August 4, 1999
City disc golf course above par
By Garret Leiva
Herald editor
For decades, disc golf has been the laid-back, shirtless bohemian to its status- quo dimple ball cousin. While the dress code remains fairly lacks, the sport played with flying drivers and putters continues to gain respect and players in the recreational sports community.
As a sign of this growth locally, Rotary Charities of Traverse City has awarded a $10,000 improvement grant to Northern Michigan Disc Sports Organization for a community disc golf course at the city-owned Hickory Hills. The money will be used to purchase target baskets, create signage for the 24 hole course and define tee pad areas, noted Tom Dillon, secretary of the nonprofit Northern Michigan Disc Sports Organization.
Fitting in with Rotary's "long-standing tradition of supporting community recreational activities," executive director Marsha Smith said the grant was awarded based on the sport's accessibility to the general public.
"This is a sport that someone can get involved in with little or almost no cost and its something the entire family could take part in," said Smith, who noted that the city will act as fiduciary of the $10,000 grant approved last month by the city commission.
A disc golfer since 1968, Dillon said the course laid out on and around the ski areas of Hickory Hills will benefit from the grant, as the galvanized steel baskets alone cost $300 each. As of now there are only 6 such regulation size targets dotting the course.
With improvements slated for this disc golf season, those who play the course regularly will find the plastic bags covering the tee signs a thing of the past. Those that have never played at Hickory will now be able to find something as well - the course.
Undoubtedly as improvements are implemented, the course could draw many first time players. For those unfamiliar with the sport, disc golf shares similarities with its ball-driven counterpart. 'Club' selection consists of drivers, mid-range and putters and scoring is on an eagle, birdie, par and bogey basis. Golfers can sink a hole-in-one but there is no such thing as a 'gimme' when the hole is two feet in diameter.
A disc golfer for the past two years, Traverse City resident Tim Main has experienced first-hand another important golfing equation: form equaling function. Whether throwing in a traditional Frisbee manner, baseball sidearm or over the head "tomahawk" style, little mistakes can mean chasing your disc as it sails out of bounds big time.
"Even something like wrist snap can lead to slicing or hooking a shot," said Main, who has lost his share of discs both at Hickory Hills and the 24 hole course at Timberlee Village in Traverse City. Losses, which at $10 to $17 each can hurt both the pocketbook and scorecard.
Still, in light of ball golf greens fees, costly titanium metal drivers and power carts, disc golf retains its Everyman roots. Although not everyone can chuck a Disc Craft XL driver 400 feet while playing for $60,000 on a given weekend. Yes, even seemingly proletarian disc golf has its professional ranks.
Dillon, who has competed on the tournament level, noted that other divisions include amateur, men's and women's, junior, masters, grand masters and even legends.
"One of the legends was joking that he was soon going to be in myths," said Dillon, who considers himself an "average" player not burdened with being a good driver, midrange player or putter.
More of a scratch golfer than a tournament player, Traverse City resident Billy Wood noted that while ball and disc share the word golf, the sports are in ways worlds apart. No disc washers, no tee times, no knickers, no cleated shoes and no disc golf country clubs.
"It's definitely not a posh sport by any means," said Wood, who sells disc golf equipment at BXTREME in Traverse City, one of the primary suppliers of discs and golf bags locally.
"The only time there is a caddie on the course is when someone carries the discs for their boyfriend because they're too embarrassed to throw."
While improvements at the Hickory Hills disc golf course may very well bring new players into the sport - or maybe a few caddies - some people remain reluctant about the idea of flinging drivers and floating putters.
"I've been told the course is one of the most challenging around. I know it would challenge me to throw around trees and across ravines," said Ed Arnold, a city recreational and maintenance specialist who works at Hickory Hills. "The only way I can toss a Frisbee is to my dog."