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20
Jun

Throw a Disc

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By Dan Bellrichard

 

On any dry day, if you’re heading northbound out of Decorah on College Drive, you are likely to see several groups of all ages and skill levels playing disc golf on the Luther College campus. For those of you not familiar, disc golf is a sport just like “ball” golf, except instead of hitting balls into holes you throw Frisbee-like discs into chain baskets. Most are surprised to discover the sport has been around since the late 60s, and now many are thrilled it has hit Northeast Iowa.

Courses are typically in parks and around campuses with the natural surroundings providing fairways and obstacles. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) there are nearly 3,000 courses in the U.S. alone. Iowa ranks number two with 143 courses and Minnesota and Wisconsin follow, ranking three and five, respectively.

With the recent addition of a nine-hole course in Waukon, there are currently three good courses (and soon to be four!) in this corner of Northeast Iowa. Upper Iowa University in Fayette has an 18-hole course, Luther College has a nine-hole course, and NICC in Calmar is installing nine holes later this summer. Several other courses can be found in the tri-state area including Cresco, New Hampton, Hokah (MN), and Sparta (WI).  Many leagues are popping up in the region as well, including a community league at Luther College that meets at 1 pm on Sundays throughout the academic year.

Disc golf has become a popular recreational activity in recent years for many reasons. For starters, it’s cheap and easy to play. Courses are typically free or low-cost to play and discs cost in the range of $10-$15 each – and you only need one to start. Disc golf courses typically use natural surroundings and obstacles to create fairways and holes. This also lends the sport a very healthy and environmentally friendly nature. Games tend to move quickly with a nine-hole round taking about 45 minutes depending on the number of players. It’s great exercise to get out and walk in a natural setting and because of the type of activity involved there is low risk for injury – anyone can enjoy a game from grandparents to young kids. That said, there is plenty of mastery to be achieved. The disc type, wind conditions, throwing speed, footwork and angle of release all change the flight of the disc – and mastering all of those skills can be a challenge!

So go ahead, grab a disc, and start throwing. Playing is like a walk in the park…only so much better!

Dan Bellrichard lives in Decorah and loves to disc golf! He is the creator of www.discgolfdan.com. Check out his site to learn about the rules, discs, throwing techniques, and strategies of disc golf. Also view and download photos, info, maps, directions and scorecards for area courses.

Regional course locations:
Luther College Campus – 9 holes
Waukon City Park – 9 holes
Upper Iowa University – 18 holes
Cresco – 9 holes
Additional courses in New Hampton, Hokah, Sparta, La Crosse, and Lanesboro.
Find details at www.discgolfdan.com.

Category : Feature