Why do we call them holes?

[blazerico]

This came up yesterday as I was showing a noob how to play. I assume ball golf calls them holes because that's what they are shooting towards, but we are not throwing towards a hole. Why don't we call them baskets? (I didn't bother doing a search for this, so not sure if it's been asked before)

 

[mattc]

I don't know about the holes part, but you are not always shooting at baskets.

 

[blazerico]

that may have been the case in the past, but I haven't seen anything other than baskets since I've been playing

 

[BIGDGOLFS]

I have wondered the same. When I think baskets I think of basketball, holes is golf.

 

[bradharris]

It's because "hole" has expanded meaning in the context of golf. It does not refer only to the target, it has expanded to refer to the entire space from the tee through the green.

Disc golf uses the term in the same way.

 

[blazerico]

We came to the same conclusion Brad. Shouldn't we call the whole thing a basket then?

 

[46YearOldSlinger]

Trying this on for size... "gonna get out and play 36 baskets today." Hmmmm... not sure it's working for me even though it is more accurate.

 

[bradharris]

We came to the same conclusion Brad. Shouldn't we call the whole thing a basket then?

If golf never existed, maybe. But in today's context, the actual target doesn't matter. "Hole" in golf terms is the entire tee-to-target playing area. As a spin-off of golf, the term carries over to disc golf as well.

 

[Grungedude42]

Call it a level. And then quit being pedantic.

 

[Jay Dub]

We throw to a basket but then explain how many strokes we took on that hole. Seems confusing but easier to do it that way.

 

[Cgkdisc]

Technically, our catching device is a target not just a basket which is only the bucket part of a target. Perhaps calling what we play "fairways" might make sense especially since we don't really have greens. The space from tee to target would be the fairway although we do not always stay on it all the way to the target.

 

[sisyphus]

Like it or not, the game evolved as a target activity that simulated golf. Shoot to the stop sign at the corner, the trunk of the tree on the next quad, or that trash barrel next to the bench... The early frisbee throwers were nothing if not whimsical. There was once probably an early disc golf genius who insisted we call them 'holes' because he envisioned the expanded courses of today that use letter holes...





....

 

[PhillyMatt]

It's because "hole" has expanded meaning in the context of golf. It does not refer only to the target, it has expanded to refer to the entire space from the tee through the green.

Disc golf uses the term in the same way.

:clap:

 

[Streets]

I think people sometimes over-think this sport/game.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

This game is a derivation of golf, therefore, it only makes sense to adopt the vernacular from that already quite well established game/sport.

Even though were play with throws of a disc as opposed to strokes of a club, we still refer to gaining/losing strokes, or express penalties in terms of # of strokes... makes sense to me. I have no problem referring to the area around the basket as a "green," or referring to "pin placement." It works. What else would you propose?

...people sometimes over-think this sport/game.

yep

 

[Stinkmeaner]

So in conclusion, you should never have to hole out. Instead, you should really be trying to pole out.

Makes sense.

 

[CaptainAnhyzer]

I think people sometimes over-think this sport/game.

:hfive:

 

[blazerico]

I think people sometimes over-think this sport/game.

trust me, there was no over-thinking yesterday since I had to be somewhat "medicated" to show a second-timer around my home course. Luckily, this guy is naturally athletic and was throwing 300' by the end of the round.

 

[DSmith]

Why do we call the tees, tees?

Why do we still call the fairways, fairways?

I mean this isn't golf, people.

 

[JC17393]

I think people sometimes over-think this sport/game.

Wait...sometimes?