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Disc golf — inexpensive, physical and fun
By GORDON DICKSON [email protected]
Disc golfers play for exercise, the thrill of an outdoor challenge or simply to experience the magic of a saucer in flight.
"You have to figure out each throw. You have to figure the wind, and the different obstacles such as trees and the weight of each disc," said Michael Wagenknecht, 29, of Keller, who often plays at Arcadia Park in north Fort Worth with 2-year-old son Logan. "And you also have to try to avoid losing your discs."
Whatever the reasons, the popularity of disc golf, or Frisbee golf, is growing like a weed — a fitting analogy for a game in which players often search for discs in the unmowed fringes of North Texas parks.
The object, much like regular golf, is to hit a target in as few shots as possible. The game has been around since the 1970s, when a Wham-O toy researcher created a pole-mounted metal basket for Frisbee tossers. But until a few years ago, there weren't many places in the Metroplex to play.
Now, parks and recreation officials in many cities are finding that installing disc golf courses is a relatively inexpensive way to increase foot traffic in green spaces.
The game appeals not only to its traditional college-age demographic — or those who dream of someday joining the pro disc golf circuit (yes, there is one) — but also seniors and families with young children.
At least 11 courses are now open in Tarrant County. One is under construction at Gateway Park in east Fort Worth. There are also courses in Denton and Weatherford.
This year, several area sporting goods stores began prominently displaying discs of various sizes and colors, selling for $5 to $15 each. Beginners may play with only one disc, but hard-core players often carry a selection of discs in shoulder bags.
Because the game can be played on the fringes of parks, courses can be installed without disturbing playgrounds or soccer fields. Players welcome the challenge of obstacles such as trees and creeks.
"It has really opened up a whole part of the park system that wasn't being used before," said Caroline Sherman, Public Improvement District 6 manager in north Fort Worth, where an 18-hole course opened this year at Arcadia Park. "Until now, I don't think people went down to the creeks very much, except industrious boys."
Free, physical, fun
Roger Villarreal of Burleson began playing 15 years ago. He was drawn to the game because it was affordable — most courses are free. He usually plays at Bicentennial Park in Crowley but recently played at Bear Creek Park in Grapevine. He and co-workers at an air-conditioning company keep discs in their truck so they can squeeze in a round between jobs.
"Me and my whole family play," Villarreal said, "and it's almost too tough to get around a course because it's busy on the weekends."
Several disc golf pros live in the area and travel to tournaments across the U.S. But the real future of disc golf is as family recreation, said Joe Walker, an assistant professor of kinesiology, health and recreation at the University of North Texas.
"It's one of those activities that motivates you to keep moving," said Walker, who has designed several courses. "It's moderate walking, not high-end physical activity. It's a great game. It's social."
Aaron Cerpanya, a medical supply salesman from Grapevine, took up the game two months ago.
"It's great just being outside," he said on a recent sticky-hot afternoon. "While some friends of mine were having a baby shower, the guys got together and went to a disc golf course in Arlington, and ever since then we've been playing once or twice a week."
Gaining momentum
An 18-hole course with top-of-the-line baskets and concrete tee pads can be installed for about $20,000, and minimally maintained for 20 years, Walker said.
"Including maintenance, you're paying $2,000 to $4,000 a year for something that could easily average 10,000 users a year," Walker said.
By comparison, water features and other popular park attractions can cost millions of dollars upfront, and require extensive long-term maintenance — not to mention safety and health inspections.
Today, only 4 percent of parks nationwide have a disc golf course. But within two decades, Walker believes, 20 percent of parks will have them. The main limitation is space; at least 5 acres is needed for a small course.
Few complaints
Traffic tends to increase around parks where disc golf courses are installed, which occasionally draws complaints.
In Grapevine, disc golf players say police routinely patrol the park in search of illegal alcohol containers.
At Arcadia Park in far north Fort Worth, new trash cans have been installed to reduce litter.
But there aren't enough complaints to cause concern, said Sherman, the public improvement district manager.
"At the start, it was the people in the neighborhood just becoming accustomed to the fact that there were more people in the park area," Sherman said. "One person who initially wasn't very happy about it wrote me an e-mail two months later and said he had bought discs and was giving it a try."
Among players, the biggest problem is the need for more area courses.
Brian Mace of Arlington recently stopped touring as a disc golf pro. But the businessman and light-show producer still plays disc golf for fun.
Asked why he thought a flying disc can be mesmerizing, Mace replied: "You can't make your body fly like that. You can't propel your body from here to there in that manner. But you can throw a disc that flies through the air and bounces and rolls."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All about disc golf Disc golf evolved in the 1970s, about 20 years after the Frisbee exploded onto the pop culture scene.
"Steady Ed" Headrick, a Wham-O toy researcher in California, is credited with inventing disc golf. He created the first basket target and perfected the Frisbee design. When Headrick died in 2002, his ashes were injected into a limited edition of discs, which were given to his family and sold for charity.
There are more than 2,500 disc golf courses in the U.S., and 10 million people have tried disc golf.
Swedish player Christian Sandstrom threw a disc 820 feet during a 2002 California event. Women's champ Valarie Jenkins of Ohio threw a disc 485 feet this year in Nevada. Amateurs typically throw 150 to 250 feet.
Online: pdga.com; discgolfassoc.com; wfdf.org, womensdiscgolfassociation.com
Sources: Disc Golf Association, Professional Disc Golf Association, World Flying Disc Federation
It's one of those activities that motivates you to keep moving."
Joe Walker,
assistant professor at the University of North Texas
Disc golf — inexpensive, physical and fun
By GORDON DICKSON [email protected]
Disc golfers play for exercise, the thrill of an outdoor challenge or simply to experience the magic of a saucer in flight.
"You have to figure out each throw. You have to figure the wind, and the different obstacles such as trees and the weight of each disc," said Michael Wagenknecht, 29, of Keller, who often plays at Arcadia Park in north Fort Worth with 2-year-old son Logan. "And you also have to try to avoid losing your discs."
Whatever the reasons, the popularity of disc golf, or Frisbee golf, is growing like a weed — a fitting analogy for a game in which players often search for discs in the unmowed fringes of North Texas parks.
The object, much like regular golf, is to hit a target in as few shots as possible. The game has been around since the 1970s, when a Wham-O toy researcher created a pole-mounted metal basket for Frisbee tossers. But until a few years ago, there weren't many places in the Metroplex to play.
Now, parks and recreation officials in many cities are finding that installing disc golf courses is a relatively inexpensive way to increase foot traffic in green spaces.
The game appeals not only to its traditional college-age demographic — or those who dream of someday joining the pro disc golf circuit (yes, there is one) — but also seniors and families with young children.
At least 11 courses are now open in Tarrant County. One is under construction at Gateway Park in east Fort Worth. There are also courses in Denton and Weatherford.
This year, several area sporting goods stores began prominently displaying discs of various sizes and colors, selling for $5 to $15 each. Beginners may play with only one disc, but hard-core players often carry a selection of discs in shoulder bags.
Because the game can be played on the fringes of parks, courses can be installed without disturbing playgrounds or soccer fields. Players welcome the challenge of obstacles such as trees and creeks.
"It has really opened up a whole part of the park system that wasn't being used before," said Caroline Sherman, Public Improvement District 6 manager in north Fort Worth, where an 18-hole course opened this year at Arcadia Park. "Until now, I don't think people went down to the creeks very much, except industrious boys."
Free, physical, fun
Roger Villarreal of Burleson began playing 15 years ago. He was drawn to the game because it was affordable — most courses are free. He usually plays at Bicentennial Park in Crowley but recently played at Bear Creek Park in Grapevine. He and co-workers at an air-conditioning company keep discs in their truck so they can squeeze in a round between jobs.
"Me and my whole family play," Villarreal said, "and it's almost too tough to get around a course because it's busy on the weekends."
Several disc golf pros live in the area and travel to tournaments across the U.S. But the real future of disc golf is as family recreation, said Joe Walker, an assistant professor of kinesiology, health and recreation at the University of North Texas.
"It's one of those activities that motivates you to keep moving," said Walker, who has designed several courses. "It's moderate walking, not high-end physical activity. It's a great game. It's social."
Aaron Cerpanya, a medical supply salesman from Grapevine, took up the game two months ago.
"It's great just being outside," he said on a recent sticky-hot afternoon. "While some friends of mine were having a baby shower, the guys got together and went to a disc golf course in Arlington, and ever since then we've been playing once or twice a week."
Gaining momentum
An 18-hole course with top-of-the-line baskets and concrete tee pads can be installed for about $20,000, and minimally maintained for 20 years, Walker said.
"Including maintenance, you're paying $2,000 to $4,000 a year for something that could easily average 10,000 users a year," Walker said.
By comparison, water features and other popular park attractions can cost millions of dollars upfront, and require extensive long-term maintenance — not to mention safety and health inspections.
Today, only 4 percent of parks nationwide have a disc golf course. But within two decades, Walker believes, 20 percent of parks will have them. The main limitation is space; at least 5 acres is needed for a small course.
Few complaints
Traffic tends to increase around parks where disc golf courses are installed, which occasionally draws complaints.
In Grapevine, disc golf players say police routinely patrol the park in search of illegal alcohol containers.
At Arcadia Park in far north Fort Worth, new trash cans have been installed to reduce litter.
But there aren't enough complaints to cause concern, said Sherman, the public improvement district manager.
"At the start, it was the people in the neighborhood just becoming accustomed to the fact that there were more people in the park area," Sherman said. "One person who initially wasn't very happy about it wrote me an e-mail two months later and said he had bought discs and was giving it a try."
Among players, the biggest problem is the need for more area courses.
Brian Mace of Arlington recently stopped touring as a disc golf pro. But the businessman and light-show producer still plays disc golf for fun.
Asked why he thought a flying disc can be mesmerizing, Mace replied: "You can't make your body fly like that. You can't propel your body from here to there in that manner. But you can throw a disc that flies through the air and bounces and rolls."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All about disc golf Disc golf evolved in the 1970s, about 20 years after the Frisbee exploded onto the pop culture scene.
"Steady Ed" Headrick, a Wham-O toy researcher in California, is credited with inventing disc golf. He created the first basket target and perfected the Frisbee design. When Headrick died in 2002, his ashes were injected into a limited edition of discs, which were given to his family and sold for charity.
There are more than 2,500 disc golf courses in the U.S., and 10 million people have tried disc golf.
Swedish player Christian Sandstrom threw a disc 820 feet during a 2002 California event. Women's champ Valarie Jenkins of Ohio threw a disc 485 feet this year in Nevada. Amateurs typically throw 150 to 250 feet.
Online: pdga.com; discgolfassoc.com; wfdf.org, womensdiscgolfassociation.com
Sources: Disc Golf Association, Professional Disc Golf Association, World Flying Disc Federation
It's one of those activities that motivates you to keep moving."
Joe Walker,
assistant professor at the University of North Texas
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