Disc Golf Weekly Update

Kalamazoo, Mich., to host PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championships in 2015

16 May 2013 10:32:40 CDT

The Professional Disc Golf Association Amateur Disc Golf World Championships are coming back to Kalamazoo in 2015. The major event will be played in the Kalamazoo area from July 18-25. Over 600 competitors are expected to play on at least seven disc golf courses throughout the area.

Down to the wire

16 May 2013 10:32:40 CDT

Reigning World Champ Paul McBeth hit a 35 foot (10.5 meter) birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win the Latitude 64 Copenhagen Open. And while McBeth's 13 down 54 tied the Valbyparken course record, his victory was also in part due to misfortune suffered by Oklahoma leftie Devan Owens.

A nice twist

16 May 2013 10:32:40 CDT

Team Twisted Flyer didn't necessarily set out to be first, but it wants to make sure it makes an impact that lasts. The disc golf team founded by Joe Rotan made the biggest single-day team launch in our sport's history with 38 members on March 16, 2012. There are great players on the team, but finishing first on the scoreboard isn't the ultimate goal for Rotan, who always tells fellow disc golfers to "keep it twisted."

Innovation Grant deadline approaches

16 May 2013 10:32:40 CDT

The deadline for submission of applications for the first round of 2013 Innovation Grants is June 3, 2013. The PDGA Innovation Grant Program was created in 2008 to increase and promote the awareness of the sport of disc golf and the Professional Disc Golf Association. Applicants are encouraged to think outside of the box to develop innovative and unique programs which will promote the sport and increase participation.

Major bidders

16 May 2013 10:32:40 CDT

The locations of two Major events for the 2015 calendar for the PDGA were up for bid throughout the off season. The 2015 Tim Selinske US Masters Championship and the 2015 Amateur World Championships were looking for a home. Bids poured in over the winter break and several cities proposed to host these prestigious disc golf events. Although many intriguing bids were submitted, only two cities would be able to call themselves a host of a PDGA major in 2015.

Kristy King inks her connection to disc golf's past

16 May 2013 10:32:40 CDT

Disc golf is largely an individual sport. Though there are sometimes events with a team aspect — such as the Collegiate Championships or a doubles tournament — the sport is highly individual. Whether one competes against a course, another player, the field of a tournament or against themselves, there's not a lot of room to blame others for things that happen during a round. It also leaves the opening for people to show off their personality.

Emporia, Kan., has become a hotbed for disc golf

16 May 2013 10:32:40 CDT

In 2005, Jeremy Rusco was looking for a way to help pay for school at Emporia State, Kan. An avid disc golfer, it was a natural fit for Rusco to sell discs to his fellow players around town and thus, Dynamic Discs was born. Quickly, Rusco expanded online. 2 years ago, Dynamic Discs opened it's first brick and mortar store in downtown Emporia and last year locations in Kansas City and Lewisville, Texas, were also added. Dynamic also signed it's 1st exclusive player contract with Emporia native Eric McCabe.

50 states in 50 days

16 May 2013 10:32:40 CDT

Larry Clifford Kirk is at it again. Check out his new plan; "50 in 50: Disc golf in all 50 states in 50 days".

Ragna Bygde looking beyond Sweden to make her mark on the sport

16 May 2013 10:32:40 CDT

Life as a professional disc golfer isn't the most glamorous of career choices. Especially for women. The fields are smaller, which, in turn, makes the prize money smaller than in men's tournaments. And that's just in the United States. Add in being a professional women's player in Europe and it's even harder. Such is the life of Ragna Bygde, one of the newest members of Prodigy Disc.

Detroit disc golf course moves forward at Belle Isle, seeks funding, players

16 May 2013 10:32:40 CDT

Chris Haag believes that hidden amongst the natural beauty of Detroit's Belle Isle park is an amazing course for disc golf — and he's not alone. The 30-year-old Detroiter is part of a crew that has been working to popularize the sport of disc golf in the city since 2011. In late April, the Detroit Disc Golf Club received a letter of approval from Keith Flournoy, Belle Isle's park manager, to begin building disc golf baskets on the grounds of a neglected traditional golf course that's located on the island.

Women's disc golf clinics attract wide range of participants, create young fans

16 May 2013 10:32:40 CDT

Wearing a journalist hat makes one think differently when at an event. The event, a women's disc golf clinic led by Prodigy Disc team members Sarah Hokom and Paige Pierce, was held in in Santa Cruz, Calif., three days before the Masters Cup National Tour event. The clinic was promoted during the Daisy Chains women's tourney, held in Santa Cruz County the week between the amateur and professional Masters Cup weekends. Clearly this clinic had been well planned.

Popularity of disc golf soars in Michigan

16 May 2013 10:32:40 CDT

"It's been popular everywhere else, it's just taken a long time to get to the U.P.," said Jon Harris, owner of The Beaten Path sporting goods store in Escanaba and member of the Escanaba Recreation Advisory Board. "Last summer I had at least 100 people come through my store from out of town, stop in here, and ask me where the disc golf course was," said Harris. "I told them, 'well, we don't have one, but we play at the park' ... and all those people got in their cars and they left Escanaba."

Opelika, Ala., Sportsplex to host disc golf tournament

16 May 2013 10:32:40 CDT

The Tumble Tree Disc Golf Course at the Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatics Center is hosting a grand opening tournament. "The goal of this tournament is to introduce the course to the public," Bailey said. "It's the first disc golf course in our area ... We have had big crowds out on the course and we are excited to see it grow even more."