Jeff_LaG
Jul 07 2008, 03:08 PM
From: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08188/895095-140.stm
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/images/200806/20080706lf_disc_golf01_mag_500.jpg
Arthur Pengelly, 37, of New Zealand throws a disc to the target at Knob Hill Community Park in Marshall.
<font size=4>Disc Course: Golf with flying discs is growing in popularity</font>
Sunday, July 06, 2008
By Chris Elnicki, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Lake Fong/Post-Gazette
A young, stocky man with a ponytail grins as he steps away from the tee. He is two strokes above par -- his drive was 275 feet and landed right on target. He walks briskly through the morning dew, approaches his shot and takes a putter out of his bag.
He isn't poised to sink a golf ball for the win; he's about to toss a pink plastic saucer into a basket, ending a quick nine holes of disc golf before heading home.
A close look at Western Pennsylvania's parks will reveal a community of mostly young athletes who hurl disks, often resembling the classic Frisbee, hundreds of feet across varying terrain. They posses their own form of golf etiquette and have spawned a more egalitarian version of the ball-oriented golf that older generations have come to know and love.
Disc golf began independently in many locations as a natural progression of existing Frisbee sports. Golfers initially attempted to hit natural landmarks on "object courses" with their flying discs. The sport first came to Western Pennsylvania on an organized level with the creation of the Schenley Park course in the 1980s.
The Pittsburgh area now has eight disc golf courses, many of which share real estate with popular recreation areas. The Pittsburgh Flying Disc Association operates courses in Deer Lakes Park, Getty Heights Park, IUP College Lodge, Knob Hill Community Park, Moraine State Park, Phillips Park and Schenley Park.
Many of the local disc golf courses offer stunning views of Pennsylvania's woodlands and the surrounding scenery. Schenley Park's course offers a magnificent view of Downtown, as well as University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning.
"The concentration of courses in the area is amazing," said Rex Trimm, an intermediate amateur player, originally from Oregon. "They have a different style from Western play."
Western courses are known for their long, open fairways, something that is the exception to the rule for Pittsburgh's courses.
"This isn't Texas," said Keith Clark, a disc golf pro who lives in Cranberry and took part in designing Knob Hill in 1994. "Pennsylvania is good because of the terrain in this area. ... I don't like big open courses."
Western Pennsylvania's rolling landscape and abundance of wooded parks make for ideal locations for challenging top-level courses. Several courses, such as the one located in Knob Hill Community Park in Marshall, are located in Pittsburgh's suburbs, while Schenley Park provides a complete 18-hole course in urban Oakland.
The game's rules do not stray too far from its ball-oriented ancestor. Players stand on "tees," often concrete or flattened earthen platforms and throw specialized discs at an elevated metal basket with chains designed to catch the high-speed saucers.
"You can play competitively and make the game as hard as you want to," said Greg Masiuk, a 20-year-old Penn State student, who lives in Marshall. "After you throw the discs, they can cut and slice just like a golf ball."
Just as in golf, players take multiple shots or "throws" at the basket hoping for a low score, adding penalty throws for discs tossed out of bounds or in obstacles such as water hazards.
Like categories of golf clubs designed to hit balls with varying trajectories, the discs are designed to perform specialized flight patterns and classified similarly to their ball-golf equivalents. Players use "drivers" for their initial throws, "fairway drivers" for follow-up shots, "all-purpose" or "mid-range" discs for approaches and "putters" for close shots.
Golfers often have many discs that they carry in specially designed bags. It is normal for players to use more than 10 discs in a game.
Tournament play takes place at many of the local courses. Last weekend, Knob Hill Community Park and Moraine State Park hosted the Scholl's Bicycle Center's 20th Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open. A total of 144 professionals and amateurs from the United States and Canada competed in what is establishing itself as an anticipated annual event.
This year's contest commemorates Pittsburgh disc golf pioneers and legends J. Gary Dropcho, Keith Clark and Steve Kohman.
"We have the two best courses in the Mideast," said Dropcho, a local professional who teaches English at Carrick High School and organizes the tournament. "It's an A-tier super-tournament" that boasts a purse valued at $5,000.
Dropcho got started by playing ultimate Frisbee as a youth, and picked up disc golf in the 1980s. He was the first PDGA Amateur National Champion in 1989, and has become an icon for Pittsburgh disc golfers.
Local tournaments draw high numbers of competitors from across the continent, and attract small but dedicated groups of spectators. Barry Schultz, two-time world champion and three-time national champion, competed in the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open.
League play in the area is run by the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society, designers and operators of Western Pennsylvania's eight courses. Everyone is welcome to play in the leagues.
"Its good competition, and you can even get matched up with a pro," said Kevin Kearney, an intermediate level player from Wexford. Kearney participates in the Tuesday night doubles league.
Men and women of all ages can play disc golf, and most courses offer a variety of tees for all skill levels. Recreational play is popular among high school and college students, as well as adults looking for a low-impact exercise.
"There's no dress code," said Dan Horwat, a 24-year-old Cranberry resident who enjoys sharing the laid-back atmosphere with his friends.
"You're just out in the park. It's relaxing and quiet," said Mike Belt, a 28-year-old Gibsonia resident, who enjoyed the atmosphere of Knob Hill while disc golfing for the first time last week with his wife Kim and dog Lucy.
The only equipment needed to begin disc golfing is a disc that can be purchased at most local sporting goods stores for less than $10. A sturdy pair of athletic shoes is recommended for navigating the trails that often connect fairways.
There are no greens fees at most disc golf courses. Scorecards and course information can be downloaded from the PFDS Website, while hole-by-hole maps are often provided at the courses.
"It's so much fun; it's great exercise," said Dropcho, who encourages interested individuals to attend tournaments as spectators.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/images/200806/20080706lf_disc_golf01_mag_500.jpg
Arthur Pengelly, 37, of New Zealand throws a disc to the target at Knob Hill Community Park in Marshall.
<font size=4>Disc Course: Golf with flying discs is growing in popularity</font>
Sunday, July 06, 2008
By Chris Elnicki, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Lake Fong/Post-Gazette
A young, stocky man with a ponytail grins as he steps away from the tee. He is two strokes above par -- his drive was 275 feet and landed right on target. He walks briskly through the morning dew, approaches his shot and takes a putter out of his bag.
He isn't poised to sink a golf ball for the win; he's about to toss a pink plastic saucer into a basket, ending a quick nine holes of disc golf before heading home.
A close look at Western Pennsylvania's parks will reveal a community of mostly young athletes who hurl disks, often resembling the classic Frisbee, hundreds of feet across varying terrain. They posses their own form of golf etiquette and have spawned a more egalitarian version of the ball-oriented golf that older generations have come to know and love.
Disc golf began independently in many locations as a natural progression of existing Frisbee sports. Golfers initially attempted to hit natural landmarks on "object courses" with their flying discs. The sport first came to Western Pennsylvania on an organized level with the creation of the Schenley Park course in the 1980s.
The Pittsburgh area now has eight disc golf courses, many of which share real estate with popular recreation areas. The Pittsburgh Flying Disc Association operates courses in Deer Lakes Park, Getty Heights Park, IUP College Lodge, Knob Hill Community Park, Moraine State Park, Phillips Park and Schenley Park.
Many of the local disc golf courses offer stunning views of Pennsylvania's woodlands and the surrounding scenery. Schenley Park's course offers a magnificent view of Downtown, as well as University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning.
"The concentration of courses in the area is amazing," said Rex Trimm, an intermediate amateur player, originally from Oregon. "They have a different style from Western play."
Western courses are known for their long, open fairways, something that is the exception to the rule for Pittsburgh's courses.
"This isn't Texas," said Keith Clark, a disc golf pro who lives in Cranberry and took part in designing Knob Hill in 1994. "Pennsylvania is good because of the terrain in this area. ... I don't like big open courses."
Western Pennsylvania's rolling landscape and abundance of wooded parks make for ideal locations for challenging top-level courses. Several courses, such as the one located in Knob Hill Community Park in Marshall, are located in Pittsburgh's suburbs, while Schenley Park provides a complete 18-hole course in urban Oakland.
The game's rules do not stray too far from its ball-oriented ancestor. Players stand on "tees," often concrete or flattened earthen platforms and throw specialized discs at an elevated metal basket with chains designed to catch the high-speed saucers.
"You can play competitively and make the game as hard as you want to," said Greg Masiuk, a 20-year-old Penn State student, who lives in Marshall. "After you throw the discs, they can cut and slice just like a golf ball."
Just as in golf, players take multiple shots or "throws" at the basket hoping for a low score, adding penalty throws for discs tossed out of bounds or in obstacles such as water hazards.
Like categories of golf clubs designed to hit balls with varying trajectories, the discs are designed to perform specialized flight patterns and classified similarly to their ball-golf equivalents. Players use "drivers" for their initial throws, "fairway drivers" for follow-up shots, "all-purpose" or "mid-range" discs for approaches and "putters" for close shots.
Golfers often have many discs that they carry in specially designed bags. It is normal for players to use more than 10 discs in a game.
Tournament play takes place at many of the local courses. Last weekend, Knob Hill Community Park and Moraine State Park hosted the Scholl's Bicycle Center's 20th Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open. A total of 144 professionals and amateurs from the United States and Canada competed in what is establishing itself as an anticipated annual event.
This year's contest commemorates Pittsburgh disc golf pioneers and legends J. Gary Dropcho, Keith Clark and Steve Kohman.
"We have the two best courses in the Mideast," said Dropcho, a local professional who teaches English at Carrick High School and organizes the tournament. "It's an A-tier super-tournament" that boasts a purse valued at $5,000.
Dropcho got started by playing ultimate Frisbee as a youth, and picked up disc golf in the 1980s. He was the first PDGA Amateur National Champion in 1989, and has become an icon for Pittsburgh disc golfers.
Local tournaments draw high numbers of competitors from across the continent, and attract small but dedicated groups of spectators. Barry Schultz, two-time world champion and three-time national champion, competed in the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open.
League play in the area is run by the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society, designers and operators of Western Pennsylvania's eight courses. Everyone is welcome to play in the leagues.
"Its good competition, and you can even get matched up with a pro," said Kevin Kearney, an intermediate level player from Wexford. Kearney participates in the Tuesday night doubles league.
Men and women of all ages can play disc golf, and most courses offer a variety of tees for all skill levels. Recreational play is popular among high school and college students, as well as adults looking for a low-impact exercise.
"There's no dress code," said Dan Horwat, a 24-year-old Cranberry resident who enjoys sharing the laid-back atmosphere with his friends.
"You're just out in the park. It's relaxing and quiet," said Mike Belt, a 28-year-old Gibsonia resident, who enjoyed the atmosphere of Knob Hill while disc golfing for the first time last week with his wife Kim and dog Lucy.
The only equipment needed to begin disc golfing is a disc that can be purchased at most local sporting goods stores for less than $10. A sturdy pair of athletic shoes is recommended for navigating the trails that often connect fairways.
There are no greens fees at most disc golf courses. Scorecards and course information can be downloaded from the PFDS Website, while hole-by-hole maps are often provided at the courses.
"It's so much fun; it's great exercise," said Dropcho, who encourages interested individuals to attend tournaments as spectators.