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"I was a ball golfer who realized that I was never going to be happy having a recreational activity that was so expensive," relates Ben Parker, communications director for the Green Mountain Disc Golf Club (GMDGC). "I learned about disc golf in the summer of 2003 and fell in love with it right away. I haven’t swung my golf clubs in three years. I still think that ball golf is a terrific sport, but disc golf is definitely much more cost effective." Instead of trying to hit a ball into a hole in the ground disc golfers throw a plastic disc into a metal basket. The baskets have metal chains hanging down to help stop the flight of the disc and cause it to drop into the basket. The object is to get your disc in the basket in the least amount of throws, and the player with the lowest total score at the end of 18 holes wins. Golf discs are smaller than a typical frisbee and come in a number of different types of plastic. Just like with golf clubs, there are different types of discs used for different shots, like driving, approach and putting. Drivers are designed for fast long-distance flight and are generally the most diffi cult type of disc to control. Approach discs usually fly slower and straighter than drivers and work best for mid-range shots, while putter discs are designed for close-range. While many disc golfers are fierce competitors, the atmosphere on the disc golf course is typically much more casual that on a traditional ball golf course. From an environmental standpoint, unlike ball golf courses disc golf courses can often be constructed with minimal impact on the natural landscape. Things like trees, elevation changes and water hazards actually help make for a more exciting game, as well as an attractive backdrop. "From our perspective, disc golf and Vermont are a natural match," explains GMDGC treasurer, Pete Hess. "The Vermont landscape provides the terrain and natural beauty that make disc golf more than just a sport of discs and metals baskets. It's an opportunity for a beautiful walk in the woods, to hang out with friends and family, to enjoy some time alone, to be competitive or to just relax and have fun. And this is true for anyone, not just the seasoned disc golfer. Disc golf provides an affordable outdoor recreational activity that is available to people of all ages and abilities." The GMDGC was started by a group of dedicated Vermont disc golfers who wanted to promote the growth of their favorite sport around the state. One of the main functions of the club is hosting and promoting local disc golf activities and tournaments like last April's Sap Bucket Open IV held in Waterbury Center, which drew 90 players from all over the Northeast. Another major focus for the GMDGC is working with Vermont towns and other local organizations to introduce them to disc golf and explore opportunities for installing new public courses around the state. While the sport has certainly grown in Vermont since the installation of the Center Chains disc golf course in Waterbury Center, the club feels it still hasn’t quite reached the level of popularity that it enjoys in many other areas of the country and they hope to change that. Many of the handful of disc golf courses located in Vermont are free to the public, but a few are "pay-to-play," typically a few dollars for the day. If you are interested in just trying out the sport without purchasing equipment some of the "pay-to-play" courses will rent out discs for a small fee. If you decide to purchase your own discs some local and online sporting goods stores offer three disc starter sets that include a driver, an approach disc and a putter, with prices usually in the $20 to $30 range. Individual discs can usually be purchased for anywhere from $7 apiece to $20 and up for higher-end models. Most disc golfers write their name and phone number on their discs with a permanent marker to increase the chances of a lost disc being returned to them. One of the guarantees of disc golf, especially in an area as heavily wooded as Vermont, is that you will eventually lose a disc, no matter how good of a player you are. Fortunately, due to their relatively low cost, lost discs can easily be replaced. When choosing your discs the first instinct is to often go for your favorite color, but it’s important to remember that you could end up searching for your disc in the woods or in tall grass. With this in mind, choose brightly colored discs that won’t blend in with the landscape to save yourself a lot of time and frustration down the road. When you are out on the disc golf course it is crucial to be careful, courteous and alert to ensure that everyone can enjoy the game to the fullest. If you are playing with a large group and notice a smaller group behind you waiting for you to finish up it is common courtesy to give them a yell and let them know it's okay to "play through," meaning that you will stop playing for a few minutes to allow them to play the hole and pass you on the course so that you no longer hold them up. If you get to the tee for a particular hole and there is a group in front of you still playing that hole, do not throw your discs until that entire group has finished and moved on to the next hole. As one might expect, getting hit with a flying piece of plastic can cause serious injury, so it is very important to make sure everyone around you is alert and aware when you are throwing your disc. For more information on disc golf check out some of these web sites: www.pdga.com — Professional Disc Golf Association (Rules of the game, National course directory, directions to courses, info on tournaments, events, etc.) www.gmdgc.org — Green Mountain Disc Golf Club(Local events, disc golf basics, etc.) Free Public Disc Golf Courses in Vermont: Bennington — Willow Park Bradford — Oxbow Disc Golf Johnson — Johnson State College Disc Golf Course Randolph — White River Disc Golf Course Waterbury Center — Center Chains Disc Golf Course Pay-to-play Disc Golf Courses In Vermont: Bolton — Mountain High Jay — First Trax Disc Golf Course Jeffersonville — The Woods Course at Smugglers' |
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