Welcoming New Players: A Short Guide
Last night I went to a friend’s BBQ party, and three interesting things happened: I broke up a dogfight (wow, that was crazy), afterwards someone said ‘frolf’ during a conversation, and then lastly someone else said ‘frolf’ again within the same hour.
Even though the dogfight was crazy and gave me minor injuries and quite the adrenaline rush, the use of the word ‘frolf’ captured my attention the most, and it got me thinking…
The sport of Disc Golf is still growing, but there are a lot of players that don’t understand how truly amazing Disc Golf is.
Here is my short guide to welcoming new players to the wonderful sport of Disc Golf.
#1
Be convincing that’s it’s worth their time. Take them to a scenic and/or relatively flat course – it will be more playable and enjoyable for a beginner.
I personally recommend buying them a beer (21 and over of course!) before the round, or buy/give them a disc… It will have more impact on whether they play again or not.
#2
A new player will always ask, “What’s the best disc to use?” and you should give options – and in my years of playing, you should always say “mid-range” and a recommendation. Once they have played, they will find a certain disc that fits their hand and throwing style.
#3
Give them a crash-course on the physics of how a golf disc flies. Teach them what understable, overstable, and stable is. I recommend throwing a couple discs from your bag to demonstrate – also, let them know about thumbing (thumber) and tomahawking. For right-handed throwers, thumbing will make the disc curve to the left, and opposite for tomahawks.
#4
ALWAYS be courteous. A lot of new players take a while to learn and straighten their throw, make sure you’re quiet and patient during throws and be positive towards them no matter how far they go off course – and congratulate them on successful fairway drives!
—
This wonderful sport still needs a lot of players. If you play, don’t be afraid to invite a friend you think might like hitting chains for the first time – chances are, they wanted to hang out and have a great time outside anyway.
Lots of Chain Noise,
😀estin
Missouri Winter Wonderland
Hey Dogleggers, long time no talk! I promise I haven’t forgotten about you guys—I actually daydream about blogging quite often. For those who don’t know, I’m currently in my junior year of college, so let’s just say that I have to write a lot of stuff that’s not about disc golf during the school year and my brain can only produce so many words in a week.
Anyway, I’ve been DYING to tell you guys a little bit about the crazy winter we’ve been having here in Missouri. It’s been a winter wonderland. Not “wonderland” like the deep snow and beautiful trees on a Christmas card—we’re not quite northern enough for that. I mean WONDERland, like “I wonder if it’s going to be 60 and sunny, or if it’s going to be so cold the news anchors are telling me not to let my dog outside for more than 10 minutes.” So, let’s take a look at Missouri’s last few weekends.
Four weeks ago today I played in the 28th Annual Ice Bowl in Columbia, Mo. Columbia is not only my hometown, but the home of the original Ice Bowl in 1987. As we all know, the official Ice Bowl slogan is “No Wimps, No Whiners,” and for the 28th Annual there was nothing to complain about. The weather was beautiful, in the 40s and no rain or snow. I was very happy to be able to play in a division of 5 women, two of us celebrating one year since our first tournament! On top of that, I shot my personal record on the Oakland Top course with a 2 stroke improvement. It was a wonderful day!
Five ladies competed in the women’s division at Columbia’s 28th Annual Ice Bowl in January
The winners of each division at Columbia’s 28th Annual Ice Bowl
After such a great experience at the Columbia Ice Bowl, I was really pumped to play the following weekend in Jefferson City, Mo. However, the night before the tournament there was an ice storm and it wasn’t safe to make the 30 minute drive. Instead, I spent the day playing a 4-hole NOMAD course at my house and gathering with my neighbors to scrape ice off of my street. Not so wonderful.
NOMAD target set up in my backyard while the roads were too icy to get to a course
My street covered in ice, and everyone trying to get it cleared off.
I didn’t get any golf in the following weekend. There was more snow and I turned 21, so I think you can infer that I was a little busy doing other things…
Last weekend I finally made my way down to Jefferson City to play league at their new course. They still don’t have permanent baskets or tee pads installed, so we played the front nine twice with temp baskets. Just by looking at the front nine and hearing rumors about the back nine, this course is going to be a BEAST. There are a few water hazards, lots of elevation change, and a mix of tight tunnels and long fairway shots that have to be strategically placed. (It’ll definitely be worthy of a course guide when it’s finished.)
Although it only snowed a little while I was there, there was plenty of “leftover” snow on the ground, cause it hadn’t been above freezing in at least a week. The park’s namesake Binder Lake was frozen enough to walk on (although I never recommend walking on ice!), which is pretty rare.
During this round my winter weakness was particularly evident. I’m usually pretty good at not letting cold affect my mental game, keeping my throwing hand warm, and not letting my feet get wet. But the worst thing about winter disc golf is wearing so many layers that it limits my range of motion. For the most part it doesn’t impact my driving, but trying to follow through on a putt when I feel like the Michelin Man is just not going to happen.
Geese along the shore of Binder Lake, near Jefferson City’s new disc golf course
Jefferson City Disc Golf Club’s President Stan Balke putting from a tree on the new course
Me driving during league at Jefferson City’s new course
Just six days later, I played my first short-sleeved round of the year at Carrollton Park in St. Louis. It was a beautiful, sunny day reaching a high of nearly 60 degrees. Can you say complete weather 180!? Then, fast forward to today, when the high is expected to be only 38 degrees; my disc golf feat for the day will only consist of writing this post and wishing I were at the Gentlemen’s Club Challenge, where it is currently 65 and sunny!
Precarious basket at Carrollton Park in Bridgeton, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis
To Help, Or Not To Help? That Is The Question.
After playing this wonderful sport for years, a special situation occurred today in the heart of Atlanta at Perkerson Park.
When I threw my 2010 Champion Innova TL from mid-fairway, there were no worries. I was sure to find it; no brush, weeds or growth to over think about… I thought.
Walking roughly 150 feet away, once I was in the landing zone, I knew I was wrong. Ivy EVERYWHERE. I threw an orange disc, so that should be visible, right?
The small, but plentiful dead ivy leaves turned to a beautiful Autumn orange color, and gathered underneath the still healthy.
Disc Lost.
“Let’s just leave it.”, I said.
Finding the disc would be a needle in the haystack challenge, and I have two in the group: J.T. Hamman & new friend to Dogleg Tommy Lesesne who diligently helped and cared as a disc golfer should.
We were close to the basket with a blind view of the tee pad behind us, hoping no one was angry in our time consuming search.
Out of (what seemed) NOWHERE a disc golfer behind us approached and noticed we were looking for a lost disc. He not only decided to help, but to physically exert himself down a steep slope 250′ away, approach strangers, and help find a disc; knowing: “Find it or not, I still need to backtrack on this hole.”
In my opinion, that’s how you play good disc golf. I made sure I shook his hand.
Destin
P.s.
My disc was found, and he’s the one that found it.
Ladies Only!
Hey Dogleggers! I apologize for getting so behind on my coverage of Worlds this week. I often convince myself that I’m going to have tons of free time when I travel. I somehow managed to forget that, since I planned on attending the majority of the events going on in Emporia, the rest of my time would have to be used for catching up on rest! That being said, I will be catching up on my posts over the next couple of days. I have coverage of the Player’s Party, Night Ace Race, an interview with Pete May, and an overall review of the event coming to you soon!
Now, on to the ladies-only event!
More than 30 ladies made it out to the Emporia Country Club on Wednesday night to compete for TONS of prizes in a ring of fire. Miranda Fulton put on this great event, and was assisted by the adorable Haley, who was in charge of yelling out “1, 2, 3, FIRE!”
As if a bunch of disc golf girls getting together to putt wasn’t fun enough, Miranda switched it up on us. Some rings were reserved for juniors or required use of forehand putting. Others required us to stand backward, or to “butt putt” by throwing the disc backward between our legs!
At an event where so many female disc golfers travel from so far away, it was really great to come together to be reminded that so many of us share the same passion for disc golf and growing the presence of women in our sport! I hope to see events like this at more tournaments in the future!
PS: I forgot to mention–every lady at the event got an awesome umbrella straw, even if they didn’t win! It was definitely a fun way to show off and start a conversation with others after the fact! GREAT idea!
A Couple Hours With Two of The Best
Just as I usually do, I found out about something very cool last minute and by accident.
Two of the best disc golfers in the world: Will Schusterick & Paige Pierce hosted a clinic at Oregon Park near Dallas, GA last night, and it was fantastic! The majority of their training wasn’t new to anyone there (grips, stances, etc.), but it was nice to ask true professionals questions that you can’t ask just anyone.
Will was able to help me with my up-shot wrist work with tremendous results. My wrist was too tight, and he fixed it. That’s something I could have not learned without a real face to face training session.
Paige was also able to help me and many correct their distant putting by focusing on follow-through. I was much more accurate at about 40 feet after Paige demonstrated techniques.
I think one of the best times of the evening is getting the Dogleg shirt signed!
Overall it was great to support the local disc golf scene and two of the best disc golfers out there. Will and Paige are truly great people with a lot of class. Make sure you root for them this weekend for The Hall of Fame Classic here in GA!
Course Guide: Treehouz, Ridgedale, MO
Doglegger Emily by 19’s basket at Treehouz
Some of the houses at Treehouz, including a treehouse, the Journey Post, and the trophies for Journey Post’s First Stop.
About three weeks ago I made my first visit to Branson Cedars Resort, home of Treehouz Disc Golf Course and The Journey Post. The occasion was Journey Post’s First Stop Presented by Prodigy Discs. I chose not to play in the tournament for a few reasons, including the difficulty/length of the course, which I think was a good decision at the time. I’ll be ready for it before I know it though! Anyway, since I didn’t get to play very many of the holes myself, my analysis is based mostly on observation of the Advanced division players, specifically my boyfriend Adam Morrison, and our friend Brad Bullerdieck from Columbia. I also had the pleasure of following the Advanced Grandmasters card for a few holes, and of watching the Pros from afar!
Will Schusterick putting on Hole 16. Paige Pierce throwing a warm up drive on Hole 18.
Ring of Fire on Hole 19 during the First Stop
So, a little background on the course. Treehouz is located in Ridgedale, Missouri, between Branson and the border to Arkansas. Its 19-hole course’s par is 60, and is a total of 7,407 feet in length. The course uses DISCatcher baskets and has multiple tees and placements on some holes. Treehouz is pay-to-play: $5 per person for a full day.
Journey Post owner Jaysin Smith designed Treehouz in 2012. Smith said his vision while designing was to create a, “championship level course with a lot of elevation change and a mixture of wooded holes, open holes, and hazard holes; as well as long and short holes.” When asked what other courses inspired him, he referred to Sioux Passage in St. Louis and Hole 1 on Water Works in Kansas City, in terms of their length and elevation changes. (These courses are particularly iconic for Missourians.) He also wanted to incorporate the difficulty of water hazards as seen at Fountain Hills in Arizona. After seeing this course, I’d say this course definitely lives up to his expectations. As if this isn’t enough, the resort is considering adding more holes, pin placements, and tee pads to make the course larger and more accessible for players of all skill levels.
Just for comparing holes and getting a sense of direction, check out this map of the course from Disc Golf Course Review: http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course_files/5830/993ec582.pdf
Now that we have the basics out of the way, let’s get to the pictures!
1. Your disc’s placement in the fairway is critical to playing this hole well. If your disc lands too far to the left, or too short or long, you have to make a difficult upshot down to the basket on slanted ground. If it is too far right, you end up in the woods. Even worse, I saw a few players land their discs in the fairway, but they ended up rolling into the valley on the right!
2. Knowing how your discs behave in the wind and with large elevation changes helps significantly on this hole. It’s challenging from both tees. The view definitely makes it one of the favorite and most iconic holes on the course.
3. Beware of this hole’s water hazard, sloped terrain, and tree placement. Although this is one of the shorter holes on this course at 337’, it can be deceivingly difficult.
4. This hole is all about placement. With the water hazard so close to the end of the hole, you must decide from the tee where you think you’ll have the most success with an upshot. Landing near the water’s edge gives you a straight shot at the basket, but possibly an intimidating putt toward the water. Landing to the right (the path is not OB) is more technical with the trees and the slope, and may lead to a more difficult hyzer upshot because of the possibility of skipping toward the water. However, this positioning will probably allow you to land you closer to the basket and prevent you from putting toward water.
5. You wouldn’t know it from the tee sign alone, but it’s obvious what the challenge is from seeing the terrain of this hole. Be sure to know how your disc flies and how it lands—or you’ll be rolling down the hill!
6. This hole’s hard turn to the left is sharper than it appears from the tee—the sign gives insight into the degree to which your flight path should curve. If you’re too narrow, you’ll hit the trees to the left. If you’re too wide, it may hit the trees and not come back in bounds. Trees surround the basket, and the green slopes toward the water.
7. This hole combines a water hazard, sloped landing zones, and guardian trees to make it technical. The lower left picture is of the placement designated by the yellow circle on the right and is represented by the basket on the tee sign illustration. The lower right picture is of the left placement, which is not shown on the sign.
7B. Hole 7B was temporarily used for Journey Post’s First Stop Tournament. Orange flags on the edge of a putting green designated the tee. The fairway curves to the right and slopes upward. Past the curve, trees line the fairway.
8. Hole 8 is characterized by its steep uphill fairway and dense trees. I saw several birdies on this hole during the tournament. I took a 4 using only a midrange when I snuck this hole in between rounds.
9. The slope of this fairway in addition to the trees makes the line of your shot very important. When preparing to throw, consider how throwing uphill will affect the stability of your disc, and how your disc will roll when it lands.
10. The biggest challenge on this hole is the combination of the OB on both sides of the fairway and the trees that surround the basket. Accuracy in your line is key!
11. Hole 11 is also characterized by having OB on both sides of the fairway. The basket is located on a putting green with a pretty steep hill behind it (the bottom picture is taken from behind). Be sure your upshot doesn’t roll!
12. The gap to hit on this hole is very narrow and makes for a difficult shot (especially for righties). From the tee, the basket is barely visible, as illustrated in the center photo. Because you have to step off to the left of the pad, as seen in the far right photo, it can be difficult to judge the angle of the throw. If you’re unlucky enough to hit a tree or an “invisibranch,” you could be in trouble if your disc decides to roll. Off to the right of the fairway is a fairly steep hill covered in trees—not a place you want to end up!
13. I think the photo for this hole really says it all. The fairway is pretty narrow with pretty dense trees on both sides and behind the basket. The ground slopes a bit to the right, but not enough to make a significant difference on how this hole plays out.
14. Some call it a fishhook, Adam says it’s a “P” for Prodigy, and I say it’s a question mark for “Where is the basket?” when you’re standing on the tee. From the tee, the fairway looks like a hallway that goes all the way to the tee for hole 15. The trees get less dense 200 feet or so down and to the right of the fairway where the basket placement is. The ground is sloped, so make sure your discs aren’t going to roll!
15. I think the tee sign and the photos of this hole really speak for themselves. I’ll let you figure this one out.
16. Because of the OB on the left, righties need to be especially aware of the distance, wind, and the line you’re throwing your disc on. Knowing that your disc is prone to rolling on this smooth terrain may impact your disc selection!
17. This tight shot is especially technical because the fairway is uphill. This means your disc is going to be more stable.
18. In most cases, the OB should not make much of a difference on this hole if your disc goes where you intend. If you have the arm for it, you’ll want to make sure you get across the valley in the fairway. The closer you are, the more level you’ll be with the basket.
19. My advice for this hole is similar to hole 18. I would recommend trying these two holes as well as hole 2 out before playing them competitively just to get a feel for how the elevation changes effect how far you are able to throw. Additionally, you’ll want to get a feel for how your disc acts when it lands on the putting greens.
Blog Update
Hey guys and gals!
I apologize for the lack of new posts lately here on the blog. For me personally, my last few months have been crazy busy between work, planning of our wedding and designing all of its printed collateral (Life of an engaged designer :)). Six more months til my wedding! I’m very excited about starting this new chapter in my life!
Early weekend mornings I’m still managing to find some free time to slip in a round of DG around everything else going on. My DG Fix! However, it also comes with less time to keep up my share of the posts lately I do realize. Anyways, enough of me.
A couple of things that I wanted to update you all with on Dogleg:
Enough reading for now, you should be out huckin’ plastic on this beautiful day! Hittin’ mid-70s today here in sunny Georgia! Go throw! Life is good.
-jt
Fantasy Disc Golf, Anyone?
Even though I was never a huge football fan, and I’m still not — especially since getting married, I would enjoy playing Fantasy Football with my friends. It was a way to have a fun connection to the guys and the games every Sunday — a reason to watch.
Recently I found PlayFantasyDiscGolf.com. It is a simple concept of picking 4 Professional Disc Golfers for events to win, and you earn points if you are correct, and at the end of the season you can win some pretty cool prizes!
You can create your own league, or join others. I haven’t analyzed the site all that well yet, but it looks much easier and more inviting than Fantasy Football.
I want to keep this post short, because there is only 1 day to join a league (or more than one if you want!) and make your first picks for the first tournament this Wednesday, The Memorial.
visit PlayFantasyDiscGolf.com and check out the rules, the F.A.Q.’s, join and get started!!
This could be pretty fun!
Destin
Just an intro to get started.
Honestly, I am a little bit awe struck to actually be writing on Dogleg. My plan is to just go with it and enjoy the ride. I would like to think that writing some of my experiences may help someone out there or possibly encourage them to take a chance and try something new.
I am going to start with a little bit of background information about myself. My life is not all throwing plastic in the park, even if I would like to pretend that it is. I have actually only been playing disc golf for a few years.
I was born and raised in the central part of Michigan. I grew up the son of a teacher and thought that everyone had summers off. I was crushed when I got my first “real job” and realized that it lasted all year long. Can you imagine how good you would be if you could really play disc golf all summer?
I have a tendency to get things in my head and obsess about them relentlessly. The current addiction is disc golf (which helps explain why I am writing this intro). In the past I have been the director of our local youth soccer league along with coaching and reffing for over ten years. I was really into running for a while and even completed a marathon (I am still signed up for an ultra at the end of this summer but I don’t think that it is going to happen). Now I am organizing a disc golf tournament. I will post more about that in upcoming articles.
When I was a kid, my siblings and I used to play a game that we called frisbee golf. We would pick a tree and see who could hit it with a frisbee in the least number of throws. Then we would throw from that tree to another one. I didn’t know it was a real game. I just figured we had made it up.
About five years ago, my mom bought my brother and me each a starter set from Innova. I remember wondering why they looked so strange and then going out and playing our old way around my brother’s house with our kids. I found out that there were actual courses and dragged my kids and co-workers around playing with me. Then I found out that we have a local club and they play regular rounds. I played a few rounds with them and I was hooked. I will be starting my third year of league play this year and I am planning to branch out and play a lot more courses this summer.
I consider myself an average disc golfer. I am really good at my home course and not so good anywhere else. I can throw a 350’ drive standing still but I have no form or accuracy when I move my feet. I know that I need to improve my putting to improve my game but I haven’t committed the time to it yet.
In researching potential sponsors to donate prizes for my upcoming tournament, I noticed that Dogleg was willing to let people contribute to their site. I feel like I have learned a lot about the sport and organizing a tournament and I would like to share it with anyone willing to read about it. I know that I will continue to learn as I go, until after my tournament is over and I plan to post along the way in the hopes that it will help someone else.
Well, that’s it… I want to thank Dogleg for the chance to share my thoughts and ideas with their readers. My first post on Dogleg. I promise the next ones will have more information that you can use.
Our One Disc Challenge
The Intro:
A few weeks ago fellow Doglegger, Destin, casually mentioned that we should battle in a “one” disc round at one of the local parks sometime soon. I had heard of people playing rounds with one disc before, but just the thought of being limited to only one disc did not sound fun to me. Even though I don’t carry a plethora of discs, I do like having options for different shot types I encounter. I’m always up for a fun, friendly competition so I took Destin up on the challenge.
What disc should I actually choose?
I wouldn’t say that there’s one disc in my bag that I would truly consider my all-around go-to disc. I do have a few that I throw often for multiple shot types, but never considered them for every single shot. I figured I could at least choose from some of those as a starting point. I knew we had at least one normal full round before the challenge, so I would take that opportunity to test some of those discs out.
The Discs:
Some of the discs I tried out were my beat Innova Leopard, Discraft Zombee (2012 Ace Race disc), Discraft Buzzz, and my new MVP Vector. Here’s my little background history for each of the above mentioned discs:
Innova DX Leopard (weight = ~171g) – This is the oldest disc that I have. I’ve used this disc for several years now and have carried it in my bag ever since. If you guys have been following my posts, you know that I mention this disc a lot and actually putt with this thing instead of a true putter. From several years of throwing it, I seem to know its exact flight path for approach/putting. I’ll use it for anything under 150. It has become very understable over the years—especially at high speeds, so teeing off with this thing is out of the question. I also use this disc if I’m in the woods and need a good anhyzer disc to get around trees. This beat Leo has a wonderful, big s-curve at short distances when thrown at an anny.
Discraft Z-line Zombee (weight = 175-176g) – The first time playing with this disc was at my first Ace Race last summer. This 2012 Discraft Ace Race disc was recently named the Zombee. I immediately fell in love with this straight-gliding shooter with small fade at the end. It has a shallow rim and is cupped out making it easier to rest a finger on the outside of the grooved rim. This disc can really hold its line for me when thrown hard enough and finishes with a nice slight fade at the end. The longest approach/putt shot I’ve ever hit was made with this disc a few months ago at around ~125 ft. Still [knock on wood] no Ace to date, but the closest I’ve ever came to one was also with this disc from around ~180 ft that hit the center post and bounced back out of the front of the chains, AHH! During a normal round, this is my go-to midrange for shots 100-230 ft or so. I’ve never teed off with this disc on a hole further than 250, so not sure how well it flies at max potential/speed. I haven’t really found anything I dislike about this disc so far.
Discraft X Buzzz (weight = 175g) – I’ve heard and read rave reviews on Discraft’s line of Buzzzs, so I just had to get one and try it out. I got a great deal on one off eBay several months back. I’ve heard how well they hold their line and overall how great a midrange disc they are. I will break this disc out every once in awhile, but I’ll be honest and say that I still haven’t quite figured out its best characteristic. Maybe I should just use it more often to really give it a chance. I tend more to use this disc in practice or for ‘gimme’ shots when my game’s not on the line. But with having used that beat Leo and Zombee for most shots under 200, I haven’t found a good enough reason to switch to the Buzzz full-time yet. I am sure it really is a great disc though; I just need more practice with it. It does feel great in-hand and has that solid, sturdy feel to it.
MVP Vector (weight = 176g) – This is the newest disc in my arsenal and has already found a permanent spot in my bag. For a midrange, I can throw this bad boy further than any other midrange disc I own. I don’t know if you know, but MVP discs supposedly have GYRO™ technology which gives its flight path a more stable/balanced, accurate and consistent glide. The Vector is slightly overstable making it more wind resistance. I was surprised at the results the first day I took this disc to the course, for a midrange. If thrown at a little harder speed, it has a very long glide and little fade at the end. Depending on the type of terrain you’re playing, the Vector’s “grippy” rubber-like edge could prove beneficial. I find this disc to have less of a skip and more of a “magnetic” stop when it hits. It seems to grip better to the ground—great for approaches/putts.
The Fan Poll:
These four discs had their advantages and disadvantages on the course that day, so I was still unable to fully commit to any one disc right away. I thought to myself, Do I go with a driver that can get me further distances off the pad, but then suffer on putts because it’s overstable? or Do I go with a midrange and get less tee distance but comes with better chances of sinking approaches and putts? Ahh the decisions. So here’s what I did. I turned to our awesome fanbase (you guys) on both our @DoglegDiscGolf Twitter and Dogleg Facebook and posed the question, “If you had to play a full 18-hole round with only ONE disc, what type of disc would it be?” We received a lot of great response and I want to thank you guys for that! Here’s some of the responses…
Facebook Feedback:
Billy T. – Discraft XS
Trey P. – If the course is long a mid-range, Buzz. If the course is mostly shorter holes I’ve had success throwing my putter.
Manuel L. – A echo star boss
Dylan C. – Glow aviar putter!
Justin A. – MVP vector
Aaron M. – flat dx roc
Tommy J. – Valkyrie or a buzzz
Destin W. – Zombee!! (2012 Ace Race Disc)
Oscar J. – 173 medium neutron Ion – Yellow Green – my name and number on inside rim.
Alan M. – Boss 136g
Robert T. – i would use my trusty discraft buzz
Jeremiah B. – Definitely a Roc.
Twitter Feed:
@WolfPackDiscs – DX viper #innova #discgolf played many one disc challenges with it
@Restonification – Z Buzz. What else is there?
@MCW7979 – From what’s in my bag right now, my Star TeeBird.
@captain_jager – simple that would be a crisp wraith. You can do anything with that disc.
@BigAppleachia – My Lat64 AirSaint147. Its a driver w/glide does anything a mid can, and putts too! #discgolf
@Delt_Nikolas – Ti Buzzz. Buttery smooth.
Challenge Day:
The challenge day was finally here. This past Saturday, we met up at Oregon Park. It’s early afternoon and the temp’s barely breaking 40 (we live in the South now). Wind conditions looking less than favorable and peaking at 15-20+ mph wind gusts. Not exactly my ideal conditions for a first time, one-disc challenge. But lets do this!
After all the feedback from our followers, I decided to go with the one disc that received the most votes—the Buzzz. Heck I’ll give it a shot. My choice: 175g Discraft Buzzz, Destin’s choice: 169g Innova Star TL.
For this one-disc round, we moved up to the shorter pads to better our Ace chances with the unruly wind conditions. I think we both had a rough start getting use to just throwing one disc and unsuccessfully controlling its inconsistent flight paths in the wind. Hole #1 was a downhill shot, which was a great way to start any round. Those downhill shots build confidence in your throws when you can easily go yard off the pad. Once we got past the first three holes out in the open, the course takes a turn for the woods. Shielded by tree lines from the wind, I did much better with my drives from there on out. The likeability of the Buzzz was growing on me when the wind no longer became a major factor. I was finally figuring out how to hold it and throw it further and further with a few minor hand adjustments.
| Gotta love Georgia Pines…always making a mess and leaving tight shots. |  |
“Needle”ss to say, it was a tight race throughout the round. Destin was on a high for beating me for the first time ever earlier that morning in a normal round. We were neck and neck until he birdied one late in the round, going one up. Then it came down to the final hole. Uphill into the crosswind. All I needed was a birdie and I could have tied it up…or he bogey..or even double. Nope, he got the best of that wind on that last hole. We both layed up close to the basket leaving for a short par toss each. Well-played Destin, well-played. [Below] Destin acting estactic as he pulled off back-to-back wins that day on me. First for both haha. Besides the wind, had a great day overall. Fun times. I call rematch.
Feel free to comment below with your One-Disc Challenge experiences and/or your favorite all-around discs. Enjoy! —jt
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Disc Golf Addict
Found this on a website and thought I would share.
You Know You’re A Disc Golf Addict When…
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Looking Back: 2012 World Championships
Although it has been more than 3 years since I was introduced to disc golf, this is the first time I have had the winter disc golf bug. Today, for example, in Missouri the high temperature was below freezing and there is 2 inches of snow and ice on the ground. This is not my idea of disc golf weather, especially as a beginner who gets frustrated enough when my discs are dry.
These conditions have left me thinking about disc golf much more than playing. Mostly I have pondered my favorite disc golf moments from last year, and those I’m looking forward to most this year. The biggest difference between the two is that now I’m a player, not just a spectator.
Last summer I drove to Charlotte, NC, with my boyfriend and his dad for the 2012 Disc Golf World Championships. At the time, I hadn’t even played a full 18-hole round of disc golf. I was coming as a girlfriend, caddy, and camera girl. From my point of view of as non-player and disc golf spectator of nearly 3 years, here were the top 5 things I loved about 2012 Worlds that I hadn’t seen anywhere else.
5. Beautiful courses
Yes, I’ve been to other courses that were pretty (most notably, Diamond X in Billings, MT, and some courses in Des Moines, IA). However, this was the first time that EVERY course I went to was gorgeous and visually interesting. On top of simply being nice pieces of land with awesome layouts, they were clean with very little litter. Despite the heat of the Carolina sun, it was always fulfilling to be outside just to see the courses.
4. Narrow, straight fairways with tall, skinny trees
When I first started watching disc golf, I thought it was so neat how discs flew in curves and “S” shapes. It wasn’t long before I realized that discs curve naturally, and it is extremely difficult to throw down a narrow fairway. Watching drives on the numerous holes with tight hallways simply amazed me, especially because so many were so accurate!
3. Putting for dough
As the saying goes, “drive for show, putt for dough.” At such a competitive event with incredibly skilled players, putting was for dough AND show. Every throw counted, and long putts created more suspense than any drive from the tee. And, when someone made one, led to more excitement.
2. Watching people of all ages play
As a 19 year old girl, it is often hard to find other people “like me” at the course. Spending a week watching the junior divisions gave me a whole new perspective on the sport (even if I mostly followed the boys!). The disc golf community is so much larger and more diverse than I knew. It was definitely a shock to see kids ten years younger than me flicking farther than I can throw backhand (still)!
1. Watching other people watch
As someone who watched disc golf for nearly 3 years before I started playing, it always seemed so odd to me that I was usually the person in a gallery. The way the discs fly and the relaxed atmosphere of the sport make it such a unique sport to watch. Seeing so many people with so much interest in watching others play was pretty foreign to me. It changed my view on the potential of the sport. Now that the PDGA has announced a partnership with the Emerging Sports Network, the opportunity of having a new role in the disc golf community—spectators—is more possible than ever before.
Sitting around, drinking hot tea, and waiting for spring to come is giving me plenty of time to get excited about the upcoming disc golf season. I haven’t decided how many tournaments I’ll play in or where all I will travel to watch, but I sure hope to get to Emporia, KS and Crown Point, IN to have the Worlds experience again!
Prodigy 2013 – Founder Phil Arthur Video
I’m sure a lot of you guys may have already seen this video, but wanted to post the link for those that have not. I’m pretty stoked to find out too that their disc manufacturer is based here in Georgia!
I’ll try my best to get a hold of one of the D1 and/or D4 drivers coming out this month, January. We’d absolutely love to do a review on a Prodigy Disc! If you happen to get one, let us know too! They will be debuting as a limited release for now. They said they will hopefully have them all available to everyone by late Spring.
If you’d like to get your hand on some of these Prodigy discs, here’s how:
- Go to Prodigy Disc’s Facebook Page at http://on.fb.me/UwhIGm
- Have your local vendor send them their contact info via Facebook
- Prodigy will then reach out to them to set up an account
“Passion for the game.”
Prodigy Disc Golf – Update
Prodigy finally released the names of all their sponsored/vested players: Will Schusterick, Nikko Locastro, Cale Leiviska, Paul Ulibarri, Garrett Gurthie, Cameron Colglazier, Ricky Wysocki, Jeremy Koling, Catrina Allen, Sarah Hokum, and Paige Pierce.
Founders of Prodigy: Lavone Wolfe, Phil Arthur, Dave Greenwell, and Morgan Mcdowell
From the PDGA announcement “Prodigy Puts ‘D’ in your Game”
The D1, D2, D3, & D4 discs from new manufacturer Prodigy Disc, Inc. based in Georgia have been PDGA Approved as of 1/1/13.
“All drivers in the D family are very consistent and with a much narrower flight paths than conventional long distance discs making them more accurate and forgiving. All four max weight at 174.3g.
The D1 is a very fast, over stable driver designed for power throwers. Good for all conditions and flies just as well into the wind as it does down wind. The flight path is similar even in lighter weights.
The D2 is a very fast, slightly over stable driver designed for all throwers. Good for all conditions and flies just as well into the wind as it does down wind. The flight path is similar even in lighter weights.
The D3 is a very fast, moderately stable driver designed for all throwers and flies extremely far. The flight of the D3 is unique due to its ability to flip up and then glide without extreme turnover drift or a hard hyzer finish. Players can trust this disc when thrown with power knowing that it will flip up but won’t flip over.
The D4 is a very fast, under stable driver. It is designed for all players and flies extremely far. The D4 will turn up when thrown hard and will then react similar to the D3 with its long glide and gentle finish.” –
Phil mentions the D1 & D4 will be released in January, D2 & D3 in Feb, putters in March, then a line of fairway drivers. From my brief understanding of Prodigy, they have spent countless hours in R&D trying to build the perfect discs. They have limited the amount of unwanted side-to-side travel in the flight and have reduced the thickness of the rim on the high speed discs. I am really stoked to try these out as they are slowly released.
A New Year’s Revolution
As we’ve all heard by now, a big change for the world of disc golf will be announced on New Year’s Day. Many of the most well known pros have dropped major sponsors and have dropped hints of a revolution happening at the start of 2013. Players including two-time U.S. Champion Will Schusterick, 2011 World Champion Paige Pierce, 2006 Amateur World Champion Paul Ulibarri, and 2011 Junior World Champion Ricky Wysocki have all made announcements via social media this month. The online disc golf community has been asking for more than a week: what’s the hype about?
The answer? No one seems to know. The signs from the pros seem to point in different directions, which has caused a handful of theories to emerge.
The most conspiracy-like idea is that a new super company is about to emerge. Most references call it Prodigy Disc Golf. A person or group with a large base of financial support supposedly backs the new company. The sponsored players would have a larger salary than they get with currently existing sponsors, like Dynamic Discs. Prodigy is assumed to be a disc manufacturer, because the majority of the pros have dropped Innova, Discraft, and/or Dynamic Discs (who recently released a line of discs manufactured through Latitude 64). That’s why 2010 World Champion Eric McCabe announced yesterday that he would no longer be sponsored by Discraft, so he could join Team Dynamic Discs. This would also explain why some of the pros have picked up new retailor sponsors—like Will Schusterick and Paige Pierce joining the Journey Post team, based out of Branson, Mo.
Another line of theories all point in the direction of existing corporations breaking into the disc golf market. As can be expected, Nike has been mentioned by many because of its large financial base and role as a sponsor in most major sports in the United States. Keen’s name has also been thrown in the hat; they already sponsor a few players, like Avery Jenkins, and have produced footwear with Vibram, who has also manufactured discs.
Regardless of whether a new company is forming, or an existing company is growing, the guys at Furthering the Disc are definitely stirring the social media . Will Schusterick, who dropped Innova and Discmania on December 16, is a key player in their social media movement to revitalize disc golf. Both Will and FTD have been promoting the hashtag #discopalypse13 on Twitter.
Until Tuesday, when the pros are set to make their big announcement, all we can do is try to put the pieces together and hope that they add up to something that will advance the sport we all love. Share your thoughts on what’s going on by commenting, or tweeting @DoglegDiscGolf. Do you think that everyone is moving in the same direction? Is a new company forming, or is disc golf just getting more commercialized? Is this ordeal going to help the sport grow in 2013? What do you want to see the pros doing next year?
Thanksgiving, Redemption Round
I love being home for the holidays, especially quality time with family. Over the past two years, I’ve gotten my Dad and younger brother both hooked into disc golf. So anytime we’re all in town, we always make it a point to go hit up a round together. A father/sons tradition we started over a year and a half ago when we finally got my Dad into playing. Always fun times, but we still always seem to manage to turn it into a friendly competition. Who will win it this year?
Our hometown has a course—small, flat and short, but a course nonetheless. We’re talking like ~3900 ft. total length for 18. It’s a great beginner course with the front 9 being mostly 150-200 ft long, through the trees. The rest of the course is pretty open and the back 9 are longer. There’s not an abundance of trees in general at the park, so wind gusts always provide an unpredictable, increased level of difficulty to this rather easy course.
Weekends back home fly by way too fast, especially when the drive there is roughly 3.5 hrs. So the only time we got in a chance to play a round was this past Saturday morning. Low 40s, cold (for down South) and very windy…of course it would be. But we have to make do with what little window of time we have. Rain, sleet or snow, we’re playing. Might as well make it two rounds, since it’s so short of a course. By the way, this is a course that is perfect for trying out new discs..no chance of losing one, or dinging one upside a tree. I figured this would be my chance to give my new Buzzz a redemption round.
Since I first started playing disc golf, I’ve been partial to Innova discs. And by “partial” I mean that’s the only brand of disc I had ever thrown up until a few months ago. I guess I’ve stuck with them because I “understood” their detailed flight ratings and descriptions moreso than any other brand of disc that I’ve come across. But anyways, I’m branching out. I’m moving on to other brands to give them a shot.
One disc that’s making its way into a permanent spot in my bag is the 2012 Discraft Ace Race disc, the Discraft Zombee. I love this disc. Neon red, it has stability, lots of glide and a slight lowspeed fade at the end. My other “non-Innova” disc that I bought recently was a bright blue Discraft X-Line Buzzz. I’ve played two rounds with it here in Georgia and did not instantly fall in love with it like all the rave reviews I’ve read over the past few months. I blamed my poor rounds on the idea that I may not be holding it correctly. I’d learn. And yes sir, that came true. The Buzzz was my go-to disc that chilly, windy lil morning in Alabama. I don’t know if it was the wind conditions or somehow I’d magically figured out a better way to hold that disc or what, but it was dead straight on the line that I would release it at. I drove with it on the front 9 and switched to the Zombee for much of the back 9.—It was a Discraft-kind-of-day.
I would go on and beat out my Dad and bro by almost 10 strokes the first round and 7 the next. I ended up shooting back-to-back (-5)’s. It turned out to be a great day indeed. Having family there and spending quality [DG] time with them made it just that much better. So it was a redemption round indeed for that Buzzz and me. My initial dislike for it has now changed. I will try it again this weekend when we play a few courses in Georgia. Hello Discraft [for now].
Any thoughts on Legacy or Latitude 64 discs? I’m in the market for a Legacy Rampage driver (173+) and a Latitude 64 Core mid-range (173+) disc if anyone would like to sell me one or make a trade. Let me know!
-jt
Canton’s Sequoyah Park DGC Weekend Recap
Before the weekend, I thought I would have a lot more to recap from our dg adventures to Sequoyah; but negative. Originally I was supposed to catch up with fellow Doglegger Jeremiah—who was in town—for an early morning round to Sequoyah, but we couldn’t make it happen this time around due to prior engagements. So our Saturday 8am round didn’t happen but I did however manage to make it out there today for a quick 18.
I was off my A-game, big time starting out. I was actually surprised to find how many of the baskets had been moved to the closer pin positions. You would think Oh awesome!, but I think that hurt me even more trying to compensate my throwing power to not go as far. I could not keep a dang drive straight worth a flip. Granted, I had been practicing anhyzer shots and turning my wrist over the past few days and I think that had my timing off a bit. Anyway, my putting was “on” for the most part, but had several terrible drives. Today was my chance to break my course record there of a +5, but I failed short. I’d like to get out there again before they move them back and see if I can beat it again.
I really enjoy Sequoyah Park and it is a park that has definitely grown on me more and more this past year. Being my local course, I look forward to every single trip out there. One of my pet peeves—I know I’ve mentioned several times in my posts—is that I really can’t stand when slower/newbie groups ahead of you don’t ask if you want to play through…especially when I’m playing alone. Anyways, I had to jump around a few times to skip some people but came back and finished them all. Did miss two or three crucial putts for potential birds that hit off the top. I misjudged the weather too and was way too overdressed for the cool.. The sun was beaming and I got dehydrated quick. I’m already ready for a redemption round this week if any of you guys would like to join. Finished a measly +7.
-jt
Barking Orders: Will’s Park Dog Show Fiasco
Let me just start out by saying that “show dog” owners have attitudes. And crabby attitudes at that. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE dogs and have two, but dang! These people are just a different class, period.
I love Will’s Park DGC. But there’s always something going on there. It seems like 80% of the time we play there that there’s an equestrian event going on. At least it’s off to the side and up the hill from The DG course. The worst part is that there’s RV parking that flanks both side of hole 5 and 6. A wary shot to the right on either and you’re denting aluminum siding or whacking The Jones’s in the back of the head. But I digress.
But this trip, a dog show. A dog show in the RV grassy lot on the right side of Hole #5. Since that grassy lot is cleared for the event, that means the cars have to park elsewhere. And where do they park?… they park in the fairway of Hole #5. Wtf. I’m talking like 20+ trees. My first instinct is to play through over and around all these courses, obstacle golf. Tomahawk one high into the high in hope it’ll dive between Beamers into a flat spot. No, better not.. Jimbo has a plan.
Jimbo is a cool guy that we met last time we’d played Wills. Older guy, but he’s hilarious. He was with us that day. He marched up to the dog show and demanded to speak to the person in charge. Jimbo means business. He tracked they guy down and told them the parking problem and asked for everyone parked in the fairway to move. These other ladies became irate and were bitchin up a storm saying they had to permission to park there and why they had to move. So disrespectful to us, other fellow disc golfers and the respect of the course in general. I thought it was hilarious how each dog owner came down one by one and moved their cars off the fairway into another adjacent lot. Finally, for once, it felt good to have some power. There’s no way they had to permission to park in the fairway of a disc golf course. Keep in mind this is Will’s Park, home to many PDGA sanctioned events and office for PDGA member submissions.
After some 20 min they’d all moved and we were clear to finish that hole. Very fun, eventful and good round overall. I love Will’s. My closing thoughts..”People, please respect the disc golf course and the players just as we do others participating in their respective sports/designated areas. There’s enough space for all of us.”
[See photo of Hole #5 fairway and the cars that covered it (prior confronting the head in charge).]
-JT
Hello Everyone! Want To Build Your Own Quality Basket?
I’m proud to now be apart of Dogleg Disc Golf!
My name is Destin and I’m originally from the Ann Arbor area of Michigan, but currently reside in Marietta, GA for school. I’ve been playing DG for about 5 years, and love every facet of the sport.
Back in 2010 I designed and built my own basket. The cost was less than $100, and the feeling of using your own basket beats buying one any day; and it truly works just as well as a basket at the park.
Below is my original post I put on my own Michigan Blog a couple years ago. I hope everyone can use the information to make their own backyard basket!
It may not be worth it to spend a lot of time making your own basket when nowadays a portable basket is not much more more than the cost of this basket, but I certainly want everyone who views Dog Leg Disc Golf to have this option.
And always remember that all questions are welcome!
Enjoy the Greenleaf Basket! Named after the road it was designed and made on.
Destin
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– Original post: 2010 –
Continuation of Whats Going On
Theres a few items to add to Jts list.
-New Park in Jasper. More on this after wednesday
-Mango Classic. Full review of b-teir tournament and Blue Angel Park Courses in Pensacola Florida
-Grip and rip group formation
-Custom Shirts And Signs in Jasper Alabama now have discraft disc, and bags in stock.
-A few members who have tournament directors pdga standing. What this is and why you would get it.
-Trussville Alabama dg course’s closed.
-Been asked this question a lot lately, Pdga division breakdown, what each class is and how you are ranked for tournament play.
and theres quite a bit more…
~Stephen
Rapid Fire Post Week
Hello all!
Good grief, we sure owe all of our fans/visitors new content. It has been some time since our last post. And let me tell you, LOTS of good stuff and our disc golf trips/events have happened in the several weeks the blog went silent. I know here at Dogleg, we’ve been extremely busy the past month or two just with our regular lives outside of disc golf. But I can promise you guys, we’re about to start spitting out some new posts here these next two weeks.
You guys deserve it. I know we’re still getting decent traffic in our “down” time, but we want to provide you guys with more content. Fresh content. Last week we brought on a new friend to the Dogleg blog who we’ve gotten a chance to play a few rounds with these past two weeks. Cool dude and loves some disc golf! I’m looking forward to what he can bring to the blog.
I’m going to try my best to write a post a day for a week straight. Yes. So come back and check it out! I also highly encourage you guys–our readers–to comment and let us know what you’d like to read more of. Hey, if you enjoy writing, love disc golf and would like to contribute, please drop us a line at DoglegDG@gmail.com to let us know!
Here’s a snippet of what you might can expect to roll out in the next few days [in no particular order].
-North Jasper Park Inaugural Ace Race Review
-Alpharetta’s Will’s Park Review/Dogshow Fiasco
-Urban Atlanta’s Perkerson Park Review
-Mancation 2012: Denver – Highlights, Reviews and Pics
-Canton’s Sequoyah DG Recap
-Discraft’s Titanium Plastic
-Halloween Tournament
-Kennesaw’s Legacy Park Review
-Advice on Discs
-Disc Trade
& possibly more!
-jt
Wanna go to Indigo?
I haven’t posted in a while due to the fact that other than league night on Wednesdays at George Ward, I haven’t played that many different courses lately. This post is long overdue for the course and this could be a blessing in disguise that I’ve waited such a long time to recollect my experiences in a nutshell. On my first two trips to this park I was accompanied by Tony Sanders – props to him for giving me valuable insight into a straighter drive with added distance.
The course = brutally awesome
The park = sketch
Highlights
- Coming together quickly for such a new course due to the efforts of volunteers associated with DGB – great job guys!
- Great layout with an intimidating first hole
- Very scenic hike – can even catch a glimpse of a rusted out car hull from the 50’s
- Tee pads are poured concrete
- For such a heavily wooded area, poison ivy is contained to the perimeter
- Gate at front entrance – doesn’t go anywhere but looks cool
- Amateur and pro pads – diggin’ this even though not playing pro pads
Sketch/This sucks/Why is this happening to me
- Got into chiggers – left and right legs from knee down covered
- Weird hiker on course
- Called a friend in the medical industry about the empty packets I found on the course and apparently it is similar to methadone – sketch
- Stung on right jaw bone by yellow jacket on hole #18
- No trash cans on course or parking lot area
- Slow drive bys in parking lot
- Found a shoe and backpack off gully on right side of #1 – don’t need a ‘Stand By Me’ moment
- Pulled tick off stomach and got a slight infection on the area it attached
- People sitting and/or sleeping in their cars at park entrance – because I normally like to pull my vehicle into a city park’s parking lot to catch a little shut-eye
- Traffic coming in and out of Lake Heather’s gated access for boats
Keep in mind that for beginners looking to have an enriching first time to play disc golf, this is not the place for such an experience. Out of the local courses, George Ward is still the best place to take people new to the sport due to: chill folks playing, easy walk, not difficult keeping up with your disc and most importantly, Tom is there. For those that haven’t met Tom, you are definitely missing out on affordable merchandise (discs, accessories, etc.) and solid advice.
Four of the Dogleg crew (including myself) returned from Denver this past Monday. Stay posted for some stories on this adventure.
Joe
Katanas Don’t Slice through Trees
…Only if they could. This month has been compromised of two of the worst rounds of disc golf I’ve ever had. I’ve lost my two best drivers (Katanas) about two weeks ago and almost lost a third this evening. All on the same two holes.
Patience is key in disc golf; I’ve so learned wholeheartedly these past few weeks. After I get off work, I only have a mere hour and a half before sunset. Time is of the essence.
Upon arriving at the course I notice a larger group already on Hole 1. I play fast. It’s not always that a slower group has the courtesy to ask if you’d like to play through. Mistake #1, not asking them first. So, with the sun’s descent ticking, I jump to #13, the back 6–Sequoyah’s “Gauntlet”–to jump ahead. Mistake #2.
First throw, BAM. Blow to near tree less than 30 yards away. Ok, let’s call that practice. Next throw, tree limbs. Roughly same distance but lands on gravel fairway. I’ll have to take that. Bogey that hole. Next hole, teeing off over pond. Par shot threw down to basket 5 ft lower than from where I’m standing. Overshoot, damn, bogey. +2 after 2…awesome.
#15. Super fast drive level drive. Brand-new Katana smashes into tree in middle of fairway. Sure didn’t slice it… Ricochets way off course into deep, marshy ravine. Search Party. Mistake #3, playing solo. I search high and low, through knee-high weeds, spiderwebs, and inches of mosquito-infested mud. I’m not seeing it. It’s brand new. No disc left behind. I keep surveying and replaying my throw from the vantage point of the tee pad, carefully calculating the elevation, spin speed and degree at which it could have possibly ricocheted off. I kept telling myself, “If I find this, I’ll quit. Just let me find it.” After 40 some odd minutes, sweaty, bugs in hair, half soaked shoes…I see it. A glimmer of the yellow neon peaking through the weeds, half buried into the mud halfway out into the marshy creekbed. Holy crap there it was. So I reached for it with a stick, grabbed my gear, and walked away. 2.5 holes. 1 hour later.
-jt
Do you see it?
Dogleg Disc Golf 