PDGA

It was pointed out to me that, duh, there is a difference between the Ultimate Disc League, which plays a version of football with discs, and the Professional Disc Golf Association, which plays a version of golf while also using discs.

While the PDGA season has been ongoing for sometime, there are still a number of major and minor tournaments on the board, both for pro and amateur players including the European Championships that start Wed. Aug 15 and run through the weekend. They are being held in Colchester, United Kingdom and currently there are 195 players registered for the event.

A quick look at the sport first. Disc golf was formalized in the 1970s, but its roots go back decades earlier and there has even been at least one attempt to create a commercialized league in the 19

60s. By the 1970s there was groups forming leagues, Wham-O, the inventor of the Frisbee was behind disc golf while others codifying rules and they eventually settled on a set of rules and from this the PDGA eventually emerged.

Disc golf has much the same goal as traditional golf, completing a course with the lowest score, in this case that means the fewest throws. A player covers the course and each new throw is from the landing spot of the previous one. The hole is usually an elevated basket called a Pole Hole.

I have to say that I was truly amazed at the breadth and scope of the leagues that are available for the average and pro player. There appears to be a high degree of organization that is often difficult with an endeavor that is so wide spread but that does appear to be present here.

One thing that really appeals to me is that the courses can have a great deal of quirky features. At the 10-hole course near my house there is a bus stop on the course along with a flagpole, a sculpture and a balcony shot from the 10th hole. The fact that they brew beer on the premises and it is in wine country is just two extra bonuses!