What Golf Could Learn From Disc Golf
Ever been to a disc golf course? You may be surprised by what you find.
Played with what is also commonly called a Frisbee, disc golf has its players competing over a large field – really a shrunken golf course – with the hole amounting to a large metal basket. The disc is advanced by throwing it toward the basket, sometimes “shaping” shots by curving the disc around trees or other hazards. Holing out amounts to hitting the basket with the disc coming to rest inside.
It’s the same concept of taking an object and advancing it toward a target with the fewest strokes winning. But pre-shot routines, pristine conditioning, people waiting to play…you’ll see almost none of it. Just groups of players having fun chasing down their “shots” as they advance toward a distant basket. Order of play? No one keeps track, if you’re ready, throw it. Foursomes? You’ll see groups of all sizes during a round.
Most disc golf courses are a little rough around the edges – they might only get cut once a week if at all. But that seems to have little impact on the player’s enjoyment. They’re not looking for an abundance of the color green or pure putting surfaces, probably because if they paid anything at all to play it was just a small fee to get into the park. Perhaps the best part? You can play a complete round with minimal time investment.
While the metaphor is certainly not 100% appropriate, there are certain things golfers can take away from a round at a disc golf course:
- Expectations on conditioning might not be realistic. A little brown is a good thing
- Hit when you’re ready and ditch the pre-shot routine
- Walk the course; you’ll get in better shape and probably play faster
Is it possible that disc golf might relate more to the original game the shepherds played while tending their flocks? It’s the basic concept of the game stripped of much of its excess and artifice we have added over the years that have made a simple game much more complex. Advance an object toward a target, fewest strokes wins.
Are there aspects of disc golf that might make regular golf more enjoyable? What about characteristics of other sports? What do you think?
(Photos courtesy of the Professional Disc Golf Association)
I love frisbee golf! I prefer real golf because the courses are more interesting, but with frisbee golf I get some exercise and can play a full round so quickly. On a real course, it just seems like so many golfers can take forever getting their aim and distance, and even longer trying to read a putt. With a frisbee, it’s so much faster to just let it fly, go find it, and do it again.
March 17th, 2011 at 4:48 pmIn honor of March Madness, how about having a shot clock in golf! Just kidding, but it might help.
March 17th, 2011 at 4:50 pmThe concept of “par 3 courses” should be part of this discussion. They are fun to play, they take a lot less time, and the golfers who take the game so seriously that they feel the need to read each three foot putt for five minutes never play them.
A good time is had by all and if the course has conditions that aren’t quite up to Augusta National’s who cares? Players cannot post scores played on 18 hole courses that are less than 3000 yards so no one has to worry about what the score will do to their Handicap Index. This means you only have to worry about having a good time.
The added bonus? If you’ve ever played one of these courses to a score of level par you can legitimately tell other golfers that you once shot a 54! You may want to wait until all the wagers have been set on the first tee of a par 72 course before mentioning it.
March 18th, 2011 at 2:46 pmThere are a few other things you left out. Disc golf does not have a dress code, it is easy to learn, and does not require a large financial investment. When golf figures out how to mitigate some of these issues, it will grow again.
March 23rd, 2011 at 9:55 pm