Plastic, Anyone?

Disc Golfers converge on Newtown and Erwinna for the two-day Eric C. Yetter Memorial Disc Golf Tournament.

By: Daniel Shearer
   There are plenty of people who take disc golf quite seriously. Yeah, that’s right. Plastic discs.
   The game is challenging, yet not quite as difficult for beginners as Tiger Woods’ claim to fame. The concept is simple. Starting from a tee-off, players must land a disc in a metal basket about 400 feet away, taking as few throws as possible. Making the disc actually stay in the basket isn’t an easy task.

"Allentown
Allentown


resident Jamey King practices for an upcoming disc golf tournament in Pennsylvania.

Staff photo by Daniel Shearer

   Each throw begins where the previous one lands. Along the way, trees, twigs, ditches, water hazards, thorns, poison ivy and creatively designed "holes" complicate the endeavor. Uphill, downhill, flat or curved, disc courses are intended to confound even the most experienced players.
   Disc golf has plenty of advantages over that other sport. For one, the equipment costs next to nothing. Also, few people get upset about missed tee times, and, best of all, course fees are nonexistent, except in tournament play.
   If the idea of taking home cold, U.S. green sounds appealing, test your mettle at the Eric C. Yetter Memorial Disc Golf Tournament, a two-day event at Tyler State Park in Newtown, Pa., Sept. 15 and at Tinicum Park in Erwinna, Pa., Sept. 16. Held annually since 1993, the tournament will take place on two courses designed by the Bucks County Whitetails Disc Golf Club, an organization with about 40 active members.
   Don’t expect an easy go of it. More than 90 of the world’s best players have registered for the tournament, sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association as a "Super Tour Event." Representing nearly 20,000 members, the association ranks players with standings much like regular golf.
   Ten-time Men’s World Champion Ken Climo will set his sights on a share of the Yetter Memorial’s $8,000-$12,000 purse, facing off against the current Men’s World Champion, Cameron Todd. Five-time Women’s World Champion Juliana Korver will also be on hand, along with Men’s World Master Champion and Bristol resident Joe "The Technician" Mela, who designed the course at Tyler State Park.

"The
The disc golf courses at Tyler State Park in Newtown and Tinicum Park in Erwinna offer challenging play for novice and experienced players.

Staff photo by Daniel Shearer

   "People are coming in from all over the Mid-Atlantic region," says Bucks County Whitetails promoter Rex Hay, a Newtown resident. "We’ve got registered players from North Carolina, Ohio, Florida. This will be a big tournament."
   The two courses offer varied play. The first day of the tournament, at Tyler State Park, is primarily on wooded holes, what Mr. Hay describes as a "finesse" course. The second day, at Tinicum Park, is with longer, wide-open "bring your arm" holes.
   "At Tyler, most of the holes are tight in the woods," Mr. Hay says. "It’s a 27-hole course. There are some open holes for big-arm players. It’s got some elevation changes, water comes into play in a couple areas. There are an equal number of straight, left-, right-handed holes for shots that are going to play differently. It’s got all the challenges you could want."
   The courses are free and open to anyone during regular park hours, but on the tournament days only registered participants may play.
   "The Yetter is our biggest tournament," says Whitetails treasurer Steve Agocs, a Langhorne resident. "We do about eight to 10 events each year.
   "We do a little moonlighter tournament around Halloween, where we tape glow sticks to the baskets and people play with glow plastic (discs) after dark. The park gives us permission to play after it’s normally closed. It’s a non-competitive thing, for sure. There are discounts on registration if you play in costume."

"While
While only one disc is required for play, many golfers carry bags with several discs, intended for long, mid-range or short-range shots.

Staff photo by Daniel Shearer

   Any run-of-the-mill plastic disc will do, but most experienced players generally shy away from the lightweight discs produced by Wham-O in favor of more stable discs made specifically for golf. While only one disc is needed for play, many golfers use heavier discs for lengthy drives, mid-weighters for approach shots and light putters for the coup de grace.
   "For me, 300 feet is a good drive," Mr. Agocs says. "I don’t have a really big arm. Some of the younger players will throw 350, 400, even 500 feet. The new distance record is 712 feet."
At 635 feet, Tyler’s longest hole would be a challenge for even the world-record holder. Players commonly use forehand and backhand techniques, altering flight angles to surmount obstacles. Experienced players occasionally throw the disc vertically, similar to a tomahawk chop, which can slip the disc between trees and may result in a "roller," sending the disc many feet even after it hits the ground.
   "We have a nice symbiotic relationship with the park," Mr. Agocs says. "We’ve increased the park usage quite a bit and kind of reclaimed an area that had limited use.
   "A few years back, when the course was brand new and nobody but the local clubs knew about it, you could come out here on a holiday weekend afternoon and be the only person on the course. Now you come out here in January on a Wednesday and you’ll find a family out here."
The Eric C. Yetter Memorial Disc Golf Tournament will take place at Tyler
State Park, Newtown, Pa., Sept. 15, and Tinicum Park, Erwinna, Pa., Sept. 16.
Open entry fee $96; Master level, $56; Pro/Adv. Women, $46; Amateur level,
$46. All players must be members of the Professional Disc Golf Association,
requiring $30 annual dues. Initial registration $35, available on tournament
day. For information, call (215) 579-1071. On the Web: bcwt.hypermart.net.
For information about the Professional Disc Golf Association: www.pdga.com