Tommy Bronson grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and had never heard of disc golf before.
After moving to Louisville in 2006, a co-worker at Foot Locker brought in some of his disc golf supplies and invited Bronson out for a game. The two became best friends and, since 2010, they’ve been playing in a disc golf club.
Today, Bronson serves as the president of Derby City Disc Golf, the largest of its kind in the Louisville area.
“Many years ago, the club we joined eventually kind of disbanded as leadership got older and people moved away,” Bronson says. “About four years ago, we decided to create a new club. We rebranded and had an established Facebook page and got it going again. Our main focus now is the metro area where we have one of the most popular courses in the state at Iroquois Golf Course. We do some tournaments in Bullitt County, and I’m really big on collaboration, so we work a lot with other clubs out of New Albany and Jeffersonville.”
They have four home courses: Charlie Vettiner Park, Iroquois Park, Wendell Moore Park and Red Orchard Park.
The club came at the perfect time. Even though disc golf has been around since the mid-1960s, the game has soared in popularity in the past 10 years.
“I think during COVID we really experienced a boom,” Bronson says. “People were leery to do sports that were close, even when we got the green light, but disc golf is outdoors, and you could have social distancing with no problem. So, it really blew up as a sport. It’s sanctioned through the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), and I think their membership quadrupled during the pandemic.”
The game is fairly simple but requires practice and skill over time.
Think golf — but instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc, similar to a frisbee. The goal is to land the disc in the elevated metal basket in as few throws as possible.
There are currently more than 9,000 disc golf courses in the United States and more than 13,000 worldwide, most of which are free to play. In addition to the challenge of the game and the camaraderie among players, Bronson says there are plenty of other benefits that keep players returning.
“You’re telling me I have a chance to go out and enjoy the weather, be competitive if I choose to and get exercise without even knowing it? It’s the perfect combination,” he says. “It’s taken me to some unique places too because we want to play at different courses. I was in Florida and there was a sign on the disc golf course to watch out for alligators. For someone like me, I’ve never had to worry about alligators.”
The game is also budget-friendly.
Bronson says discs can be found at a reasonable price, and at amateur tournaments, instead of cash prizes, participants receive gift certificates for the local disc golf store.
That’s not to say there isn’t money in the game if you want to take it to the next level.
“There is a pro side, and you’re talking about a weekend tournament with first place taking home $15,000, but there are also beginner courses, especially for new players or young players that are still building their confidence,” Bronson says.
There are weekly leagues, and Derby City Disc Golf hosts around 10 tournaments per year, but players could compete every weekend if they wish.
They like to get together for a variety of occasions, and the disc golf family supports one another.
“We do fundraisers for families in need or for Operation Santa during the holidays,” Bronson says. “We’re excited to partner with courses for their special events, and we’re always participating in park discussions. We want to be a part of it, not only because of our love for the community but for our love of disc golf.”
They’re also looking at ways to inspire younger generations in the game.
For many, disc golf wasn’t offered at high school or in recreational leagues when they were growing up.
“We’d like to create an event where the club covers fees for kids to come out and learn more about the game, play in a tournament and experience it at no cost,” Bronson adds. “It’s getting bigger in college now, but even in elementary gym class there are going to be kids that don’t want to run, play basketball or dodgeball. This might be another option.”
The Derby City Disc Golf Club is run by volunteers. They do have a board to help brainstorm and make important decisions, but it’s all coming from the heart — their love for the game.
“Our sponsors are local business owners,” Bronson says. “We’re running fundraisers and tournament events just because we love it.”
