GEORGE NEWS - Disc golf is taking off in George with two local enthusiasts, Dr Leon Strauss and Gary Knoetze, organising events and promoting the sport since the beginning of this year.
Games were initially played at the pump track at Van Riebeeck Park, but they have a new venue - the Rooirivier mashie golf course - that lends itself excellently to the sport.
Disc golf is played like golf, but with high-speed flying discs that players have to throw into an elevated basket with chains at the end of each hole. Every throw from the starting tee pad is counted until the disc is thrown into the basket, and that becomes the score for that hole.
Strauss says it is not an expensive sport and can be played by young and old. "In the US the sport is huge and the youngest sponsored player there is a seven-year-old. We have a few dedicated players and new participants at every event."
Niel Yssel getting closer to the basket.
On Saturday, the George club had its second nine-hole game and 14 players.
"We have registered a temporary course on U-Disc for Rooirivierrif. We feel that we are on the verge of this sport taking off in South Africa, and George is the ideal location. There are few registered courses in the country," says Strauss.
Disc Golf South Africa hosted its first SA Open Championship this year in Gauteng and has since then been registering their players with the Professional Disc Golf Association, thereby being able to rank our local players internationally.
Disc golf will be beneficial for tourism in the region. Typically, international players travel great distances to play new courses.
For more information, contact Strauss on 082 330 3966.
Noting scores is grandfather Ampie de Beer with his three grandkids, from left: Raymund, Aiden and Marlene de Beer. Photo: Alida de Beer
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