Cowley Press

Few sports have such a dedicated following as disc golf. There are more than 1750 disc golf courses worldwide, a professional association with over 14,000 members, international tournaments that people travel all over the world for, and many corporate sponsored tournaments and players. Yet, despite a faithful group of fanatics, the sport goes mostly unrecognized.

No one is really sure when or how disc golf got started. It appears that the sport was invented in several places at the same time. In 1968, a man running a summer camp in Oakland California contacted the Wham-0 toy company that created Frisbees to help create a disc golf tournament. At almost the same time in Rochester New York, a group created their own league and in 1972 created an official handbook.

The rules of disc golf are nearly identical to real golf. You simply try to throw a disc into a bucket in as few throws and possible. Each bucket has a basket about three feet off of the ground and chains above it to catch the disks and make them fall in the basket. There are two types of discs; drivers and putters. Drivers are made to travel farther and putters are made to travel straighter. Each course usually has eighteen holes.

The closest disc golf courses to Ark City are in Winfield. There is one at Cherry Street Park and one at the Fairgrounds. There are also courses in Ponca City, Wellington, and Derby.

There are several types of throws that are used by disc golfers. The most common is called a backhand. This is when a player steps with his right foot forward and throws the disc with his right hand. Another popular throw is called a flick, or a sidearm shot. This is opposite of a backhand so a player steps with his left foot forward and throws with his right hand. A thumber or overhand throw is when the disc is thrown more like a baseball. A hyzer is when you throw it with outer edge at a low angle so it will curve to the left. An anhyzer is when you throw it with the inside at a lower angle so it will curve to the right. Different shots can be used at different times depending on how far you are from the basket and if you have to throw around obstacles like trees.

Freshman Andrew Wallace has been playing for about two years. He has played in a couple tournaments including one where he had a paid sponsorship.

“It was the summer before my senior year. My friend [Tate Blanton] and I didn’t know what to do when the bowling alley closed. One day he said he wanted to do outdoor activities and I said ‘what activities’ and he said ‘disc golf’. A guy a worked with at the time had a bunch of discs and he was the one who got us started.” said Wallace.

Like some, Wallace was not a fan of the sport at first. But soon it started to grow on him.

“When I was a kid I used to make fun of it,” said Wallace. “You can play by yourself or with others. It can be serious or it doesn’t have to be. It’s like golf but there is more to it. There is more precision.”

Last summer, Wallace and several of his friends played in a tournament in Nebraska. The team was sponsored by Affinity. The tournament had close to thirty teams and Wallace’s team took third place.

“My step-brother Colton Branch is a hemophiliac. All these years he’s been connected to the organization and they have been putting on events. One time they had a disc golf tournament and since Clayton [his step-dad] was connected, he asked me if I wanted to get a team. I said ‘well I can round up a team’. I got my friends Jacob Bowing, Cal Patton and Tait White-Rasmusson.” said Wallace.

Winfield’s own disc golf professional is Chris “Smitty” Smith. He is the director of the Kansas Disc Golf Association and some of his accomplishments include being a three time Kansas State Champion, 2009 Lake Bella Vista champion, and 2003 AM Worlds Longest Drive champion, among other accomplishments. He organizes most of the disc golf tournaments in the area and gives out lessons so if you are wanting to seriously get into disc golf, it is a good idea to contact him.

Every year in October, the Winfield Fairgrounds plays host to the event known as Octoberfriz. It is a four day long event where disc golfers from all over come to camp out, play disc golf tournaments, and play many other disc related games. If you have not heard of it, then don’t feel left out. I have lived in Winfield all of my life and I only heard about it two years ago.

It truly is one of the most unique festivals of any kind. I recommend going for the atmosphere if for nothing else. The kinds of people that travel to and camp out at disc golf festivals are some of the most unique people that you can meet. The one time I was able to attend I saw a fire breather, a guy riding a motorized cooler, and was ambushed by a guy throwing glow sticks at random passersby. This year, Octoberfriz will be held October 7-11.

Disc golf might just be a recreational sport to some but to others it is a way of life. There are many individuals who play professionally and plan their lives around tournaments and events.