Tasmania’s new disc golf tour rolls on to Burnie and the Crayfish Cup

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Niche sport disc golf is stepping up a gear in Tasmania, with the first statewide tour getting underway this year.

On Sunday, the first ever Crayfish Cup gets underway at Burnie’s new disc golf course on View Road, the second in a series of events counting towards a Tasmanian championship.

Sam Rubock fits 22 different discs into his disc golf backpack.(ABC Northern Tasmania: Rick Eaves)

The Burnie club was only formed last year and will host further events as part of the Disc Golf Tasmania Tour.

The Hobart Disc Golf Club will also stage a series of events at Poimena Reserve and there will also be two events at the Wallaby Hill course in the Huon Valley.

The Burnie course was designed by a pioneer and legend of the sport in Tasmania, Michael Rubock, who also helped design the first course at Poimena Reserve — the first ever in Australia.

A group of disc golf players pose for a group shot in front of the course info board.
Burnie’s disc golf club was formed last year.(Supplied: Sam Rubock)

His son, Sam Rubock, is tournament director of the Crayfish Cup as well as one of the contenders to win the men’s advanced title.

“They actually live in the creek at the edge of the course.

“The club has already got 30 members and a lot more are using the course who are yet to join the club, so it’s started well.

A disc golf player looks to angle a throw out of the trees and back onto the fairway.
Sam Rubock opts for a left-tracking disc for a shot out of the trees.(Supplied: Sean Gottschling)

“The state tour is a great new development  — we just need the Launceston City Council to get on board now and help establish a course in that city.

“There are plenty of players there, and they travel to Hobart or Burnie to play and compete. It would be nice to have Lonnie (Launceston) as part of the tour.”

a disc golf player uses his whole body to launch a long throw off a tee platform.
A disc golf player goes for distance, winding up to throw a driver disc off the tee at Burnie’s View Road course.(Supplied: Sam Rubock)

The humble flying disc has itself come a long way from people throwing would-be prototypes like cake pans or a pie tin lid at the beach.

Today, wind-tunnel testing, advanced design and new materials mean that an advanced player like Sam carries more than 20 different discs in a specialised backpack for tournament play.

A disc golf hole or metal basket with draping chains and a full rainbow arch behind
Disc golf holes are basically a pole on a basket with draping chains designed to draw the disc in.(Supplied: Sean Gottschling)

“We have discs that are like putters, mid-rangers like a 5 or 7-iron in traditional golf, drivers that fly a long way but can go offline,” Mr Rubock said, thumbing through his specialised frisbee golf bag.

“There are even new discs that are perfect for those who have ‘frisbee dogs’. Discs that are chew-proof so that everyone who loves a flying disc can join in.”

Disc golf player looks over shoulder to smile, a disc sitting in the basket behind.
Sam Rubock is gearing up for the first ever Crayfish Cup disc golf tournament in Burnie.(ABC Northern Tasmania: Rick Eaves)

The Crayfish Cup throws off at 9am on Sunday and is free for spectators. Live scores will also be available on the Burnie Disc Golf Facebook page.