Feb 02 2005, 07:40 PM
Hi all! First, I�d like to offer up my sincere apologies for my comments the other day pertaining to the posts I received concerning my inquiry on protective headgear. I guess I let the anniversary of my mother and pet ferret�s untimely deaths in a wheat threshing accident get the better of me. It was 30 years ago that I lost both my mum and Princess Fifi to an accident that has haunted me to this day. I feel certain, however, that my love for disc golf is what has sustained me over the years and allowed me to triumph over the bad times and have fortitude in waiting for the good times. Many are the times that I have felt my mum�s presence while standing over a particularly challenging putt or an especially nasty case of shingles. My mum was a great lady and never let her lifelong struggle with both hyperhidrosis and hirsutism deter her from her life as a fulltime housewife and mom or her hobby: Competitive spelunking.
I thought I would relate a particularly interesting playing experience to the group and get your valued feedback: I had the wonderful opportunity to play a round of disc golf with a group of spry seniors and I was prompted by the experience to try and design ways for more seniors to enjoy our great game. It occurred to me that current disc design(s) can be rather weighty for seniors causing rotator cuff fatigue. I noted this while applying liniment to the shoulders of my playing partners post game. (I use a homemade blend that my partners have always enjoyed, especially post-steam. Please post if you have an interest in the exact ingredients and proportions which I�d be happy to share!)
To that end, I have been whiling away some of the colder days of winter by noodling some ideas on disc design that would be favorable to the elderly. I am curious on getting the group�s feedback on the use of low density polyethylene to make �flexible� discs that would be similar to doilies such as you might find in use when serving tea? These light weight discs would be easier to lift and throw for the elderly who might otherwise be leery of trying disc golf. I have designed some prototypes and found that their design � while not lending itself to superb distance � are easy to lift and throw while also not affecting finishing position and good form. I also noted that a full compliment of these �doily discs� -- as I have termed them � can be easily carried in a disc golf playing bag that can also house a supplemental breathing device in the event of shortness of breath out on the course. The distance of my doily doesn�t quite measure up to the distance of my playmates but I think we can all agree that the distance of your doily isn�t as important as the style with which you can toss your doily. Agreed? Agreed!
I�d like to think that the advent of the disc doily could mean that more seniors would play our great game instead of wasting away on folding chairs waiting for �bingo�, and I know in my heart of hearts that I have your support in this quest: To that end, I would be most appreciative if I could get your feedback on the disc doily as it pertains to the following:
� Viability of the disc doily as it pertains to trading distance for ease of use: The average disc doily can travel upwards of 6-8 feet if thrown with good form. Does the group as a whole take issue with players who might take upwards of 57-68 throws per hole?
� How does the group feel about the use of non sanctioned disc doilies if their use is limited strictly to senior players, age 65 and above?
� If the disc doily were to catch on, how viable would it be to retrofit all disc golf courses with portable cardiac defibrillators?
� Do any of my fellow players have parents or grandparents with whom they�d like to share the game but were frustrated by the equipment available to seniors?
Just as a quick side note, I believe wholeheartedly that the successful launch of the disc doily would make my earlier inquiry about protective headgear a moot point in All-Senior matches, so I think that is yet another winning aspect to this concept that is worth exploring!
As mentioned, I am presently in the prototype stage and my senior friends Fred, Dick, and Marv are my invited guests to try out the newest generation of disc doily prototypes when the temps here climb above 70 (We are hoping Fred will be up to it after his recent bout of excessive egesta�). I think there are, in fact, a great many seniors who are eager to inhale the rich aroma that comes from a perspiring game of disc golf. Call me a romantic if you will, but I dream of a day when young and old alike can share our great game and the use of liniment on the �19th hole� will be as outdated a concept as razor blades and soap is for employees of my local organic food market.
I thought I would relate a particularly interesting playing experience to the group and get your valued feedback: I had the wonderful opportunity to play a round of disc golf with a group of spry seniors and I was prompted by the experience to try and design ways for more seniors to enjoy our great game. It occurred to me that current disc design(s) can be rather weighty for seniors causing rotator cuff fatigue. I noted this while applying liniment to the shoulders of my playing partners post game. (I use a homemade blend that my partners have always enjoyed, especially post-steam. Please post if you have an interest in the exact ingredients and proportions which I�d be happy to share!)
To that end, I have been whiling away some of the colder days of winter by noodling some ideas on disc design that would be favorable to the elderly. I am curious on getting the group�s feedback on the use of low density polyethylene to make �flexible� discs that would be similar to doilies such as you might find in use when serving tea? These light weight discs would be easier to lift and throw for the elderly who might otherwise be leery of trying disc golf. I have designed some prototypes and found that their design � while not lending itself to superb distance � are easy to lift and throw while also not affecting finishing position and good form. I also noted that a full compliment of these �doily discs� -- as I have termed them � can be easily carried in a disc golf playing bag that can also house a supplemental breathing device in the event of shortness of breath out on the course. The distance of my doily doesn�t quite measure up to the distance of my playmates but I think we can all agree that the distance of your doily isn�t as important as the style with which you can toss your doily. Agreed? Agreed!
I�d like to think that the advent of the disc doily could mean that more seniors would play our great game instead of wasting away on folding chairs waiting for �bingo�, and I know in my heart of hearts that I have your support in this quest: To that end, I would be most appreciative if I could get your feedback on the disc doily as it pertains to the following:
� Viability of the disc doily as it pertains to trading distance for ease of use: The average disc doily can travel upwards of 6-8 feet if thrown with good form. Does the group as a whole take issue with players who might take upwards of 57-68 throws per hole?
� How does the group feel about the use of non sanctioned disc doilies if their use is limited strictly to senior players, age 65 and above?
� If the disc doily were to catch on, how viable would it be to retrofit all disc golf courses with portable cardiac defibrillators?
� Do any of my fellow players have parents or grandparents with whom they�d like to share the game but were frustrated by the equipment available to seniors?
Just as a quick side note, I believe wholeheartedly that the successful launch of the disc doily would make my earlier inquiry about protective headgear a moot point in All-Senior matches, so I think that is yet another winning aspect to this concept that is worth exploring!
As mentioned, I am presently in the prototype stage and my senior friends Fred, Dick, and Marv are my invited guests to try out the newest generation of disc doily prototypes when the temps here climb above 70 (We are hoping Fred will be up to it after his recent bout of excessive egesta�). I think there are, in fact, a great many seniors who are eager to inhale the rich aroma that comes from a perspiring game of disc golf. Call me a romantic if you will, but I dream of a day when young and old alike can share our great game and the use of liniment on the �19th hole� will be as outdated a concept as razor blades and soap is for employees of my local organic food market.