For the love of the sport. A place for DG enthusiasts to share their thoughts.

Uncategorized

George Smith Earns 10th Win at 31st Annual Mid America Open

Posted by mleefry


Instead of starting my post with a typical excuse for not blogging in so long, let’s be real. Life got crazy and I was experiencing some disc golf burnout. Since my last post, I earned two college degrees and started my first full time job. Clearly disc golf has taken a back seat.

But now that I’m settling back into “normal life” with a “normal routine” I see everything really connecting back to the sport. It is my stress reliever and my social life. It promotes the values I want to uphold in my career at the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: accessibility, fairness, health, and community. It’s an activity I can share with my boyfriend. It makes me think. And, most of all, I’ve gotten some pretty badass disc golf stories in my neighborhood lately.

Stories like this one I put together to send out to my local media have helped me to rediscover my love for the game. I hope this inspires you to pick up your bag and play this week, and that your feedback will get me out myself!

(Some alterations to this press release were made to fit the disc golf audience. If YOUR club needs help building relationships with your local media, let us know! I’m happy to provide guidance, and if there is interest, write about best practices or develop press templates for disc golf events. I’ll post links to press coverage here if the release is successful!)

Last weekend marked the 31st Annual Mid America Open disc golf tournament presented by the Columbia Disc Golf Club, Dynamic Discs, and Columbia Parks and Recreation. The event included a doubles event on Friday and a three-round tournament on Saturday and Sunday at Albert-Oakland and Indian Hills Parks. The tournament included 123 players from Missouri, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.

George Smith, 44, of Columbia earned his tenth Mid America Open title with a score of -52 for the weekend. His Saturday afternoon round on the Albert-Oakland Top Course was 13 under par and rated 1087 (yeah, that’s not a typo). It was the highest rated round of his career to date. Smith began playing disc golf in 1984 at the Albert-Oakland Top Course, the only course in Columbia at the time. He has since traveled internationally as a professional disc golf player, his tour including tournaments in Japan and Finland. In addition to his tournament win, Smith also won the Friday doubles tournament along with Grant Hodges of Columbia, MO.

The weekend’s winners also included: Andrea Meyers (Jonesboro, AR), Open Women; Keith Amerson (Columbia, MO), Open Masters; Justin McCain (Joelton, TN), Advanced Amateur; Gary Harvey (Roeland Park, KS), Advanced Masters; Paul Morrison aka Mo Louis (Columbia, MO), Advanced Grandmasters; Justin Neudecker (Alton, IL), Intermediate; Mariah Flagg (Camdenton, MO), Intermediate Women; Scott Foreman (Columbia, MO), Recreational; Beth Aubuchon (Columbia, MO), Recreational Women; Jack Lowen (Blue Springs, MO), Juniors Under 13 Boys; and Cynthia Riocciotti (Columbia, MO), Juniors Under 13 Girls.

Tournament competitor lands a disc in the basket during the Ring of Fire

Tournament competitor lands a disc in the basket during the Ring of Fire

Smith putting during the Final Nine Sunday afternoon at Albert-Oakland Park

Smith putting during the Final Nine Sunday afternoon at Albert-Oakland Park

Smith finishes a hole during the Final Nine as a gallery watches from across a pond

Smith finishes a hole during the Final Nine as a gallery watches from across a pond

Paul Morrison aka Mo Louis, radio personality from 102.3 KBXR, celebrates his win over the Advanced Grandmasters division during the awards ceremony Sunday evening

Paul Morrison aka Mo Louis, radio personality from 102.3 KBXR, celebrates his win over the Advanced Grandmasters division during the awards ceremony Sunday evening

Smith and his trophy following the awards ceremony

Smith and his trophy following the awards ceremony

Smith and Jack Lowen, Junior Under 13 Boys winner, with their trophies following the awards ceremony

Smith and Jack Lowen, Junior Under 13 Boys winner, with their trophies following the awards ceremony


Remembering Dogleg Destin

Posted by randomtiz


Hello Dogleg Community,
Unfortunately I have some sad news to share. This is not going to be my typical, lighthearted or pun-filled style of post. It is a tribute, a special dedication, to Destin Walch who passed away this past weekend. Destin was a very close, personal friend of mine and fellow Doglegger to the blog. Allow me to share some of my memories as we take a moment to remember Destin.

It was around 10am this past Saturday morning (Nov. 1) that I received a phone call from the wife of a very close, dear friend of mine. The type of call you never want to receive. She told me that Destin didn’t make it—that he had passed a few hours earlier. I got very quiet, I could barely speak. I lost it. I could not believe what I was hearing—no, not Destin, surely this couldn’t be happening right now. It did and I took the news very very hard.. He had finally succumbed to his 6-month fight with liver failure.

Destin was truly a character. He had such an outgoing, friendly personality—the type of person that you enjoyed being around. He had a sense of humor about him that always kept it interesting out on the course. Destin and I first met a little over two years ago stumbling across our blog while searching for disc golf app reviews. He joined the Dogleg crew back in October 2012 and became one of our top bloggers. I remember him talking about how excited he was to find out that we were actually headquartered right down the road from where he was living. Destin had moved down here to GA from Michigan for chiropractic school a few years earlier. I still remember that day I first met Destin in person. It was back on October 3, 2012 at Oregon Park Disc Golf Course where we’d first met up to throw a round. I remember how excited he was to finally meet up with us. He had the biggest smile on his face when he got out of the car and, haha, literally ran up to shake my hand. We had a really good round of disc golf accompanied with good talks. I knew from that moment on that we were going to get along well and be good friends. He was as obsessed with disc golf at the time as I was–and that was pretty awesome.

destinthrow

Destin had a love for the game. He loved talking about disc golf; loved writing about it. The passion that drew him to Dogleg and lead him to write posts for us here at DoglegDiscGolf.com. Destin really helped me grow the Dogleg brand and blog these past two years–especially here locally. He had a passion for writing tutorials for frolfers new-to-the-game, disc reviews, and interesting articles relevant to the physics of disc golf. He helped make several connections to a few larger disc manufacturers and loved reviewing discs they would send us. I went to visit Destin the first time he was admitted to the hospital in late April/May. He had just gotten the then-unreleased Vibram Four20 driver in the mail a week or so earlier. Due to his illness he had not had a chance yet to toss it so he gave it to me to try it out. He would not know that he would never get that chance to ever throw it. That disc would also become the last one he ever gave to me. It has so much more meaning to me now–I’ve already retired it.

Even in the two short years I knew Destin, he quickly became one of my closest friends I had made (outside of work) since living here in Georgia. Our friendship grew with a shared passion for disc golf, determined to help grow the sport, the blog, and welcoming any new friends to the game. Destin always jumped at the opportunity to go play disc golf after work and school. Whenever I wanted to check out a new course in the area that I hadn’t played before, he was my go-to guy to call because he rarely turned down an opportunity. He and I both liked buying old discs and trading them or giving them to friends that were new to the sport to get them started. I remember one time we were out at Perkerson Park DGC in Atlanta and met up with this guy that played alongside us. That guy was fairly new to the sport and I remember Destin giving him one of his extra bags to carry his discs in after we finished the round. He was just like that. He liked telling people about Dogleg and the blog and always coming up with ideas on how to expand it. He was such a fun guy to be around—the kind of guy that always made you laugh when he was around.

We were very competitive when we played disc golf together. At the time we met, neither one of us had gotten our first Aces yet. Every time we’d go out to play, we were determined that this would be the round. With several close ones brushing the chains, we got to where we started filming all of our throws for every short hole we played—you know, just in case we hit that first Ace.. We wanted it on film. Although Destin never got his Ace here on Earth, I like to think that he’s clanging those Aces up there. I hope—at the very least—he’s playing disc golf everyday. He was an Ace in my book, a great friend.

Aside from disc golf, Destin loved music and flyfishing as well. We talked fishing a lot and had mentioned plans about putting together a flyfishing trip. We were even planning a trip this fall with our wives to go up to my grandparent’s lakehouse to fish all weekend.. Destin shared his birthday date with my wife and I’s anniversary as well. I had invited Destin and his wife to our wedding and even thought it was on his birthday, we were very excited that they came. I remember Destin having such a good time there that night. Haha I remember him literally taking my camera and laying on the floor taking pictures and videos of the events. I guess you could say he became our unofficial wedding photographer for the night. If it wasn’t for Destin, we wouldn’t have any video from our wedding.. He took that job upon him out of the kindness of his heart.

Destin had been battling liver failure since the end of April and had been in/out of the hospital a few times during that span. He first told me that he’d been admitted on my 30th birthday. It was a few days later that I was actually able to visit him while he was there. It was hard to see him like that—in so much pain. He was very weak but I was glad I got to see him and talk to him. He had a tough time gaining enough strength and energy the first time he got out of the hospital. It was months before he was able to get back on the course again. And even at that, he could only play a few holes before he’d get too weak and have to stop. We played disc golf only a few times since that first stint, but never able to complete a full round. On August 13, a few friends and I met Destin up at Legacy Park after work for a round. ..That would ultimately be the last time Destin ever got to play disc golf…

He had some more complications a few weeks later and was put back into the hospital the first week of September. He was there over a month before taking a turn for the worst two weeks ago and went into a coma. Just the weekend before they’d moved him out of the ICU down to a normal room. But late that Sunday they found bleeding in his stomach and it didn’t improve any all week. He hadn’t really been able to speak and had to have a trach put in at one point. For awhile he was too weak to speak and could only communicate by writing on a board. He did get to where he could mouth words. His wife told me that last Thursday that he knew he was going, it was time. That he wasn’t scared. That he was ready…

539641_10200279499860435_63968251_n Full of life, that kid. He was much too young. He saw his 27th birthday in the hospital. He truly will be missed and will be thought of every time I hit the course. I would like to think he’s up there watching down, helping my game or either making fun of every tree I hit on a drive. I lost two friends back in high school (over a decade ago), but never a friend as close as Destin.

Later that Saturday that I received the news, I went out on the course here at Legacy Park (last course Destin would’ve played) to reflect on the good times we had. A solo round. Destin sure was a talker, especially when we played. I miss all the good conversations we used to have. This round was extremely quiet though—it was a hard round to make it through. But I knew if he was here and well, he would’ve been out there with me; in search of that Ace. That next day, Sunday, some mutual disc golf friends of mine and Destin’s went out to Oregon Park (first course Destin and I ever played together) and joined me for a Memoriam round for Destin. It was a good time talking to one another and sharing the memories we had of Destin. I felt like he was there with us.

unnamed-3b
Hole #9 at Legacy Park DGC. This is the hole that Destin and I used to pretty much empty our entire bags—throwing every disc—in hopes for an Ace. In honor of Destin, I emptied half my bag trying for an Ace later that Saturday.

unnamed-2b
Hole #18 at Legacy Park DGC. After finishing 18 holes, I sat on the creek bank and reflected on the memories and good times we’d had in the two very short years we knew one another.

This has been a really hard week on me..it’s taken me all week to get something going. I’ve been fairly quiet online all week for those of you that follow me on some of my other personal social media accounts.. It’s been more of a reflection this past week and realizing how much we actually take for granted. How short a time we actually have on this Earth. How little time we actually have to make the most of our life. Take nothing for granted. Take a moment, look around, absorb how beautiful nature really is. Enjoy every single breath and moment of life, because no one’s guaranteed tomorrow. It can come and go so fast. Create memories that will last a lifetime—that people will remember you by—a legacy. In the short time I had to know Destin, he did just that. How will people remember you?

-jt

To read some of Destin’s blog posts here on Dogleg, click here.


JT & Destin — Walk up to #9 at Wills Park DGC.

JT & Destin — Walk up to #9 at Wills Park DGC.

the blog: doglegdiscgolf.com
follow us on twitter: twitter.com/doglegdiscgolf
like us on facebook: facebook.com/doglegdiscgolf
subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/doglegdiscgolf
join us on google+: dogleg google+


Fred the Disc Golf Dog

Posted by randomtiz


Happy Hump Day! I know personally it has been awhile since my last post and a new post was due from me. I’ve been pretty tied up the past few months with my brother’s wedding, selling and buying a house, moving, and have been out of the country for over a week to the Dominican for my wife and I’s 1-year anniversary!

I was sent this video earlier today and it made me smile =). So I wanted to take a moment and share with you guys “Fred the Disc Golf Dog”. Cute story if I say so myself—especially if you’re a dog lover. This video was shot at Hornings Hideout DGC in Portland, Oregon by a cinematographer duo called Chibi Moku who travels the country in an RV and films their crazy adventures.

Meet disc golfer Jaslyn Cincotta and her loyal disc golfer companion, Fred. Fred, an energetic stray puppy that latched onto Jaslyn one day and the companionship soon followed.

“He came and sat at my feet and just looked me in the eyes with these cutest expression in the world. And I…realized in that moment that…that this dog had picked me. And I had a dog now.”

Fred loves tagging along with Jaslyn as she goes to play disc golf and even tracks your thrown disc! How awesome would that be to have a dog like Fred?! Imagine never losing a disc in the woods or to thick brush again because your dog follows your thrown disc and leads you to where it landed. He even knows the course!

Tell us what you think of the video and feel free to share if you like!
-jt


Review: ROA Tournament Bag by FOSSA Disc Golf

Posted by mleefry


One of my favorite things about disc golf is witnessing innovation that comes along with a growing sport. Nothing makes me more optimistic about disc golf than listening to people like DGnomad founder Jeff Gradinger or Legends World Champion and founder of Hott Shotts Pete May as they discuss their creative ideas for making disc golf a household name. A few months ago, I had the pleasure of playing a round with Parker Asay, one of the dedicated idea guys behind FOSSA Disc Golf, a new LLC based out of Springfield, Mo. Southern Missouri may be a surprising home for disc golf growth. In addition to FOSSA, Springfield is home to the first ever disc golf course in Missouri, as well as Disc Golf Monkey, a retailer known mostly for their colorful and heavy-duty Monkey Trap baskets. The Journey Post shop and Treehouz course, home of the Journey Post First Stop, is located just south of Springfield.

Needless to say, it’s not surprising to see a product like the ROA Tournament Bag come from this area.

The ROA Tournament Bag is comparable to the Innova DISCarrier. It holds 25+ discs, has several pockets and three dividers for organized storage, and an end pocket for putters. The bag is made of 600D PVC coated nylon; for those like me who know nothing about textiles, this translates to “waterproof and super durable.”

FOSSA

This being my first opportunity to really review a disc golf bag, I was surprised at how detail-oriented Asay was. He pointed out to me how the seams were stitched in such a way to add to the bag’s durability. On the lowest part of the back of the ROA, there are Velcro loops to secure a golf umbrella. FOSSA’s website is serious when the claim is made that they’re “committed to making products that are perfect for the everyday golfer.” Throughout our round, he continued to ask for my feedback and the feedback from others on the course in order to improve the product.

Even the name of the bag is clever and shows their dedication to perfection. The company’s name, FOSSA, is the name of the cat-like top predator of Madagascar. “Roa” is the Malagasy word meaning “two,” because FOSSA’s initial bag design underwent so many improvements that this bag became the second.

Now, the part you’ve all been waiting for…let’s talk money. The FOSSA bag retails for $59.99. Yes, that is not a typo. Not a sale price. $59.99. For comparison, the Innova DISCarrier is $79.99 on their website.

But it takes more than price to determine if a product is the right fit. As fascinated as I am by the FOSSA bag, I know that it would not yet be the best bag for me. As a beginning disc golfer, I carry 13 discs on average, which only makes up half of the ROA Tournament Bag’s disc storage. In order for the bag to not sink in the middle, I had to add extra discs for the round. That being said, having too much storage is typically not an avid disc golfer’s problem. For anyone who carries enough discs and is not ready to make the financial commitment to a backpack bag (like the Grip A14, which runs $259), the ROA is definitely the way to go. I would also recommend upgrading the bag with backpack straps to add a little more comfort and support—I used the ROA strap for 9 holes and my Phoenix straps for the other 9 for the sake of testing both out.

For more information or to order the ROA Tournament Bag, check out FOSSA’s website http://fossadiscgolf.com, like them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fossadiscgolf, or ask your local disc golf retailer.


My Intro to the Dogleg crew!

Posted by Tricia Lafferty


Hey there fellow discers!

I would first like to say how incredibly excited I am to be chosen to contribute to Dogleg Disc Golf’s blog! I figured for my first blog I would tell you a little about me, and how I got started playing disc golf. My name is Tricia Lafferty and I live in a small “village” in Pennsylvania called Hawk Run (population 534), and I am 35 years old. I am currently in college, and work part time from home doing customer service and support online.  I’ve always enjoyed doing anything outdoors: fishing, hiking, kayaking, and traveling.  Since my work life involves sitting inside, when I am done, all I want to do is go outside!

In comparison to most of you, I have only been playing disc golf for a short amount of time, just about 2 years now. So how did I hear about disc golf? Believe it or not, from playing the Nintendo Wii. Wii Sports Resort has “Frisbee Golf” on it, and it was one of my favorite games. My friends and I would get together to play games, and we often would have Wii Tournaments, and Frisbee Golf was one of our favorites. After awhile, I started to wonder if it was actually a “real thing” and how in the heck would that work since in the game you’re just aiming at a lighted circle that is on the ground extending upwards.

I went to Dick’s Sporting Goods one day looking for kayak paddle leashes and just happened to walk by an endcap that had Innova Starter Packs and some discs. No way! It WAS a real thing! Being familiar with the Wii game I looked over the discs and wondered now where to play and how. Luckily, they had a print out of nearby courses, and wouldn’t you know it, one was about 10 minutes from the store! I picked up the starter pack and in my excitement, forgot about the paddle leashes. I headed out to the course. I walked up towards the tee pad with my new discs in hand ready to play! I looked at the course bulletin board, and read over the rules, now I was REALLY ready to go!

My first throw was definitely not what I expected. The Leopard was the driver in the pack. I put it in my hand and couldn’t really figure out how to hold it. I did my best “beach frisbee” grip and threw it. It went about 30 feet, hooked left and dove into the ground. Hole 1 at this course is a par 3, 210 foot mostly straight hole. I think it may have taken me 6 or 8 throws to get close to the basket. Well, this was an interesting looking device. I could see how it would literally “catch” the disc out of the air. I was probably close to the basket and missed, but then it happened, the ring of the chains. In that one moment, it didn’t matter how many throws it took to get to the basket, that ring meant success. I wanted to hear more of that for sure. I completed the 9 holes at this course and was definitely tired, but knew I wanted to play again.

This is how the addiction started. I’m sure many of you have a similar story. There is just something about hearing the sound of the chains for the first time that rings into your soul. You’re in it for life. Now at this point, I think I am playing 3-5 days a week now that Spring has finally sprung around here.

Fun fact: at the same course today – I threw a beautiful S shot on Hole 1 and clinked the bottom pole.


Welcoming New Players: A Short Guide

Posted by destinjames


Last night I went to a friend’s BBQ party, and  three interesting things happened: I broke up a dogfight (wow, that was crazy), afterwards someone said ‘frolf’ during a conversation, and then lastly someone else said ‘frolf’ again within the same hour.

Even though the dogfight was crazy and gave me minor injuries and quite the adrenaline rush, the use of the word ‘frolf’ captured my attention the most, and it got me thinking…

The sport of Disc Golf is still growing, but there are a lot of players that don’t understand how truly amazing Disc Golf is.

Here is my short guide to welcoming new players to the wonderful sport of Disc Golf.

#1

Be convincing that’s it’s worth their time. Take them to a scenic and/or relatively flat course – it will be more playable and enjoyable for a beginner.

I personally recommend buying them a beer (21 and over of course!) before the round, or buy/give them a disc… It will have more impact on whether they play again or not.

#2

 A new player will always ask, “What’s the best disc to use?” and you should give options – and in my years of playing, you should always say “mid-range” and a recommendation. Once they have played, they will find a certain disc that fits their hand and throwing style.

#3

 Give them a crash-course on the physics of how a golf disc flies. Teach them what understable, overstable, and stable is. I recommend throwing a couple discs from your bag to demonstrate – also, let them know about thumbing (thumber) and tomahawking. For right-handed throwers, thumbing will make the disc curve to the left, and opposite for tomahawks.

 #4

ALWAYS be courteous. A lot of new players take a while to learn and straighten their throw, make sure you’re quiet and patient during throws and be positive towards them no matter how far they go off course – and congratulate them on successful fairway drives!

This wonderful sport still needs a lot of players. If you play, don’t be afraid to invite a friend you think might like hitting chains for the first time – chances are, they wanted to hang out and have a great time outside anyway.

Lots of Chain Noise,

 😀estin


Ladies Only!

Posted by mleefry


Hey Dogleggers!  I apologize for getting so behind on my coverage of Worlds this week.  I often convince myself that I’m going to have tons of free time when I travel.  I somehow managed to forget that, since I planned on attending the majority of the events going on in Emporia, the rest of my time would have to be used for catching up on rest!  That being said, I will be catching up on my posts over the next couple of days.  I have coverage of the Player’s Party, Night Ace Race, an interview with Pete May, and an overall review of the event coming to you soon!

Now, on to the ladies-only event!

More than 30 ladies made it out to the Emporia Country Club on Wednesday night to compete for TONS of prizes in a ring of fire.  Miranda Fulton put on this great event, and was assisted by the adorable Haley, who was in charge of yelling out “1, 2, 3, FIRE!”

Image

As if a bunch of disc golf girls getting together to putt wasn’t fun enough, Miranda switched it up on us.  Some rings were reserved for juniors or required use of forehand putting.  Others required us to stand backward, or to “butt putt” by throwing the disc backward between our legs!

Image

At an event where so many female disc golfers travel from so far away, it was really great to come together to be reminded that so many of us share the same passion for disc golf and growing the presence of women in our sport!  I hope to see events like this at more tournaments in the future!

 

PS:  I forgot to mention–every lady at the event got an awesome umbrella straw, even if they didn’t win!  It was definitely a fun way to show off and start a conversation with others after the fact!  GREAT idea!


A Couple Hours With Two of The Best

Posted by destinjames


Just as I usually do, I found out about something very cool last minute and by accident.

Two of the best disc golfers in the world: Will Schusterick & Paige Pierce hosted a clinic at Oregon Park near Dallas, GA last night, and it was fantastic! The majority of their training wasn’t new to anyone there (grips, stances, etc.), but it was nice to ask true professionals questions that you can’t ask just anyone.

Image

Will was able to help me with my up-shot wrist work with tremendous results. My wrist was too tight, and he fixed it. That’s something I could have not learned without a real face to face training session.

Paige was also able to help me and many correct their distant putting by focusing on follow-through. I was much more accurate at about 40 feet after Paige demonstrated techniques. 

Image

I think one of the best times of the evening is getting the Dogleg shirt signed!

Image

Overall it was great to support the local disc golf scene and two of the best disc golfers out there. Will and Paige are truly great people with a lot of class. Make sure you root for them this weekend for The Hall of Fame Classic here in GA!


Course Guide: Treehouz, Ridgedale, MO

Posted by mleefry


Image

Doglegger Emily by 19’s basket at Treehouz

Image

Some of the houses at Treehouz, including a treehouse, the Journey Post, and the trophies for Journey Post’s First Stop. 

About three weeks ago I made my first visit to Branson Cedars Resort, home of Treehouz Disc Golf Course and The Journey Post.  The occasion was Journey Post’s First Stop Presented by Prodigy Discs.  I chose not to play in the tournament for a few reasons, including the difficulty/length of the course, which I think was a good decision at the time.  I’ll be ready for it before I know it though!  Anyway, since I didn’t get to play very many of the holes myself, my analysis is based mostly on observation of the Advanced division players, specifically my boyfriend Adam Morrison, and our friend Brad Bullerdieck from Columbia.  I also had the pleasure of following the Advanced Grandmasters card for a few holes, and of watching the Pros from afar!

Image

Will Schusterick putting on Hole 16. Paige Pierce throwing a warm up drive on Hole 18.

Image

Ring of Fire on Hole 19 during the First Stop 

So, a little background on the course.  Treehouz is located in Ridgedale, Missouri, between Branson and the border to Arkansas.  Its 19-hole course’s par is 60, and is a total of 7,407 feet in length.  The course uses DISCatcher baskets and has multiple tees and placements on some holes.  Treehouz is pay-to-play: $5 per person for a full day.

Journey Post owner Jaysin Smith designed Treehouz in 2012.  Smith said his vision while designing was to create a, “championship level course with a lot of elevation change and a mixture of wooded holes, open holes, and hazard holes; as well as long and short holes.”  When asked what other courses inspired him, he referred to Sioux Passage in St. Louis and Hole 1 on Water Works in Kansas City, in terms of their length and elevation changes.  (These courses are particularly iconic for Missourians.)  He also wanted to incorporate the difficulty of water hazards as seen at Fountain Hills in Arizona.  After seeing this course, I’d say this course definitely lives up to his expectations.  As if this isn’t enough, the resort is considering adding more holes, pin placements, and tee pads to make the course larger and more accessible for players of all skill levels.

Just for comparing holes and getting a sense of direction, check out this map of the course from Disc Golf Course Review:  http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course_files/5830/993ec582.pdf

Now that we have the basics out of the way, let’s get to the pictures!

 Image

1.  Your disc’s placement in the fairway is critical to playing this hole well.  If your disc lands too far to the left, or too short or long, you have to make a difficult upshot down to the basket on slanted ground.  If it is too far right, you end up in the woods.  Even worse, I saw a few players land their discs in the fairway, but they ended up rolling into the valley on the right!

 Image

2.  Knowing how your discs behave in the wind and with large elevation changes helps significantly on this hole.  It’s challenging from both tees.  The view definitely makes it one of the favorite and most iconic holes on the course.

 Image

3.  Beware of this hole’s water hazard, sloped terrain, and tree placement.  Although this is one of the shorter holes on this course at 337’, it can be deceivingly difficult.

 Image

4.  This hole is all about placement.  With the water hazard so close to the end of the hole, you must decide from the tee where you think you’ll have the most success with an upshot.  Landing near the water’s edge gives you a straight shot at the basket, but possibly an intimidating putt toward the water.  Landing to the right (the path is not OB) is more technical with the trees and the slope, and may lead to a more difficult hyzer upshot because of the possibility of skipping toward the water.  However, this positioning will probably allow you to land you closer to the basket and prevent you from putting toward water.

 Image

5.  You wouldn’t know it from the tee sign alone, but it’s obvious what the challenge is from seeing the terrain of this hole.  Be sure to know how your disc flies and how it lands—or you’ll be rolling down the hill!

 Image

6.  This hole’s hard turn to the left is sharper than it appears from the tee—the sign gives insight into the degree to which your flight path should curve.  If you’re too narrow, you’ll hit the trees to the left.  If you’re too wide, it may hit the trees and not come back in bounds.  Trees surround the basket, and the green slopes toward the water.

 Image

7.  This hole combines a water hazard, sloped landing zones, and guardian trees to make it technical.  The lower left picture is of the placement designated by the yellow circle on the right and is represented by the basket on the tee sign illustration.  The lower right picture is of the left placement, which is not shown on the sign.

 Image

7B.   Hole 7B was temporarily used for Journey Post’s First Stop Tournament.  Orange flags on the edge of a putting green designated the tee.  The fairway curves to the right and slopes upward.  Past the curve, trees line the fairway.

 Image

8.  Hole 8 is characterized by its steep uphill fairway and dense trees.  I saw several birdies on this hole during the tournament.  I took a 4 using only a midrange when I snuck this hole in between rounds.

 Image

9.  The slope of this fairway in addition to the trees makes the line of your shot very important.  When preparing to throw, consider how throwing uphill will affect the stability of your disc, and how your disc will roll when it lands.

 Image

10.  The biggest challenge on this hole is the combination of the OB on both sides of the fairway and the trees that surround the basket.  Accuracy in your line is key!

 Image

11.  Hole 11 is also characterized by having OB on both sides of the fairway.  The basket is located on a putting green with a pretty steep hill behind it (the bottom picture is taken from behind).  Be sure your upshot doesn’t roll!

 Image

12.  The gap to hit on this hole is very narrow and makes for a difficult shot (especially for righties).  From the tee, the basket is barely visible, as illustrated in the center photo.  Because you have to step off to the left of the pad, as seen in the far right photo, it can be difficult to judge the angle of the throw.  If you’re unlucky enough to hit a tree or an “invisibranch,” you could be in trouble if your disc decides to roll.  Off to the right of the fairway is a fairly steep hill covered in trees—not a place you want to end up!

 Image

13.  I think the photo for this hole really says it all.  The fairway is pretty narrow with pretty dense trees on both sides and behind the basket.  The ground slopes a bit to the right, but not enough to make a significant difference on how this hole plays out.

 Image

14.  Some call it a fishhook, Adam says it’s a “P” for Prodigy, and I say it’s a question mark for “Where is the basket?” when you’re standing on the tee.  From the tee, the fairway looks like a hallway that goes all the way to the tee for hole 15.  The trees get less dense 200 feet or so down and to the right of the fairway where the basket placement is.  The ground is sloped, so make sure your discs aren’t going to roll!

 Image

15.  I think the tee sign and the photos of this hole really speak for themselves.  I’ll let you figure this one out.

 Image

16.  Because of the OB on the left, righties need to be especially aware of the distance, wind, and the line you’re throwing your disc on.  Knowing that your disc is prone to rolling on this smooth terrain may impact your disc selection!

 Image

17.  This tight shot is especially technical because the fairway is uphill.  This means your disc is going to be more stable.

 Image

18.  In most cases, the OB should not make much of a difference on this hole if your disc goes where you intend.  If you have the arm for it, you’ll want to make sure you get across the valley in the fairway.  The closer you are, the more level you’ll be with the basket.

 Image

19.  My advice for this hole is similar to hole 18.  I would recommend trying these two holes as well as hole 2 out before playing them competitively just to get a feel for how the elevation changes effect how far you are able to throw.  Additionally, you’ll want to get a feel for how your disc acts when it lands on the putting greens.


Blog Update

Posted by randomtiz


Hey guys and gals!

I apologize for the lack of new posts lately here on the blog. For me personally, my last few months have been crazy busy between work, planning of our wedding and designing all of its printed collateral (Life of an engaged designer :)). Six more months til my wedding! I’m very excited about starting this new chapter in my life!

Early weekend mornings I’m still managing to find some free time to slip in a round of DG around everything else going on. My DG Fix! However, it also comes with less time to keep up my share of the posts lately I do realize. Anyways, enough of me.

A couple of things that I wanted to update you all with on Dogleg:

  • Several new posts coming over the next week
  • Prodigy review with vid clips
  • 2 disc golf store reviews
  • JP Moseley Disc Golf Course review
  • Dogleg Fan Page
  • We still have a few Dogleg Tees left! Get ya one!
  • and more!
  • Enough reading for now, you should be out huckin’ plastic on this beautiful day! Hittin’ mid-70s today here in sunny Georgia! Go throw! Life is good.

    -jt


    Fantasy Disc Golf, Anyone?

    Posted by destinjames


    Even though I was never a huge football fan, and I’m still not — especially since getting married, I would enjoy playing Fantasy Football with my friends. It was a way to have a fun connection to the guys and the games every Sunday — a reason to watch.

    Recently I found PlayFantasyDiscGolf.com. It is a simple concept of picking 4 Professional Disc Golfers for events to win, and you earn points if you are correct, and at the end of the season you can win some pretty cool prizes!

    Image

    You can create your own league, or join others. I haven’t analyzed the site all that well yet, but it looks much easier and more inviting than Fantasy Football.

    I want to keep this post short, because there is only 1 day to join a league (or more than one if you want!) and make your first picks for the first tournament this Wednesday, The Memorial.

    visit PlayFantasyDiscGolf.com and check out the rules, the F.A.Q.’s, join and get started!!

    This could be pretty fun!

    Destin

     


    Just an intro to get started.

    Posted by chrissmithspresence


    Honestly, I am a little bit awe struck to actually be writing on Dogleg. My plan is to just go with it and enjoy the ride. I would like to think that writing some of my experiences may help someone out there or possibly encourage them to take a chance and try something new.

    I am going to start with a little bit of background information about myself. My life is not all throwing plastic in the park, even if I would like to pretend that it is. I have actually only been playing disc golf for a few years.

    I was born and raised in the central part of Michigan. I grew up the son of a teacher and thought that everyone had summers off. I was crushed when I got my first “real job” and realized that it lasted all year long. Can you imagine how good you would be if you could really play disc golf all summer?

    I have a tendency to get things in my head and obsess about them relentlessly. The current addiction is disc golf (which helps explain why I am writing this intro). In the past I have been the director of our local youth soccer league along with coaching and reffing for over ten years. I was really into running for a while and even completed a marathon (I am still signed up for an ultra at the end of this summer but I don’t think that it is going to happen). Now I am organizing a disc golf tournament. I will post more about that in upcoming articles.

    When I was a kid, my siblings and I used to play a game that we called frisbee golf. We would pick a tree and see who could hit it with a frisbee in the least number of throws. Then we would throw from that tree to another one. I didn’t know it was a real game. I just figured we had made it up.

    About five years ago, my mom bought my brother and me each a starter set from Innova. I remember wondering why they looked so strange and then going out and playing our old way around my brother’s house with our kids. I found out that there were actual courses and dragged my kids and co-workers around playing with me. Then I found out that we have a local club and they play regular rounds. I played a few rounds with them and I was hooked. I will be starting my third year of league play this year and I am planning to branch out and play a lot more courses this summer.

    I consider myself an average disc golfer. I am really good at my home course and not so good anywhere else. I can throw a 350’ drive standing still but I have no form or accuracy when I move my feet. I know that I need to improve my putting to improve my game but I haven’t committed the time to it yet.

    In researching potential sponsors to donate prizes for my upcoming tournament, I noticed that Dogleg was willing to let people contribute to their site. I feel like I have learned a lot about the sport and organizing a tournament and I would like to share it with anyone willing to read about it. I know that I will continue to learn as I go, until after my tournament is over and I plan to post along the way in the hopes that it will help someone else.

    Well, that’s it… I want to thank Dogleg for the chance to share my thoughts and ideas with their readers. My first post on Dogleg. I promise the next ones will have more information that you can use.


    Our One Disc Challenge

    Posted by randomtiz


    The Intro:
    A few weeks ago fellow Doglegger, Destin, casually mentioned that we should battle in a “one” disc round at one of the local parks sometime soon. I had heard of people playing rounds with one disc before, but just the thought of being limited to only one disc did not sound fun to me. Even though I don’t carry a plethora of discs, I do like having options for different shot types I encounter. I’m always up for a fun, friendly competition so I took Destin up on the challenge.

    What disc should I actually choose?
    I wouldn’t say that there’s one disc in my bag that I would truly consider my all-around go-to disc. I do have a few that I throw often for multiple shot types, but never considered them for every single shot. I figured I could at least choose from some of those as a starting point. I knew we had at least one normal full round before the challenge, so I would take that opportunity to test some of those discs out.

    The Discs:
    Some of the discs I tried out were my beat Innova Leopard, Discraft Zombee (2012 Ace Race disc), Discraft Buzzz, and my new MVP Vector. Here’s my little background history for each of the above mentioned discs:

    Innova DX Leopard (weight = ~171g) – This is the oldest disc that I have. I’ve used this disc for several years now and have carried it in my bag ever since. If you guys have been following my posts, you know that I mention this disc a lot and actually putt with this thing instead of a true putter. From several years of throwing it, I seem to know its exact flight path for approach/putting. I’ll use it for anything under 150. It has become very understable over the years—especially at high speeds, so teeing off with this thing is out of the question. I also use this disc if I’m in the woods and need a good anhyzer disc to get around trees. This beat Leo has a wonderful, big s-curve at short distances when thrown at an anny.

    Discraft Z-line Zombee (weight = 175-176g) – The first time playing with this disc was at my first Ace Race last summer. This 2012 Discraft Ace Race disc was recently named the Zombee. I immediately fell in love with this straight-gliding shooter with small fade at the end. It has a shallow rim and is cupped out making it easier to rest a finger on the outside of the grooved rim. This disc can really hold its line for me when thrown hard enough and finishes with a nice slight fade at the end. The longest approach/putt shot I’ve ever hit was made with this disc a few months ago at around ~125 ft. Still [knock on wood] no Ace to date, but the closest I’ve ever came to one was also with this disc from around ~180 ft that hit the center post and bounced back out of the front of the chains, AHH! During a normal round, this is my go-to midrange for shots 100-230 ft or so. I’ve never teed off with this disc on a hole further than 250, so not sure how well it flies at max potential/speed. I haven’t really found anything I dislike about this disc so far.

    Discraft X Buzzz (weight = 175g) – I’ve heard and read rave reviews on Discraft’s line of Buzzzs, so I just had to get one and try it out. I got a great deal on one off eBay several months back. I’ve heard how well they hold their line and overall how great a midrange disc they are. I will break this disc out every once in awhile, but I’ll be honest and say that I still haven’t quite figured out its best characteristic. Maybe I should just use it more often to really give it a chance. I tend more to use this disc in practice or for ‘gimme’ shots when my game’s not on the line. But with having used that beat Leo and Zombee for most shots under 200, I haven’t found a good enough reason to switch to the Buzzz full-time yet. I am sure it really is a great disc though; I just need more practice with it. It does feel great in-hand and has that solid, sturdy feel to it.

    MVP Vector (weight = 176g) – This is the newest disc in my arsenal and has already found a permanent spot in my bag. For a midrange, I can throw this bad boy further than any other midrange disc I own. I don’t know if you know, but MVP discs supposedly have GYRO™ technology which gives its flight path a more stable/balanced, accurate and consistent glide. The Vector is slightly overstable making it more wind resistance. I was surprised at the results the first day I took this disc to the course, for a midrange. If thrown at a little harder speed, it has a very long glide and little fade at the end. Depending on the type of terrain you’re playing, the Vector’s “grippy” rubber-like edge could prove beneficial. I find this disc to have less of a skip and more of a “magnetic” stop when it hits. It seems to grip better to the ground—great for approaches/putts.

    The Fan Poll:
    These four discs had their advantages and disadvantages on the course that day, so I was still unable to fully commit to any one disc right away. I thought to myself, Do I go with a driver that can get me further distances off the pad, but then suffer on putts because it’s overstable? or Do I go with a midrange and get less tee distance but comes with better chances of sinking approaches and putts? Ahh the decisions. So here’s what I did. I turned to our awesome fanbase (you guys) on both our @DoglegDiscGolf Twitter and Dogleg Facebook and posed the question, “If you had to play a full 18-hole round with only ONE disc, what type of disc would it be?” We received a lot of great response and I want to thank you guys for that! Here’s some of the responses…

    Facebook Feedback:

    Billy T. – Discraft XS
    Trey P. – If the course is long a mid-range, Buzz. If the course is mostly shorter holes I’ve had success throwing my putter.
    Manuel L. – A echo star boss
    Dylan C. – Glow aviar putter!
    Justin A. – MVP vector
    Aaron M. – flat dx roc
    Tommy J. – Valkyrie or a buzzz
    Destin W. – Zombee!! (2012 Ace Race Disc)
    Oscar J. – 173 medium neutron Ion – Yellow Green – my name and number on inside rim.
    Alan M. – Boss 136g
    Robert T. – i would use my trusty discraft buzz
    Jeremiah B. – Definitely a Roc.

    Twitter Feed:

    @WolfPackDiscs – DX viper #innova #discgolf played many one disc challenges with it
    @Restonification – Z Buzz. What else is there?
    @MCW7979 – From what’s in my bag right now, my Star TeeBird.
    @captain_jager – simple that would be a crisp wraith. You can do anything with that disc.
    @BigAppleachia – My Lat64 AirSaint147. Its a driver w/glide does anything a mid can, and putts too! #discgolf
    @Delt_Nikolas – Ti Buzzz. Buttery smooth.

    Challenge Day:
    The challenge day was finally here. This past Saturday, we met up at Oregon Park. It’s early afternoon and the temp’s barely breaking 40 (we live in the South now). Wind conditions looking less than favorable and peaking at 15-20+ mph wind gusts. Not exactly my ideal conditions for a first time, one-disc challenge. But lets do this!

    After all the feedback from our followers, I decided to go with the one disc that received the most votes—the Buzzz. Heck I’ll give it a shot. My choice: 175g Discraft Buzzz, Destin’s choice: 169g Innova Star TL.
    onedisc-both

    For this one-disc round, we moved up to the shorter pads to better our Ace chances with the unruly wind conditions. I think we both had a rough start getting use to just throwing one disc and unsuccessfully controlling its inconsistent flight paths in the wind. Hole #1 was a downhill shot, which was a great way to start any round. Those downhill shots build confidence in your throws when you can easily go yard off the pad. Once we got past the first three holes out in the open, the course takes a turn for the woods. Shielded by tree lines from the wind, I did much better with my drives from there on out. The likeability of the Buzzz was growing on me when the wind no longer became a major factor. I was finally figuring out how to hold it and throw it further and further with a few minor hand adjustments.

    Gotta love Georgia Pines…always making a mess and leaving tight shots. onedisc-OP16

    “Needle”ss to say, it was a tight race throughout the round. Destin was on a high for beating me for the first time ever earlier that morning in a normal round. We were neck and neck until he birdied one late in the round, going one up. Then it came down to the final hole. Uphill into the crosswind. All I needed was a birdie and I could have tied it up…or he bogey..or even double. Nope, he got the best of that wind on that last hole. We both layed up close to the basket leaving for a short par toss each. Well-played Destin, well-played. [Below] Destin acting estactic as he pulled off back-to-back wins that day on me. First for both haha. Besides the wind, had a great day overall. Fun times. I call rematch.

    onedisc-winning

    Feel free to comment below with your One-Disc Challenge experiences and/or your favorite all-around discs. Enjoy! —jt


    follow us on twitter: twitter.com/doglegdiscgolf
    like us on facebook: facebook.com/doglegdiscgolf
    subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/doglegdiscgolf



    Disc Golf Addict

    Posted by alphagenerator


    Found this on a website and thought I would share.

    You Know You’re A Disc Golf Addict When…

    1. You have three or more versions of the same disc.
    2. You are sure the color of the disc affects how it flies.
    3. You have started a Disc Golf Web Page.
    4. When designing your new house, one room on the blueprints is called “Hot Stamp Gallery Room”.
    5. You have ever advertised “Disc Golf Lessons” in a local newspaper.
    6. After playing a course once, you already know how it should be re-designed.
    7. You have ever uttered the following: “I’ll get my disc out of the basket when this lightning dies down.”
    8. Your boss catches you looking for new doglegs to throw around at work.
    9. You have ever bought a pair of shoes specifically for playing Disc Golf in them.
    10. You always carry your Disc Golf bag with you just in case you get some sudden free time.
    11. You have ever petitioned the IOC to make Disc Golf an Olympic Sport.
    12. You have spent more money on Disc Golf supplies than you have on your car.
    13. You have ever bought a disc for specific use on ONE hole.
    14. You accepted a job relocation to another town on the basis that a course was in the area.
    15. Your wife/husband doesn’t let you set the table because you throw the plates.
    16. You can’t stand the thought of not being able to buy just one more disc.
    17. You build a backyard swimming pool to be used only as a water hazard.
    18. If you keep track of your PDGA points.
    19. If you can tell someone your league average off the top of your head.
    20. You can point out a “discin'” callous on your hand.
    21. You called more than one friend when the “frolf” episode of “Seinfeld” aired.
    22. If you have named a pet “Bogie”. “Hyzer”, “Aviar”, or some other disc golf term.
    23. If you have ever thought about trying to build your own basket.
    24. If you have ever hung a disc on the wall and all your friends think it’s cool.
    25. You ever screamed YES! as loud as you can in a public park, then wonder why people are looking at you.
    26. The only quality time you get with your family is when you drag them out to the course to show them your great “S” flight path.
    27. You spend more than 3 hours searching for a lost golf disc.
    28. You have caused at least 3 of your friends to become addicted to the sport as well.
    29. You try to figure out how many golf discs you can buy with your next paycheck.
    30. When you miss a putt and whip out 5 more putters from your bag and throw each of them from the same spot just to prove to your friends that you could have made it.
    31. You go looking around the course to see if you can find any lost discs.
    32. You are swimming in the ocean and someone yells, “Shark!!” and you holler back, “Are you crazy? From this far away??”
    33. You have spent so much money at the course pro shop, they name the course after you.
    34. You beg the course pro to put lights on the course so you can play all night too.
    35. You are golfing by yourself, and you let your “imaginary friends” tee first so you can show them how its done.
    36. You believe that with the right discs firmly grasped in each hand, you could fly.
    37. You have ever talked to your discs while they are in flight.
    38. You buy a membership in a gym, so you can improve your distance.
    39. You have ever called in sick to work on Monday; to play the same course you played Sunday.
    40. If you carry an extra version of a disc in case the first one breaks or gets lost.
    41. You introduce new discs to your other discs.
    42. You are willing to spend $400 a year getting a basket to start a new course but you still have the couch your mother gave you when you moved out.
    43. You throw your approach disc even after a really bad drive, just on principle.
    44. Your PDGA number is also on your car’s license plate.
    45. You skip Monday Night Football to attend a DG meeting.
    46. You decide it is too windy to go snowboarding, and opt to play a round of disc golf instead.
    47. You have ever attended a community meeting on behalf of disc golf.
    48. You have established the par from the water cooler back to your cubical.
    49. You carry copies of DGJ and DGWN everywhere you go so you can validate the sports existence to non-believers.
    50. You get into heated debates about what kind of discs beginners should use and for how long.
    51. You have ever developed a disc golf specific injury.
    52. You practice snapping a disc off at home while watching TV.
    53. You have ever chased down someone else’s dog to get your disc out of its mouth.
    54. You call ball golf…ball golf.
    55. You arrive at a tourney 3 hours from home and promptly spend all your lunch money on new discs.
    56. You have read this entire list!

    Looking Back: 2012 World Championships

    Posted by mleefry


    Although it has been more than 3 years since I was introduced to disc golf, this is the first time I have had the winter disc golf bug.  Today, for example, in Missouri the high temperature was below freezing and there is 2 inches of snow and ice on the ground.   This is not my idea of disc golf weather, especially as a beginner who gets frustrated enough when my discs are dry.

     

    These conditions have left me thinking about disc golf much more than playing.  Mostly I have pondered my favorite disc golf moments from last year, and those I’m looking forward to most this year.  The biggest difference between the two is that now I’m a player, not just a spectator.

     

    Last summer I drove to Charlotte, NC, with my boyfriend and his dad for the 2012 Disc Golf World Championships.  At the time, I hadn’t even played a full 18-hole round of disc golf.  I was coming as a girlfriend, caddy, and camera girl.  From my point of view of as non-player and disc golf spectator of nearly 3 years, here were the top 5 things I loved about 2012 Worlds that I hadn’t seen anywhere else.

     

    5.  Beautiful courses

    Yes, I’ve been to other courses that were pretty (most notably, Diamond X in Billings, MT, and some courses in Des Moines, IA).  However, this was the first time that EVERY course I went to was gorgeous and visually interesting.  On top of simply being nice pieces of land with awesome layouts, they were clean with very little litter.  Despite the heat of the Carolina sun, it was always fulfilling to be outside just to see the courses.

     Image

    4.  Narrow, straight fairways with tall, skinny trees

    When I first started watching disc golf, I thought it was so neat how discs flew in curves and “S” shapes.  It wasn’t long before I realized that discs curve naturally, and it is extremely difficult to throw down a narrow fairway.  Watching drives on the numerous holes with tight hallways simply amazed me, especially because so many were so accurate!

     Image

    3.  Putting for dough

    As the saying goes, “drive for show, putt for dough.”  At such a competitive event with incredibly skilled players, putting was for dough AND show.  Every throw counted, and long putts created more suspense than any drive from the tee.  And, when someone made one, led to more excitement.

     Image

    2.  Watching people of all ages play

    As a 19 year old girl, it is often hard to find other people “like me” at the course.  Spending a week watching the junior divisions gave me a whole new perspective on the sport (even if I mostly followed the boys!).  The disc golf community is so much larger and more diverse than I knew.  It was definitely a shock to see kids ten years younger than me flicking farther than I can throw backhand (still)!

     Image

    1.  Watching other people watch

    As someone who watched disc golf for nearly 3 years before I started playing, it always seemed so odd to me that I was usually the person in a gallery.  The way the discs fly and the relaxed atmosphere of the sport make it such a unique sport to watch.  Seeing so many people with so much interest in watching others play was pretty foreign to me.  It changed my view on the potential of the sport.  Now that the PDGA has announced a partnership with the Emerging Sports Network, the opportunity of having a new role in the disc golf community—spectators—is more possible than ever before.

     Image

    Sitting around, drinking hot tea, and waiting for spring to come is giving me plenty of time to get excited about the upcoming disc golf season.  I haven’t decided how many tournaments I’ll play in or where all I will travel to watch, but I sure hope to get to Emporia, KS and Crown Point, IN to have the Worlds experience again!


    Prodigy 2013 – Founder Phil Arthur Video

    Posted by randomtiz


    I’m sure a lot of you guys may have already seen this video, but wanted to post the link for those that have not. I’m pretty stoked to find out too that their disc manufacturer is based here in Georgia!

    I’ll try my best to get a hold of one of the D1 and/or D4 drivers coming out this month, January. We’d absolutely love to do a review on a Prodigy Disc! If you happen to get one, let us know too! They will be debuting as a limited release for now. They said they will hopefully have them all available to everyone by late Spring.

    If you’d like to get your hand on some of these Prodigy discs, here’s how:

    • Go to Prodigy Disc’s Facebook Page at http://on.fb.me/UwhIGm
    • Have your local vendor send them their contact info via Facebook
    • Prodigy will then reach out to them to set up an account

    “Passion for the game.”

     


    Prodigy Disc Golf – Update

    Posted by alphagenerator


    Prodigy finally released the names of all their sponsored/vested players: Will Schusterick, Nikko Locastro, Cale Leiviska, Paul Ulibarri, Garrett Gurthie, Cameron Colglazier, Ricky Wysocki, Jeremy Koling, Catrina Allen, Sarah Hokum, and Paige Pierce.

    Founders of Prodigy: Lavone Wolfe, Phil Arthur, Dave Greenwell, and Morgan Mcdowell

    From the PDGA announcement “Prodigy Puts ‘D’ in your Game”

    The D1D2, D3, & D4 discs from new manufacturer Prodigy Disc, Inc. based in Georgia have been PDGA Approved as of 1/1/13.

    “All drivers in the D family are very consistent and with a much narrower flight paths than conventional long distance discs making them more accurate and forgiving. All four max weight at 174.3g.

    The D1 is a very fast, over stable driver designed for power throwers. Good for all conditions and flies just as well into the wind as it does down wind. The flight path is similar even in lighter weights.  
     
    The D2 is a very fast, slightly over stable driver designed for all throwers. Good for all conditions and flies just as well into the wind as it does down wind. The flight path is similar even in lighter weights. 
     
    The D3 is a very fast, moderately stable driver designed for all throwers and flies extremely far. The flight of the D3 is unique due to its ability to flip up and then glide without extreme turnover drift or a hard hyzer finish. Players can trust this disc when thrown with power knowing that it will flip up but won’t flip over.
     
    The D4 is a very fast, under stable driver. It is designed for all players and flies extremely far. The D4 will turn up when thrown hard and will then react similar to the D3 with its long glide and gentle finish.” –

    Phil mentions the D1 & D4 will be released in January, D2 & D3 in Feb, putters in March, then a line of fairway drivers.    From my brief understanding of Prodigy, they have spent countless hours in R&D trying to build the perfect discs. They have limited the amount of unwanted side-to-side travel in the flight and have reduced the thickness of the rim on the high speed discs.   I am really stoked to try these out as they are slowly released.


    A New Year’s Revolution

    Posted by mleefry


    As we’ve all heard by now, a big change for the world of disc golf will be announced on New Year’s Day.  Many of the most well known pros have dropped major sponsors and have dropped hints of a revolution happening at the start of 2013.  Players including two-time U.S. Champion Will Schusterick, 2011 World Champion Paige Pierce, 2006 Amateur World Champion Paul Ulibarri, and 2011 Junior World Champion Ricky Wysocki have all made announcements via social media this month.  The online disc golf community has been asking for more than a week:  what’s the hype about?

    Image

    The answer?  No one seems to know.  The signs from the pros seem to point in different directions, which has caused a handful of theories to emerge.

    The most conspiracy-like idea is that a new super company is about to emerge.  Most references call it Prodigy Disc Golf.  A person or group with a large base of financial support supposedly backs the new company.  The sponsored players would have a larger salary than they get with currently existing sponsors, like Dynamic Discs.  Prodigy is assumed to be a disc manufacturer, because the majority of the pros have dropped Innova, Discraft, and/or Dynamic Discs (who recently released a line of discs manufactured through Latitude 64).  That’s why 2010 World Champion Eric McCabe announced yesterday that he would no longer be sponsored by Discraft, so he could join Team Dynamic Discs.  This would also explain why some of the pros have picked up new retailor sponsors—like Will Schusterick and Paige Pierce joining the Journey Post team, based out of Branson, Mo.

    Another line of theories all point in the direction of existing corporations breaking into the disc golf market.  As can be expected, Nike has been mentioned by many because of its large financial base and role as a sponsor in most major sports in the United States.  Keen’s name has also been thrown in the hat; they already sponsor a few players, like Avery Jenkins, and have produced footwear with Vibram, who has also manufactured discs.

    Regardless of whether a new company is forming, or an existing company is growing, the guys at Furthering the Disc are definitely stirring the social media .  Will Schusterick, who dropped Innova and Discmania on December 16, is a key player in their social media movement to revitalize disc golf.  Both Will and FTD have been promoting the hashtag #discopalypse13 on Twitter.

    Image

    Until Tuesday, when the pros are set to make their big announcement, all we can do is try to put the pieces together and hope that they add up to something that will advance the sport we all love.  Share your thoughts on what’s going on by commenting, or tweeting @DoglegDiscGolf.  Do you think that everyone is moving in the same direction?  Is a new company forming, or is disc golf just getting more commercialized?  Is this ordeal going to help the sport grow in 2013?  What do you want to see the pros doing next year?


    Thanksgiving, Redemption Round

    Posted by randomtiz


    I love being home for the holidays, especially quality time with family. Over the past two years, I’ve gotten my Dad and younger brother both hooked into disc golf. So anytime we’re all in town, we always make it a point to go hit up a round together. A father/sons tradition we started over a year and a half ago when we finally got my Dad into playing. Always fun times, but we still always seem to manage to turn it into a friendly competition. Who will win it this year?

    Our hometown has a course—small, flat and short, but a course nonetheless. We’re talking like ~3900 ft. total length for 18. It’s a great beginner course with the front 9 being mostly 150-200 ft long, through the trees. The rest of the course is pretty open and the back 9 are longer. There’s not an abundance of trees in general at the park, so wind gusts always provide an unpredictable, increased level of difficulty to this rather easy course.

    Weekends back home fly by way too fast, especially when the drive there is roughly 3.5 hrs. So the only time we got in a chance to play a round was this past Saturday morning. Low 40s, cold (for down South) and very windy…of course it would be. But we have to make do with what little window of time we have. Rain, sleet or snow, we’re playing. Might as well make it two rounds, since it’s so short of a course. By the way, this is a course that is perfect for trying out new discs..no chance of losing one, or dinging one upside a tree. I figured this would be my chance to give my new Buzzz a redemption round.

    Since I first started playing disc golf, I’ve been partial to Innova discs. And by “partial” I mean that’s the only brand of disc I had ever thrown up until a few months ago. I guess I’ve stuck with them because I “understood” their detailed flight ratings and descriptions moreso than any other brand of disc that I’ve come across. But anyways, I’m branching out. I’m moving on to other brands to give them a shot.

    One disc that’s making its way into a permanent spot in my bag is the 2012 Discraft Ace Race disc, the Discraft Zombee. I love this disc. Neon red, it has stability, lots of glide and a slight lowspeed fade at the end. My other “non-Innova” disc that I bought recently was a bright blue Discraft X-Line Buzzz. I’ve played two rounds with it here in Georgia and did not instantly fall in love with it like all the rave reviews I’ve read over the past few months. I blamed my poor rounds on the idea that I may not be holding it correctly. I’d learn. And yes sir, that came true. The Buzzz was my go-to disc that chilly, windy lil morning in Alabama. I don’t know if it was the wind conditions or somehow I’d magically figured out a better way to hold that disc or what, but it was dead straight on the line that I would release it at. I drove with it on the front 9 and switched to the Zombee for much of the back 9.—It was a Discraft-kind-of-day.

    I would go on and beat out my Dad and bro by almost 10 strokes the first round and 7 the next. I ended up shooting back-to-back (-5)’s. It turned out to be a great day indeed. Having family there and spending quality [DG] time with them made it just that much better. So it was a redemption round indeed for that Buzzz and me. My initial dislike for it has now changed. I will try it again this weekend when we play a few courses in Georgia. Hello Discraft [for now].

    Any thoughts on Legacy or Latitude 64 discs? I’m in the market for a Legacy Rampage driver (173+) and a Latitude 64 Core mid-range (173+) disc if anyone would like to sell me one or make a trade. Let me know!

    -jt


    Canton’s Sequoyah Park DGC Weekend Recap

    Posted by randomtiz


    Before the weekend, I thought I would have a lot more to recap from our dg adventures to Sequoyah; but negative. Originally I was supposed to catch up with fellow Doglegger Jeremiah—who was in town—for an early morning round to Sequoyah, but we couldn’t make it happen this time around due to prior engagements. So our Saturday 8am round didn’t happen but I did however manage to make it out there today for a quick 18.

    I was off my A-game, big time starting out. I was actually surprised to find how many of the baskets had been moved to the closer pin positions. You would think Oh awesome!, but I think that hurt me even more trying to compensate my throwing power to not go as far. I could not keep a dang drive straight worth a flip. Granted, I had been practicing anhyzer shots and turning my wrist over the past few days and I think that had my timing off a bit. Anyway, my putting was “on” for the most part, but had several terrible drives. Today was my chance to break my course record there of a +5, but I failed short. I’d like to get out there again before they move them back and see if I can beat it again.

    I really enjoy Sequoyah Park and it is a park that has definitely grown on me more and more this past year. Being my local course, I look forward to every single trip out there. One of my pet peeves—I know I’ve mentioned several times in my posts—is that I really can’t stand when slower/newbie groups ahead of you don’t ask if you want to play through…especially when I’m playing alone. Anyways, I had to jump around a few times to skip some people but came back and finished them all. Did miss two or three crucial putts for potential birds that hit off the top. I misjudged the weather too and was way too overdressed for the cool.. The sun was beaming and I got dehydrated quick. I’m already ready for a redemption round this week if any of you guys would like to join. Finished a measly +7.

    -jt


    Barking Orders: Will’s Park Dog Show Fiasco

    Posted by randomtiz


    Let me just start out by saying that “show dog” owners have attitudes. And crabby attitudes at that. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE dogs and have two, but dang! These people are just a different class, period.

    I love Will’s Park DGC. But there’s always something going on there. It seems like 80% of the time we play there that there’s an equestrian event going on. At least it’s off to the side and up the hill from The DG course. The worst part is that there’s RV parking that flanks both side of hole 5 and 6. A wary shot to the right on either and you’re denting aluminum siding or whacking The Jones’s in the back of the head. But I digress.

    But this trip, a dog show. A dog show in the RV grassy lot on the right side of Hole #5. Since that grassy lot is cleared for the event, that means the cars have to park elsewhere. And where do they park?… they park in the fairway of Hole #5. Wtf. I’m talking like 20+ trees. My first instinct is to play through over and around all these courses, obstacle golf. Tomahawk one high into the high in hope it’ll dive between Beamers into a flat spot. No, better not.. Jimbo has a plan.

    Jimbo is a cool guy that we met last time we’d played Wills. Older guy, but he’s hilarious. He was with us that day. He marched up to the dog show and demanded to speak to the person in charge. Jimbo means business. He tracked they guy down and told them the parking problem and asked for everyone parked in the fairway to move. These other ladies became irate and were bitchin up a storm saying they had to permission to park there and why they had to move. So disrespectful to us, other fellow disc golfers and the respect of the course in general. I thought it was hilarious how each dog owner came down one by one and moved their cars off the fairway into another adjacent lot. Finally, for once, it felt good to have some power. There’s no way they had to permission to park in the fairway of a disc golf course. Keep in mind this is Will’s Park, home to many PDGA sanctioned events and office for PDGA member submissions.

    After some 20 min they’d all moved and we were clear to finish that hole. Very fun, eventful and good round overall. I love Will’s. My closing thoughts..”People, please respect the disc golf course and the players just as we do others participating in their respective sports/designated areas. There’s enough space for all of us.”

    [See photo of Hole #5 fairway and the cars that covered it (prior confronting the head in charge).]

    -JT

    20121020-113531.jpg


    PDGA divisions and ratings

    Posted by curly2284


    DIVISIONS:

    Class Division Name Code Ages Minimum Rating
    Amateur Advanced MA1 All Any (Required for 935+)
    Amateur Intermediate MA2 All < 935
    Amateur Recreation MA3 All < 900
    Amateur Novice MA4 All < 850
    Amateur Advanced Master MM1 40+ Any
    Amateur Advanced Grandmaster MG1 50+ Any
    Amateur Women Advanced FW1 Any Any (Required for 800+)
    Amateur Women Intermediate FW2 Any < 800
    Amateur Women Advanced Master FM1 40+ Any

    If you are a PDGA member and have a rating you can easily see what divisions you qualify to play in by comparing your rating to the following chart. If you do not have a PDGA rating then you can determine your approximate rating a couple ways. The best way is to compare your score at a previous tournament to other rated players at that tournament. If this is your first tournament then you can compare your average score at a course with previous tournaments at that course. To find this information you can go to www.pdga.com use the search function for the course. However, it is important to note that normally a course plays more difficult during a tournament due to additional OB lines, slower play and the pressure of competition.

    RATING SYSTEM:

    Now on to the rating system. The PDGA rating system calculates each player’s skill level and also the difficulty rating of each course played in PDGA events. Your Player Rating is a number that shows how close your average round scores are compared to the World Class Par (WCP) of the courses you’ve played in competition. Players who average WCP on courses played will have a rating of 1000. If they average even lower scores, their rating is over 1000.Most competition players average scores higher than WCP so their ratings range somewhere between 700-999. Every 10 points equals one throw on an 18-hole course. If you average 5 throws over WCP, your rating will be 950. Everyone has a few bad rounds. The system uses at least 85% of a player’s best rounds relative to the course WCPs from PDGA events that have been entered into the system.

    Hopefully this sheds some lite on Ratings and Divisions. I personally use this as a guide im still only an 800 rated player but I will go to a tournament and compete even if it doesn’t have a novice division. I really enjoy playing rec division as a challenge, You will never be better if you don’t play against better opponents.

    ~stephen


    Hello Everyone! Want To Build Your Own Quality Basket?

    Posted by destinjames


    I’m proud to now be apart of Dogleg Disc Golf!

    My name is Destin and I’m originally from the Ann Arbor area of Michigan, but currently reside in Marietta, GA for school. I’ve been playing DG for about 5 years, and love every facet of the sport. 

    Back in 2010 I designed and built my own basket. The cost was less than $100, and the feeling of using your own basket beats buying one any day; and it truly works just as well as a basket at the park.

    Below is my original post I put on my own Michigan Blog a couple years ago. I hope everyone can use the information to make their own backyard basket!

    It may not be worth it to spend a lot of time making your own basket when nowadays a portable basket is not much more more than the cost of this basket, but I certainly want everyone who views Dog Leg Disc Golf to have this option.

    And always remember that all questions are welcome!

    Enjoy the Greenleaf Basket! Named after the road it was designed and made on.

    Destin

     

    ——

     – Original post: 2010 –

    *** THE PICTURES BELOW MAY BE TOO HIGH OF RESOLUTION FOR THE BLOG FORMAT!! CLICK THE PICTURES TO BE DIRECTED TO THE MAIN SOURCE. THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO VIEW THE PICTURES! ***
     
    You can probably figure out a lot just from the  pictures (pictures are below… if dimensions are cut off, click ’em), but here is a bit more detail.
     
    The top piece is a PVC cap that fits over 2″ PVC (the hole is 2″). I  suggest a cap that isn’t hollow. It gathers too much water.
     
    The wood piece is treated plywood. The thickness is to your liking. I  suggest 1″, this is what I used. Make sure it’s treated! Cut and sand the way you prefer. The diameter of the wood is 23″.
     
    The opening between the top and basket is 22″.
     
    I have 24 chains. Screw eyelets hold the chains. My chains aren’t as heavy as they could (or should)  be, but they seem to work just as well as a Mach III. From the pictures you can tell the gauge. A trip to Home Depot or Lowe’s will tell you the  right chain to buy. I suggest Home Depot since I was able to buy the  length I needed off of a roll; not already packaged. 12 chains on the  outside–17 links, 8 in the middle–16 links, and 4 for the inner–15  links. When constructing you will know the proper length–just make it  look like a disc basket!
     
    The basket is a whiskey barrel liner bought at Menard’s (23″ opening, 5  or so inches deep.. perfect measurements are not too important. Just  want to keep those discs in!). If you don’t have a Menard’s in your area, call around and ask if they have whiskey barrel liners. These  liners are cheap and perfect.
     
    Once you get one, cut a hole the size of the outside diameter of the PVC in the middle. drill or puncture holes all over (1/2 inch or so) to make sure water doesn’t gather. As long as your holes aren’t larger than  a disc, you’re all good!
     
    PVC couplings were used above and below against the barrel liner. This  was for easy breakdown and hold of the liner/basket.
     
    A bolt was driven through the bottom coupling into the 4-way splitter…  I think there is an actual name for the splitter, but it escapes me  right now!
     
    Four 45 degree angle pieces were used to connect to the legs.
     
    The legs were cut at a 45 degree angle on a saw to insure flat stabilization.
     
    ENDING MEASUREMENTS:
     
    23″ DIAMETER TOP/PLYWOOD (1″ TREATED)
     
    23″ BASKET/WHISKEY BARREL LINER (HORIZONTAL OPENING)
     
    22″ CATCH OPENING (WHERE THE DISC HITS! … THIS IS BOTTOM OF PLYWOOD TO  TOP OF BASKET)
     
    10.5″ BETWEEN BOTTOM OF  BASKET TO QUAD LEG-SPLIT
     
    30″ TOP OF BASKET (BARREL LINER) TO GROUND
     
    OVERALL: COMPLETE BASKET SHOULD BE APPROX. 52″ TALL
     
     
    This isn’t the best way to show how to make a well made basket (and  trust me it is a great basket!), but it’s the best I can do at the  moment.
     
    If you have ANY questions email me! I would be more than happy to share thoughts on a wonderful  homemade recipe for a just-as-good-as-the-park disc golf basket!
     
    Happy Huckin’,
     
    Destin
    ——
    This first picture is the original basket that was a bit too tall, and with an unstable wood base. The directions above are for the pictures following the initial picture. I posted the initial picture to get an entire view of the basket.

    Continuation of Whats Going On

    Posted by curly2284


    Theres a few items to add to Jts list.

    -New Park in Jasper. More on this after wednesday

    -Mango Classic. Full review of b-teir tournament and Blue Angel Park Courses in Pensacola Florida

    -Grip and rip group formation

    -Custom Shirts And Signs in Jasper Alabama now have discraft disc, and bags in stock.

    -A few members who have tournament directors pdga standing. What this is and why you would get it.

    -Trussville Alabama dg course’s closed.

    -Been asked this question a lot lately, Pdga division breakdown, what each class is and how you are ranked for tournament play.

    and theres quite a bit more…

    ~Stephen

     

     


    Follow

    Get every new post on this blog delivered to your Inbox.

    Join other followers:

    %d bloggers like this: