11/05/24
March 27, 2003
Screw Augusta, Martha, we need the publicity.: Disclife's Joe THE requests in his newest column that Martha Burk shift her efforts to more noble causes, like getting more women out into the parks for some Disc Golf. Any other SpoFi disc golfers out there?
posted by Ufez Jones to other at 01:39 PM - 15 comments
Damn, I am so waiting until april when I can start disc golfing regularly again. The only bad thing about disc golf is that the hippies and dope aren't stereotypes.
posted by patrickje at 02:23 PM on March 27, 2003
Let me get this straight. You go out on a golf course-like thing and throw frisbees at baskets? Congratulations Ufez you just introduced me to a brand new sport.
posted by squealy at 02:23 PM on March 27, 2003
squealy: The discs used are actually a bit different from normal frisbees. A little denser, flatter, and with a much smaller diameter. There are at least nine courses in the Old Country, you should have a go sometime. pfuller, I believe I have been out to Veteran's Park. Is it pretty hilly and rocky with some cacti out there? It was a pretty course, but seemed like it'd be fairly easy to lose a disc or two during a round. B.B. Owen is the closest park to where I live now, and it's got a pretty decent course (even though it totally favors lefties). If you're ever in the mood though, you should take a road trip to Waco to play at Cameron Park, which is a great course, especially the first nine holes. and patrickje, amen, brother. I can't wait until daylight savings time comes around and there will be enough sun left to get in a round after work.
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:38 PM on March 27, 2003
That sounds like Veteran's. I thought there was another course in Arlington that was better, but it isn't listed there. My roommate used to play a lot, I'll have to drag him out to Research Park.
posted by pfuller at 02:56 PM on March 27, 2003
You guys are such nerds. But seriously, how do you do that underhand throw where you're holding the frisbee palm up, gripping with two or three fingers (rather than the whole hand), and just flick the fecker and it takes off? My best buddy was so awesome at this and I could never learn how to do it. (This skill is awful swell at the beach and really works well with the ladies.)
posted by worldcup2002 at 05:43 PM on March 27, 2003
wc2002 - hint - don't call it a frisbee. I only did it to wind them up. :-)
posted by squealy at 06:06 PM on March 27, 2003
I play. Not too competetively, but usually once a week or so during the summer. It's fun, free (well, the discs cost 10-20 or so each) and you can drink beer while you play. wc2002: it's called a forehand.
posted by sauril at 06:39 PM on March 27, 2003
Oh, and I'm heading down the Northwest coast in a few weeks (Vancouver - SF), anyone know of any good courses?
posted by sauril at 06:40 PM on March 27, 2003
Thanks for the links, Ufez. As it turns out I've got 2 separate 18-hole courses (both well-maintained) within a five minute drive of my apartment and I never even knew they existed. And to think I was gonna spend this weekend cleaning out my attic. Are there any beginner disc-buying tips from vets?
posted by ttrendel at 12:56 AM on March 28, 2003
sauril, on a trip up to the PacNW almost two years ago, I got a round in at a little nine-hole course in Vancouver that was decent, but short. I've definitely played much nicer courses. I wish I'd gotten to play more courses, but it was kind of a whirlwind trip and my family was with me, so I didn't want to leave them too much. ttrendel, I can give you a bit of advice. I'd start out trying to buy used discs if you can find them. Either places like "Play it again sports" (if you have those around) or if there's a popular course in the area, some people sell used discs that they've found or gotten tired of. Try looking for an old Volkwagon Bus playing some dead or something with about four people hanging around. If all else fails, follow the smell of the patchuli. As far as advice for beginners: You'll most likely start out trying to throw way too hard. This will result in your disc landing hard into the ground about 40 feet in front of you, or flying very far too your right (if you're right handed, left if you're left-handed) and hyzering way back to the left in a giant arc that gets you nowhere. Concentrate more on keeping your arm level as you thrown, and keeping the disc level with the ground. If you start out throwing not very far, but straight (when you're trying to throw straight), then you'll be ahead of at least 25% of the people out in the course already. Once you get the technique of throwing straight down, then you can work on power. For discs, since most people do hyzer pretty badly when they start, you want a disc that has a very low overstability rating. From Innova (which is by far the most common brand of disc around) I like the Stingray quite a bit, although the Discraft XL is just as good (and I prefer Discraft discs due to the higher quality of material, they age and warp less easily in my experience, though I hear Innova is working on this to try to stay competitive). Keep in mind that discs will start out at their most Overstable when they're new, and slowly become more understable as they age and wear. Mid-ranges are actually harder to throw accurately since you're trying harder to place it and discs that are thrown with more spin and power are easier to keep straight. Putting, just practice a whole lot. Find a putter that you like (I actually don't even use a putter, I use an old driver that I have good control over b/c it tends to form a straighter line than the putters I've had which have all been light-weight, and I usually play in fairly heavy wind). More than anything, just have fun with it. Most golfers are very friendly, especially the older ones. Feel free to ask someone if you can play a round or a few holes with them (look for the guys with the big bags, as they're usually the ones that are very good -- do make sure they're not playing a tournament though). Most of them won't mind at all and will give you some very good advice and tips, both overall, and specific to a course/hole. And keep the parks clean.
posted by Ufez Jones at 09:31 AM on March 28, 2003
I've played a couple of courses in Van, and you're right, they weren't anything special... Good advice, too!
posted by sauril at 09:52 AM on March 28, 2003
I play every saturday with my father and 2 brothers. We played on Christmas Eve in 14 inches of snow. Park Ranger thought we were nuts when we asked him to unlock the gate to that area of the park. My family does not compete for "The Fun of It," but for money. Skins is the game and winner takes all ($5 to get in). There is also skill money, an ace is $5, hitting the flag from the tee is $3, and a 50' putt is a buck. Rates double on holidays.
posted by mick at 11:59 AM on March 28, 2003
Thanks, Ufez!
posted by ttrendel at 02:00 PM on March 28, 2003
no prob. if you have any further questions, feel free to e-mail me.
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:33 PM on March 28, 2003
Good link, Ufez, thanks! I have played a few times, all at Veteran's Park in Arlington. Probably only 30-40 minutes away from you (but I don't know how good the course is).