Part I:

Part II:

Part III:

As the daylight disappears and temperatures drop, many of us find ourselves spending a lot more time inside. It’s a perfect time of year for video games, and thanks to Gordon Griesel, it looks as though disc golfers will have a virtual environment to keep themselves entertained.

Earlier in the year, I mentioned Gordon’s project, and my eagerness to see it become a reality. Well, Gordon has made good on his intentions, and now has an early December release date planned for Disc Flight Sim. As a way to help get people ready for the release of the full version, a free downloadable demo is available on his site, which you can find here (currently, the password for download is “demo”.)

Being busy with several things lately, in addition to the encroaching holidays, I haven’t had a chance to play with it too much, but I can say from what little I have seen, I’m very impressed and am eagerly anticipating the full release. While the graphics may not be the cutting edge stuff you see in big budget video games, the physics at work here are quite impressive. Just throwing drives with a few selected discs, the physics at work were extremely realistic. Not that there has been a lot of competition in the world of virtual disc physics, but this simulator portrays the flight of a golf disc far more authentically than anything I’ve seen before. A disc thrown flat will fly straight and then fade left predictably. A flippy disc thrown hard with a slight hyzer angle will flip up to fly straight, turn right, and then fade left. That same flippy disc though, if thrown with full hyzer, will hold its hyzer line and finish left (just like my real life botched hyzer-flip attempts!).

The game will include some pre-made courses, a full selection of discs, several different play-modes, and the ability for players to design their own courses, which they’ll be able to share with others. As an added bonus, there will be many terrains the player can download at no cost from the Disc Fight Sim site. The game is currently only for XP/Vista, and Gordon is looking at selling it around $19.95, or “for around the cost of one nice disc” as he puts it. It will be available for download or on CD, and customers will be able to pay in a variety of ways.

Excited by the prospects of the game, I contacted Gordon (who is very accessible and responsive, by the way), and asked him a few questions.

Tim: So, with the game, you get several different challenge modes, as well as your own level designer, and free downloadable content. Is there anything I’m leaving out?

Gordon Griesel: You can build courses from one to 36 holes on any of the terrains. You get to place trees, bushes, and objects, and can have 3 different basket positions on each hole. You can later edit the courses. You can set the wind, chain difficulty, tree stickiness, fog density, etc. You can also turn off the aiming-crosshairs for the players, which makes playing a course difficult.

T: There’s a huge selection of discs, I take it you’ll only be able to carry a certain amount with you when you play a round?

GG: The list of discs was compiled from looking at actual online listings that show many different discs and manufacturers. I contacted every manufacturer last Spring about including real disc names in this game. Most were very positive, but several wanted a more formal arrangement to use their names. That’s why I made the game generic, and each player can name the discs anything they want. My intent is to make all manufacturers and disc golfers happy! (Authors’s note: I think Gordon has done a great job with re-naming the discs here–they’re not the same as the real discs, but you can figure it out. Very reminiscent of the branding in the Grand Theft Auto games.)

You load your bag with discs before playing a course or challenge. Just Ctrl-left-click on a disc to put it in your bag, then the same to remove from your bag.

T: Are you able to customize the appearance of the discs, i.e. colors & custom images?

GG: You can change the plastic color and label color of each disc. You can also name each disc, and set the flight characteristics of each. I read lots of articles about disc flight, and how far a disc will travel when thrown at a given miles-per-hour. The game is pretty close to real.

I set the max power to 64 mph because I found a video of a well-known professional throwing in a long-drive event, and the radar screen said 64 mph. If you do a run-up, your running speed will be added to the disc speed.

If you go way up on a hill (in the game) and throw downward, the disc will fly pretty far, and I worried about that for the game reality. So, I walked up onto a high hill at our local course and threw my 176gm Beast. It flew so far that I had to go home and measure it with Google Earth. 1165 feet!

So when you see the disc flying really far in the game, it’s really possible.

T: Will there be different players to choose from, ones that have different attributes, like power, accuracy, consistency, backhand vs. forehand ability, etc.? I suppose along with that, will there be any kind of “career mode” where skills progress over time?

GG: There aren’t any characters to choose from in the game at this time. It’s a first-person-shooter type game, and you are yourself

There are already plans for a version 2, which will have a play-against-the-computer mode, and you will choose opponents that have various characteristics and talents.

T: How about environmental variables, like wind or rain, tall grass vs. short grass–are those available?

GG: Yes, there are levels of wind, gusting and changing direction. A few levels of fog, 24 different lighting conditions to simulate time-of-day somewhat, and different types of clouds just for variety. The terrain is pretty smooth at this point in the game, but I experimented with voxel terrain to get that really great grass look. Voxels are still too slow for a real-time game, but maybe someday.

T: What about non-traditional throws, like thumbers or rollers?

GG: No roller or thumber physics yet, sorry. But I put lots of work into the ground physics to get a nice skip if the disc is tilted just right. Be careful, because the darn disc will skip right down a steep slope and into the water.

T: Will there be any on-line functionality, if not head-to-head, maybe a way to upload scores?

GG: No multi-player at this time. All your scores are saved in a file, so you will have a record of your play and improvement. Aces and other long shots that you sink are saved in a file.

I’m adding a last-minute feature so that players can develop their own challenge-package, like a set of courses, putting courses, hoop challenges, etc. I will compile them together and make them available online to download. This is experimental, but I think it will be popular with some.

T: And for the Mac users out there, any plans for a Mac version, or is there a way for them to play it?

GG: No Mac support for now. I’m the only programmer on this project, and I don’t have a Mac. The tools I used will allow me to port the game to a Mac, if I decide to put the time into it.

Gordon also asked to send his thanks out to Jerry Frost, a collaborator in the making of the game. As he says, “He’s not a programmer, but he’s been working on the game with me almost every day for the last 10 months. Jerry came up with many ideas such as generic disc names, tree designs, the lighthouse, about 40 terrains, and many courses. He designed our only real course, which is the mountain course at Hart Park, Bakersfield. Jerry also spent many hours testing the tools to build and edit courses. He asked for 3 baskets per hole, and other things that make this a really complete game. The JT on the JT’s mini marker is Jerry.”

So there you have it, Gordon has put together an exceptional little piece of software which will soon be available for your grubby little paws. While there are still some features that I’d like to see implemented into the game, notice how Gordon’s answers about those features are “not yet” and that there is already a version 2 in the works. Though I’m no programmer, I believe the hard part of the design is already complete, namely the physics of disc flight, and we have so much potential to build upon thanks to Gordon’s hard work. For $20, I believe this little program will be an absolute steal, and I plan on buying a copy as soon as it’s available.

Most disc golfers, if they’re anything like me, will have noted while walking around in everyday life how great a particular spot would be if only there were a playable hole there. Well Matt Crider, aka Tennessee, and some of his friends have taken it upon themselves to do just that. Scoping out some unique places to put a basket Matt & Co. set up a camera and filmed themselves playing some urban disc golf. Matt’s the lanky fellow throwing the first bombing drive under the bridge, check out the video below:

Also, while you’re at it, do yourself a favor and check out some of his other videos. Matt puts together a good little piece of youtube footage, and I have to give credit where it’s due–he consistently has damn good music to accompany his vids. As always, they’re best enjoyed in high quality. Be sure to check back for further updates to the Urban Disc Golf series.

Well, for those that are curious about the process of the dip dyeing technique, see the videos below. Chuck, who is well known through the Pacific NW, and dare I say, even on a national level, for his immaculate dyes, was gracious enough to come by my place and give a brief tutorial on disc dyeing (as well as help clean my kitchen).

Part 1:

Part 2:

This is just a basic intro to dyeing, with practice you can achieve some astounding works of art. Check out some of Chuck’s pieces after the jump:

These pictured above were all cut by hand, and dyed exactly as shown in the videos. Not to shabby, huh? If you want to check out more of Chuck’s dyes, check out his album of dyes, where you can see the progression of his skills developing!

Anybody that knows me, or has seen me posting on various disc golf forums on the net, knows that I am wholeheartedly in favor of pay-to-play courses. It’s an argument that I can delve into more drastically some other time, but for now, I just want to share an example of what pay-to-play can achieve. Chances are, if you have read any of the publications related to disc golf, you’ve probably seen at least one picture of the hole above–it’s shown up in ads and was featured on the cover of Disc Golf Magazine. It’s a great hole no doubt, but it’s only a taste of what Blue Ribbon Pines has in store.

Designed by Timmy Gill of Par 72 Disc Golf (and Disc Golf TV), Blue Ribbon Pines truly seems to set itself apart from other courses. Set on a sod farm in East Bethel, MN,about an hour north of the disc golf hot zone of Minneapolis, Gill and crew appear to have outdone themselves. Carving out tricky fairways through the trees, mowing the grass to near ball golf standards, encircling the greens with pavers and covering them with bark are but a few of the touches they’ve added here. They even dug out a pond to bring a water hazard into play!

Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten to play this course yet (emphasis on the “yet” here), but I have played a good number of courses. Some of them have been great, some of them have been not so great. Even the best ones though, would be hard pressed to top Blue Ribbon Pines. It’s hard for me to say conclusively without seeing the course, but knowing that pictures usually don’t do a course justice, I can only imagine how these holes look in real life. I’m willing to bet that whatever your home course is, it looks shabby compared to what is seen here. All this is possible with a dedicated crew AND a steady source of income. I will always love the free courses in disc golf, but for a measly $5 for a day at Blue Ribbon, it appears you get far more than what you pay for.

Scroll down for a few more pictures of this outstanding course. All images on this page are just ones that I lifted from the course website. Feel free to browse some more for yourself at http://blueribbonpines.net/.

The art for the fundraiser Glow Wizards has been finalized, thanks to Zach at

ZAMdesign. I really like where Zach went with this one, a little bit evil, a little bit playful, and 100% twisted. I think that embodies the feeling of this little tourney.

For anybody who isn’t familiar with the legendary Gateway Glow plastic, it’s one of the most favored blends out on the market. It’s even more durable than Gateway’s normal “S” blend (widely accepted as the best base line plastic of any company), and it feels great in the hand. Being relatively firm, glow Wizards are my go-to discs for approaches, and being more durable, I find them to remain more wind resistant than other putters. Oh yeah, and unlike most other “glow” discs, these puppies actually GLOW! My glow Wizards shine like a beacon when the sun dips past the horizon, which you may want to take into account if playing after dark isn’t permitted at your local course. I have one Superglow Wizard that literally doesn’t even need to be exposed to light to glow…simple heat will do the trick. No lie!

With any luck, I’ll have the discs in hand soon, so if you’re interested in picking one of these fund raisers up ($15 + $2.50 shipping), just get in touch and I can hook you up!

This October will see the first true AADG event. In the spirit of Halloween (and a lack of Howliewood being held this year), I’ll be running a casual little tournament called Terror Creek 666 Doubles held at Terrace Creek Park, in Mountlake Terrace, WA on October 25th.

666 doubles is a format that I’ve been wanting to try for a long time, and I figure, what better time than Halloween? What is a 666 format, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you. 18 holes of play, incorporating 3 different kinds of doubles play, i.e. 6 holes of one, 6 holes of the other, and (you guessed it) 6 holes of another. The three formats I’ll be using for the 666 are: alternate shot, best disc, and tough shot (dum dum DUM!). For more information on the details of the particular formats, check out the PDGA’s explanation of them here. It should be a true test of players’ abilities to work with each other, and play smart golf. If all goes well, everybody should still be friends by the end of the first round, but I have a feeling, there will be many apologies, among other kinds of language, uttered throughout the 666 round. To give players a chance to get back to the normal groove of doubles, we’ll be having a second round of best shot doubles–the kind everybody knows and loves.

As with any disc golf event, the primary objective of this is to have FUN. But on top of that, my goal is to raise money for the course to ultimately build a much needed information kiosk. As it is now, we have a couple stakes pounded into the ground, and a couple fence posts to hang fliers on. It is, in a word, ghetto. As our name states, we are interested in the advancement of disc golf, and having proper amenities at a course is one significant step towards advancing the sport. This tournament will be something of an experiment, and if all goes well, I hope to host many more events like this, at other courses to help them get off the ground, or to enhance what already exists.

If you would like more information on this event, check out the flyer here. If you’re anywhere around the Seattle area, or even if you aren’t, I hope you can grab a friend and come have some fun with us.  Even if you can’t make it, you can still help support the cause, and score a sweet putter by buying a glow Wizard, soon to be selling for $15 (+ shipping). The sport can only advance with your help (and yes I mean YOU)!

UPDATE: I’m adding an additional aspect to the tournament: costumes!  Costumes will not be mandatory for the tournament, but prizes will be awarded for the best costumes for those that choose to wear them.  Also, the stamp design is in it’s final process, and it’s looking awesome!

2008 Champion Scott Papa drives while 2nd place Big Mike Leslie observes. Photo courtesy of Eric Edgerton.

Every year towards the end of August, a disc golf tournament happens.  Not just any disc golf tournament, mind you, and it hasn’t happened every year, but it has happened every year since 1976.  Not a lot of tournaments can boast that.  In fact, none can, except for the Washington State Disc Golf Championships.  That’s right, this year marked the 33rd anniversary of the world’s oldest disc golf tournament that is still running.  This year’s championship was made even more special in that it was dedicated to the memory of Northwest disc golf pioneer and Hall of Famer Doug Newland.

It is a special occasion, run for the last twenty five years or so by long time Seattle discer Lowell Shields.  Lowell, being almost obstinately “old school”, tries to maintain the original feel of the tournament by keeping it non-sanctioned and presenting a casual, fun atmosphere for the event. The event, spanning a weekend, consists of two rounds at Ft. Steilacoom park (the Pro and Alt layouts) on Saturday, and then two rounds at Terrace Creek Park on Sunday, followed by an awards ceremony at nearby La Azteca Mexican restaurant.  In the spirit of tradition, Lowell tries to play the courses in their original layout (or as close as he can get), keeping the pin placements in their shorter, more “Frisbee” oriented days.  Even though that should make the course easier, I couldn’t help but feel like I was in a piece of living history as I played, putting my disc on the same path as discs that flew before I was even born.

Also in the spirit of tradition, the first round consisted of mixed groups, so that my Advanced Amateur friend and I got to play with a couple of the better Open players. That was a bittersweet experience–we got to witness some excellent and incredibly long throws, but at the same time, had to display our short and chunderous games to guys way better than we were. Hopefully the pros didn’t feel slowed down by our less than exemplary play, because I certainly enjoyed getting to see how the game should be played.

By and large, the weekend provided great weather, save for a drenching squall for the first few holes of the first round on Sunday.  I myself could have played better, sitting in contention for 2nd place at the end of the third round, but quickly and systematically blowing it in my final round.  One person who did NOT blow it was Discraft pro and FDM contributor Scott Papa. Before the tournament, Scott lamented about how he’d finished in second place more years than anyone else, but this year, well, he managed to pull it together, shooting a solid 195, 21 under the par of 216. Scott gets to take the traveling trophy home with him, and ogle it for a year before he’ll return to defend his title for a tournament that will hopefully never end.

Though it is possible to play disc golf with one disc, most people want to carry several. And except for the masochistic, most would like to have some sort of apparatus in which to carry their multiple discs, as well as their water, keys, phone, “other” beverages, safety supplies, cigarettes, rulebook, etc. Enter the disc golf bag. Now a bag may not need to be specialized, for the casual golfer, a simple backpack or soft cooler type bag might work fine. My first bag was a CamelBak, and that suited my needs for the time being, but I immediately wanted something a little more tailored to the sport so I could have easier access to my discs, and carry more comfortably.

Needless to say, as I grew more hopelessly addicted to this sport, carrying more discs as well as playing more frequently, I needed to upgrade several times over the years. It didn’t take too long for me to decide that I wanted to buy a bag that would suit my purposes and would hold up for as long as I needed it. Through my research, I learned of two manufacturers that stood out for building high quality, durable bags: Revolution (Revo) and Gorilla Boy (GB). Both companies have an excellent reputations, and I couldn’t find anybody saying a negative word for either. After much deliberation, I decided to go with the Gorilla Boy Kong, the flagship model. I was very happy with my purchase, but I felt later on, that I should also have a smaller bag for lighter, minimalistic rounds. For that one, I chose the Revolution Mini. Both bags have proven to be excellent, but in the interest of satiating my own curiosity and hopefully answering some questions for our readers, I decided to purchase the bags’ counterparts: the Revolution Carolina Team Bag and the Gorilla Boy Spider Monkey, respectively, and compare them here.

For those that hadn’t been paying attention to the Pro Worlds, Dave Feldburg utterly CRUSHED this year, finally sealing the deal of winning the Disc Golf World Championship, finishing 14 strokes ahead of second place at an astounding 100 under par for the tournament.

Here’s a video clip of the new champ at what is currently his “home” course while he’s going to school. Warning: this may make you second guess all those improvements you thought you were making with your game.  At least I know I can bif it on the teepad like a pro.