John Tierny wrote an artile for the NY times that theorizes men like golf and disc golf because it appeals to basic male hunting urges. Packs of men strolling the kind of vistas that made for great hunting, all launching projectiles at a common target.

"The ideal is a vista from high ground overlooking open, rolling grassland dotted with low-branched trees and a body of water. It would have been a familiar and presumably pleasant view for ancient hunters: an open savanna where prey could be spotted as they grazed; a water hole to attract animals; trees offering safe hiding places for hunters."

(link to NY Times article) (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/20/opinion/20tierney.html?ex=1125633600&en=0341c882385031a8&ei=5070&oref=login)
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Thanks for the link. I'm usually averse to psychological theories, but it is an interesting idea.

The article on golf course design was a long read, but the idea that it parallels other cultural movements is pretty interesting. I also had no idea golf course design was that well studied. I suspect that someday, some interprising liberal arts major with a lot of free time will be critiquing our present designers in a similar manner. :D

i've always chalked up some of the appeal of our sport to a basic human desire to hurl projectiles at targets. Whether it is a hunter hurling a spear towards an animal that would serve as a good meal, or kids chucking snowballs at schoolbuses, or any "ball" games involving throwing or kicking with accuracy, or throwing beanbags at arcade bunnies, there is almost something "genetic" about throwing and targets.

In any of these activities, there is a certain rush of adrenaline that results from nailing that target.

Dan Doyle
Warwick, NY