Website Review

This post is dedicated to reviewing a disc golf website. If you have been following my blog. and website you know that I have listed several resources that will help you with your game. Some of the websites have been a basic understanding of the game, such as terms and rules of the game, and others have included tips on how to improve your game. This website I found has the best of both worlds and Stuart Hicks has provided disc golfers with a great resource.

The first page is a glossary of terms, similar to my disc golf terminology post. It was good for Hicks to put this at the top of the site because beginners need to understand the different ways to throw the disc as well as how the disc flies in the air. Next, Hicks explains the invention of the frisbee or disc and then explains how disc golf was created. Since, disc golf is a recent invention, most people want to know the history of the game, and Hicks did a great job explaining things in detail.

Now that you understand the terms and history of the game, Hicks has provided his guests with the basics of the game. This includes the equipment you can use, the basic rules of the game, and how to choose the right disc for you. I like that Hicks has separated these areas, but put them in one section. It helps readers understand the importance of each topic. The last major page is throwing techniques. Hicks did a great job explaining the different ways to throw the disc by displaying charts and pictures.

You Think You Know But You Have No Idea

One of the first things you should plan for in designing a disc golf course is the spacing. It is a good idea to pick an area where you can put a bathroom, parking lot, possibly a country club, and start from there. As you begin to design a disc golf course, keep in mind that length is not important because having an entirely long course is no fun. Disc golf requires you to have control shots in your repertoire and shortening up some holes as well as adding new hazards can increase the difficulty of your course. When designing a course, there should be no chance of a disc injuring other people in the park or landing in a private area.

After the decision has been made on where the holes will be placed, the next thing to do is draw the layout of the course and decide on the pars for each hole. Along with the placement of the holes, it is important to determine where the tee areas will be and the exact distance of each hole (measured in feet). Rather than having multiple basket placements per hole, it is easier to design a course with more than one tee area because this helps separate the beginners from the more advanced players.

Unlike ball golf, in disc golf there are no greens around the basket. Instead architects like to put hazards close to the basket because it makes putting a lot more challenging. If you are an average to above average disc golfer, having a free putt with no hazards in the way is very easy.

One of the last things architects do before the course is completed is deciding on what the tee area will look like. Most courses I have played consist of cement tee areas, but supposedly most professional disc golfers dislike them. Other types of tee areas include grass or gravel. The location of the course as well as the length of each hole can have a major impact on the material used for the tee areas.

Video of the week

From now on I have decided to add a "video of the week" post to my blog. Rather than just explain facts of the game and tips to help you, I thought it would be fun to post a video each week, which may or may not be instructional. Even though there are many videos posted on youtube related to disc golf, I have found the videos which will attract my followers the most.

This week's video is instructional and it was created by Team Discraft. Yes, I know that I have stated in earlier posts that I prefer Innova over Discraft, however, Discraft's website has posted several videos which help people throw the disc better and improve their game quickly. So, as I searched through some of their videos, I came across one related to putting because putting is the most important skill to have in disc golf. Similar to ball golf, if you want to lower your scores you have to decrease the number of putts you have in a round.

Mark Ellis, a Discraft team member, teaches you the basics of putting. First, you learn the proper way to grip the disc. For a putter you can use a fan grip, with your index finger on the edge of the putter. This helps give you more control with the disc and increase your accuracy with the putt. Next, how you stand in relation to the basket can have a huge impact on how far you will throw the putter. Make sure you try to center your body directly in front of the basket and if you are right-handed, put your right foot in front of your left. During the throw, it is crucial that you transfer your weight from your back foot to your front. Finally, the release point of the disc will definitively affect the direction of the putt. If you throw the disc too low it will come up short of the basket and if you throw the disc to high it will go over the basket or the wind may take it a different direction.

Remember the Basics

Up to this point, there have been some topics that I have covered, which I feel should be reviewed again to make sure you keep the basics of the game in mind. By refreshing some of these topics, I feel you will improve your game faster and you will correct any problems you may be having recently.

Remember there are 3 different discs to use! - Keep in mind that you have three discs to choose from in your bag. Take advantage of the mid-range disc and putter on shorter holes because this will help keep your disc more accurate off the tee. Depending on the brand of disc you own, there are different drivers to choose from, so make sure that it feels comfortable and the stability of the disc is not weighted too much on one side. It is important to choose the right disc for the right situation, but the technique of your throw will be the key to your success. Also, weather conditions play a major factor in choosing the right disc, so be prepared.

Understand the Disc Golf Terms - Being able to play the game well is great, but it is also very important to understand the basic terms of the game because in competition it may be crucial. There are several ways to throw the disc and most people use either the backhand throw or sidearm. The backhand throw is like throwing a frisbee and the sidearm throw is like throwing a baseball sidearm. The "tomahawk" or "hammer" throw is basically throwing your disc overhand on a vertical, 90 degree angle. In the air a disc may be "stable" or fly straight in the air. But, it may be understable, which means the disc turns to the right and if the disc is overstable it will turn to the left in the air. Other important terms include the type of scoring system that is used. A "birdie" is considered to be one under par and a "bogey" is one over par. If you are lucky enough to get two strokes under par that is called an "eagle" and 3 strokes under par is called "double eagle." Two strokes over par is "double bogey" and it goes up from there.

I prefer Innova over Discraft

Most professional athletes, or people who play sports on a regular basis, prefer one brand over another. Whether it's the quality or durability that keeps people loyal to a certain brand, the main issue is determining which brand feels more comfortable for you. Most well-known brands make more than just one product; they make many products for multiple sports. In the case of disc golf brands, most of them only make discs. Therefore, I feel Innova produces better discs than any other brand (i.e. Discraft) in disc golf.

I prefer Innova over Discraft because Innova was the first disc I ever used. The Innova disc is more comfortable when I play because I know how the disc feels. When I purchased my first disc, Innova had a chart which helped me find the right disc as a beginner. The chart explained which discs were harder to throw and gave me options to choose what kind of material I wanted my disc to have. Discraft, on the other hand, had a small amount of discs for sale and there was less of a variety to choose from.

Another reason why Innova is ahead of Discraft is that Innova discs hold world records. There are two major records which Innova discs own: the longest drive and the most world disc golf championships have been won using Innova discs. So, as a beginner or someone who has played the game for awhile, it is obvious that the Innova brand is recognized around the disc golf community and many professional disc golfers use their discs.

Ken Climo is one of the most well-known disc golfers in the world. He holds the record for most disc golf championships and the Innova company is proud to have him on their team. If you do not know already, Climo's name is on multiple Innova discs and these discs are a top seller in today's market. Although Discraft has its own professional team, they do not put their champions' name on their discs and they only create unique names for them.

Disc Golf Trophies

Winning a trophy is a great reward when you finish at the top of a competition or tournament. For most disc golf tournaments you will either win some amount of prize money or a medal. However, what if there was something you could win, that may be more unique and meaningful than those two things. For instance, how about a wooden or aluminum trophy?

At DisplayYourDisc.com you can order trophies, made of wood or aluminum, that represent your accomplishments. These trophies are completely handmade and you can put whatever you want on them. All of the trophies are made in the shape of a disc, and these people shape the trophy in the form of the disc you use.

Most of the trophies or discs that are made, were ordered for finishing high in competitive events, however, some discs can be ordered for clubs or teams. These handmade, unique discs can be great a gift for any team because it will bring back memories of being a part of something special.

If these trophies couldn't get any better, if you order them online there will be FREE shipping and handling. There are tournament packages that can be ordered by 5, 10, or 15. Obviously, the more you want to engrave on the disc, the more the cost, but these trophies are still a great price because there is a lot of work that goes into making each one.

On the site, there is a references section. This page displays comments that customers have written about the trophies they ordered. All of the comments were good and all the customers were satisfied with their product.

I feel that money is a great prize for everything, but having this handmade trophy will bring back great memories you shared with a team or it will represent all the hard work you did in finishing a top a tournament.

Buy this practice game now!

Whether you are a beginning disc golfer or an experienced one the Halex Disc Golf Challenge is perfect for you. For a great price, you will receive three discs as well as three targets. The targets consist of three different sizes, shaped like a circle, with a net attached to catch the disc, and an adjustable pole to change the height.

This product is good for practicing when you cannot make it to the course. Whether you want to play in at your home or a park by your house the Halex Disc Golf Challenge is easy to set up and use. Have a little competition with your friends by setting up different targets around your house or in a park, and you should set up the holes around trees or other standing objects to make the holes more difficult. The game is also a great way to practice because rather than throwing a disc in a basket, you have to throw it into a small circle hole.

Not only is the Halex Disc Golf Challenge is easy to set up and use, it is small enough to not take up and storage space in the garage and its easy to transport. The targets easily come apart and can be put in a nice storage bag. Also, games like this sometimes are heavy to carry and hard to transport. Not the Halex Disc Golf Challenge, because it is very light weight and it will not take up a lot of room in your trunk.

Overall, this product is great for all disc golfers because it is a great way to practice with your friends and have a little competition with them at the same time. Also, at an affordable price, the Halex Disc Golf Challenge is perfect for transporting around and it takes up very little time to set up.

Interesting Disc Golf Facts

Here is a list of some interesting disc golf facts that I thought some of you may enjoy:

1. Disc golf started becoming popular and more formalized in the late 1960's. During this time public courses were being built and associations started forming for the sport.

2. Toward the end of 90's, Iowa had the most disc golf courses, per capita, in the United States

3. The first permanent disc golf course, with metal baskets attached to a pole in the ground, in the world is located in Pasadena, California.

4. George Sappenfield is one of the most renown figures of disc golf because he created the term "Disc Golf" and he invented the first target, with chains and a basket, called the Mach 1.

5. "Steady Ed" Headrick was another important figure for the game of disc golf because he formed the first disc golf association, the PDGA. All competitive or tournament play is officiated by the PDGA.

6. A PDGA survey was conducted in 2006, and out of its 11,302 members, 8 percent are women.

7. In 2001, the top money winner of disc golf, Cameron Todd, received 25,000 dollars.

8. Disc golf has grown rapidly in the United States as well as worldwide by an annual rate of 12-15 percent in the last decade.

9. As of August 2009, there are close to 3,000 disc golf courses in the United States and over 3,000 courses worldwide. Disc golf is played in more than 40 countries around the world, primarily in North America and Western Europe.

10. From a study done in 2008, approximately one out of every five rounds of golf played in the United States, in 2009, will be disc golf rounds.

Find a disc golf course near you

When I started playing disc golf, my friends and I only played a few courses in our area because we didn't know of any others. After doing a little research, I was able to find more courses near my hometown and I wish we could have played them years ago.

Most people who play disc golf for fun do not care where they play because they just enjoy having a good time with friends and family. These disc golfers usually play the same few courses in their area and do not want to search for new courses that may be more fun and challenging. Well, if you are an avid disc golfer who wants to find new courses in your area than go to the PDGA course directory.

This webpage is designed to help beginning as well as experienced disc golfers find courses in their area. Once you have reached the course directory page, you can type in your zip code, city/state, or country and the site will automatically search for courses near you. Another option the webpage provides is an advanced search tab where you can search for courses based on the rating, the type of tee area, the number of holes, etc. This is a very important feature for the beginning disc golfer because you may want to start out playing a 9 hole course or one that may be a shorter than most. Also, if you are a PDGA member and have a login name to the website, you have the ability to add a course to their directory.

If the PDGA course directory is not helpful for you, there are other websites such as Disc Golf Course Review. This website is not as official as the PDGA, but it rates the courses in a more unique format and it gives updated information on courses too. When you land on the their homepage, you will be able to look at old versus new courses as well as read reviews about which courses are being played most often and the condition they are in.

Once I started playing disc golf on a regular basis, I started getting tired of the courses we were playing because I knew how to play every hole on the course and it was becoming less and less of a challenge. Therefore, if you are like me and want to find new and more challenging courses in your area I highly recommend using the PDGA course directory.

Disc Golf on Conan O'Brien

As I searched for videos related to disc golf, I stumbled upon a very funny video. Many late night talk shows have celebrities as guests and they come to get interviewed. One late night talk show that I used to enjoy was Late Night with Conan O'Brien; however, recently Mr. O'Brien took over for Jay Leno on the Tonight Show, so Late Night with Conan O'Brien does not exist. This video that I have posted is from Mr. O'Brien's old show.

As I stated before, most late night talk shows have celebrities as guests, but one of Conan's guests on this night was Dave Feldberg, a professional disc golfer. He came on the show to teach the audience about the game of disc golf and how to throw the disc in different ways. Mr. O'Brien had some funny jokes to make about the sport, but he explained how disc golf had expanded to the Bay Area.

Most of the video was funny because Mr. O'Brien was able to involve the audience during the appearance of Mr. Feldberg. If you don't know, Mr. Feldberg is well-known throughout the disc golf community and he has won many tournaments in his career. I feel like this was another step in the right direction for disc golf. Conan O'Brien is a very popular talk show host and if the sport can be recognized on a show like that, than maybe more people will start to play.

via videosift.com