Mojave Greens Disc Golf Course opens at Edwards

  • Published
  • By Kenji Thuloweit
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  There's a new game on base.

Edwards' brand new disc golf course officially opened for fun and fitness with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Nov. 19.

"Today we're trying to get everybody out here and show them the course and let everyone know the positives about the sport," said Fernando Brown, Outdoor Recreation assistant director.

The new Mojave Greens Disc Golf Course is located close to the Main Fitness Center off of Airmans Drive.

Col. Harry Berry, 95th Mission Support Group commander, cut the ceremonial ribbon and was given the honor of being the first one to tee off.

According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, the object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc. Instead of using golf clubs and balls, players throw or fling a disc and, as in golf, the lowest score wins.

The PDGA says the sport was formalized in the 1970's, and shares with regular golf the object of completing each hole in the fewest number of strokes (or, in the case of disc golf, fewest number of throws).

A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target which is the hole in standard golf. The hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets; the most common is called a pole hole, an elevated metal basket. The Mojave Greens course has nine pole holes.

As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive shot from the spot where the previous throw landed. The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer.

Finally, the "putt" lands in the basket and the hole is completed. Disc golf shares the same joys and frustrations of traditional golf, whether it's sinking a long putt or hitting a tree halfway down the fairway.

"Disc golf is a very low-cost sport; the entire family can come out and play - from your child to your grandmother. It's basically walking around and throwing a Frisbee," said Mr. Brown, who is an avid disc golf player.

He added that some players will get technical and call it a disc but the main point of disc golf is to have fun.

The 18-month project to bring disc golf to Edwards involved several organizations on base including Outdoor Recreation, the Main Fitness Center, Safety Office, Civil Engineering and Environmental Management.

Base residents interested in playing disc golf can check out discs at Outdoor Recreation. Mr. Brown said ODR has a wide range of discs for beginners and experienced players.

The fitness center also has a limited number of discs to check out for those who want to try out the course.