Disc Golf:Turn Any Hike Into a Game

Suzanne Johnson August 5, 2008

Gabe tees off! In my family, it was a breeze getting the boys out for hikes when they were little. As they grow up, a hike with mom or dad takes second place to friends, soccer practice, their amazing new ability to power-sleep til noon, or the magnetic pull of the virtual world. Some days they’d spend all day in front of a screen if I let them. One activity that can lever them off the couch and outside into the natural world is disc golf. Disc golf, or Frisbee Golf, takes the idea of traditional golf, and ups the fun level dramatically. First, swap the heavy clubs for a disc; these are smaller and harder than a Frisbee. Serious disc golfers might carry a driver disc and a putter disc, but other than the discs and maybe a water bottle or hydration pack, there’s nothing to carry. A disc golf course has nine holes ending in large metal baskets, marked by an orange flag. Like golf, the goal is to land the disc in each basket with the fewest throws, or strokes. The best part? Disc golf is free, super-casual, no tee times required, and the courses are laid out in natural settings with minimal maintenance required. Will got a bogey on this hole.In Central Oregon three disc courses stand out. The first is located on the Central Oregon Community College campus; this course is easy to follow, but not much of a getaway. Sisters has a nice course located near the high school campus; it stays shady and cool on the hottest days. Mount Bachelor offers a course that requires a chairlift ride up to the course; this year the course was snowed in well into July! I’ve started googling disc golf courses before we travel to a new area. Especially in urban areas, disc golf courses offer a chance to get into a greenway with an activity kids love, at virtually no cost. But disc golf doesn’t require a defined course – we’ll bring the discs on any hike and make up a course as we go along. One person picka a rock or a tree as the target, and whoever gets there in the fewest throws chooses the next target. Disc golf can turn a plain old hike into a engaging and fun game, while providing uninterrupted conversation time - and that’s a combination that’s always worthwhile.

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One Response to “Disc Golf:Turn Any Hike Into a Game”

  1. Bill Brown on August 5th, 2008 9:48 am

    My wife and I love disc golf! It’s a great (and cheap) way to spend an afternoon.

    We’ve got a few good courses here in NorCal, but I’ve heard that Mt. Bach’s course is amazing. Nice Post!

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