To find out more about Disc Golf, a great summer sport beloved by thousands of Austinites, we enlisted the help of an area expert, Dave Moody of Moody’s Disc Golf. Moody, who began his stint as a disc golfer decades ago, explains how he got into the sport at an early age. “In the mid-70s, my brothers and I played ‘folf’ or frisbee golf, in our neighborhood where I grew up. The last hole was usually the door at dinner time,” he says.

Moody later went on to play at Westminister College where he learned the real tricks of the trade. “The course was all over campus and was passed down from student to student each fall. The statue of Winston Churchill was the 18th hole, and we were required to hit it on the head to finish,” he says.

GETTING STARTED
According to Moody, the rules of disc golf are essentially the same as a typical game of golf.

“You count strokes each time you throw and complete the hole when the disc is in the target,” he says.

In order to get started, a first-time “folfer” needs the proper equipment. “A beginner should start with at least one disc. They should visit a shop that introduces them to the game with a disc that will help them learn quickly and enjoy themselves. Not all discs are good for beginners. However, there are many all-purpose discs on the market today that will do,” says Moody.

As for those seeking a more intense disc golf experience, there are plenty of ways to keep the game challenging. In addition to working your arms as you throw the discs at the target, you can also cross-train as you make your way around the course. “Most disc golfers will walk from one to five miles in a round. I run through rounds of disc golf using only one disc and get a great workout. Last year while training for Austin’s Motorola Marathon, I used this fast play for additional speed workouts,” Moody says.

A CHANCE TO PLAY
This year during the annual Keep Austin Weird 5K, participants will have a chance to try disc golf first-hand. The tournament will take place at Auditorium Shores from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on August 28.

“The course layout will suit beginning players and families and I will be helping new players with basic instruction,” says Moody. Pre-registration is available online for $15 or at the tournament site. Each participant will receive a T-shirt and a custom disc, not to mention the opportunity to try disc golf and receive instruction from a seasoned veteran. For more information, call Moody’s Disc Golf at 303-6080 or email moodysdiscgolf@netzero.net.