Disc golf courses multiply around the Bay Area as the sport rises from the fringe

San Jose resident Jim Challas only requirements three things to play his favorite outdoor championship a green space a sunhat and majority central of all a plastic disc On a latest windy May day Challas pulls several of them out of the trunk of his car at Kelley Park in San Jose He lines them up on a nearby picnic table each sporting a different color and size and describes their unique functions Related Articles Medics desperately tried to save Hulk Hogan in front of Florida home Hulk Hogan icon in professional wrestling dies at age A list of sports organizations that have begun transgender competition bans US Olympic and Paralympic bureaucrats bar transgender women from competing in Olympic women s sports Iconic Santa Cruz surfers paddle out to honor legacy of Hawaiian princes This one s just excellent for slicing through the air Challas says holding a small translucent disc in his hands But the -year-old isn t going to aimlessly toss the disc into the park s landscape or towards someone s awaiting hand Instead his eyes fixate on an elevated metal basket stationed hundreds of feet away from the table Challas systematically positions his body towards the target pulls back his right wrist and then releases the frisbee with a mix of force and finesse His intention is simple to figure the frisbee into the basket in the smallest number of throws while navigating through a prickly terrain of trees dried grass and shrubs That s the art of disc golf a growing sport that s sweeping through the Bay Area It s a unique twist on regular golf except players use various types of colorful flying discs instead of clubs and balls to reach the hole Disc golfers rely on a mix of frisbees hand-throwing techniques and good weather conditions to help them land a solid shot There are formal disc golf clubs in the East Bay South Bay and San Francisco all of which boast hundreds of members and thousands of followers in their respective Facebook groups San Jose is even ranked as the th best disc golf destination in the state by the sports app UDisc while San Francisco is ranked th One of the biggest clubs in the area is Silicon Valley Disc Golf which has more than members according to Challas and more than users in its Facebook group Each week enthusiasts post flyers on local disc golf fundraisers and tournaments advice on how to improve their skills and videos of frisbee trick shots We get hundreds and hundreds of people that play out there stated Challas who is also president of the club It s a positive thing for the locality at a low cost The first official disc golf syllabus was created in Pasadena California in the s The sport swiftly gained momentum across the U S tournaments began popping up in major cities locals formed recreational and competitive groups and disc golf classes began appearing in school curriculums Now an estimated eight to million Americans have played disc golf and more than half a million play regularly according to the Professional Disc Golf Association which oversees the rules of the battle and monitors more than members Disc golf evidence reveals that the sport is especially growing in popularity among millennials and Gen Zers The -to- age group makes up of all disc golfers while those aged to account for according to Kansas-based disc golf business STM Disc Golf The remaining are over like Challas He not only witnessed the rise of disc golf in the s but also helped pioneer the sport in the Bay Area The award-winning golfer has participated in championships and invitations hosted by PDGA connected communities of players across California and spearheaded the creation and design of several South Bay disc golf courses His contributions have earned him a spot in the PDGA s Hall of Fame an honor only a handful of players across the nation can claim Although Challas doesn t play much these days he does organize events for the club and teaches a minimal classes in the area His discs are inevitably in his trunk just in incident Challas wants to explain why it s one of the best games in the world to the uninitiated I m here to spread the gospel of the good name of disc golf Challas says with a laugh There are more than disc golf courses in the U S the majority of which are free for players to use California boasts courses the second-highest number in the nation In the state also topped the list for having the preponderance courses added in a year with The South Bay has four main disc golf courses Kelley Park near downtown San Jose El Parque De La Raza De Paz and Hellyer Park in South San Jose and Villa Maria in Cupertino Over in the East Bay disc golfers can enjoy several local courses including Southgate Park in Hayward Osterbay in San Leandro and Aquatic Park in Berkeley On the same day Challas takes his frisbees to Kelley Park dozens of players can be seen tossing discs from hole to hole including his friends Don Savella Evan Johnson and Craig Rawlings Slung over their shoulders are specially designed disc golf backpacks that can hold dozens of brightly colored frisbees The trio briefly greet Challas whom they recognize from attending various disc golf events then take turns tossing discs towards the basket They encourage each other and try to take advantage of the warm breeze that helps their discs fly further When the initial toss is done they ll trek to wherever the disc ended up and prepare for their next shot Has anyone seen my red disc Savella asks as he disappears behind a shrub Upon retrieving it the Burlingame resident then plants himself among the plants searches for the basket again and takes aim With the courses spanning dozens of acres and the baskets separated by various terrains disc golfers utilize different types of frisbees during the event There are distance drivers which help players cover the greater part ground and fairway drivers which provide more control and accuracy Midrange discs are also designed for precision for a wide variety of shots Putt and approach discs which are smaller in size are designed for making shorter and more controlled shots The average disc golfer can bring around to discs to a encounter according to Challas A few are used for their unique functions while others are brought as back-ups in situation a frisbee or two goes missing in the landscape For players like Campbell resident Roderick Kast disc golf is not just a fun way to stay in shape but an opportunity to bond with other locals The -year-old got his first taste of the battle during the COVID- pandemic At a time when numerous regional sport facilities and pursuits closed down the disc golf neighborhood was able to soldier on and play at several spacious outdoor courses Kast a Navy veteran was experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and revealed the tournament was a good way to get out of the house It was an activity that got me out of a dark room Kast disclosed Nowadays Kast can be uncovered tossing discs multiple times a week with his fiancee and their dog at Kelley Park in San Jose or at one of the six disc golf courses scattered across Santa Clara County Last year Kast hosted a local disc golf doubles event to raise money for a charity that helped him during his organization More than people presented up and donated discs and bags for a raffle They ended up raising more than The society will come out and sponsorship other things than just disc golf Kast disclosed There s a lot of camaraderie in it