Area Home To More Than One Kind of Golf

The world center of a rapidly growing sport happens to be right in Columbia County.

The International Disc Golf Center, headquarters of the Professional Disc Golf Association, is at Wildwood Park in Appling.

The game of disc golf is played much like ball golf, complete with tees, pars and a putting green. Distances are measured in feet rather than yards, and of course, special throwing discs are used instead of golf balls and clubs.

“As far as comparing discs to clubs, it’s a little hard because the disc is both your ball and your club,” said Nate Michalove, manager of the IDGC.

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There are a variety of discs comparable to types of golf clubs, with high-speed driver discs analogous to larger drivers in ball golf; mid-ranges, fairway drivers and putters.

Putters are different in disc golf because players can throw them off the tee and also use it on the putting green, called the circle, which is 10 meters or about 33 feet.

The IDGC facility opened on April 20, 2007. It is pay-to-play, charging Columbia County residents, PDGA members and military $3 during the week for a day of playing and non-residents $5. Paid staff maintain the courses and are available for aspiring players offer tips on the game. Discs can be rented free with collateral such a driver’s license or car keys, though Michalove notes that most people leave the course eager to buy their own.

The golf hub consists of a pavilion, a clubhouse that houses a museum and the Disc Golf Hall of Fame, and three major courses. These courses are the W.R. Jackson Memorial Course, the Jim Warner Memorial Course and the “Steady” Ed Headrick Memorial Course. Headrick, who is considered by many to be the father of disc golf, was the PDGA founder and inventor of the modern flying disc.

Michalove notes that the pandemic has led to a sudden flourishing of participation in the sport.

“COVID has caused it to explode,” said Michalove. “PDGA saw five years unexpected growth in about six months during COVID.

The PDGA was founded in 1976 and took 47 years to reach about 100,000 members in 2017. By 2021, that number grew to about 200,000.

“It’s an outdoor sport, no contact,” said Michalove. “You don’t have to get close to people.”

The PDGA organizes competition events from the IDGC, one of the largest of which was events the Amateur Championships that were held Aug. 14-15.

“One of the biggest things we do is sanction events around the country,” said Michalove. “That provides the tournament directors with insurance and adds structure to the event, gives players a rating.”

Like any sport, disc golf has its celebrated tournaments akin to the Masters or the U.S. Open. Two such games in disc golf are the United States Disc Golf Championships, which will be held in Rock Hill, S.C. from Oct. 6-9; and the World Championships, which occurred in Ogden, Utah in June.

Michalove admits that the level of esteem of certain contests is debatable in disc golf circles, with a wide opinion leaning in favor of the U.S. championships.

“A lot of people would argue that’s the most prestigious championship to win,” said Michalove. “I personally think world championships are more prestigious.”

With the rising interest in the game, and its main hub located in Columbia County, establishing the IDGC as a place where the world knows to celebrate disc golf, its aficionados and its titleholders is goal that is both lofty and well within reach.

“We’re working on becoming Augusta National of disc golf,” said Michalove. “That’s the goal here.”

The International Disc Golf Center is at 3828 Dogwood Lane in Appling. For more information about it and the PDGA visit www.pdga.com. For information about disc golf events visit www.discgolfscene.com.

Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering Columbia County with The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.