Dynamic Discs, disc golf — Ben Swam, Co-owner of Dynamic Discs Iron City. Photo via Pat Byington for Bham Now

Disc golf continues to grow in Birmingham with the opening of Dynamic Discs Iron City—a store that caters to the sport and those who play it.

The store held its grand opening on New Year’s Day. Co-Owned by local disc golf players Ben Swam and Chris Pierce, this is the store’s fourth location in the country.

What makes the company unique?

“We are the only brick and mortar disc golf store in Birmingham. There is no other store in town that only sells only disc golf stuff.”
Ben Swam, Co-Owner, Dynamic Discs Iron City

As previously mentioned, Swam and Pierce are both disc golf players. Swam has been playing for 10 years; Pierce has been playing for even more. This means that when you visit Dynamic Discs Iron City, you’ll be getting first-hand knowledge of the sport.

“When you go to larger and even smaller places, you don’t get the same knowledge as you get here. Most of the time they will have someone there who is just going to point to the disc golf section, but doesn’t have knowledge on the actual sport.”
Ben Swam

Another cool thing about the store is its location, which is just 10 minutes from George Ward Park—the oldest and most popular course in Birmingham.

“We get a lot of out of town people come through Birmingham and that’s where they want to play. It’s been around a long time and we’ve had a lot of big-name players who have been around and played the course. So it was important for us to be close to that park.”
Ben Swam

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What is disc golf all about?

Basically, if frisbee and golf had a baby… tadah! You’d have disc golf. For the most part anyway.

Just like with golf, disc golf courses are made up of 9 to 18 holes with the object of the game being to complete each hole in the fewest number of throws.

But, while the rules of the game are similar to golf, there are some key differences:

Instead of using a ball and clubs, players use flying discs similar to frisbees.
Players aim for metal goal posts that feature loose metal chains that “catch” discs.

The pandemic and disc golf

From becoming first-time bread bakers and sidewalk chalk artists to learning how to crochet and knit, the COVID-19 pandemic turned many of us onto new activities.

During this time, with people looking for solo and socially-distant activities to participate in, disc golf gained incredible popularity and fast-tracked into being one of Birmingham’s most popular recreational activities.

“COVID-19 has made this sport explode. I have no problem with online shopping, but it’s much better to be able to shop in person and feel things and touch them.”
Ben Swam

Here are more activities locals in Birmingham have been trying out during the pandemic:

Did you know Birmingham is home to many disc golf courses and disc golf leagues?

Back in July 2020, I flew disc first into the sport with help from local players who filled me in on all the what’s, where’s, why’s and how’s of the game. Find out what I learned here.

Check out Dynamic Discs Iron City at 25 West Oxmoor Road, Set 40A, Homewood, AL 35209.