Flying discs return
Prepare for flying discs.
The Lakeview Course at Moraine State Park, Knob Hill Community Park in Warrendale and Deer Lakes Park in Russellton will host the 23rd annual Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open Aug. 27-28.
Known as frisbee golf in layman’s terms, the best players in the world will descend upon these sites to compete for a share of the $15,000 prize purse.
“The Pittsburgh tournament is one of eight events on the (elite) national tour for the first time,” event publicist J. Gary Dropcho said. “That guarantees the top players will be rolling through here.”
Dropcho anticipates an overall field of 140-plus players. Tournament director Scott Hartle, a Butler resident, is figuring on more.
“There will be three pools of players and there can be 72 players per pool,” Hartle said. “I won’t be surprised if all three pools are filled.”
Rounds will take place at 9 a.m,. and 2 p.m. Aug. 27 at all three sites. After a third-round cut, the top 72 pro and advanced amateurs will play a final round at 2 p.m. Aug. 28 at Knob Hill Park.
Spectators are welcome throughout the weekend and there is no admission fee.
Pool A will consist of male and female pro open players. Pool B will include advanced amateurs, pro masters and pro grand masters (age protected players). Pool C will consist of the amateur and recreational players.
Hartle has been playing flying disc golf for three years.
“A bunch of my friends had been playing at Moraine and talked me into trying it,” he said. “I used to be an avid golfer and there are a lot of similarities.
“Average players play for par. The pros at this tournament will produce a lot of birdies and eagles.”
Hartle said the average player can toss a flying disc 350 feet. The pros can get 600 to 700 feet out of a tee toss.
“The world record is 800-plus feet,” Hartle said. “It’s amazing what some of these people can do.”
Hartle said he got involved with the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society — affiliated with the Professional Disc Golf Association — “to help bring bigger events around here. We have the best courses, so we should get the best players.”
Flying disc golf consists of 18 holes, a hole ending when the disc is tossed into a basket. Wooded areas and water hazards can be obstacles along the way.
A par-3 hole is 250 to 300 feet in distance, par-4’s are 400 to 500 feet, par 5’s anywhere from 600 to 1,000 feet.
The top two scores from the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open will be awarded berths in the tour-ending championship event, the Vibram Open. Players may also earn points toward next year’s world championship tourney in North Carolina.
Flying disc players carry different discs for different shots, just as golfers use different clubs.
“There are driver discs, mid-range discs and putter discs,” Dropcho said. “Shots are incredibly accurate.”
Festivities will actually begin at 6 p.m. Aug. 26, when PDGA Tour professional Jay Reading and other top-rated players host a free disc golf skills clinic for amateur players from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Overlook Pavilion at Knob Hill Park.
Small group instruction of disc golf driving and putting skills will follow a demonstration of 400-foot throws and accurate putting.
