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The Icelandic wunderkind is ready for a full tour.
This is the the fifth of our Q&A interviews in our European Re-Open series that highlights European disc golfers as international travel reopens in 2022.
This past summer, I sat down for an interview with Blær Örn Ásgeirsson, Iceland’s top disc golfer. Also joining us was Bogi Bjarnason, Innova’s team manager for Iceland and one of the prominent figures in Icelandic disc golf. At the time, Blær had a 1017 rating, nearly 70 points higher than his next closest countryman.
Blær won his first MPO and A-tier appearance at age 14. He has since gone on to win the 2018 British Open, 2019 Open de España, 2021 Belgian Open, and the 2021 PCS Sula Open. He is also a 3x Iceland National Champion. He recently finished high school and at 19 years old is going to take on a full touring schedule this year.
Ultiworld DG: What would you say is the best part of your game right now?
Blær Örn Ásgeirsson: Probably my putting. I think I also have a good mental game. I almost never get angry on the course
Are you a spin putter or a push butter?
I’m a spin putter. It’s almost impossible to push putt in Iceland with the crazy wind we have almost all year.
Do you lean on a particular throw? Forehand? Backhand?
I mainly throw backhand. If I can throw backhand, I will.
What are the challenges of playing in Iceland in terms of the courses that you play?
We don’t have a lot of trees. We have mostly just big bushes. So we just throw over the bushes with hyzers. So mainly it’s just distance control and try to stay in bounds because we have a lot of OB. Not a lot of tunnel shots or low ceiling shots.
What do you do to challenge yourself to learn those shots?
I try to play different shots on the holes. Like when I’m practicing, I don’t just throw the hyzer on every hole. I throw low shots, straight shots, anhyzers, and sometimes do field work as well.
Have you played any tournaments where you had to play courses that are more technical?
Oh, yeah, for sure. Like a couple of months ago, I played the PCS Open and one of the courses there was super woodsy. That was a challenge for sure, but fun.
How do you adjust your games for the woods?
I feel like I’ve just had to learn new discs. I started throwing the Leopard3. It’s like a hyzer flip disc. I never throw Hyzer flips in Iceland. So it’s a different shot, but I think I can figure it out.
What is your touring plan for 2022?
I will go to the United States at the beginning of the year and travel for a couple of months with Knut Håland and Peter Lunde, who are from Norway. And in the mid-summer, I want to play the European tour, like the PCS Sula Open, European Open, Estonian Open, all those big tournaments. [Ásgeirsson is signed up for US tour stops from LVC this weekend through DDO in late April before returning to Europe.]
And financially, how do you support yourself playing disc golf now?
We have a pretty good disc golf community in Iceland. They have been supporting me with buying my discs and competing in my fundraising tournaments. So they helped me, and Innova helps me, and I’ll probably also work in the offseason. And the cash prizes.
Who are your sponsors?
My sponsors are Innova Champion discs, Frisbigolfbúðin, Frisbígolffélag Reykjavíkur, European Birdies, treelove disc golf, hleðsla.
What do your parents think about your burgeoning disc golf career?
They are always super supportive in everything I do and the same goes for my disc golf career.
What has been your biggest win so far?
Probably the PCS Sula Open.
You’re way out in front of the pack in Iceland. Who is the second highest-rated player?
I think there are two players now tied at like, 955 or something around that. [Mikael Máni Freysson is the second highest rated player at 954.]
So you’re rated 1021 right now1, and your top competitors in Iceland are in the 950s? How does that affect you in terms of having competition and improving your game while having been somewhat isolated due to COVID?
Yeah, I’m not really thinking about the competition. I mainly think about the rating. I try to average above my rating, so I’m more competing with myself. But this year, I haven’t been doing that well because I had a good first round, played like 1050, 1060, 1070 and almost won the tournament in the first round. And after that, I just lost my focus, just throwing some bad shots.
Do you have a goal for 2022?
I definitely want to qualify for the USDGC again and maybe get a cash prize in each tournament. And it’s always fun to get a higher rating.
Given the choice between playing more in Europe or the United States, are you going to prioritize one over the other?
All the big competitions in Europe are in the mid-summer, so I definitely want to compete in those, but other than that I plan on spending most of my time in the US.
What is the visibility of disc golf in Iceland? If I asked 10 people if they’ve heard of disc golf, how many of them would have heard of disc golf?
Blær: I would think 4.7.
Bogi: I would guess 7 out of 10.
Blær: They did a poll of how many people in each age group have played disc golf. It was something like of the ages 17 to 26 or something like 47% have played disc golf in the last year. Because of those numbers now, we have more money to make more courses.
Bogi: In Reykjavik, you have a city of 200,000 people with 14 courses in sight. You can see people playing, you know, because it’s everywhere, so it’s very hard not to know what disc golf is.
What’s the difference between pre-pandemic disc golf and how things are now in Iceland?
Bogi: The summer of 2020 was just mind-blowing. It was different this year because some restrictions have been lifted. There are other things to do. But last summer, people were unemployed and working from home, gyms were closed, and you couldn’t go to the bars. Just looking at sales from my van, they went up, I think, 40%.
Blær: Before the pandemic, you could play all the courses easily, but now you have to wait in line on almost every course.
How do you think disc golf will change in Iceland over the coming years? How is it going to compare to the rest of the world?
Bogi: Our problem is that we need more championship-level courses. We need the sport to be treated as a sport by the powers that be, not just a hobby. Making eighteen hole courses, having cash prizes in tournaments, and attracting more sponsors to the tournament.
Blær: Now we only have events with no payouts. I feel like all the focus is on getting new players to the sport.
Bogi: Many of these players don’t stick around because there’s no challenge. We play these pitch-and-putts and there’s nothing else. This is almost like a multi-level marketing thing. Oh, recruit, recruit, recruit, but don’t do the groundwork to make it a professional sport.
When you look at UDisc, there are a lot of 9 hole courses in Iceland, which seems very unusual compared to other countries. Do you know why that is so?
Bogi: We know. It is because of the powers that be.
Blær: And probably, it’s hard to get the space for an 18 hole course, especially in Reykjavik. And all the big parks with the big trees. There’s no way to put a course there. So it’s hard to get the courses with trees.
Bogi: If you look at the UK, I mean they’re not nearly as developed as us, but they have way better courses. It’s because they put them outside the city. Here, they only build them inside the city.
Blær: We probably have the worst landscape in the world for disc golf. There are no trees. We just had to put in a lot of mandos and OB.
So trees just don’t grow well in Iceland?
Bogi: We have trees, it’s just not the kinda trees that work well as obstacles to shape a shot. We apparently used to have woods. They say they were all cut down hundreds of years ago.
WARREN — Warren city schools will keep its mask-wearing mandate for students and staff in place for now until there is more changes in the COVID-19 numbers, school officials said.
School Superintendent Steve Chiaro said at Tuesday’s school board meeting that masks mandates will remain in place for Warren schools, but he and other superintendents are watching the case numbers, which have been decreasing lately.
Board member Jenna Daugherty said some school districts have gone from “mask required” to “mask recommended.”
Chiaro said Trumbull County and Warren city health officials still are advising to keep the mask-wearing requirement in place.
“I listen to the local health officials on what they recommend. We are watching the data and number of cases locally to see what we will do in upcoming months,” Chiaro said.
He said at least eight or more Trumbull County public schools are requiring masks for students and staff.
“The first of the year the (COVID-19) cases were very high. We have been seeing a reduction since then and hope that continues. After that we will discuss adjusting the mask mandate, Right now we will continue to closely monitor the numbers,” Chiaro said.
Chiaro said he and other local school superintendents are meeting this week with county and city health officials to discuss the upcoming months of classes.
“it has been a trying time for everyone in the schools and community,” said board member Julian Walker who asked families to be patient.
In other business, Chiaro said the porch remodeling project on the old Harding High School facade has been temporarily delayed due to the recent heavy snow and cold weather.
He said the project, which costs over $100,000, is set to begin again once the weather improves.
“With weather like we have been having, we can’t pour cement or do what we need to do to fix the porch. We are getting close to getting the project done, but the weather has put us back a little,” Chairo said,
In other action, the board:
• Learned from Chiaro that the district has received a $234,090 grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation to be used to help buy three school buses.
• Learned from Chiaro the district will receive a donation of golf disc nets from Young Run’s Disc Golf Course in Champion He said the Champion course received a grant from the Disc Golf Association to replace equipment there. The older equipment will be given to Warren for setting up three courses near schools.
• Reported the McGuffey School Titonics robotics team — led by parent Amanda Colbert and others — will compete March 6 at state championships in Dayton, marking the second time the team has reached that level of competition.
After seeking public input, Fish Wildlife and Parks met with the Headwaters Advisory Board to review the Missouri Headwaters State Park master plan on Friday.
Members of the advisory board and the public shared their thoughts on future development in the state park.
Missouri Headwaters State Park is 532 acres of land dedicated to preserving cultural and historical landmarks while providing recreational opportunities for visitors.
Though many associate the area with the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Native American tribes used the land in and around the park for hunting, gathering and fishing centuries before the famous duo arrived.
While visitation of the park continues to increase, the public made it clear that it is more important to preserve and maintain the cultural and historical heritage of the area rather than develop it.
Marsha Small, a cultural preservationist and member of the Headwaters Advisory Board, encouraged FWP to update existing signage using accurate Native American history. She even suggested renaming the park (or areas within the park) to reflect the area’s native heritage.
Small also suggested that each tribe select a spokesperson to comment on FWP’s master plan for Missouri Headwaters State Park. Another advisory board member, Sara Scott, recommended that FWP make ongoing efforts to include tribal members in park discussions.
Many comments made by advisory board staff and the public focused on developing the park as little as possible.
“Keep what we have out there and make it better,” Gene Townsend said on behalf of the Three Forks City Council.
While many were against developing, there was some discussion about responsible growth in the park.
Potential developments discussed at the meeting included a visitors center, more camping sites, and a disc golf course.
Ron Pannesi, a member of the Headwaters Disc Golf Club, spoke in favor of adding a course to the state park.
According to Pannesi, disc golf courses have minimal impact on the land. He said the course would give visitors a new way to enjoy Missouri Headwaters State Park.
Alec Humphries, another disc golfer, said that local disc golfers care about preserving the land.
Humphries and Pannesi agreed that a disc golf course would attract more visitors. Because disc golf is an inexpensive sport, even low-income families can enjoy it.
“I’d like to see it (disc golf) grow in a sustainable way,” Humpries said.
Fish Wildlife and Parks will review the current Master Plan draft and consider the comments made by the public and advisory board members before publishing the final draft in the next two weeks.
FWP officials emphasized that the master plan is not the be all end all script for Missouri Headwaters State Park. They will continue speaking with the public before implementing any significant projects.
“The finalization of the master plan is not the end of the conversation,” Hope Stockwell, a member of FWP, said.
Wichita Falls Disc Golf Association selling sponsorship tee signs to raise money
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Over the past couple of years, disc golf has been sweeping the nation, and it’s that growing national attention that’s inspired the Wichita Falls Disc Golf Association to make some much-needed improvements to the courses here locally.
They’re doing this in hopes of gaining more players and recognition of the sport.
It’s out with the old and in with the new. City workers have been busy removing and replacing the old baskets at Lucy Park’s disc golf course.
Wichita Falls Disc Golf Association President Darin Young said this is a long time coming.
“The baskets at Lucy Park have been installed for like twenty years in some cases so we raised a lot of money last year, around $7,000 to replace the baskets, and so last week it actually came to fruition and we got them all installed last week,” Young said.
Young along with his team have been working around the clock making improvements to not only Lucy Park’s course, but to Lake Wichita’s too, something Young said the community can actually help with.
“So we are selling sponsorships for the tee signs, so on the actual tee sign where it shows the par, the distance, those kinds of things, you can buy a spot on that logo and you can put your name or your friends or family or business or whatever, you can put your name on the tee sign and that will help us raise that money that we need,” Young said.
Spots go for $300 for a year, $500 for five years, or you can have a permanent spot for $1,000.
Young said the attention these improvements and changes have received just shows they are on track for recruiting more players into the Wichita Falls area.
“This is the first step in terms of cementing our ability to grow the sport, our commitment into growing this sport here locally and also outside the region,” Young said.
But he said they’re not stopping at Lucy and Lake Wichita improvements.
“We’re actually putting another 18-hole course in Williams Park in the eastside and we’re really excited about that project because it is an underserved community in a lot of ways with recreational activities and just generally. So we’re excited to bring something new to that community that’s going to give them a chance to have some fun with friends and family and its a really good family activity for everybody so we’re really excited about that,” Young said.
Young said when everything is said and done, these upgrades could attract some big tournaments and players, which could bring in some big bucks to Wichita Falls.
Click here for more information on how you can sponsor a tee out at Lake Wichita disc golf course.
A municipal golf course in Staffordshire could be closed down because not enough people use it – despite the participation surge in the last two years.
Beacon Park is a public park in the centre of Lichfield, which includes an 18-hole, par three golf course that opened in 1973, as well as a footgolf course and a disc golf course, which both opened in 2017.
Lichfield District Council has said current usage of the facilities could see them removed and the land used for alternative activities.
The council claims that the three golf facilities combined see just 8,000 uses each year – an average of around 20 a day.
It said changes could see more people able to use the area of Beacon Park where the course currently sits.
Councillor Iain Eadie, cabinet member for leisure, said: “Beacon Park is an amazing green space and a great resource to help keep our residents healthy and active.
“What is happening currently is that over a third of the park is only being used by a handful of people.
“Should we look at things like community gardens, orchards, rewilding or things like tree top rope courses and zip lines?
“We really want to hear what people would like to do [via a survey], so that the whole of Beacon Park can be used more.”
However, some local people took to social media to voice their opposition to any move to make changes, with some stating that the golf courses have been poorly managed and suffered from a lack of investment, some stating that more than 20 people a day use them – they just don’t pay, and others expressing concern that the green area will end up being built on.
‘You only see 20 people per day because most of the time the booth isn’t open to pay for golf, and some people just don’t pay. And it’s not just about golf, it’s also nice as a park. Perhaps run the golf course better? Advertising, being open when you say you will be, running competition days,’ wrote one.
‘Last time I walked around the golf course much of it was knee deep in water due to flooding,’ wrote another.
‘There are far more than 20 people a day using a third of Beacon Park! That is just the number who pay for playing golf. What about the many more who enjoy the peaceful walks and value the variety of trees alongside the allotments and peace garden? There is also the quality of life of those with homes alongside it to consider. This amenity should not be lost to concrete, paving or tarmac but hopefully kept as a natural but maintained area for everyone,’ wrote a third person.
The 2021 European champion is making his US debut.
This is the the second of our Q&A interviews in our European Re-Open series that highlights European disc golfers as international travel reopens in 2022.
The Finns can be a hard bunch to follow. Whenever you think you’ve made sense of who the top crusher du jour is, another wunderkind will break through the 1030 barrier while cruising to a win in an event you thought Simon Lizotte would have on lockdown.
The latest such breakout to take a seat in the pantheon of Paju-Makela-Vikström is the kid from Kuipio: Niklas Anttila. The 1032-rated reigning European champion, who came eerily close to nabbing a six digit PDGA number, has spent more time in the last year on the shooting range of the Finnish military than on the driving range of his home course. He is set to compete in the US starting at the Texas State Championships through the Dynamic Discs Open. Expect him to be back for Worlds and more later in the year.
Read on for a refreshing breath of youthful exuberance; how, despite the odds, Anttila plays the opposite of Army Golf; and a subtle reminder that American disc golfers should be losing their damn minds right about now.
Ultiworld Disc Golf: If you have toured the US before, are there any lessons that you learned that will help prepare you for this year? How is it different from playing in Europe?
Anttila: I haven’t been to the US before. So I’m going there with a humble mindset. I think the biggest difference is that the field is bigger and better than in Europe. There are more players who can win every weekend.
Which event are you most excited about?
I’m most excited about the PDGA Champions Cup. The WR Jackson course suits me well and I am excited to show my accuracy in the woods. Plus, a Major is always huge.
Who are you touring with? How will you get around and what will your accommodation be like?
I am coming with my brothers (basically :D). I think we have seven guys coming from Finland in our company: Väinö Mäkelä, Niko Rättyä, Luukas Rokkanen, Lauri Lehtinen, Ville Ahokas, Mikael Häme.
How are you funding this tour?
Thanks to Discmania, I am able to call disc golf my job. Discmania makes this kind of tour possible!
What would you need to accomplish on this tour for you to consider it a success?
As the level of players increases, I need to have different kinds of goals. Top 10 finishes would be nice and even a top 3 is possible. I just want to be happy with my game, and everything else is extra.
What has been the most difficult aspect of preparing for this tour?
My offseason was pretty short because of my military service which ended in December. Also the cold winter in Finland makes training a bit harder but it won’t stop me. I will be spending about 10 days in Spain before leaving for the US to throw in warmer weather.
Of the three tours this year (DGPT, European Pro Tour, PDGA Euro Tour), which are you most focused on?
Easy. DGPT for sure. I will be playing the European Pro Tour when I am in Europe but my focus is in the US, Majors, and National Titles.
Outside of disc golf, are there places or sights in the US you plan on visiting?
Haven’t planned yet. I think just the fact that everything is so big for a boy like me will be an experience. Hope to see some nice sights and places!
With the amount of young talent coming out of Finland in the past few years you really feel that anyone out of 10 different names could pop off at any given tournament. You were certainly one of the players to watch coming into EDGC Konopiste, but out of a short list of names with similar ratings as you, was there something specific that fueled your break-out performance?
I was coming into that event with high confidence. I had a win streak of three before that event. I just believed in myself and knew that it was possible for me to win.
After witnessing you slice up Franz Ferdinand like a supple side of venison, we’re particularly looking forward to seeing you tackle the Disc Side of Heaven at Jonesboro. It’s notable that your short spring run of US events centers around a series of bomber courses in very windy locales. Is that a deliberate choice, or is it simply the way the stars lined up?
That is just how stars lined up. I am definitely not a bomber. Franz Ferdinand was a course where I shouldn’t have been winning. I think my strength is accuracy and placing my shots on the fairway. I am still excited for the spring.
Given the massive improvement to your game during the COVID-induced split of the continents, you must be chomping at the bit to test your mettle against some North American super stars on their home turf. Is there anyone in particular who you’d like to see joining you on your first round card, and if so, at which event?
Doesn’t really matter. I want to challenge all of them. But if I have to say one name it would be Paul McBeth. I was his big fan growing up and he is still the guy to beat.
Is there any European player, male or female, you are expecting to have a break-out season in the US this year?
I think all of us. Americans will be out of their mind when we get there. Because of COVID, we couldn’t have done it [last year]. I am impressed with the amount of great players we have in Europe nowadays. Now we only have to perform.
Finally; will we see another Linus Carlsson vs. Niklas Anttila battle go down this year? Maybe those will be the Paul vs. Ricky battles of the 2020s?
I really hope so! I am sure Linus and I will push each other to be better in the US too. Can’t wait.
News Release
February 18, 2022
The City of Toronto is encouraging residents to enjoy a fun, safe Family Day on Monday, February 21 by visiting City pools, skating rinks, history sites, conservatories or zoos. This long weekend is an opportunity to rediscover Toronto and all it has to offer by spending quality time with family and friends.
Open City facilities and attractions include:
Indoor pools
Ten City indoor pool locations will be open for Family Day leisure swim:
More information is available online .
Skating
There are more than 50 outdoor ice rinks and skating trails across the city which will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Family Day. There is no charge for public skating at City locations. CSA-approved hockey helmets are mandatory for children under the age of six and are recommended for skaters of all ages. Check the status of the rink before you head out.
The Nathan Phillips Square skating rink will be open until 10 p.m. on Family Day. A GO-VAXX mobile vaccine clinic will be on site next to the rink providing COVID-19 vaccinations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All GO-VAXX buses are providing first, second, third and booster doses for adults and youth ages 12 and up, as well as vaccines for children age five to 11. Appointments can be booked through the provincial booking system and walk-ins are welcome.
Skiing and snowboarding
Earl Bales Ski and Snowboard Centre will be open for leisure programs and private lessons. More information is available here.
Tobogganing
There are 26 designated toboggan hills in neighbourhoods across Toronto. Locations and safety tips are available online.
Snow loops
Explore seven snow loops for winter walks and snowshoeing at four of the City’s golf courses, with loops ranging from one to two and a half kilometres.
Disc golf
Try your hand at disc golf, including 18 holes at Scarlett Woods Golf Course and a new nine-hole course at Dentonia Golf Course. Learn more on the Disk Golf Course webpage.
Riverdale Farm
Visit a working farm in the centre of the city. Riverdale Farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. Learn more on the Riverdale Farm webpage.
High Park Zoo
Toronto’s oldest animal attraction has been entertaining people for 120 years and is open every day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., including on Family Day. High Park is closed to vehicle traffic on weekends and public holidays. Learn more on the High Park Zoo webpage.
Conservatories and greenhouses
Both the Allan Gardens and Centennial Park conservatories will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Family Day. Admission is free and the conservatories are wheelchair-accessible. While Allen Gardens is undergoing renovations, washrooms inside the conservatory are closed. Portable washrooms are available outside by the playground. Learn more on the Conservatories webpage.
Ferry to Toronto Island Park
The ferry is currently running on the Reduced Service in Ice schedule, with service to Hanlan’s Point from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. A shuttle bus is operating between Ward’s Island and Hanlan’s Point. Learn more here.
Museums and galleries
Over Family Day weekend (February 19 and 20), Fort York National Historic Site, Gibson House Museum, Montgomery’s Inn, Scarborough Museum and Spadina Museum offer guided HistoricTO tours, a cultural experience connecting local communities. No Toronto History Museum sites will be open on Family Day. Tours explore Toronto’s past, present and future through diverse perspectives. Timed-tours must be booked in advance on the City’s Museums webpage.
The current exhibit at the Market Gallery celebrates the history of the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair and features 60 artworks from the City of Toronto Art Collection acquired from the fair over the years. Open Saturday, February 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Learn more on the Market Gallery webpage.
Vaccination options
Individuals who are yet to be vaccinated or are eligible for a COVID-19 third “booster” dose can take advantage of one of the many vaccination clinic options operating this Family Day.
City-run immunization clinics at Scarborough Town Centre and Cloverdale Mall will be open to walk-ins only on Sunday, February 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, February 21 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Immunization clinics at Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Woodbine Mall and Mitchell Field Community Centre will be closed on Sunday and Monday.
Vax The East: Scarborough mobile clinics will also be running all weekend in different Scarborough neighbourhood schools, including on Family Day. Details on schools hosting clinics, hours and appointments are available online . All Vax The East pop-up clinics offer both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Health cards are not required for vaccination.
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
STERLING — Meadowbrook Orchards co-owner David Chandler said the reaction to adding a disc golf course to the 100-acre orchard at his family’s multigenerational farm on Chace Hill Road “has been incredible,” with more than 600 people coming out to play the course just during the first week it was open in October — and many more since then.
“I never knew how popular disc golf was,” he said.
After an employee brought the idea to him and “after a bit of nagging,” Chandler met with Melissa and Scott Radford, the owners of Disc Golf 978 out of Fitchburg, and began hatching a plan with them, along with local disc golf pro and course designer Bob Kulchuk. The Meadowbrook course features a balanced mix of water, wooded, orchards and wide-open holes.
“Being able to help in the design on the course, I was hooked,” Chandler said.
He said disc golfers can currently enjoy the temporary course, and they are working hard on creating a permanent course layout on part of their expansive, picturesque property that is not currently being used for growing apples. Plans are to complete the course by mid-March. His 13-year-old son Nathan has taken to playing disc golf with friends after school.
“I have played a few holes with him, but I have been more focused on building and maintaining the course,” Chandler said.
He said he is glad he was introduced to the sport, which has grown in popularity over the past two decades. According to Wikipedia, as of February 2020 there were 6,652 known disc golf courses in the United States on the official Professional Disc Golf Association Course Directory. The Meadowbrook course now has its own Facebook page: Meadowbrook Orchards Disc Golf.
“It has been a lot of fun to get to know the players, both amateur and professional,” Chandler said. “The players have all been great; they are just happy to be able to play.”
“The barrier to entry into disc golf is very low,” he said, with starter sets available in the farm store for just $25 and greens fees “very inexpensive compared to ball golf.”
“Disc golf at Meadowbrook has become a good way to introduce more people to what we have to offer,” Chandler said. “We have been able to add a new demographic of people who would not normally come through the door.”
They hosted a successful charity tournament, the inaugural Jeffrey Cranson Disc Golf Tournament, the last weekend of October, with the proceeds going to Spaulding Rehabilitation, where Cranson spent time when he was battling cancer. Family matriarch Kathy Chandler works with and for Spaulding Adaptive Sports; when the Cranson family was approached about the tournament and asked where they would want proceeds to go, they chose Spaulding.
“The tournament went great even considering that we had rain both days,” David Chandler said. “Despite the weather, the players had a great time, and the idea to call it the Jeffrey Cranson Memorial was fitting. I knew Jeff growing up; his mother is an employee here, and he was a disc golfer before he passed away. Having Jeff’s siblings and friends here to help make it a success was heartwarming.”
Jeffrey Cranson’s mother, Maureen Cranson, said they were thrilled to have the tournament, which David Chandler said they plan to hold annually, in her late son’s name.
“Family and friends were obviously touched that Meadowbrook Orchards and Disc 978 would raise these funds for Spaulding in Jeffrey’s name,” she said, adding that her son played disc golf “long before it became this popular.”
The tournament attracted many participants, including 65 pros and 72 amateurs. Between tournament donations, sales and the players voting unanimously to donate their “hole in one” earnings, more than $3,000 was raised for Spaulding.
Two tournaments are slated at Meadowbrook for the end of February. Singles flex start on Feb. 25 and doubles on Feb. 26. For more information and to register, visit www.discgolfscene.com/courses/Meadowbrook_Orchards/index.
Ben Crenshaw and Jack Nicklaus found lucrative design careers beyond their respective playing days. Former disc golf world champion Eric McCabe has followed the same path.
Since hanging up the discs on the professional circuit in the past decade, he’s designed nearly 60 disc golf courses in 25 U.S. states and Canada. McCabe’s goal is to one day have a design in all 50 states.
In terms of where to play, McCabe, well respected within the disc golf community, estimates there are more than 12,000 designs worldwide. Naturally, in this day and age, there are apps that can pinpoint localized courses.
“In disc golf we measure everything in feet,” says McCabe, who also serves as team director at Dynamic Discs.
Championship-level tracks range anywhere from 10,000 to 13,000 feet — or 3,333 to 4,333 yards. Top professionals average throwing between 500 and 600 feet on a drive.
At Emporia Country Club in Emporia, Kan., course officials added a disc layout that runs about 10,000 feet. The 1st hole, an opening par 5, measures 1,100 feet.
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With the pandemic, many golf courses suffered loss of revenue, leading some to add disc golf as another revenue stream. One of the main draws of the sport is the fact it’s inexpensive to play. There are very few $100 rounds, let alone $50. Green fees run between free to about $15.
“If there was anything positive about the pandemic, and I’m not minimizing it, it connected people more to the outside, where people can play disc golf,” Rusco says. “We did see more interest and the sport grew.”
In terms of equipment, on the Disc Golf Pro Tour players are not limited to discs “in the bag,” like traditional golf’s 14-club rule. They can carry as many as 20 to 25, and each one does something different. Some draw, fade or can be used for distance or approach throws. Other discs fly better using a sidearm motion, for example.
McCabe considers all these nuances as he works on designs.
McCabe offers his recommendations of the top disc courses to play worldwide:
1. Maple Hill Disc Golf | Leicester, Mass.
2. Eagles Crossing | Hawk Point, Mo.
3. Fox Run Meadows | Cambridge, Vt.
4. Milo McIver Disc Golf Course | Estacada, Ore.
5. Jarva Disc Golf Park | Stockholm, Sweden
6. Harmony Bends Championship Disc Golf Course at Strawn Park | Columbia, Mo.
7. Disc Golf Terminalen | Skelleftea, Sweden
8. Idlewild | Burlington, Ky.
9. Delaveaga Golf Course | Santa Cruz, Calif.