WEDNESDAY,JUNE 5.2002
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN - 7
JOHN NOWAK/KANSAN
KU graduate Alix Greenwell works at Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop, 802 Massachusetts, which sells a variety of frisbee golf discs and accessories. The sport offers both recreational exercise and competitive play to its participants.
Frisbee golf a cheap sport gaining in popularity
By Jay Philgreen Kansan staff writer
Students with a limited budget this summer have an alternative to more traditional sports. Alix Greenwell, Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop employee, said frisbee golf was an easy sport to learn.
"It's not very physically challenging, but you are outside." Greenwell said.
The sport is similar to golf. There are 18 holes, each with a tee box and a basket to represent the hole. A player throws a disc from the tee box, then continues throwing from the spot the disc lands until he or she puts a disc in the basket. Scoring is also similar to golf; there is a par for each hole and the player with the fewest throws wins.
Greenwell said players need two discs, called a driver and a putter. Discs at Sunflower, 802 Massachusetts St., sell for $8 to $20.
Sunflower also offers an assortment of accessories, including gear bags, mini-markers to establish where the disc has fallen, practice baskets, rule books and the PDGA disc golf course directory.
The Lawrence course, located in Centennial Park, near the intersection of Ninth and Iowa streets, is free to play.
Nick Schmidt, Denver senior, started playing "frolf" his sophomore year.
"I was taking summer school and one of my friends played," Schmidt said.
Schmidt said he took up the sport because it was cheap and allowed him to have some outdoor exercise. He said that after a few times he considered it a hobby.
“It's a sport you can do at your own pace.” Schmidt said. “It's not strenuous.”
Schmidt said he played once a week and,weather permitting,tried to play more often.He said a full round took
"It's a sport you can do at your own pace. It's not strenuous."
Nick Schmidt
Frisbee golf player
about an hour and a half to play.
Since starting, Schmidt said he had bought an additional mid-range driver to add more versatility to his game. He said for a player of his experience, three discs were average, but some more experienced players would carry five or more.
Greenwell said though it was not an intimidating sport, there was room to advance in skill and technique. She said players have the option of playing competitively.
The Kaw Valley Disc Golf Club, in Centennial Park, offers weekly league play as well as events throughout the summer for players who wish to compete. Information about schedules and memberships can be found on their Web site, www.kawvalleydiscgolfclub.home-stead.com.
"You can play recreationally," Greenwell said. "but there are leagues also."
Schmidt said he had never competed, but preferred to play for fun and exercise.
Players can also find courses at Rosedale Park in Kansas City, Kan., Prairie Center Park in Olathe and Crestview Park in Topeka.
"Get a friend who knows what they're doing," Schmidt said. "It makes it more fun."
Contact jpilghreen@kansan.com. This story was edited by Mandy Miller.
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