Call it the new summer fling.
Fans of Frisbee golf try to hurl flying discs into a “hole,” or metal basket on a grass course, not unlike regular golf.
Also called disc golf, the pastime has been a popular summertime activity for decades now. But in recent years, the sport has exploded, with more courses sprouting up in the Chicago area and around the world. Globally, disc golf courses have increased from 1,374 in 2002 to 1,973 in 2005, a 44 percent jump, according to the Appling, Ga.-based Professional Disc Golf Association.
Illinois has 91 courses, and last year, the Forest Preserve of Cook County installed metal baskets along the 18-hole Edgebrook Golf Course so disc flingers could play alongside their club-and-ball counterparts. The baskets are not on the greens, which are out of bounds, says Becky Brakel, who helps organize an Illinois-based disc golf tournament series called Brass Cash.
But the game’s excitement has less to do with throwing a Frisbee and more with the fun of hurling small objects several hundred feet. Plus, unlike traditional golf, players don’t have to schlep around a set of clubs.
Disc golf also requires many of the skills needed in traditional golf. Some shots call for certain techniques (tomahawk-style throws for distance versus thumb-flicking throws so the spin allows for more roll along the ground). Focus remains vital. Even equipment is scrutinized.
But a set of three discs will cost you about $10, as opposed to $400 or more for some golf clubs. And with many courses built into municipal parks and other recreational areas, green fees are practically nonexistent.
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For more
illinoisdiscgolf.com: Home of the Illinois Disc Golf Club.
brasscash.com: Home of the Illinois-based Brass Cash disc golf tournament pdga.com: Home of the Professional Disc Golf Association, where you can find courses all over the nation.
