Have fun with friends by going on a flying disc adventure through Kansas
Did you know one of the largest disc golf companies started in Kansas? Dynamic Discs started as a small company that sold a few discs on the internet. Now, it is one of the reasons Kansas is a top destination for disc golf. It started when Jeremy Rusco moved to Emporia in 2005. He began playing disc golf in 2002 at Fort Hays State University in Hays. His company began making and selling their own discs, baskets, and other disc golf gear. Some of the nation’s best disc golfers travel to Kansas from all over the country to compete in the Dynamic Discs Open disc golf tournament. For how-to videos and other fun videos about disc golf, use the QR code below.
Kansas Disc Golf History
Disc golf can trace its roots to ancient times, when people threw discus in Greece. While Kansans weren’t throwing discs that long ago, Kansas did play a role in making the sport popular. In 1957, Wichita hosted one of the first and most important flying disc tournaments. In 1973, the first disc golf course in Kansas opened in Topeka. This early course was called an “object golf course,” where players tried to hit targets like trees or poles. Another course opened in Lindsborg around the same time, featuring the basket targets we use today. This course was designed by Ed Headrick, who invented disc golf. Today, the state has 370 disc golf courses—that’s plenty of places to test your skills!
How to Play
• Players can use many discs or only one disc.
• Disc golf is a sport. It is played like golf, but with plastic discs.
• Players throw their discs at baskets and count how many throws it takes to get a disc into the basket.
• When players have thrown their discs into each basket, they add up how many throws it took for all baskets.
• A game course usually has 18 baskets, which are also called holes.
• The player with the lowest total score wins.
• Most disc golf courses are free to play.
Emporia is home to Dynamic Discs and 14 amazing courses. Champions Landing, Jones Park Supreme, Peter Pan Park and Hammond Park are all great courses in Emporia.
Cool KS Careers
Trevor Hastert is a professional disc golf player from Lecompton. He began playing in 2017 with friends. After only one year, he entered disc golf competitions. Trevor says disc golf tournaments make him feel nervous and excited, but he loves the thrill. His favorite Kansas tournaments are the Foxtail Farm Championship in Tonganoxie and the Longview Open in Ozawkie. He suggests that newcomers to disc golf should join a local league to compete in tournaments. He designs courses as well. Trevor designed and constructed a course at his hometown of Lecompton. The course has nine baskets (holes) and many trees as obstacles! His favorite disc golf course in Kansas is Mowery’s Meadows in Lawrence, and Longview in Ozawkie. However, Trevor’s favorite disc golf city in Kansas is Olathe. He says each Olathe course has unique challenges.
