Dynamic Course Design Feature - The El Dorado Disc Golf Course At Legion Park in El Dorado, KS

There’s a new gem in the town of El Dorado, as Kansas city officials recently approved and installed an 18 hole course at Legion Park. Utilizing land that was formerly a ball golf course, Eric McCabe and the DD team had a blast designing a course that would be fair yet challenging.

We got a little more information from Kevin Wishart, El Dorado’s Parks and Recreation Director, to learn more about the process of installing the course and how he thinks it will affect this small town of about 13,000.

Dynamic Discs Was A Natural Fit

Given that El Dorado sits about 60 miles from Emporia, it was an obvious choice to work with DD when Wishart’s department started discussing the option of opening a course. The city formed a specific Disc Golf Committee, and after some research, they decided to schedule a meeting with Eric to find out all about Dynamic Course Design.

Kevin and his team are pretty new to the sport of disc golf, stating: “We understood that disc golf continued to grow; we had a space that needed a new use, and we had several citizens express interest in a local course.  Otherwise, our background was limited.” After a meeting between Eric, Kevin, and the town’s DG Committee, the decision was clear. “Once the committee made a recommendation, we got out of the way and let Eric do his thing,” Wishart said.

About El Dorado DGC

As with all of McCabe’s course designs, the El Dorado Disc Golf Course utilizes a great layout and allows players to complete the 18 holes in up to four different ways. Veteran baskets were installed along with dual tee pads across the course. Both beginners and more experienced players will appreciate the course’s terrain, and while it’s mostly flat, there are some lightly wooded areas that create a bit of a challenge.

El Dorado players can already feel the disc golf buzz growing quickly, as a professionally designed course brings individuals from neighboring communities to come play. Wishart notes that bringing in a Dynamic Discs affiliated course is already helping to bolster El Dorado’s economy too: “We believe that our disc golf playing population will continue to increase and that the quality of the course will bring players to town from the region.  It is our hope that they spend a few dollars locally while here.”

How Can Your Town Get A Dynamic Course Design?

Working with Eric and team to get a disc golf course installed in your neck of the woods isn’t difficult. Like the staff in El Dorado, you don’t need a ton of background knowledge about the sport - just a desire from the community and a viable piece of land. Wishart says: “Our process with DD was really very simple.”

If you’re interested in working with Dynamic Course Design, or just have questions about the process, contact us today!

Test Your Knowledge Of The PDGA Rules!

Anyone who has a PDGA number receives a compact handbook that outlines the rules and regulations set forth by the PDGA, and while a lot of people read it from cover to cover, does anyone memorize it?

Today we want to put your brain to the test and see if you know the "legal" way to handle certain situations if they come up during tournament play. You can click here for a full list of the PDGA Rules Q & A.

1. Could you theoretically kick your disc down the fairway and have each kick count as your throw?
2. Am I allowed to use my mini, remove my previously thrown disc, but then change my mind and put it back again?
3. What kinds of substances can I use on my hands for a better grip?
4. Can I lean on a tree for support while I put or throw if I have an awkward stance?

Answers:

1. Yes, you can! Since shots of all types are allowed, "throwing" with your foot would be seen as acceptable play.
2. No way - once a method of marking your lie has been utilized, it cannot be changed.
3. Technically you can use anything to increase your grip, as there isn't a rule that prohibits this practice.
4. This one might surprise you, as you can hold on to something for support as long as it is in-bounds and part of the course.

What Can You Do On Grow Disc Golf Day?

The desire to #growthesport is present for most of us all year long, and at Dynamic Discs, we like to take it a step further each October. We've developed Grow Disc Golf Day as a fun way for us to place the emphasis on informing others about our sport even more through clinics, golfing with a friend, or introducing coworkers to disc golf.

We got the low down from DD Events Coordinator Doug Bjerkaas, as he and his wife invited a group of people out during Grow Disc Golf Day. They all met at a 9 hole course and put on a short clinic first so that people felt a little more comfortable and knew what to do.

Their group totaled 12, and 4 of those people are now die-hard disc golfers! Some of them help to maintain courses in the area while others only have time to golf once a month, but the important thing is that his friends have now found a new hobby they enjoy! Doug notes there were six key things that helped to make his efforts successful - learn about them here.

Visit the Grow Disc Golf Day website to share your experience with us!

Focusing On The Hyzer - Dollar Store Edition

By now you've more than likely seen our videos where we take regular items and throw them in a field, asking the all-important question: will it hyzer?

On our most recent expedition, we hit up the Dollar Store to find some fun goodies to test out. Many of our finds were rather disc-shaped, and we had a lot of fun watching stuff crash into the ground. One of our selections was described by Bobby as an "aerial ballet," so you know we had a good time.

Watch the full video here

However, on a more serious note, you might ask yourself why we always test items to see if they will hyzer. Sure it's fun, but it's also a really interesting look into the aerodynamics of household objects and how they compare to the flight of a disc.

Both professional and casual disc golfers alike often draw on the hyzer shot from their bag of tricks, while many new players find that hyzers are frustrating and prohibit the amount of distance they're able to throw.

Maybe the next time you throw a disc on a hyzer line, you'll not only think about our fun antics but also give a little more thought into this flight path and how frequently it shows up in the real world.

Ep 190 Disc Golf Answer Man

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In this episode we discuss stuff that upset us on the course, mechanics for the forehand throw,  when a disc is too beat-in and gets taken out of our disc golf bag, and much more.

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Ep 190 Disc Golf Answer Man

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Need Help With Disc Selection? Robert McCall Gives Us Some Tips

If you're relatively new to disc golf, it probably seems like the number of discs to choose from is astronomical. From different plastics to various types of discs and stability levels, how is someone supposed to know what works for them without spending a ton of money?

That's precisely why we put this video together, in an effort to help guide newer players and those with lower arm speeds toward discs that will fly well for them. Let's face it - you want to have fun playing disc golf, and part of it is being able to execute the shots you draw up in your mind!

Discs that are designed for more experienced players will have a tendency to fade left pretty early on, and that kind of flight can be discouraging as you're trying to make it to the basket.

When it comes to creating a strong foundation in your disc collection, we recommend three options:

• Dynamic Discs Witness for distance shots, allowing for a straighter line and achieving maximum distance
• Dynamic Discs Truth for approach shots, giving you a straight and controllable disc you can trust
• Dynamic Discs Judge for putting, a great disc that feels nice in the hand

If you need a laugh, Robert has some pretty "crappy" outtakes!

Dynamic Course Design Feature - The Hollows in Manchester, NH

If you haven’t been out to New Hampshire in the last few years, you’re missing out on a complete gem of a course in Manchester. Named The Hollows, it’s one of the courses that Dynamic Discs’ very own Eric McCabe designed from start to finish. In an area that once had few disc golfers around, their local club now numbers over 140 members and The Hollows sees between 20,000 and 25,000 rounds played per year.

How did a course that’s only two years old completely revolutionize Manchester disc golf and bring revenue to the community’s restaurants and hotels via tournament play? We spoke with the Director of the Parks and Recreation department in Manchester, Don Pinard, to get an idea of how The Hollows came to be.

It Started With Don’s Vision

“Four years ago, as the newly hired director of Parks and Recreation in Manchester, it was my vision to increase affordable recreation for the citizens of Manchester and the surrounding communities,” explained Pinard. “I received numerous inquiries concerning the possibilities of a disc golf course in the city. I had no exposure to disc golf and knew nothing about the sport.”

Don began his research and formed an acquaintance in Bill Bruce, owner of Breakin Chains Disc Golf Supplies. As a first time player, Don traveled to a nearby community to play a round and was instantly hooked. He saw the obvious link between offering free recreation for all and the benefits a course could bring to his local area.

What Was It Like Working With Dynamic Course Design?

Don certainly performed his due diligence when exploring course options, and said that it was clear Eric McCabe was the one to work with: “I was impressed with his professionalism and enthusiasm. He also shared our vision of bringing disc golf to the forefront in Manchester and the area. Through our research of Dynamic Discs, we soon came to realize that DD was the company we wanted to partner with.”

Eric flew to Manchester to work with Don and figure out where the new course would take shape. Pinard had three locations in mind but kept his preference to himself while Eric surveyed the possibilities. In the end, McCabe selected Don’s first choice, and the designing phase instantly began.

The goal was to create a course that wasn’t just enjoyable on a recreational level, but one that could host top level tournaments. Taking this into consideration, Eric’s design included two pin positions on all but one hole as well as two tee pads on many holes.

After the ground had been flagged, it was up to Don, Bill and wife Norma Bruce, Parks Department employees, and numerous volunteers to bring the course to life. The Hollows was the first course in the US to feature first run Veteran baskets, but these were later swapped out for the newer version.

The Hollows Is Truly Special

Not only is this course a premier destination for New Hampshire residents, but Eric designed it to be especially versatile. Using the various pin placements and tee pads, Don says the course can be played four ways. It utilizes a tight and technical tract of wooded land and even has separate teeing areas specifically for junior and beginning players.

Manchester’s beauty of a course is truly family friendly and is in a secluded setting over rolling terrain. The city itself is on the smaller side, just reaching over 110,000 people. The effects of the course in the community are stunning, as Don describes:

“Although still in its infancy, The Hollows has hosted many tournaments from Trilogy Challenges, B-Tier tournaments, and the New England Amateur Disc Golf Championship.  The NEADGC has brought people to our course from all NE states and has reached states as far as Texas. The course is near the interstate, airport, and hotels.  Restaurants in the area have already felt the impact of The Hollows.”

The Hollows has been such a success that Don is currently planning the installation of a second course in the area to meet the high demand of Manchester disc golfers.

Designing A Course With EMAC

Could your community benefit from installing a disc golf course? We’d bet it probably can. Contact us at Dynamic Course Design to learn more.

Ep 189 Disc Golf Answer Man

On this episode of the Disc Golf Answer Man, we discuss the myth of the extra 30-second rule, why you might consider using your putter with practicing your form, some of our worst shots, and much more.

New Disc Golf Answer Man Episode

Eric Oakley - The Man Inside The Putter Pants

2017 has been a pretty good year for Eric Oakley - he’s been touring the nation while competing in top-level events and hosting awesome clinics, his most recent tournaments show an average of 1000+ rated golf, and he just got engaged to the other half of the WhalePants dynamic, Tina Stanaitis.

Known as one of the most charismatic guys in disc golf, we talked with Eric to find out a little more about his mental game, what he’s doing this offseason, and just how much he values being a part of the DD team.

Professional And Fun All In One

One of the things that makes Eric such a natural choice as part of the Dynamic Discs family is that he has an uncanny ability to have a great time when on the course while simultaneously keeping a humble and professional attitude. Anyone who has watched his vlogs is used to seeing a guy who can joke with the best of them and always seems to have a smile on his face, but there’s a more polished side to him as well.

Oakley’s success this season can be attributed to many factors, but one that he’s particularly thankful for is the support he’s received while on the road. For him, being a part of the DD team “means that you are a part of a family. The support system from employees and other team members is a big reason I feel like I am continuing to make improvements in my game every single weekend. I truly feel lucky to be a part of the best team in disc golf.”

The confidence Eric feels can be attributed to this support system, but also comes from his own introspection after each large event he plays. As his rating continues to soar, he’s noticed that he’s putting unnecessary pressure on himself to perform. Learning to trust his game has been a big part of what’s shaped his year and what’s contributed to his growth as a player.

From A Hobby To A Career

Eric’s athletic background stems from playing soccer for many years, and during his time as a Semi-Pro player, a teammate of his introduced him to disc golf. Just like we see over and over again, after one round he was hooked and soon had a practice basket and a growing plastic collection.

During college, disc golf sat on the backburner as Oakley wanted to hone his coaching and teaching skills. However, true love never dies, and he quickly picked disc golf up again to see what he could do.

His advice for up-and-comers who are looking to make waves in the sport? “Don't worry about how you finish, just keep learning from every round,” he said. “The moments you get to play with some of the best in the world will help you understand how to play better in future tournaments.”

During the offseason, he and Tina are planning on settling down somewhere warm and look forward to taking full advantage of their time to ensure 2018 will be even bigger and better than this year. He’s happy to take some much needed time off the road, as he notes that the long drives while actively touring can really wear him down.

As a self-professed “proud nerd,” we’d bet Eric will be indulging in some board games and anime this winter too. Here’s to a strong finish in 2017 and a restful winter - we can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2018!

Interested In Disc Golf? Try Our Starter Set

One of the great things about the sport of disc golf is that it has a pretty low barrier to entry compared to other sports out there. You don't need a uniform or any protective gear, and you barely even need special shoes - regular athletic ones will do the job just fine.

When it comes to our tools, some people might try to tell you that you need a fancy bag that runs hundreds of dollars and to fill it, you'll have to spend a pretty penny on discs too. But if you're brand new to disc golf or are trying to show someone else why you love it so much, you probably don't want to spend that much hard earned cash.

That's where the Prime Starter Set comes in. Offering a putter, midrange, and fairway driver all in Prime plastic, it's DD's way of giving you the tools you need right off the bat. What's more, the set comes with a Cadet bag, so you'll have a place to keep your new discs, keys, and some water while you're out on the course.

Want to learn more about what's in this awesome buy? Anthony fills us in on everything the Starter Set has to offer.