5 things to know about disc golf

The Community News sat down with some of the areas most accomplished disc golfers to find out more about the sport bound to be coming soon to a park near you.

1) It's easy to learn

The premise is exactly the same as ball golf: get the disc from tee to hole in as few shots as possible. And if you've ever thrown a regular frisbee (disc golfers call them lids) at the beach or in the backyard, you're halfway there. The basic throwing motion in disc golf isn't all that different, although grips can vary. You wouldn't want to bring a traditional frisbee out to the golf course though, because they won't fly nearly as far as specialized golf discs. As you play more, you're bound to discover new shots that work for you and help you avoid branches, boulders or other obstacles you might find in your way.

"I've got an entire church group that wants to come out and play," says 61-year-old Wes Reutter, of Pike Creek. "It really is a sport that anyone can enjoy."

2) It's accessible

Whereas traditional golf can cost as much as $100 a round and equipment can cost thousands, disc golf "clubs" generally run between $15 and $20. Then, it's just a matter of paying the $3 entrance fee for courses located at state parks. County park courses are free, which is why the Delaware Disc Golf Association is so enthusiastic about its two newest courses, at Iron Hill County Park in Newark and at Carousel Park in Pike Creek.

"They're near where people live," says DDGA President Steve Winchester. "My hope is that with the county park courses, kids are going to walk out of their backyards into the parks and start playing. It's a great way to expose people to the sport."

3) It's a quick source of good exercise

There are no golf carts in disc golf, so you can't drive from shot-to-shot. But even the longest disc golf courses are only half as long as your average ball golf course, so it's much more manageable for someone who doesn't have an entire day on their hands. Depending on your pace of play – and how many players you've got in your group – a typical round should take 90 minutes. Of course, once you're hooked, you'll end up playing multiple rounds each day.

"It's a great way to enjoy the outdoors," says 56-year-old Paul Kelly, of Pike Creek, who turned professional at the age of 45. "I started out playing casually and now I'm playing 30 tournaments per year.”

4) It’s a great way to meet people

Delaware has a vibrant disc golf community. The DDGA holds an ongoing ladder challenge, where golfers can take on higher ranked players in hopes of moving up. That competition has about 180 participants, but it only scratches the surface of how many people compete in the sport locally. Each night of the week, a different local course hosts doubles competitions, where golfers with varying abilities are paired together to form teams. Plus, there are local tournaments every weekend. For a complete list of playing opportunities, visit ddg.homestead.com.

"The local club here does a great job of keeping everyone involved," says Pike Creek disc golfer Mike Moser. "The whole community is a real tight-knit group. We all consider each other family."

5) It’s fierce competition

In the mid-90s, Moser traveled far and wide, playing in disc golf's biggest, most prestigious tournaments almost every weekend. At one point, he was ranked sixth in the world. Now 38 years old, Moser has a family and plays less frequently, but is still among the world's elite (he's currently ranked 36th). Players like Kelly and Winchester routinely put money on the line when they play. It's not unusual for winners of sanctioned PDGA tournaments to walk away with a couple grand.

"There's just a bug that bites you," says Winchester. "It's the same allure of ball golf. It's you against the course, and there's always the opportunity for improvement."