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Disc golf during the pandemic
(Courtesy: @edmontondiscgolfassociation/Instagram)

Disc golf during the pandemic

CALGARY, Alberta – Disc golf is the solution to anyone missing competitive sports during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was kind of a perfect storm. People obviously needed a reason to get outside, but not necessarily with a lot of people,” said Tim Plamondon, the president of the Edmonton Disc Golf Association explaining the exponential popularity of disc golf throughout Alberta. “The explosiveness of the game was twofold. People have begun to realize how great the game is. There’s been more social media on the professional league. Couple that the explosion of the game as a game itself and the pandemic where people are needing something to do or wanting to try something different.”

This is an outdoor sport without a team requirement. This has resonated with people. The popularity of the game has surpassed what many expected and that includes the disc golf community itself. Manufacturers have had a tough time keeping up with the demand for discs sets and other equipment.

“it’s actually very difficult to get your hands on some discs right now,” comments Plamondon.

Disc golf can easily be played at any time and that includes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Playing sports during the pandemic is difficult if not impossible. Many sports require players to be in proximity or to have direct contact. The United Nations (UN) reported that many sports at the international, regional, national and local levels were being canceled or postponed. This continues to be the case currently. Many sports and recreations centers are opened with limitations in place including social distancing, avoiding contact, regular sanitization and preferably outdoors.

However, disc golf doesn’t require those changes due to the game itself. Calgary Sport promotes this sport as not only having multiple health benefits but also being “contact-free and covid friendly”.

Disc golf is a kind of alternative or different form of golf. Using discs or frisbees, the players go from hole to hole.

“As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive throw from the spot where the previous throw landed. The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the ‘putt’ lands in the basket and the holes are completed,” Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) describes the similarities between disc golf and typical golf, “Disc golf shares the same joys and frustrations of golf, whether it’s sinking a long putt or hitting a tree halfway down the fairway.”

Because of the rules of the game itself, players are already socially distancing, avoiding contact and regularly disinfecting equipment. Although all the equipment is easy to disinfect, many players have and use their own disc golf sets. It’s also able to be played outdoors with better air circulation and space for social distancing.

To those that love the game, it’s no surprise that so many people have flocked to the sport. It provides a simple yet active sport that’s easily open to a range of people regardless of ability, mobility, finances, health, or location.

“That makes sense, especially with how cooped up people have been. It’s easy for people to pick up and just go play. I’ll say that it’s one of the big draws,” continues Plamondon, “People get the satisfaction of watching a disc fly through the air. It sounds silly. When you throw a disc the right way, it just moves through the air beautifully in a certain flight path.”

Check out the Calgary Disc Golf Clubs or the PDGA for events near you!

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.