With the days getting a little longer now, I find myself developing that late afternoon itch to get out and enjoy the outdoors. After being tantalized by the sunshine outside my window all day, I am ready for a good adventure before I settle in for the night. At the end of this last lazy Sunday afternoon, I not only got outside to enjoy the fresh air in a field by Blue River Reservoir, but I took up a new activity; Frisbee Golf. Now, you may be asking yourself how on earth a mountain woman like myself got a wild hare to try such a far flung pastime from my usual activities of gardening, raising chickens and foraging for wild foods? Well, I’ll tell you. It it was a simple matter of my adventure partner, Corey, telling me we were getting outside to do something fun. The element of a surprise, combined with the jangling contraption he slung over his shoulder had me intrigued. I shouldered up the carrying bag of Frisbees, and away we went.
As it turned out, I was in for some great fun. I spent a beautiful afternoon getting a beginner’s Frisbee golf lesson on the basics from a very patient former basketball and track coach. I had Frisbees fling off in the wrong direction, I did funny things with my wrists, and all the while I got a lot of constructive correction and encouragement that I was headed in the right direction. Having never played any sports besides axe throwing and cross cut sawing on the Timber Sports team in college, I felt like I was doing alright for my first time Frisbee golfing. I thought to myself while I was trying to line up the Frisbee and let go of it at just the right time to get the proper trajectory and spin, that it was not terribly unlike axe throwing. Having heard many stories of good times visiting Frisbee golf courses on Corey’s travels, and admiring the portability of the whole set-up, I decided this is definitely something we will need to take along with us on our excursions out into the world. While you can’t always pull your double-bitted axe out in a public park to pass the time target throwing, Frisbee golf is equally fun and a little more versatile, with courses all over the place. I’m digging it.
As I sat down to write about this, I was curious as always, and had to know more about what I was getting myself mixed up in. I did a little research on the Disc Golf Association’s website, and found out a great history of disc golf is laid out by by Josh Orzech, originally published in 2001:
“Modern day disc golf started in the late 60′s. The early Frisbee golf
courses were “object courses”, using anything from trees, trash cans,
light poles, chicken wire baskets, pipes to fire hydrants as targets.
The roots of the sport begin when “Steady” Ed Headrick designed the
modern day Frisbee (US Patent 3,359,678, issued 1966) while working for
Wham-O Toys back in the 60′s. Captivated by the flight and feeling of
control he could master with the Frisbee, Ed saw potential for the disc
well beyond what anyone had envisioned or imagined.
courses were “object courses”, using anything from trees, trash cans,
light poles, chicken wire baskets, pipes to fire hydrants as targets.
The roots of the sport begin when “Steady” Ed Headrick designed the
modern day Frisbee (US Patent 3,359,678, issued 1966) while working for
Wham-O Toys back in the 60′s. Captivated by the flight and feeling of
control he could master with the Frisbee, Ed saw potential for the disc
well beyond what anyone had envisioned or imagined.
The game was formalized when Headrick invented the first Disc Pole
Hole™ catching device, consisting of 10 chains hanging in a parabolic
shape over an upward opening basket, (US Patent 4,039,189, issued 1975).
The Disc Pole Hole™ became the equivalent to ball golf’s “hole” and was
installed in the first standardized target course (what was then known
as Oak Grove Park Pasadena, California). Ed had said one of his many
inspirations for the “Disc Pole Hole™” invention was so he and his
buddies could get on with playing instead of arguing over whether or not
someone actually had hit one of the objects in their make shift object
courses.”
Hole™ catching device, consisting of 10 chains hanging in a parabolic
shape over an upward opening basket, (US Patent 4,039,189, issued 1975).
The Disc Pole Hole™ became the equivalent to ball golf’s “hole” and was
installed in the first standardized target course (what was then known
as Oak Grove Park Pasadena, California). Ed had said one of his many
inspirations for the “Disc Pole Hole™” invention was so he and his
buddies could get on with playing instead of arguing over whether or not
someone actually had hit one of the objects in their make shift object
courses.”
And still more interesting, an excerpt from “Revelation, “Frisbee Golf” by Ed Headrick, discussing disc golf as it pertains to Moses, co-eds, and chains:
“Then an amazing revelation, all my buddies, all my staff at Wham-O, and
most of my cult members and I were playing the game I was looking for.
Frisbee Golf was right under my nose! Great marketing man right? A game
where people would throw an expensive Frisbee into the ground every
throw on purpose? Wow! What a market potential!It seems so easy, but
what could possibly be better than walking through a beautiful park and
throwing at trees, drinking fountains, open car windows and an
occasional coed?
most of my cult members and I were playing the game I was looking for.
Frisbee Golf was right under my nose! Great marketing man right? A game
where people would throw an expensive Frisbee into the ground every
throw on purpose? Wow! What a market potential!It seems so easy, but
what could possibly be better than walking through a beautiful park and
throwing at trees, drinking fountains, open car windows and an
occasional coed?
Back to the drawing boards and 56 models later a contraption was born.
Shazam! Chain! Like Moses and his cracked rules, chains without black
leather and a whip. Chain, indestructible, flexible, a pleasant sound. I
wish I had invented it, but chain was my answer. Hence the Mach I, II,
III and twenty years of blood, sweat and tears.”
Shazam! Chain! Like Moses and his cracked rules, chains without black
leather and a whip. Chain, indestructible, flexible, a pleasant sound. I
wish I had invented it, but chain was my answer. Hence the Mach I, II,
III and twenty years of blood, sweat and tears.”
My search also turned up some other useful info like these links:
And a map to find Disc Golf Courses across the country:
Yes, it’s true. I’m a shameless research nerd. What can I say?
And finally, I’ll leave you with my favorite gem of wisdom from the Disc Golf Association:
Remember the most important rule:
“The one who has the most fun wins!”
– “Steady” Ed Headrick #001
“The one who has the most fun wins!”
– “Steady” Ed Headrick #001
*Photos and Frisbee golf lesson courtesy of Corey Culp
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