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The sport of Frisbee began on the shores of the Atlantic, when students at New England colleges discovered an alternative use for the pie tins of the Frisbie Baking Company (1871ą1958). The game gained popularity among young people in the early 20th century across the country, and, following World War II, a Los Angeles building inspector named Walter Fredrick Morrison designed a rounded, plastic version, which he dubbed the “Pluto Platter” in response to the growing national popularity of UFOs.

In 1955, following the newly formed Wham-O corporation’s purchase of the “platter” from Morrison, an executive named Ed Headrick redesigned and molded the first disc golf discča smaller and longer flying version of Wham-O’s traditional design. The game became extremely popular with college students across the country and slowly gained a national following.

Tournaments began in a slipshod fashion in 1969. Five years later, however, following a notable tournament, disc golf was introduced into the World Frisbee Championship and became internationally recognized. In 1975, the first official world tournament was held at Oak Grove Park in the first permanent course at Pasadena, Calif.

Based on the foundation of ball golf, disc golf makes a few minor substitutes. The baskets, which represent holes and flags, are the focal points of each hole.

Instead of clubs and balls, discs serve as the active variable. Generally, three core types of discs are the norm for intermediate and serious players: a driver, the farthest flying disc; mid range, essentially the chipper or wedge; and, finally, putters.

Prices of discs range from eight to 22 dollars at local disc merchant Air Traffic in Rosedale Mall (located next to JCPenney) or online at global disc wholesale distributor and Minneapolis-based
GottaGoGottaThrow (www.gottagogottathrow.com). Also online are sites of the major golf disc manufacturers, Innova and Disccraft. The majority of serious players either use Disccraft or Innova.

A player’s level of “seriousness” is relative, however.

“You get guys from all walks of life,” said Chris Amundsen of Air Traffic. “People normally think of disc golf as a stoner-type sport, but that just isn’t trueča few people fit the stereotype, but overall, the majority of players are just normal guys who enjoy the game.”

Normal or not, for those of you looking to toss a round before the snowfall hits, you are in close proximity to five St. Paul courses. North Valley, Acorn, Oakwood, Kaposia and Highland County and municipal parks are all within a 15-minute drive of campus.

For all intents and purposes, though, Highland Parkčjust south of campus on Hamline Ave.čis where you want to be. Highland features a great beginner-to-intermediate 12-hole course with open holes as well as wooded ones. It is also presented in a way that anyone who understands elementary geography can learn. This is a great course to start out at, and if it seems confusing, look for someone who has a disc-golf bag and walks confidentlyčhe/she will kindly direct you where to go.

Disc golf is slowly making its way toward the outskirts of pop culture.

“It is slowly rising to the level of ball golf,” says Amundsen, “and it is only getting more popular.”

Disc golfing has captured a subculture of people who spend good money and quality time on the activity.
Close to 12 million people have tried the activity, according to the PDGA.

Next week: Hamline disc golfers speak on the appeal and future of this curious game.