Disc-ing? A Librarian's Perspective

Finally, after what has been a never ending winter, spring is making an appearance, bringing with it my two favorite spring outdoor activities: baseball and disc-ing.

Disc-ing (one of my favorite sports that no one generally has a clue what I am talking about) is basically golf with Frisbees. You take a specially designed Frisbee (dense and a bit heaver then a standard Frisbee), and a specially designed course with giant metal “pins” above the ground and you’ve got the very basic components of disc golf. Toss in a special toss (not just a simple fling, but more of an upper body and coordinated wrist movement) and you’re on your way!

Not only does disc golfing allow you to get some fresh air and develop muscles that you had no clue you had before starting, it provides a great outlet for frustration (especially after a long work week, trying to find an answer for that “special” reference question, or after a Notre Dame football loss).

There are a wide range of resources about disc golfing and its benefits (as I said, it's excellent exercise and is being incorporated in various school athlectic programs). Below are some highlights, including websites, books, and articles:

Now, what is Frisbee golf?
From our friends at Wikipedia
Learning the basics from Disc Life
Most everything disc at DiscGolf

Books
Disc golf : all you need to know about the game you want to play, by Michael Stevens Gregory

Articles
Kennedy, C. (2007). Making Space for the DISC Jockey. Parks & Recreation, 42(1), 34-37.

Siniscalchi, J., & Pierskalla, D. (2005). FLYING SAUCERS: Disc golf can bring personal and community benefits to rural America. Parks & Recreation, 40(1), 42-47.

Burnham, J. (2003). A new spin on an old game: disc golf. Active Woman Canada, 1(4), 40-42.

But what does this cost me?
The Disc Golf Store
But, to be honest, you can really find discs any where (ebay and second hand shops are good resources). Also, many courses are in parks, making it free once you get there.

I’m hooked – where can I try this out?
Ohio Courses
Michigan Courses
Indiana Courses

Courses I've played are Burnett Woods (University of Cincinnati), Mt. Airy Forest in Cincinnati, and Ottawa Park in Toledo. The Cincinnati courses are awesome - even if disc-ing isn't your thing, they're still great places to take a walk. Do be careful, though if you go to the Bowling Green Course (high winds make this a challenging course, great for once you've honned in your disc skills).