Taking flight

Mike Sciacca

It’s called “disc golf,” and players don’t take kindly when it’s

referred to as “Frolf.”

Whatever moniker it goes by, disc golf -- a cross between Frisbee

and golf -- continues to be on the fly in Huntington Beach.

On a sprawling hilltop at Huntington Beach Central Park on Monday

afternoon, nearly 30 disc golf enthusiasts -- from all levels of

experience -- tested their skills with a sport that is closely

related to the game of golf.

A summer-like day and Santa Ana conditions made it a perfect

setting, as various discs floated effortlessly through the air.

“Disc golf continues to gain popularity here in Huntington Beach,

and this course is always busy,” said Jerry Davis, 37, a professional

disc golfer who overseas the running of the disc golf course. “You

see all age ranges coming out here now. We’ve gotten so busy here in

the last few years.”

Disc golf is played much like traditional golf, Davis said, but

instead of using a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc, which

resembles a Frisbee.

The discs come in various sizes and are used for different

techniques.

The sport, which formalized in the 1970s, is similar to golf in

that the object for each player is to complete each “hole” in the

fewest number of “putts.”

A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target, the “hole.” The

most common of these, according to the Professional Disc Golfers

Assn., is the “Pole Hole,” which is an elevated metal basket.

As a player continues down the fairway, that player must take each

consecutive shot from the spot where the previous throw has landed.

The hole is completed when the “throw” lands in the basket.

At the Surf City course, that could be challenging, as a forest of

trees and different types of terrain present challenges to the

players.

The huge difference between the disc golf and traditional golf,

however, is the cost.

It’s costs next to nothing for Surf City residents and

nonresidents, alike, to play disc golf.

The course, established in 1977, has been called both “beautiful

and challenging” by the Professional Disc Golf Assn.

There is 5,649 yards of open play space -- which can be expanded

to 6,100-feet for tournament play.

The Surf City course, one of the first three courses established

in the U.S., has the distinction of being the only course to contain

18 baskets.

There also is a full time Pro Shop that offers lessons, rentals

and a snack bar.

The course is one of four in the county. Other courses are set up

in Anaheim, Irvine and Tustin. Professional disc golfer Chris Brophy,

34, has played on courses throughout the country, from Minnesota to

Michigan to Texas.

The former Huntington Beach resident, who now lives in Los

Alamitos, said the Surf City course can be challenging, although he

doesn’t see it as one of the most difficult courses.

“You have to take into consideration that when this course was

designed, it was designed for Frisbee,” said Brophy, who was among

the players taking advantage of Monday’s ideal weather conditions.

“With advances in the sport and technology over the years, there are

a few other courses that have been designed to be more challenging.

And, when they took away a lot of trees and built some houses nearby,

that took away some of the challenges on this course.

“But that’s not to take away from this course, at all. It’s

beautiful and fun to play, especially on days like today. I’m out

here as much as I can be.”

Davis, who has played in several world class tournaments, said

that in any given week during the fall and winter months, anywhere

from 500 to 700 players take to the course.

During the summer months, that average climbs to more than 1,000.

“When I took over the course six years ago, very few women played

and there really were no junior players,” he said. “Now, we average

getting 12 to 20 junior players out here on any Saturday.

“In addition, we’ve created a juniors league for the younger

players. Just by entering, each player receives a free disc.”

League play has become big business at the course.

Each Wednesday night, there is a pro/am handicap league, where

handicaps are based on each player’s ability. Each season of the year

has a 13-week series and the top five players in each tournament earn

trophies and/or disc golf gear.

Also, a bi-division tournament is held the first Saturday of every

month and features professional, women and junior players.

“This sport is a lot of fun and I’d recommend it to anybody,”

Davis said. “The recent rains closed down the course for a few days,

and it’s a pretty rare occasion here, to have this course closed.

“Still, some die hards came out in the rain to play, and that

included me. It just made the game more challenging.”