Disc-Golf: Fun for the Entire Family and a Great Source of Exercise

Disc-golf courses have been around since the mid 1970's but have recently begun to spring up in parks all over the nation. It is very similar to golf, but can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age, beginning with the very first time out. Disc-golf is played with a Frisbee instead of a ball and club. The holes, or targets, are steel buckets about three feet off the ground with several chains hanging down above the bucket to catch the Frisbee and drop it into the bucket. Pictured is hole #16 of an 18 hole course in Minnesota.

Unlike golf courses, the best, most challenging disc-golf courses run through hilly, and sometimes forested areas (usually both). Some also have lakes where the brave can try to go over the water while the less confident can toss their Frisbees around it. In the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, there are more than 30 parks now that feature disc-golf courses of varying degrees of difficulty with more popping up each and every year.

Part of its rapidly growing appeal is that small children, people playing for the first time, teens, adults of all ages, and professionals can all equally enjoy the very same courses. It is definitely something the whole family can go out and enjoy together. Let's face it, even when your toss goes astray and into the rough, a colorful Frisbee is a lot easier to find than a tiny white ball. And best of all, 99% of the courses are free!

Golf carts are not be able to travel a typical course with the hills and woods so the courses must be walked and this is great exercise for young and old alike. Many courses have benches along the way, too, in case you need to catch your breath after climbing one of the larger hills. Walking the courses is great for your entire cardiovascular system. Many walkers and joggers have started using disc-golf courses for their morning routes because they tend to provide great landscape views with constant changes in scenery along the way.

The professionals use a variety of discs. Drivers, mid-range, and putters, over stable (tend to curve left), under stable (tend to curve right) and sometimes carry an assortment of discs that react differently to the requirements of specific holes. But the rest of us can go out with just one Frisbee and still have a great time. I'm not a bad golfer, but I can't remember the last time I used only one golf ball for an entire season.