YORKTON - Being a huge proponent of disc golf as a low cost recreation activity for communities to install and people to play, it’s always great to see a new Canadian company emerge to support the sport.
Discape is a new disc company which launched with a set of three discs in May – a standard grouping of driver, mid range and putter.
When a set arrived for review it was exciting to hit Patrick Park Disc Golf Course in Yorkton for a few maiden throws.
Since the initial tossing the discs have gone on a bit of a local journey being thrown at Shaker Disc Golf in Benito, Man., the course at Madge Lake, Kamsack and Sandy Beach on Good Spirit Lake, so they have been thrown in a variety of situations.
Then to be fair, at age 64, I’m not exactly the typical disc golfer, so the discs have passed around a bit with at least a half dozen local players ranging from big arms to a lefty to see just where the discs might fit in a bag.
The Aquarion is the putter here, and will likely garner the greatest interest in the sense reducing misses close to the basket is something every player looks to achieve. That effort typically means a willingness to try new putters more often than other discs.
With the Aquarion you get a nice option in a ‘grippy’ feel plastic which will appeal to many, and that’s good for a set that is best-suited to beginner or moderate level players.
If you have favoured putters – for example the ‘Moose’ from Daredevil – another Canadian company or the ‘Judge’ from Dynamic Discs or the Popcorn from Clash Discs – the Aquarion isn’t likely to supplant them, but as a first putter you will be well-pleased.
The Skyterron is the mid range, and for me easily the gem of the set. I find it a straight flyer that compliments my Kaxe from Kastaplast, so it will stay in the bag at this point.
I wouldn’t say all the throwers thought as highly on the Skyterron as I, but this will serve novices well, and once it’s strengths are learned can play a role for many.
That brings us to the Draconyx the driver in the set. It’s stamp says it’s a 9-speed which is right in my personal sweet spot, and the disc’s profile and feel suggested I’d like it.
It was however a disc that just didn’t get the initial distance I expected seeming to react more like a fairway driver with a speed eight, or maybe less.
That said gangly, long-armed Rob got surprising distance out of the Draconyx.
It should serve the novice well enough, but might also be best-termed a situational option that will vary more with arm speed and strength than many.
So with it being a new Canadian disc line it was natural to connect for an interview.
A company spokesperson who requested not to be named said one of the driving forces behind Discape was when he became interested in the sport initially because of where he lives in Toronto close “to a very beautiful 18 basket course” on the island.
As he found himself getting closer to the community associated with disc golf the idea of where he and a friend might fit in to the sport became a focus.
The question, what’s the disc golf space looking like here in Canada followed, and in answering that question they most certainly see the sport continuing to grow across Canada, and with that expectation they believe there is room for Canadian made discs.
The question led the partners to begin development of the disc line starting with a standard set of driver, mid range and putter, which fits comfortably into the marketplace as a starter set, but with potential experienced throwers can explore too.
The initial process was determining what a first set would look like, but with an eye to where Discape goes into the future.
You can find the discs via discapediscgolf.com
