Disc
In: where to play, buy and surf the net for disc golf.
Cross Frisbee with golf and what do you get? I don't
know, but I'm pretty sure it's not disc golf. Despite its
name and a few obvious similarities, the game of disc golf
bears little resemblance to Frisbee, a campus favorite among
stoners and nerds alike, or golf, a sport associated with
class and breeding.
If you stumble upon a group of people playing the game,
you might think you've been transported to another country.
As with European pastimes such as bocce, people play in
any sort of outfit; it's the kind of leisure activity that
fits in perfectly between rounds of lattés or pints.
Disc golf demands neither the physical exertion that fuels
competitiveness nor the expensive equipment that makes a
sport elite--which is exactly why you should play.
Despite being formalized as a game in the 1970s, disc golf
is still relatively unknown. It is named after golf because
of the similar course layout--18 holes, shooting tees, open
fairways--and scoring, which is based on a par for each
"hole." Though disc golf can conceivably be practiced in
any large, open space, a designated course is necessary
to play proper games. Courses, found at parks and schools
(see list below), vary tremendously. The best are equipped
with scoring cards and descriptions of the holes at each
tee-off area. At the very least, a course will have two
tee pads (women can choose to shoot from the one nearest
the goal) for each hole and an indication of the total distance
from tee to hole. The holes are actually chain-and-metal
baskets designed to catch discs. Most holes on recreational
courses are no longer than 250 feet, usually a par four.
The longest in the world, which are found on championship
courses, measure a full 1,000 feet.
Golf discs are smaller and heavier than Frisbees. Other
differences between the two are not immediately recognizable,
yet the range of golf discs is as vast as this year's crop
of prom dresses. One manufacturer, Innova-Champion, makes
20 different discs. Among them are drivers designated for
medium to very long throws; discs constructed to fly straight
or curve left or right; and putters, which are made heavier
and tackier for nailing approach shots. The discs come in
as many colors as styles, and weigh 150 to 200 grams. Each
costs around $8. Beginners should start with a medium-weight,
straight driver (try Innova's 175-gram Shark) and a putter.
After a recent game at Milo McIver park, I encountered
two serious players and got to peek in their bags. One carried
four discs, the other five. Portlanders Dane Mack and Scott
Brickman began playing a couple of years ago while living
in Ann Arbor, which has a five-course park nearby. When
I talked to Brickman on a Sunday, he had already played
three times the previous week--despite the rain. When asked
if Oregon's soggy weather was a deterrent, the two replied
that the rain keeps crowds to a minimum, and they play year-round.
Both play traditional golf as well and report that the only
comparison between the two is in keeping score.
Disc golf should be an easy sell. Involving minimal exercise,
it's a sport even a chain-smoker could love. It's simpler
to learn than jacks, the rate of improvement is rapid, and
it's cheaper than a night of miniature golf. Yet the Professional
Disc Golf Association, founded in 1976, has only 14,000
members in 20 countries. One barrier to greater participation
is a lack of established courses. Even though they are relatively
inexpensive to build and blend nicely into park landscapes,
there's not a single course in Portland. While waiting for
close-in courses, use this guide to get in on the action
before sunny, summer weather turns the few available parks
into zoos.
Disc
In:
where
to play
Rockwood Park Disc Golf Course
17800 SE Main St., Gresham, 618-2485
Milo McIver State Park
24101 S Entrance Road, Estacada, 630-7150
Champoeg State Park
7679 Champoeg Park Road NE, St. Paul, 678-1251
Estacada Timber Park Disc Golf Course
777 NW Tulip Road, Estacada, 630-8274
Portland Adventist Elementary School Course
3990 NW 1st Ave., Gresham, 665-4102,
open after 6 pm Monday-Friday, all day Saturday-Sunday
where
to buy
Paint the Sky Kite Shop
828 NW 23rd Ave., 222-5096
Play it Again Sports
1130 82nd Ave., Clackamas, 786-0484
web
sites
http://www.discgolf.com
- links to retailers nationwide
http://washuu.kgon.com/discgolf
- Portland's disc golf homepage
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Willamette Week | originally
published April 7,
1999
|
