With 18 courses in Utah and more than 3,600 coast-to-coast, disc golf, also known as Frisbee golf, is played with rules similar to “regular” golf.
The object of the game is to get the disc into the target area in the fewest number of throws. Like golf, it is important to be aware of the surroundings and hazards such as creeks. New players can ask others on the course about the rules of the game.
“I like disc golf because I don’t suck at it like I do regular golf,” said Salt Lake Community College student James Winward. “It is not that hard and is enjoyable. You get to play with a group friends and just hang out.”
The game for most people starts out not necessarily as a round of disc golf, but just as an opportunity to be with friends and an easy way to get physically active that costs a lot less than regular golf. In most cases, there is no course or club fee to play the game and no set tee time.
A golf disc is used as a ball and is made of champion or “candy” plastic. They are weighted and cost about $15. There are many types of discs used in disc golf including a driver for long throws, a midrange for medium range throws and putters for short throws.
“You start at a tee and you finish at a hole. Ours are baskets. They are not exactly pins or holes in the ground, but it’s a basket you throw your disc into,” said disc golfer Brad Kincase.
Like any skill, disc golf takes practice.
“The first time I tried playing this game it frustrated the crap out of me. I thought it was kind of dumb because I was throwing [the disc] into the parking lot literally,” Eric Johnson said.
After trying again with friends, Johnson then began to get the hang of it and now really enjoys participating in the game.
“I play a lot of video games,” Johnson said. “This is live action video game.”
According to DiscGolfUtah.net, the Walter Frederick Morrison Disc Golf Course was established in 1982 at Creekside Park in Holladay and was one of the first 50 disc golf courses established in the United States. Membership in the Professional Disc Golf Association reached over 14,000 members in 2011.
“Disc golf is getting bigger. I would say probably the last couple of years it has grown a bunch. Its been around since the early 70s late 60s so you haven’t heard much about it but is starting to get bigger,” Kincase said. “I mean the tournaments are getting bigger. The prize money is getting bigger which is really what’s bringing a lot more people around.”
