The brightly colored discs spin, arc and glide above low grassy terrain, over hills, and swerve around large mature tree trunks before landing 300 feet away in the targeted basket. David O’Shea, known as “Osh” among his friends, is skillfully tossing discs like sleek, guided missiles on Toledo’s only disc golf course (DGC). He designed the popular and free eighteen hole course in the lush and open setting of Ottawa Park (2200 Bancroft St.). “I felt a DGC would further enhance this wonderful neighborhood,” O’Shea says. “I wanted to offer the community an enjoyable, inexpensive, low-impact activity that has practically no age limit.”
The sport is much like a traditional game of golf. It is the perfect combination of a great outdoor walk with friends, surrounded by nature while playing an awesome game. Longtime player Clayton Ball best describes it as “the ultimate fun factor of strategy and skill.” After studying the path between you and the target and factoring in wind, trees, and your orientation to the basket, you tee off (toss your disc) and walk to where the disc has landed and toss again, repeating the process until it lands in the disc catcher. Then you proceed to the next tee.
Known as Yoda among the other players, Osh, who is president of the Toledo Area Disc Golf Association (TADGA.com), has been playing for over 20 years, and gives advice on the best disc to use, practice techniques and tips on mastering the holes. For beginners, he recommends the Discraft Nuke SS or Avenger SS. Discs, available at sporting goods stores, range in price from $7 to $25. His favorite long range driver is Innova’s Valkyrie. The course is free and open during park hours. If you would like to compete, TADGA hosts a Friday league at 6 pm (all ages and abilities $6) and the Mensa Advance league for experienced players ($10 — “Bring your game!”) Tuesdays at 6 pm. For more info, contact Osh at [email protected] or call 419-350-0618. Wheelchair accessible holes include: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 14 (access off the pavement by hole #10). Ottawa Park is open seven days a week dawn until dusk, and besides the DGC offers tennis courts, an ice skating rink (winter only), picnic areas, playgrounds, walking trails and a traditional golf course.
