Flathead Valley Disc Golf League President David Trussell mounts a disc onto a concrete teeing ground in Lawrence Park, aims for a basket on the other side of the green and practices his throw.
Trussell releases the disc, takes a step back and watches as it soars through the air and slices through branches, where it makes a slight curve before landing near its target.
Disc golf is played according to the basic principles of traditional golf, with a few exceptions. The goal is to get discs into baskets (called holes in traditional golf) in as few throws as possible.
The league, founded in 2015, has about 50 members. Between 20 and 30 people regularly meet in Lawrence Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays to play singles and doubles. The members split into smaller groups to complete the 18-hole course at Lawrence Park.
What appeals to many people about disc golf is the fact that no prior knowledge is required to get started.
“You just have to know how to throw,” said league newcomer Alex Hagen with a smile.
It is also easy to learn at any age. Trussell was introduced to the sport in college and went on to compete professionally
“I actually got into walking my dog and doing something active,” he said. Originally known as Frisbee golf, the modern sport’s origins date back to the 1960s.
“Actually, I grew up throwing frisbees,” Trussell said.
League member Isaac Bromberg made the transition from Ultimate Frisbee to disc golf in the ’90s and watched the sport grow nationwide.
“It exploded during COVID,” Bromberg said.
“There’s a competitive spirit but also a really great camaraderie,” said league member Ryan Dickey. “Everyone here has become friends through this sport.”
The sport is also affordable and does not require large equipment.
“You can start with a CD,” said Trussell, which is available at most sporting goods stores for less than $20.
After all league members in a group have completed a hole, players grab backpacks, some on trolleys, in which open pockets reveal interiors filled with rows of colorful discs. Like golf clubs, discs are shaped differently for different uses, such as drivers and putters.
“They all fly quite differently,” Trussell said in what he called “stability,” which would cause a disk to follow a curved path, either left or right, or fly in a straight line.
CD collecting isn’t uncommon, at least in this group, whose members note they can easily have a hundred at home.
The atmosphere at the Flathead Valley disc golf league is relaxed. Players chat, laugh and play music while playing golf. Disc golf rounds do not require a large investment of time, typically less than two hours, which also appeals to players who like to get outdoors after work or school.
And there’s a great prize up for grabs in the disc golf community.
“We do singles rounds on Tuesdays where we all play for tags,” Trussell said. “So the best score gets the one day.”
These bag charms are a staple among golfers as they are a fun way to show their rank. League member Craig Greenhagen shows an example of a sign his family made that reads “Miracle Rip, Ace Running” and the number one.
“I hit my brother when he came to visit, so I took No. 1 [tag]’ Greenhagen explained.
There are also opportunities for players who want to compete. Flathead Valley Disc Golf hosts on-site tournaments sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA). At approved events, participants collect points and are ranked nationwide.
“We’ve got people all the way to Seattle attending our event that we held earlier this summer, and then we’re going to have an event up at Whitefish that’s supposed to be later this month,” Trussell said.
There are different divisions that players can compete in based on their skill level.
“She [PDGA] Offer a wide variety of divisions, starting with the recreational class. This is something like your entry-level class. It helps you get a taste of tournaments, and then you move up to Intermediate, then to Advanced, and finally to Pro.”
The league also organizes site clean-ups to collect the rubbish. Everyone is welcome to play Flathead Valley Disc Golf. Membership fee is $50.
“Our goal as a club is to support the growth of disc golf in this area, both physically and financially. Our goal is to create more opportunities for people to play disc golf – whether it’s building a new golf course, managing and hosting courses, or whatever.”
Visit flatheadvalleydiscgolf.com for more information. The group is also active on Facebook.
Reporter Hilary Matheson can be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].
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