The rise of disc golf
Have you ever been walking in a park and seen a metal structure with chains on it and thought “What the heck even is that thing?” To answer your question, that contraption is a disc golf basket that is used for playing, you guessed it, disc golf.
Disc golf was invented in roughly 1966 by George Sappenfield and Kevin Donnelly who both independently came up with the idea. The first ever frisbee golf event was held just 2 years later in 1968 and became an official organized sport in 1974. You play by throwing a frisbee, or more properly a disc, several times until you get it to the target, just like golf. Hence the name “disc golf.”
Since then, the sport has slowly grown and evolved going from strictly playing with frisbees, to now all types of discs and many different ways to throw them.
Due to Covid-19, and many people itching to get outside, disc golf has blown up. Just a year ago, going out to your local course, you’d be surprised to see two other groups playing. Now courses are packed with newcomers, trying the sport for the first time.
Curtis Woodruff, a member of the Champaign County Disc Golf Club, and a 10 year veteran of the game has witnessed the growth in person. “It’s a great way to spend time outside, and should be reasonably safe since you can play alone or in small groups. New players are great for the sport.”
In August, CBS Sports broadcasted disc golf on national television for the first time, covering the Dynamic Discs Open. November 24th at 7 pm central will mark its second national broadcast on ESPN 2. Watch for disc golf to be one of the bigger sports in the nation in the upcoming years.
Sources https://www.pdga.com/history Instagram @jomezpro
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