MCPARC - What Is Disc Golf?

What is Disc Golf? Disc golf is played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, however, players use a flying disc, or Frisbee®. The sport was formalized in the 1970s, and shares with "ball golf" the object of completing each hole in the fewest number of strokes (or, in the case of disc golf, fewest number of throws).

   A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target, which is the hole. The hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets; the most common is called a Pole Hole®, an elevated metal basket. As a player
progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive shot from the spot where the previous throw has landed.
   The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the "putt" lands in the basket and the hole is completed.
   Disc golf shares the same joys and frustrations of traditional golf, whether its sinking a long putt or hitting a tree halfway down the fairway. There are a few differences, though. Disc golf rarely requires a greens fee, you probably won’t need to rent a cart, and you never get stuck with a bad "tee time". It is designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages, male and female, regardless of economic status.

Who Plays Disc Golf? Disc golf can be played from school age to old age, making it one of the greatest lifetime fitness sports available. Specially-abled and disabled participate, giving them the opportunity to take part in a main stream activity. Because disc golf is so easy to learn, no one is excluded. Players merely match their pace to their capabilities, and proceed from there.
The Professional Disc Golf Association, with over 20,000 members, is the governing body for the sport, and sanctions competitive events for men and women of every skill level from novice to professional. In 2001, there were 385 PDGA-sanctioned events across the world involving over 30,000 players and over $800,000 in professional player winnings.
Today, there are over 1200 permanent disc golf courses around the world, with over 1000 of them in the United States. The annual rate of growth for disc golf courses is approximately 14%.

Why Should I Play Disc Golf? The ongoing fitness boom finds more and more people taking up recreational activities in an effort to improve health and quality of life. Disc golf provides upper and lower body conditioning, aerobic exercise, and promotes a combination of physical and mental abilities that allow very little risk of physical injury. Concentration skills increase by mastering shots and negotiating obstacles. Players of limited fitness levels can start slowly and gradually increase their level of play as fitness improves.
   Scheduling is also flexible; a round takes one to two hours, and may be played alone, eliminating the difficulty of scheduling tee times. And as in traditional golf, disc golfers find themselves "hooked" and, thus, increasing the likelihood of frequent participation. Disc golf offers year-round fitness, even in rain or snow.
   Perhaps the greatest attribute of the sport is the expense — or rather, the lack of it. A professional quality disc costs less than $10, and it only takes one for basic play.
   And, of course, there’s the sheer fun of the game — no matter what your age or skill level! Play disc golf — the sport of the future!

If you are interested in getting involved with Fairmont's Disc Golf Association please contact:
Jason Stonaker E-Mail
Check Back Here For Updated Information!

Other Courses in West Virginia

Hico - Songer Whitewater New River Gorge
Huntington - Rotary Park
Huntington - Camp Mad Anthony Wayne
Parkersburg - The Mountwood Monster
Paw Paw - The Woodshed
Paw Paw - Whippin' Post

*Links For More Information On Disc Golf*
http://www.pdga.com/	Professional Disc Golf Association Website Premier Site for Disc Golf
http://www.discgolfassoc.com/	Disc Golf Association Lessons, Supplies, Course Design
Ebay - Disc Golf	Ebay Listings For Disc Golf Items Pick up some great deals @ Good Prices
http://www.everythingdiscgolf.com/	Everything Disc Golf Suppliers, advice, tips
http://discgolf.com/	Dedicated to promoting knowledge and information about the sport of DISC GOLF, Great Resource!
Disc Golf Search on Google	Google Search Engine Results
Beginners Disc Golf	Disc Golf for Beginners Good site for all the basics

A Disc Golf User's Guide to Terminology

All definitions below assume a right-handed backhand throw. Left-handed backhand and right-handed forehand throws will result in a flight path opposite of the ones described here.

Hyzer
Releasing the disc with the outer edge at an angle lower than parallel to the ground. This will cause most discs to curve to the left.

Anhyzer
Releasing the disc with the outer edge at an higher than parallel to the ground. This will cause most discs to curve to the right.

High Speed Turn
The characteristic of a disc to curve to the right at the beginning of its flight when thrown hard.

Low Speed Fade
The natural tendency of a disc to tail left as it slows down at the end of its flight.

Overstable
A term used to describe the relative resistance to high speed turn and amount of low speed fade of a disc. A more over stable disc will generally have higher resistance to turn and greater low speed fade.

Understable
A term used to describe a disc with relatively low resistance to high speed turn and less low speed fade.

Turnover
The term used to describe the flight of a disc that curves to the right when thrown flat or at hyzer. A less overstable or understable disc will generally be easier to turn over.

Nose Down
Releasing the disc with the front end of the disc lower than the back end. Certain discs will fly better when thrown nose down.

Nose Up
Releasing the disc with the front end of the disc higher than the back end.

Stall Out
A term used to describe the flight of a disc when it peaks in height and drops off to the left without much glide. This generally occurs when the disc is thrown with the nose up.

S-Curve
A term used to describe the flight of a disc when it begins by turning to the right and then "flexes" out and glides back to the left.

Roller
A type of throw where the disc is turned over so far that it lands on its edge and rolls.

Snap
A term used to describe the arm speed and power a player gets into their throw.