitting.\n\"Crestmont is a lot more technical than Karst. I enjoy that," says James Stogdill, a 1996 IU grad. Stogdill is a member of the PDGA as an amateur. He says the remaining six baskets should be installed at Crestmont by mid-spring. If you are interested in sponsoring a hole, contact the Bloomington Disc Golf Club at www.bdgc.org. On the Web page you will find directions to the courses, maps of the holes and upcoming events. The annual membership fee is $30 for amateurs and $35 for professionals. Stogdill says there are quite a few spring tournaments coming up, the soonest being on Saturday at Karst Farm Park.\nMadsen says talks have been taking place about possibly installing a course somewhere on the University's campus. The main focus is on Woodlawn Park, just south of the stadium. This would help to take the stress off of the existing courses, which are getting more and more worn as the sport gains popularity among students.\nGetting Started\nFor those of you who are just now being introduced to the sport, you have learned all about disc golf but you're probably curious about what it takes to get started. Well, all you need is one disc. These can be found in a variety of places around Bloomington. Play-it-Again Sports has the widest variety, and also has in-house disc golfers who can help you pick out the right disc. Don't be intimidated by the selection. As a beginner there is no real need to have different drivers, mid-range discs and putters. As your skills progress you might decide to invest in these specialty discs, but at first one is all you will need until you understand the physics behind the sport and work on precision in your form.\nDiscs can cost anywhere from $8-$20 each, depending on the material and the brand. Your first disc should be closer to the $8 range because you will probably end up abusing it on obstacles, plus you always run the risk of losing your disc in the woods.\nNow that the snow's melting away, a new wave of disc golfers has the opportunity to roll onto the courses. Spring tournaments should provide a chance to gain exposure to the local disc golfers and the sport. Whether you're competitive or not, the parks are open sunrise to sunset all week, so you can relax and get a round in whenever you have an extra hour to spare. \nThe First Annual Assberry Open will be held on Saturday at Karst Farm Park. Registration runs from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m., with tee off at 10 a.m. The entry fee is $20 for pro divisions, $15 for amateur.