The ADG Board aims beyond just being an administrator of our sport. We want to be an organization that develops its people. Tournament Directors are a critical channel that our sport flows through. Without enough confident, willing, and capable TD’s to run events we limit the social and competitive opportunities that Disc Golfers love; we also limit the public presence of our sport and consequentially constrain its growth.
The first ADG Accredited Tournament Director, Michelle Schulz receiving her certificate from her mentor Ryan Nicholson
Through the TD mentoring program we can provide a structured pathway for TD’s to gain confidence and experience to run tournaments. We can also recognize the competencies attained. Through this we can widen the pool of available tournament directors as well as positively impact the quality of tournaments in Australia.
We are very pleased to announce the completion of the pilot test of the ADG Tournament Director Mentoring Program. The first ADG Accredited Tournament Director is Mount Gambier’s Michelle Schulz who was mentored through the process of running the Crater Lakes Classic in March by Ryan Nicholson. Next off the rank was Sean Dobbs, proprietor of the Disc Golf Warehouse in Fremantle, who could not have found a more experienced TD mentor in Kris Kohout in co-TD’ing the Rob Hancock Memorial in Perth last weekend.
Sean Dobbs receiving his certificate from one of the most experienced TD’s in Australia – Kris Kohout
Click here for more information about the Tournament Director Mentoring Program.
After her stunning performance as a novice in the first round of the Two Heads Open in Tasmania, we caught up with Alice Si, from Adelaide, to learn a little bit more about her, and how she came to disc golf.
What sporting background did you have before Disc Golf?
I did a bit of Tae Kwon Do and rowing before I went to Scotland on a study exchange and found Ultimate. I’ve since played Ultimate for Australia and am currently captain of the women’s Ultimate club in Adelaide called Zig Theory.
What has been the biggest adjustment that you’ve had to make, coming from Ultimate?
The discs and techniques for throwing are quite different. The first time I threw a golf disc it just bent to the right. My backhand is ok now but I still struggle to throw a golf disc with my forehand – it seems like that technique is completely different.
You seem to have hit disc golf with a bit of a bang, throwing an 875 rated round in one of your first tournaments on a very difficult course. What athletic attributes do you think you bring to the sport?
I guess being an athlete in another sport helps with it. I already have some of the strength and technique to throw a disc with distance. I learned at the elite level of Ultimate that to play at your best you have to have all the actions automated so your body can take over and you don’t think too much about it. I feel that that in disc golf is similar in that I play best when I don’t think too much about it and just trust my throw.
How did you come to be playing Disc Golf?
I started playing disc golf after I moved to Adelaide with my partner Ben, who came here to do his PhD. A lot of the Outbreak men’s Ultimate club started playing disc golf during covid and we started playing with them as a social thing. To be honest I wasn’t really that into it at the beginning, but Ben was getting more into it and I went along with him. But then in a couple of league days I did really well, and I thought ‘why not keep going with it and see where it goes?’
What aspects of Disc Golf attract you?
The new crowd of people. Everyone in Adelaide has been so fun to play with and so friendly. I started playing Ultimate for similar reasons in Scotland. The course in Adelaide is accessible too. Being right near the CBD is seems that every time we go for a round, someone we know is there. I like the bag tag challenges too – it adds some competitive edge to it.
Travelling to Tasmania and playing in an Aussie A-Tier tournament suggests at least some commitment to disc golf. How much do you plan to play in the future?
I was in two minds about going to Tasmania, I think I mainly went for the holiday. But it was so much fun. I scored really well on my first round and I think I tend to play well when I’ve got talented people on my card. I managed to get some really good tips from them.
With Disc Golf I feel like I have waves of sometimes being really into it and feeling like ‘oh I should go out and practice putting a lot more’. Especially during and after a tournament when I’m riding that high I feel like I need to do a lot more in it. But then at other times I feel like my life is already quite busy, with full time work and captaining the Ultimate team, it’s really a balance thing for me at the moment.
Have you any goals yet in Disc Golf?
In one of those enthusiastic moments I applied for sponsorship with Sweet Chain Music which is a store based in New Zealand who had originally reached out to my partner Ben . So in the future I’ll be heading to a few more tournaments. At the moment I’m signed up to the Vic Open and I’m excited for that. But I’m just taking it one tournament at a time and seeing how much time I can allocate to it in my life.
If you are looking for a sign of the growth in disc golf in Australia, then these two pictures tell a tale. The first is the picture of the entire field for the 2010 Two heads Open at Poimena Reserve near Hobart in Tasmania (minus two that had left to catch an early flight and the photographer).
Picture – Kingsley Flett
The second is the field for this year’s event. In the 15th year of its running this was the biggest attendance so far – 53 players from five states in a time when interstate travel is still difficult for many.
Picture – Chris Wright
They competed on Australia’s oldest existing course, and one that is regarded by many to be among the best in the world. Tackling steep hills, unpredictable winds, rough terrain and the famous Poimena roll-aways.
It was a double roll-away 7 on the par-3 hole 5 in the first round that dented Darren Stace-Smith’s hopes, but he bounced back with one of the hottest tournament rounds on the ADG tour so far this year, a 6-under 55 that provisionally achieved a 1014 PDGA rating. Stace-Smith went on to win the event after a tense 9-hole final, by 4 throws from Chris Ronalds, with Tim Bohan in 3rd.
“I got Poimened early in my first round with that double roll-away on five” Stace-Smith said. “ I had to keep my wits about me from then on. Apart from that one hole I think I was still well under par. There’s a throw in the final 9 footage that I’ll laugh at. On the same hole I’ve thrown a putter to try to slowly get there. It was about 3m off the ground still when it sailed past the basket. It hit trees about 40m below the hole. If it gets past them it’s probably 250m away as the wind was perfect to keep it flying forever.”
It was Stace-Smith’s first win in the open division after dominating at MA1 in recent years. He puts his improvement down to a shift in his mental game. “I might be starting to develop a bit of fortitude, or stubbornness (not sure which as yet) is . I’ve fallen short a handful of times in recent memory, where I’ve had chances to win and let them slide away. I went into this one with a bit of extra intent, and tried my best to capture opportunities if they popped up. I tried to be patient and was hopeful that the chances to gain shots would present themselves.”
The 13 strong SA contingent was notable. In days gone by it was the famous Black Shirt Army from WA’s Perth Disc Golf Club that would roam the land, descend en masse on east coast tournaments and fly home with the trophies. Now it’s the red and black shirt army from South Australia doing the same thing. As the sport in SA grows, it is on a pace that might have it become the hotbed for disc golf in Australia before long.
Most Australian disc golfers who have been there, love Poimena with that unique passion that any person has for a beautiful landscape that holds their stories. These, however, are not often healthy two-way relationships. Poimena rarely loves anyone back. Ryan Nicholson, one of the leaders of South Australian disc golf, summed it up better than most.
“I had a fall onto my knee during round one; crossing the steep, wet and slippery road. I slid 3-4 meters down the road on my hands and feet and bled everywhere. Other than that, the course decimated my poor skills, poor decision making and rating. But I had a great time all-round. “
The ‘Two-Heads’ has become an institution on the Australian Disc Golf tour and the weekend at Poimena is on the bucket list of many disc golfers in Australia and around the world. With the growth of disc golf in Australia continuing and in hopeful anticipation of interstate travel being back to normal in 2022, look for the 2022 Two Heads to be even bigger.
On the ADG board it’s called the annual ‘I’m quitting’ whinge. The growth of the sport and the complex legal, administrative and social challenges that come with it, can make being on the board a tad onerous at times. That whinge is normally met with the standard ‘Oh that’s a shame. You’ll be missed.’ If we ever heard that whinge from Emilie Cameron though, it’d be panic stations. She’s not just the glue that keeps the whole thing together, she’s the gaffer tape, the bailing twine and the chicken wire too.
On this International Women’s Day, we can think of no better Aussie woman disc golfer who we’d like to celebrate. Especially because, among her many gifts, self promotion isn’t one of them.
She is a leader on the ADG board and as such a leader in Aussie Disc Golf, both by her actions and her example. She’s thorough and ethical. She knows her heart and when she doesn’t, she takes the time to go and listen to it before coming back to you. She speaks her mind and isn’t afraid to pull us into line when we need it. She’s served both disc golf and women’s disc golf in Australia for more than a decade and has never asked for credit or attention. Well Em? Too bad, you are getting that now.
World Disc Golf Champion and all-round roving ambassador for the sport in Australia, Bruce McNaughton, sat down with the ABC’s Craig Quartermaine in Brisbane recently for a wide ranging chat about the game and the roads that lead Bruce to a world championship.
This May 8 and 9 the PDGA is running another edition of the PDGA Womens Global Event. We are really glad to have this back after having to abandon it last year. For details on how you can get involved, check the pdga page here.
In association with the event we are holding a ‘Women in Disc Golf’ photography competition. Send us your best group pictures of women playing disc golf together and we’ll feature them in the tournament marketing. The ADG board will also pick their 3 favorite pictures and award a prize. Judging will favor the community and social side of disc golf over the competitive stuff, but if you’ve got a great picture of your favorite woman disc golfer in a competitive setting, don’t hold back. Send your pictures here.
In sharing the announcement below from the Perth Disc Golf Club, the ADG board extends its condolences to the Hancock Family in the recent passing of Sam Hancock. Many disc golfers may not appreciate the legacy left by the Hancock Family in disc sports overall. Not just through their son Rob, but in the way they nurtured a generation of young frisbee players who have gone on to impact flying disc sports in Australia over four decades. That legacy extends beyond a love of flying disc sports to a spirit of respectful and fair competition, generosity, and inclusiveness that we hope will always signify our game.
Perth Disc Golf Club
Today it is with sadness that we announce the passing of Mr Sam Hancock, father of Rob Hancock. If our sport of Flying Disc had a number one ticket holder it would certainly have been Sam.
Since Rob’s passing in the early eighties Sam and his family have continued to actively support the sport and its players. He proudly attended the Rob Hancock Memorial Golf Tournament every year and presented the winner with their trophy.
Sam would always greet you with a big smile and a friendly handshake from which there was no escape until he found how you were and what you were doing.
Born in 1921, Sam would been 99 this November.
– Orphaned childhood
– 71 years of marriage
– 5 beautiful children
– Pilates at 96
– Tennis until 97
– Driving until 98
He was a truly remarkable man who touched many lives and will be sadly missed. To his family we offer our love and support in this difficult time and to Sam we say thank you and celebrate a life well lived.
Kim Holmes
“It always struck me what an influence Sam and Margaret were on Rob Hancock. I could see a lot of Rob in both of his parents: they were very social people and had a lot of conscience about giving to the community. They were people’s people and always looking out for others. They were very hospitable – the house in East Vic park was basically an open house. You could turn up on short notice and be given a bed and something to eat – similarly Rob was welcoming to people in the frisbee community.
Sam had the competitive spirit in spades – still playing tennis in his 90’s. Competition was always friendly and never had an edge to it. He had a very well-rounded competitive attitude. That influenced Rob as well which in turn had a lot to do with the spirit of the early WA flying disc community.“
Kris Kohout
“Sam was our link to the beginning of the sport in those days. Without any of the older guys around in 2008 besides Kim, the Rob Hancock memorial was almost unconsciously added to the calendar. When we reached out to Sam and Margaret to it felt like we’d made a connection to our past. Every year that Sam came to the tournament newer players would come up and say ‘is that Sam Hancock?’ and they made the connection to Rob’s legacy too. He also found a quiet moment to palm off a $100 bill ‘for the club’ and he’d say ‘keep doing what you are doing’.“
Chris Himing
“A sad day. I first met Mr.Hancock (Sam) while traveling to Perth as a 15 year old with his school teacher son Rob. Rob would drive a few of us Newton Moore SHS students to Perth on weekends just to play frisbee. We would all stay at the Hancock’s family house in Victoria Park. Never a nicer family we could have asked to meet and welcome us into their home.
Rob was taken from us way too early but Sam and his family still continued to be there for us all these years later.
Sam you were a true gentleman, and I am proud to say you and your family were a big part of my life. Rest in Peace Sam. We will never forget.”
Chris Finn
“Looking at the old photos of Sam today I just felt respect, connection, thanks, sorrow, and happiness. Super happy I got to spend time with such an amazing character. I never met Rob but I sure loved Sam and I expect Rob was just as alive and passionate. The path led by Rob and then through the 78’s led me to the sport and now I fill my days passing it further. I owe a lot to Sam.”
Corey Bandy
“As a club we decided that it was a great idea that we hold the memorial for Rob Hancock in its early days. I remember the first day Sam came down and walked around introducing himself to everyone. He was so excited that someone was still playing frisbee and disc golf – remembering that he had helped set up the course. He stayed the whole day, walking the first few holes back and forth. He was really interested in how everyone was going.
He brought down a whole lot of discs from his personal collection to hand out as trophies – I’ve still got the disc he gave me. It holds pride of place. It’s a HDX-61. That day was still one of my best days ever playing disc golf. It gave us a club, which was still very much in its infancy, a real push to keep developing the sport. It’s something I’ll never forget. Through the timeline there’s just a few a few memories that stick – and this one stays as one of the most positives ones. “
In 2020, this is really saying something, but the biggest story in Australian Disc Golf this year is one we haven’t told yet. The creation of the Adelaide Park Lands Disc Golf Course is a major step forwards for Disc Golf in South Australia and the game in Australia as a whole. Yet this story has remained in the shade until now because of the relentless news cycle this year that kept bumping it off the ADG media’s equivalent of the front page. Apparently there has been a virus.
Why the Adelaide Park Lands Disc Golf Course is such an important development
It comes down to how people actually take up a sport like disc golf. Because we love the sport we can succumb to the illusion that others will automatically love it too. All we need to do is promote it right? Unfortunately, if that were true then all we’d need is a bunch of – ‘Disc Golf! It’s Awesome! – bumper stickers and the sport would grow on its own. No, Disc Golf isn’t for everyone, but at the rate the sport is growing it’s clearly for someone: that person out there who is looking for just that right mix of outdoor activity, athletic test, mental challenge, social connection and aesthetic pleasure that our game provides. The trick is – giving them the chance to see it.
Back in the days before most Aussie Disc Golfers had access to a course in their community it was remarkable how many of our players had been given their first exposure to the sport in Queenstown, New Zealand. Indeed, one of our game’s super-spreaders here, Andrew Ferguson, first saw Disc Golf on a snowboarding trip to Queenstown. The course there is on the shore of Lake Wakatipu and a few hundred metres from downtown. In Adelaide, it’s barely a 20-minute walk from the Rundle Mall to Ityamai-Itpina (King Rodney) Park, otherwise known as Park 15. Lots of people are going to see it; including that person who disc golf is just right for. Having a Disc Golf Course that is so accessible to a broad range of people will also show how this gentle, fun and social activity can be of measurable benefit to a community.
It’s all in a name. Ityamai-Itpina
William Light, the Malaysian born ex-British navy Commander, who had been appointed Surveyor-General of the new province of South Australia, was about 150 years too early to be a disc golfer. But the well-travelled seafarer, warrior and artist had seen enough of the crowded, filthy cities of post Napoleonic Europe to know the value of public open space and recreation. One of the three Kuarna elders he negotiated with for the use of the land around what they called ‘Tartanya’ (red kangaroo place), was Ityamai-Itpina. If you are wondering how to pronounce it, have a listen. There are very few cultures in the world who don’t use patronymic naming (eg Ferguson – son of Fergus etc) and the Kuarna are one of them – they name themselves after their children when they are born; which, when you think of that for a moment, is a beautiful idea. So Ityama-itpina means ‘Ityama’s Dad.’ To the colonists he was known as King Rodney.
A Disc Golf Course in the Community
Any disc golfer visiting Adelaide would immediately note the lush parklands that surround the city and have their thoughts drift in the only logical direction, which is, ‘this place would make a great course’. Some may be surprised to know that the course in Ityamai-Itpina Park wasn’t the first. Neil Williams, who ran the SA Recreation Association at the time, had arranged with the City of Adelaide to install a 9-hole course with permanent poles and concrete tee pads in Bonython Park in early 1980’s. After being popular in its early years the course fell into disuse and was removed by a new council regime that was concerned with public liability. Neil and Mark Powers also made other temporary courses around Adelaide at the time in places like Noaralunga.
“It took us 6 years but we finally did it.” Said Adelaide Disc Golf Club founding member Andrew Simpson. “Right from when (now ADG President) Luke Turnbull created the club, I remember that the goal was always to create a free to play course in the Adelaide vicinity. Todd Brooks, was a massive support and served as president while we built our relationship with council. Gareth Morgan and Jonathan Dragt were also key in helping apply for grants and continue the momentum from the foundations that Todd and I had laid.”
The relationship with Julia Wallace at the City of Adelaide was key. She had the foresight to understand the benefits that Disc Golf could provide in activating public spaces. As many councils in Australia are now discovering, disc golf puts positive, active people in parks, providing passive surveillance and social benefit as they do. A spot was found on West Terrace but this area proved to be unsuitable due to the existence of rare grasses in the area and the fact the it wasn’t zoned for recreation.
Then, in 2018, Ityamai-Itpina Park was put forward by the council as a suggested site. The SA Open was held in the park that year, using temporary baskets on holes that have now become part of the permanent course. A come and try day was also held with the support of the council and based on the success of this, a grant was provided for eight more similar days and the purchase of 100 discs.
The initial proposal for the course was for the Adelaide Disc Golf Club to own the baskets but this created complications for the insurers. Eventually a solution was reached where the council funded half the baskets and the club donated the other half. Another issue was the directive that no permanent infrastructure is to be built in the Adelaide Parklands. To comply with this the baskets were installed in sleeves so that they can be removed for major events. The fixed baskets were installed in May this year under a 5-year trial agreement. The result is a par 28 9-hole challenge with a surprising amount of elevation change that cleverly uses the creek lines and a 100 year old olive grove to create some tight fairways.
Since the installation (with the help of SA company Ausdiscs), the Adelaide Park Lands Course has proven to be extremely popular. Currently the second most played course in Australia according to the international website, Disc Golf Metrix, the course has been played close to 2000 times both casually and in competition. The small band of existing Adelaide players have been joined by many newcomers and a bunch of travelers and expats who picked up the game overseas and have been delighted to find a local course. The Adelaide Disc Golf Club which is based at the course has also gone from strength to strength and has had more than 40 players at its last two league days.
“It’s a great casual and competitive sport, great source of exercise and a new way to experience the beauty of the Adelaide Parklands. I can easily take my young son out with me and my friends for a round, and finish at the playground next door.” Says local business owner Thomas Rodan. “Disc Golf caters to players of all skills and is very inexpensive to play. I like disc golf in the parklands because of its accessibility and ease of use. The community is welcoming and the sport’s impact on the environment is low, which is great when considering its implementation in urban green areas.”
Another local who lives opposite the course, Chris Harris, said “I was out walking the parkland, when the SA Disc Golf Club was inserting the tees and baskets for the 9-hole golf course. I asked what they were up to and one if the club members explained about disc golf. I have been hooked ever since and it couldn’t have come at a better time because I suffer with stress and anxiety, the sport really helps calm me. I congratulate the council for allowing the club to put the course in.”
“As a stay at home dad looking for an excuse to take my young daughter out and about the Adelaide parklands disc golf course has been amazing!” Says Ben Foley. “It’s so easy to access by bus or car and is such a nice way for my daughter and I to spend a morning or afternoon walking around the parklands before stopping for a play and snack in the neighbouring playground. It’s also been so helpful to stay connected to all my friends in a way my daughter can participate in. “
Anna Kolodina. Picture – Kingsley Flett
Anna Kolodina has been playing for a year and a half. “What I love most about this course is the fact that the holes can be technically challenging, especially the ones with lots of olive trees, so it feels more satisfying when you get it right. I like disc golf because it is a mental challenge. It takes a lot of practice to get the hang of it but that makes it more worthwhile when you see progress. It’s also great to be out in nature, and good to hang out and meet a bunch of nice people. It’s a great social sport but you’re not relying on anyone but yourself. I encourage everyone to give it a go.”
Sincere congratulations from everybody in Australian Disc Golf to the City of Adelaide, The Adelaide Disc Golf Club and its committee members past and present for the creation of this outstanding facility that will serve the community of Adelaide and the sport of Disc Golf in Australia in the coming years.
If you have a quick scan down the results page for the 2020 Queensland Disc Golf Championships you’ll notice something quite unique – the 31 novice players that contributed almost half the record field of 64. It’s a tangible sign of the recent explosion in disc golf participation in the sunshine state.
‘We had 14 more than our biggest ever year’ said Tournament Director Rhys Kruger. ‘It’s a record attendance for the event, which is pretty good considering the borders are closed and all but one were local players.’
Rhys Kruger was also pleased at the big number of novice players in the event. ‘It’s usually pretty difficult to convince novice players to step straight into a 2-day state championship. But it just shows how keen most of the new players are. Our furthest travelled player was Nicholas Greg from Townsville. One of the novice players, Nick Halstead, I’d only convinced to play five days before and he ended up one-throw off the win in second.”
The big story of the day though, was provided by someone who was playing novice only four years ago himself. Michal Durand played his first round of disc golf in Augusta Georgia USA, some years ago, but it wasn’t until after his dad returned to Queensland in 2015 that Michal was convinced to play the league days at Yeronga. A steady climb through the ranks had him making to decision to play open this year. The result, in only his second tournament as an MPO player, was quite unexpected.
“I’m a bit blown away” he admitted the day after. “I’m still processing it. I never thought I’d be taking a win this weekend or be the QLD champion – I was going to play the best as I could and be happy with whatever the outcome was. I started the event in the mindset of turning up and focusing on playing good golf. I always think about its just me vs the course and being able to maintain that focus was key.”
On life in the top card he said “I always was looking up to the open players. When I made the call to play open my goal was to grow and learn from the people who inspire me. Apart from my Dad, who got me into disc golf, the people I really have to thank are Rhys (Rhys Kruger), BJ (Brian Clevenger) and Gavin (Gavin Cowan) for shaping me as a player. Over the whole weekend all my fellow competitors supported each other and that was special to me.”
After a windy day one which played havoc with the scores. Michal went into the final round one throw back from leader Aaron Moreton. The turning point came after the pair had matched each other in birdying 4 out of the first 5 holes. Moreton threw his drive on the par-5 hole six into an early tree and defected into the water. The two-throw swing gave Durand the lead and, although Moreton was able to level again after birdying hole nine, he was unable to match Durand birdying 3 out of the last 7 holes.
Michal Durand. Picture – Tim Marchbank
“Sinking my last putt was such a mental release of relief” Said Durand. “We all felt for Aaron when his drive kicked into the water on hole six. But I guess there were a lot of unlucky moments on the card – clean putts pushing through the chains or bouncing out of the basket etc. But the spirit on the card was great, we all we all picked each other up when unlucky moments happened and pushed on. The on the other hand it’s amazing to share moments of brilliance with people on your card.”
Durand credited his forehand for much of his success in the event. “It felt pretty faultless all weekend.” He said. “In round one I lost my favourite ballista pro. I went long on a hole and sent it 120+ metres into the river. But otherwise I felt really consistent. I threw the 4th Circle Dingo and the Firehawk a lot over the weekend. Rhys Kruger has done such a great job with those discs.”
The spirit shown on the top card seemed to extend to the whole event. “Without the community and dedicated people helping each time we would not have this event.” Said Durand. “I’d really like to thank all the people who were there with us each day setting up and packing up, and to Rhys for such a great event.“
“It was a little tough running an entire event just on metrix with no physical scorecards.” Said Kruger afterwards. “But the players were very patient to get it working which made things easier. So many people had an amazing time.“
