I don’t care what others think …
Woods disc golf is the highest form of the sport.
In spite of little more than baseline plastic being available in the early days of disc golf, woods golf is what there was. The first-ever course was founded by “Steady” Ed Headrick in Pasadena.
No, Oak Grove isn’t Yellowstone National Park, but it’s certainly wooded. The woods are where disc golf started. Nearly five decades later, they’re still where the game puts its best foot forward.
Why is that the case?
Have at it.
The woods make for drama
One hole.
That’s all it takes to keep hope alive.
The 2022 PDGA Champions Cup was won by Paige Pierce on the 18th hole at W.R. Jackson. She started that hole one back of a commanding Kristin Tattar. By the time it was over, Tattar’s tear-filled eyes had witnessed her lose the Major by two strokes – the woods did her no favors.
To quote Lloyd Christmas:
“So, you’re telling me there’s a chance ...”
As a sports fanatic, you might poke fun at your mother’s mid-day soap operas like “Days of Our Lives,” but these kinds of television programs are addictive for the drama-filled storylines they craft. Incredibly, it’s that same kind of high that hooks disc golf fans for eight months a year.
In large part, you have the woods to thank.
Foliage or bust.
The woods are the great equalizer
This is the case for pros.
This is the case for amateurs, too.
On an open, ball golf-style layout, assuming it doesn’t drift out of bounds, one bad throw isn’t likely to undo 17 holes of rock-solid play. At Northwood Black, however, sans hyperbole, one shoddy hole is capable of undoing an entire tournament. If you’re not on the Pro Tour, there’s still no room to relax: Regularly being one inch off in the woods is straight nightmare fuel.
Wooded courses level playing fields. They’re a blast to throw, but they’re even more fun to compete on, given the madness they’re capable of inflicting upon a tournament’s hierarchy.
Watch the world burn.
The woods make disc-selection matter
I love the Star Destroyer.
I love hyzers, too.
As a disc golfer, though, what I love most is the feeling of using every disc I hauled out with me to the course. It’s in this kind of workflow that a disc golf bag becomes less of a back-drenching burden and more of a worthwhile toolbox. You’re an artist, and these are your brushes – that’s it.
See the gap the woods offer. Hit the gap success demands.
Hyzer-flip accordingly.
The woods require skill (and some luck)
Discs are great.
See above.
Yet, without any actual ability on the part of the person steering ‘em through the air, they might as well be tortillas. Because of this, perhaps my favorite thing about woods golf is how deserving the winner is. In theory, with a strong putting performance, a disc golfer with a weak driving and approach game could dominate a bomber-friendly track and take home the top prize on a fluke.
That doesn’t happen at Idlewild. The course devours poor play.
The best guy always wins.
If you can compete consistently on heavily wooded courses, you can compete consistently anywhere on the planet – and win. Undeniably, however, the inverse of this is NOT true.
Sorry, David Wiggins Jr.
The woods distance disc golf from ball golf
Yes, I know trees exist on ball-golf courses.
I’m dumb, but not that dumb.
The relationship between disc golfers and trees is far more intimate, though. After a three-round, weekend-long tournament at a wooded course, your body feels it. You come home with ticks, stick scratches and a few patches of poison oak or ivy – the same can’t be said for traditional golf. Disc golf seeks out the thickest of woods, while ball golf uses them as ornaments.
Let’s lean into what makes our sport unique …
Tie-dye t-shirts, no.
The woods, yes.
Let me put it this way …
I’m a disc golf blogger. For as much pro disc golf as I should watch, I’ve turned off the Las Vegas Challenge and Memorial Championship out of boredom on more than one occasion. Never in my life have I ever considered doing something similar with the Waco Annual Charity Open.
Case in point?
Whether watching or playing, the woods are THE place to be.
Have anything to add? Take to X to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
Editor’s Suggestions:
- YouTube’s most underrated disc golf channel
- Here’s exactly how Drew Gibson grips a midrange
- Disc golf: 5 fun phrases for those bad at woods golf
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I’m in western Washington so every course is wooded just about. I have to agree with Las Vegas what a boring course. Bring on the iron leaves!
Amen to that, Kurt!
You’ll be pleased to know that Las Vegas Challenge is nowhere to be found on the 2024 Pro Tour calendar.
It’s about time.
I disagree, I like courses set up with some wide open holes, some different shapes and yes 6 or 7 tight lines. I’m a 2 hc so better than the average but those woods courses in Minnesota were a turn off!
My opinion falls between the article, and Luke. I’m a Charlotte-area golfer, and the woods are certainly my favorite, not even close. However, my “perfect course” is one that provides legitimate variety. Give me woods, give me open holes that still require shot-shaping, give me water carries, give me elevation change, give me par 3s/4s/5s. Difficult to have all of these, I realize, but the more variety the better.
I’m with you – the more variety, the better.
One thing I have consistently found with woods courses is they lack having enough OB. Yeah, sure, the challenge is not going deep into the rough after whacking a tree…but a good scramble can usually save par because there’s no stroke penalty as enough OB doesn’t exist in the woods.
Living and playing in portland oregon I can’t agree more. Woods golf is what it’s all about I hate when a few of my fellows I’m regularly playing with suggest an open field/ball golf style course they’re boring and take very little thought in regards to shot shape and course management. I want mental stimulation while playing and having to hit nervy tight lines. That’s what makes it a great sport
Oh, that’s a good phrase …
“Mental stimulation.”
We’re on the same page with that one.
Pier Park Disc Golf Course, is my local favorite, and has a good balance I feel
Phil Mickelson, Jordan Speith, Mito Pierreo and countless others have seen one shot ruin 71 holes of golf and cost themselves millions and millions.
To quote Jeffrey Lebowski: “Clearly your not a golfer”
Oakgrove is such a fun course tho!
Fair enough!
You’re still right about woods courses tho!!
Side thought. I can almost always identify the disc golfers who played ball golf first in their life by how they play the game, approach the game, and their etiquette on the course
Oh, that could make a good guest post in the future …
The perspective of somebody who came to disc golf AFTER ball golf.
Nice idea there, Fletch!
Played disc golf for 10, ball golf for 30 years.
Email me. I was on the course today watching people and making mental notes of the clearly non ball golfer crowd.
Your telling me LVC is boring????? Last year was pretty stinkin good!!
It was good, but I think Taylor’s referencing the course itself …
Hyzer. Hyzer. Hyzer.
Wind.
Rinse and repeat.
Almost all the courses I learned how to play disc golf on were woods golf courses (welcome to North Florida). I remember the first time I played an open course where I could just absolutely rip on a disc and I loved it because it was something different.
I think the point is balance is key. A good course needs a balance of shots. As much as we pretend they are, woods courses are still not the end-all comprehensive challenge of skills we think they are. We need those open holes where we see who has the biggest cannon, who can deal with strong wind gusts while putting on an unsheltered basket, or who can stick the landing on a small island with OB risk.
The grass is always greener, right?
BTW, are you familiar with the Mariana area in Florida?
It’s up North, and I’ve got loads of family in Sneads and Grand Ridge, Florida.
Is there anything more satisfying than hitting that perfect S line and watching your disc snake through the trees to land just where you want?! It’s just beautiful when it happens. I love woods golf, although mixed courses are my favorite. Holes played out of a gap into the open or the reverse, in and out of a tree line and across meadows are wonderful. Regardless, open courses with artificial OB are the bane of disc golf.
I mean, ball golf-style courses aren’t AWFUL …
I just think they’re more fun for the people playing them, than they are for those watching.
And even for those playing, they probably wouldn’t mind a few more trees. Haha.
(that is unless you’re Eagle McMahon or someone of the sort)