This pertains to the up and coming sport of disc golf. I know you’re wondering, what is disc golf? This is an excerpt from the Professional Disc Golf Association: “Disc golf is played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, however, players use a flying disc, or Frisbee. The sport was formalized in the 1970s, and shares with ‘ball golf’ the object of completing each hole in the fewest strokes or, in the case of disc golf, fewest throws. A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target, which is the ‘hole.’ The hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets, the most common is called a Pole Hole, an elevated metal basket. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive throw from the spot where the previous throw has landed. The trees, shrubs and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the ‘putt’ lands in the basket and the hole is completed. Disc golf shares the same joys and frustrations of traditional golf, whether it’s sinking a long putt or hitting a tree halfway down the fairway. There are few differences, though. Disc golf rarely requires a greens fee, you probably won’t need to rent a cart, and you never get stuck with a bad ‘tee time.’ It is designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages, male and female, regardless of economic status.”
So anyway, not too long ago, I had the idea to try to get more kids interested and involved in disc golf. Disc golf is a sport that can be very appealing to kids and families because it is relatively no cost for discs and it is free to play. My idea for getting more kids involved was to run a league for kids. Introducing kids to disc golf will not only give them a wonderful hobby, but also give them a sport where they can enjoy time with their family. The league will take place at Stafford Woods Disc Golf Course in Voorhees and will be available for kids ages 16 and under. Each league day will include a 20–30 minute clinic focusing on a specific skill, followed by a game practicing that skill, the winner of which will get a disc. We will then play nine holes from a modified set of kids tees which will be more appealing to kids, who do not throw as far and are not as accurate. One of the holes will be selected as a closest to the pin. The child that gets it closest to the basket will win a disc as well. First time entry will be $15 which will get participants a lightweight disc, a mini marker that marks where the disc lands before you pick it up, a youth league t-shirt that I designed, a bag tag (tags are used as a way to encourage the kids to play more, the player with the best score will get the lowest tag. This should ultimately lead to the best player having the best tag) as well as an assortment of disc golf stickers. This player’s pack is worth more than $50.
Every week thereafter, entry will only be $5 but will not include a player’s pack. To get as many people as possible involved in the wonderful sport of disc golf, I need to get the word out. The next youth league date is April 27. Future dates are May 4, May 11, May 25 and June 8.
For more information, I can be reached at stiranfin@gmail.com or (609) 781 1870.
Finley Buchanan-Jacobs
