Speed Disc Golf

[Kenny B]

For those of you who like to play speed golf, what is the scoring format you like best? I found the following one on the internet. Is this generaly the widest accepted format? Once I settle on a well rounded format (equally weighting both speed and throwing skill), I plan to post my scores here (and encourage others as well) for those interested in a little friendly informal competition.


Object
Get the lowest score by finishing a round in the fastest time with the fewest throws. The lowest net time score wins.

Equipment
Use as many discs as you want to carry.

Rules
Start the clock on hole 1 tee pad before the first throw.
Stop the clock upon holing out on the last basket.
PDGA rules of play apply
Reminder: The disc must come to rest in the basket.

Scoring
Net Time Score = (time to complete the round) + (10 seconds per throw)

Score Example
Time to complete the round is thirty minutes and ten seconds (30:10).
Number of throws is 49, muliply by 10 for 490 seconds, or 8 minutes and 10 seconds.
Net Time Score is 38:20

[JMan]

Why the addition of time for throws, just doesn't seem to make sense. And many DGers will not want to do that much math, most balk at the sign of a par 4, and 5s make em faint...

[killa]

Incorporating the number of strokes is the key that makes it a unique game with a good combination of aerobic endurance and disc golf skill. In my opinion, it's not a legitimate game if someone can win based solely on their running time or solely on a low score; if either Nate Doss or Galen Rupp were the world's best speed golfer, count me out.

It ought to be someone like Dion Arlyn.

As far as the ideal scoring format you seek, Kenny, I'm not totally sure, but the one you found seems like a decent enough starting point. I've never recorded my results, and I think to find the best method would require quite a bit of trial and error, and retroactive calibration; i.e. throwing what feels like a "hot round" and fudging the weightings of score and time to make it a good round on paper. In general, I think the ideal format is one that tests a player's ability to primarily (a) set up, focus, and execute a good shot when her heart rate is in the 160-200 bpm range, and secondarily (b) keep a pretty good pace for the whole round.

... and I suppose (c) not lose discs. :laughing: That's an important golf skill that we could all stand to improve upon.

[RonTheWhip]

http://www.nwdiscgolfnews.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2883

I think it should be based on score and time, not just time. I'd like to develop a rating system for courses that could help determine the value of each stroke in terms of seconds. For example, factors would include.

1. Length of Course (Raw Feet + Walk Outs)
2. Change in Elevation (How many hills and what not)
3. SSA (The average 1000 rated round for the course)
4. Average speed to jog the course without a disc (Running from teepad to basket and so on)

That way, whatever your time (Running time + value of seconds per stroke) is your score for the course.


The basic rules I follow are:

1. Time starts once the first throw is realesed, Time stops when the disc comes to rest in the basket on the final hole.

2. Three disc maximum.

3. All PDGA rules regarding stance and other general issues of play must be adhered to (NO FALLING PUTTS, OB and Mandos must be observed).

I have put some thought into it, maybe at some Adair tournaments next year we can try something like this out...


I've seen the ten second rule before. I like to think that the seconds per stroke is a variable depending on the course. For example, my best time at Willamette is a 15:31 (46), while my best at Adair, although only one attempt, is 18:00 (54). Clearly strokes are worth more time at Willamette (assuming you want to equalize courses to have an accurate compaison from track to track).

[Kenny B]

I've never recorded my results, and I think to find the best method would require quite a bit of trial and error, and retroactive calibration; i.e. throwing what feels like a "hot round" and fudging the weightings of score and time to make it a good round on paper.


I've seen the ten second rule before. I like to think that the seconds per stroke is a variable depending on the course. For example, my best time at Willamette is a 15:31 (46), while my best at Adair, although only one attempt, is 18:00 (54). Clearly strokes are worth more time at Willamette (assuming you want to equalize courses to have an accurate compaison from track to track).

Thanks for the feedback guys. I can definitely see how the time per stroke should be different at different courses. Also, after playing my first round last weekend (Dalaiwood, A position - 21:24 and 57 strokes), I'm thinking that a way to make the math easier is to add time for strokes above par and subtract time for strokes below, instead of just adding time for every stroke.

I've also been thinking that the 10 seconds per stroke is probably to little time, even for any course.

[killa]

Keep toying with it, and if you find a system that works really well across different courses let us know!

[Scott]

Keep toying with it, and if you find a system that works really well across different courses let us know!

Why does a scoring system have to be equal across all courses? Our current system for scoring a regular round is not universal. A score of 50 at Wilamette is not the same achievement as the same score at Adair. Par at Milo (for 18) is not equal to par at Timber. Why can't speed golf be scored the same way?

[killa]

Why does a scoring system have to be equal across all courses? Our current system for scoring a regular round is not universal. A score of 50 at Wilamette is not the same achievement as the same score at Adair. Par at Milo (for 18) is not equal to par at Timber. Why can't speed golf be scored the same way?

I see what you're saying, and a distinction needs to be made here bewteen "score" and "rating," in exactly the same sense that distinction exists in slow golf. I guess I was alluding to more of a rating system, i.e. how a score of 50 at Willamette rates against a 50 at Adair... but it's certainly true that a good scoring system needs to be established before comparing scores at different courses becomes an issue. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Paul Boyette]

Hello West Coast Disc Golfers!!! This Site Rocks!!! I was wondering if anyone has updated the rules for speed disc golf. We started playing here in Virginia Beach, VA and we are using these rules. Take ten seconds off your time for every stroke under par and add five seconds to your time for every stroke over par. Of course we count every course par 3 to make scoring easy. My time today was 13:48 and I was 7 under. My gps had the course at 1.53 miles and I ran at a 9:00 per mile pace. My final score being 12:38. The gps really helps because two people can play the same course and run different distances based on where they throw. Could there possible be a bonus for running the shortest route? Or is there any other way this could be handicapped? I would love to hear any thoughts. Thanks, Paul Boyette (PDGA#4728)

[Kenny B]

Thanks for joining Paul. Looks like I now have a reason to finally go out and buy a GPS watch!

[Kenny B]

I finally had a chance to play my second speed round.

Dalaiwood, B position - 22:48, 57 strokes

Discs used, Z-XL and R-Pro Aviar; canned a 50 footer on the last hole, which was pretty sweet.