Disc Golf is the name of the game

From this point forward I am officially calling frisbee golf, "Disc Golf." After searching the web I have discovered that the game is called disc golf and has been for a long time. Most of my friends and I call the game "Frolf" because it combines the words "Frisbee" and "Golf." I came across this page which explained that frisbee golf is no longer the appropriate name for the game because the term "Frisbee" is trademarked, similar to the brand "Kleenex."

I understand that this may be confusing for some of you, but from now on I will be more consistent with the name "Disc Golf." In my opinion, disc golf seems more professional rather than frisbee golf. Disc golf even seems more appropriate because players do not throw frisbees, they throw discs. Discs are also shaped differently than frisbees because discs have sharper edges and different weights.

As of right now I have not made many changes to my blog or web site pertaining to the name "Disc Golf," but I hope to soon. One thing to keep in mind is that when you go out and promote the sport to your friends and family, you should remember to use the name disc golf rather than frisbee golf. Rather than referring to disc golf as a game, I want to start calling it a sport. It takes a lot of athleticism and hand-eye coordination.

The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) is the most important resource for finding updated information about the sport. So, why not start referring to it as disc golf. Everytime I research information about the sport I search under "Disc Golf" because the results that pop up give me the best information about a specific topic. Therefore, I suggest using "Disc Golf" when researching for information about the sport.

Frisbee golf video game

The Nintendo Wii is an exciting and unique gaming system that is fun for the whole family. If you have not tried playing a game on the Wii I highly recommend it because it will change your view on video games. One of my favorite games on the Wii is the Tiger Woods series of games. Every year EA Sports comes out with a new Tiger Woods game, however this years game is a little different. In Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, there is a special feature called "Disc Golf" where you get to play frisbee golf using the Wii remote with the Motion Plus device connected to it.

The best part about the game is how real it feels and looks on the screen. When you use the Wii remote it feels like you are tossing a frisbee in real life. In the game there are 3 discs that you can use: a driver that goes 150 yards, a mid-range that goes 75 yards, and a putter that goes 20 yards. Another great feature the game has is your ability to choose the way you throw the disc. There are 3 types: backhand, forehand, and hammer. Similar to frisbee golf, there are hazards that surround the course such as sand and water, and if you land in one you receive a stroke penalty.

There are a couple things about the game that I do not like. One thing is that you play on an actual golf course. I would have liked the course to be in a park, a forest, or wide open field because that is where most frisbee golf courses are located. Another issue I have with the game is the way they measure the distance of the holes. In frisbee golf, the holes are measured in feet whereas in the video game it is measured in yards.

Overall, I feel like this is another step forward in the sport gaining popularity. The Tiger Woods video game is very popular around the world, so if more people purchase the game, the more people will have the opportunity to try the unique disc golf game. Here is a video that I have posted along with this post that demonstrates how the game is played.

Frisbee golf magazine

As I was searching around the web the other day, I came across some material that I felt would be very beneficial to frisbee golfers. Flying Disc Magazine is great for all frisbee golfers because it gives readers tips on how to play better and it has interesting stories about the world of frisbee golf. I posted a link to the web site which has many great features such as a video of the week, photos, power rankings of players, and blogs you can check out.

When I started learning how to play frisbee golf, I didn't have a lot of guidance on how to help my game. Now that I have come across all these books, magazines, and videos on the web, I wish I had the opportunity to look at some of these things earlier. Therefore, I hope that my followers will take the initiative to look over some of the reading material I have posted for you as well as some of the links.

I feel very strongly about people that give up on something too quickly because it did not come easy for them. This magazine that I have shared with you is something that I feel will help beginning frisbee golfers because it will get you more interested in the game itself, not just learning how to play better. Along with tips and news about the game, you will be able to learn more about professional frisbee golfers such as Ken Climo, who I mentioned in one of my previous posts.

If you want to subscribe to the magazine there is an opportunity to do so on their website. Also, there are many advertisements throughout the web site that will take you to other popular frisbee golf web sites that may help you out.

Frisbee golf on the rise?

Ever since I was a young boy sports has been a passion of mine. I loved watching all sports on TV and I dreamed of one day being a professional athlete. Well now I am a senior in college and I feel like that dream is out the window. However, frisbee golf is something that you can play for a lifetime and it is never too late to get started playing.

Recently, I read an article on ESPN that talked about this program devoted to promoting the sport of frisbee golf to kids between grades 3-12. To the followers of my blog, you need to read this article because it talks about everything I am trying to accomplish with promoting the sport. Not only does this article talk about well-known frisbee golfers, but it explains rules of the game, the history of the game, and where the game will be in the next 5 years.

Another important figure that was mentioned in the article was Billy Crump. This man is considered to be "the" announcer for the PDGA. He is a major promoter of frisbee golf and he goes around trying to get sponsors to support the game. His story is very similar to any person starting out playing the game, and I hope to one day follow in this man's footsteps. He started out playing the game and when he realized he would not make it as a professional he decided to just report on frisbee golf and promote it across the country.

The mission of my web site and this blog is to gain popularity of frisbee golf. I want to reach out to the younger generation because they will have a better opportunity to gain more interest of the sport. The article I posted compared frisbee golf to traditional golf, and it explained that maybe sometime down the line frisbee golf will take over traditional golf!

Frisbee golf resources

As a beginning frisbee golfer, I wanted to learn more about the sport by searching the web, however, I was unable to find many resources that were helpful. Therefore, I want to help my followers by posting some links that I feel will help your frisbee golf game. Most of the links I have posted give helpful tips on how to play as well as a variety of discs and equipment you can buy.

1. http://www.disclife.com/ - DiscLife.com contains many features, but the best part is how frequently it updates news in the disc golf world. On their main page they have an entire section devoted to disc golf resources and a PDGA section which gives you an option to become a member! Along with helpful tips, there are many different discs and equipment that are available for sale. Another great feature about the site that may interest professional or experienced frisbee golfers is how frequently it updates tournament schedules and results.

2. http://discgolf.com/ - this web site has been promoting frisbee golf on the web since the mid-90's. Even though the previous link posts articles about frisbee golf news, this site posts updates involving the frisbee golf world on a more consistent basis. Most of this site contains information about frisbee golf in the United States, but this is one of the first sites I have come across which features information on international frisbee golf. For the most part, this site has many resources that send you to other helpful sites, but they do have some pages that are great such as a listing of courses in your area and videos with helpful hints on how to play.

3. http://www.kenclimo.com/ - one of the figures of the sport is Ken Climo. Many beginning frisbee golfers may be unfamiliar with him, but he is one of the most respected frisbee golfers of all time. He created his own site with many different pages to navigate through. One page is devoted to his background and how he became the person he is today. Others include photos of him playing, a list of his favorite courses to play, the discs he uses, and a links page that will take you to sites that he believes will help you with your game. Some of you may know him because his name is across multiple Innova discs.

A BRAND NEW COURSE!

Yesterday I played a brand new frisbee golf course. As some of my followers know I am currently attending Illinois State University, so I have only been playing frisbee golf courses in the Bloomington-Normal area. Before I went to Forest Park (the new course), I only knew of two courses around my area: P.J. Irvin and Maxwell. Well yesterday I played one of the most challenging frisbee golf courses ever.

For those of you that live near the area, the Forest Park course is very close to P.J. Irvin. The course consists of 9 holes that are surrounded by trees. Unlike many courses, the 9 hole course has two tee areas for each hole, an "A" and "B," so when I went with my group of friends we went around twice. The most difficult part about the course was the amount of trees that surrounded the basket as well as the fairway. Even the tee area, about 20 feet in front of the tee, there were trees very close togther, which made it difficult to get the frisbee in the fairway.

Even though I enjoyed playing the course, there is still room for improvement with this course. Since it is new, there were no maps of the holes by the tee area and it was difficult to find the first hole. My friends and I walked around the entire park for a half hour trying to find the first hole. As well we could not tell what basket we needed to aim at because some of the baskets were close together.

Overall, I enjoyed the course because it was challenging and the park was a fun to walk around. Since there were four of us we played foursomes, which means we played with teams of two. In one of my next posts I will explain different games you can play with your friends. It will make your frisbee golf experience more exciting and competitive.

Analyzing a frisbee golf web site

The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) is an organization for frisbee golf. Similar to the Professional Golf Association (PGA) the PDGA acts as a professional tour or league for frisbee golf. Anyone can become a member of the PDGA, and the web site they designed has a variety of features to learn all about the game and the professional players.

First, there web site is very crowded. The home page is filled with many advertisements, multiple tabs to click on, and videos to see. The horizontal bar at the top of the page has many different tabs to navigate through such as all about disc golf, membership, courses, and they even have a discussion tab where users can express their opinions about the frisbee golf world.

There are many different advertisements displayed along both sidebars. Some of the ads on the web site market specific companies in frisbee golf such as Innova and Discraft. Other ads on the home page are devoted toward specific tournaments in the United States as well as overseas in Europe. To help keep their web site profitable and up to date, they have many sponsors that get marketed such as the Disc Golf Association.

Another great feature on the web site are the multiple videos that are posted. The first video that is displayed on the main page is a promotion for a tournament that is coming up. Also, they have a small section they call "Video of the Week," where each week they post a new video that relates to frisbee golf.

Overall, I feel that the PDGA did a good job in building their web site. They have many different features that appeal to the beginning frisbee golfer as well as the experienced one. In the future, I hope to send an email to the PDGA and explain to them what I am trying to do with my web site and maybe they will advertise me.

Promoting my web site

I want to take this opportunity to explain to everyone a little bit about my web site. The project that I am working on as all of you know is to promote the game of frisbee golf. I feel that updating my blog everyday will not be enough to spread the word about the game to beginning frisbee golfers as well as experienced ones. Therefore, I have created a web site that will eventually have multiple articles related to all aspects of frisbee golf. By providing users with rules of the game to tips on how to play to well-known frisbee golfers, I want to increase the popularity of the sport all across the nation.

As of right now my web site is a work in process, but I hope by the end of the month I will have more information such as articles, links and videos to post for everyone. Some of the articles I write will involve everything about the game. The history of the game is something I am sure most experienced frisbee golfers know nothing about, so I plan on explaining where it originated and who some of the creators were. Most frisbee golfers enjoy playing the game for fun, but some play competitively, so I want to help those players with tips for certain shots and what discs to use. Also, frisbee golf is something that has expanded worldwide and I want to talk about certain players, courses, and equipment that is available overseas.

To help promote the sport on the web I need to use inbound and outbound links to my web site. My plan is to get the major companies involved such as Innova and Discraft. If they were to recognize my love for the game and what I am trying to accomplish than maybe I can spread the word easier. In addition to posting links on my web site, I plan on posting videos that I come across while surfing the web. For example, I have found multiple videos that explain how to increase distance with your drive and how to play under windy conditions.

I want to let all my followers of my blog know that my web site is a working process and if you have any suggestions on what you would like to see on my web site send me an email at frolfislife@gmail.com.

Promoting another post

I researched some blogs in the area of frisbee golf and I came across this one that is very similar to mine. His posts are related to helping amateur frisbee golfers as well as experienced players too. I want to promote one of his blog posts because I feel like it is a good tip for the beginning frisbee golfer. The first throw is a post that explains how to make your first toss on the frisbee golf course. It is important for an amateur frisbee golfer to get off to a good start so the first throw is vital. He suggests that the proper throwing technique will help the frisbee fly longer and more accurate. Rather than researching the right way to throw a frisbee, you could go to a frisbee golf course and watch people others throw. Another important part of the throw is the release of the disc and the grip you have on the disc. I feel that the post I am promoting is important for all frisbee golfers, and referring back to the basics can be very helpful.

A list of frisbee golf in Illinois

Here is a list of frisbee golf courses that I have played ever since I started. The list consists of difficult courses as well as courses that are designed for the beginning frisbee golfer. As I play more courses, I plan on making a list of the top frisbee golf courses in the state of Illinois. The courses are not ranked in order of how difficult or easy they are, but each will have a little description of how the course is setup.

1. Adler Park, Libertyville - This is the first course I ever played, as mentioned in one of my previous posts. Of the 9 holes on the course, some are short and some are long, but trees come into play on almost every hole. There are many hills throughout the course and the only hazard that may come into play is the Des Plaines River. The tees are made of concrete and there are plenty of facilities available nearby.

2. Willow Stream Park, Buffalo Grove - This is another 9 hole course that I believe is a little easier than Adler Park. There are a lot less trees that come into play on this course, but there are some longer holes, for example, there is one that is over 400 feet. Similar to Adler Park, there are no real hazards that come into play, but if it is windy, the course can be extremely difficult for beginning frisbee golfers.

3. Fairfield Park, Round Lake - As an 18 hole course, Fairfield Park is home to the longest hole in the state of Illinois at 845 feet (18th hole). The first 9 holes are more open and a little longer. The back 9 consists of shorter holes, except the 18th, and there are some trees and swamp that come into play. Unlike the first two courses, the tees at Fairfield Park are made of crushed stone, not concrete.

4. Maxwell Park, Normal - As a student at Illinois State University, this was the first frisbee golf course I played in the area. The course consists of 18 holes, some of which are more challenging than others. Most of the course is open, which makes it very difficult under windy conditions, and very few trees come into play. There is a creek that runs along most of the front 9, which can cause problems for the beginning frisbee golfer. Last week I played this course and recorded my best round ever, 17 under par!

5. P.J. Irvin, Bloomington - Of all the courses I have played this is by far the toughest. It is 18 holes filled with many trees and hills. There is out of bounds on many holes and some shots are blind, which means you may not see the basket when you tee off. It is considered longer than some of these other courses because most of the holes fall between 300-400 feet.

http://www.illinoisdiscgolf.com/ilcourses.html

The course I grew up on

Every disc golfer has the one course they grew up playing on. For me that course was Adler, in Libertyville, Illinois. As a beginner I believed the course was very demanding, but certain holes were easy. Every hole is considered to be a par 4, except for the last two holes. Most courses around my area are only 9 holes so sometimes my friends and I would go play a second round. Every hole has trees or bushes as hazards surrounding the fairways and baskets. The tee areas are all made of concrete and there are a few holes where the grass is now dirt. I would recommend the course to anyone that is starting out playing disc golf and wants a challenge to try and get better.

Disc golf terminology

Many beginning disc golfers have no idea what some of the terminology is of the sport. One type of way to throw the disc is called a backhand. It is the same way you throw a regular frisbee. The sidearm throw is the complete opposite of the backhand because you throw the disc with similar to a pitcher that throws a baseball sidearm. The tomohawk throw is when you throw the disc like you throw a baseball. When a disc is thrown it can do several things such as roll. A roller is a method used to make the disc roll on its side. The term "hork" is referred to the angle of the disc when it is in flight. Similar to golf when you are in close range to the basket the shot or toss is called a "putt." For more terms on disc golf refer to this website: http://www.discfly.com/Category~CategoryID~659.html

3 types of discs

Within a disc golfers bag you would find three types of discs: a driver, mid-range, and putt and approach. The driver is the disc that you tee off with and it is the lightest in your bag. Drivers are made to fly very far, so the experienced disc golfer may only use the driver for extremely long holes. Then there is the mid-range disc. This disc is used for shots in the fairway when you have a lot of distance between you and the basket. When researching about the different types of discs, most sites would say the mid-range is the most important disc you can have, especially on shorter courses. The putt and approach is the last disc in your bag and is generally used when you are closer to the basket. These are the heaviest as well as the most accurate discs you can have. Some disc golfers use the putt and approach to tee off on shorter holes.

My first round

If you do not know already, there are many different names that people call the sport: disc golf, frisbee golf, frolf, etc. So, from now on I am going to refer to the sport as disc golf. The first time I ever played disc golf was after school with two of my friends. They had only gone a couple of times so they were beginners too. Before my first shot or toss I was nervous because I did not want to hit a tree or only throw the disc 10 feet. Well, my nerves got the best of me and I hit a tree. Disc golf is very similar to golf because you must have lots of patience and focus throughout the entire round. I, however, were not so patient and did not take time before each toss. Throughout the round I made some great shots and holed some putts from very far away. My friends would give me advice during the round; for example, before I would tee off they would explain the right amount of steps to take and the motion of my arm while I toss the disc. In the end, I enjoyed my first round of disc golf and the next day I went to the store to purchase my first disc, an Innova Archangel.