Disc golf: A sport for everyone
By K.C. Dermody, Yahoo! Contributor Network
August 10, 2011
Disc golf is known for being a laid-back, fun and friendly sport. Politeness
when playing is a must. It is also a great sport for all types of people,
with a lack of prejudice against females, as well as the deaf, or any person
who wants to play.
In this week’s Disc Golf Pro World Championships held in Santa Cruz and the
Monterey Bay area of California, Nathan Boyes is one of the professionals
competing in the tournament. Boyes is also the president of the Deaf Disc
Golf Association. The association holds its own tournaments, though the deaf
can also participate in the regular championship tournaments as well.
The deaf competitors who will take part in the PDGA World Championships this
week in central California got there by participating in the Austin,
Texas—based Deaf Disc Golf Championships. Justin Ashton won the open
division, while Boyes placed second.
Boyes said, “As far as having an opportunity to play Pro Worlds is super
awesome, but it means more knowing that the Pro Worlds Committee reached out
and held spots for us, and I earned my way in with my play at Deaf
Nationals, [which] makes it all more valuable. I just hope I represent my
Deaf disc golfers well.”
Ashton held the record for highest rated disc golf player going into
competition at the Texas tournament, and captured his third title in Austin
this year. Women participate in the Deaf Disc Golf Association Championships
as well, and it was Cherie Crick from Maryland who took the honors for the
women in Austin this year.
The DDGA has 128 active members currently, with an incredible 70 percent
increase in the last two years. Several of the largest colleges for the
deaf, such as Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., have disc golf
courses on their campus.
Boyes stated, “Disc golf is taking the Deaf community by storm because those
who are already involved in the sport are good people and good leaders who
recruit new players all the time, sharing their pure love of the game.”
Nichola Landry is a female deaf competitor who took part in the Beaver State
Fling in Estacada, Oregon earlier this summer. She took first place honors
in the women’s advanced masters division, and had not even planned on
attending.
The world of disc golf is known for its excellent camaraderie, and when
Landry could not afford to fund her entry, two of her fellow female
teammates came together to make sure she would be able to take part in one
of the biggest competitions in disc golf. Landry was shocked at the
generosity shown to her, and honored her teammates by scoring a victory.
Good luck to all the competitors in this week’s world championships in
California. May the sport soon be part of the mainstream and televised on
ESPN.
The first time K.C. Dermody played disc golf was in the spectacular Black
Hills of South Dakota. She has since become addicted to the sport, and enjoy
playing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
More from this contributor:
Eric McCabe Champion at disc golf’s Santa Maria Open
Women in disc golf: Top contenders PDGA World Championships
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