Looking for something new to do? Bored by the same old routine week after week?
Disc golf, on a surface level, is a deceptively simple concept. Take a disc, throw it into a cage, wash, rinse, repeat. It’s the type of sport that is tantalizingly easy to pick up and play but full of hidden depth and countless ways to improve.
Sometimes labelled ‘frisbee golf’ or ‘frolf’ over the years, the sport previously existed on the fringes, saddled with an unsavoury reputation; it was the type of sport your weird uncle played, or maybe one of the guys at your shop raved about but nobody really paid attention to.
Well folks, I’m here to say: pay attention. Disc golf is the real deal. A deeply addictive, competitive game that can be played alone or as a group, it offers players a chance to get outside, log some serious steps, and can be deeply rewarding as your skills begin to progress beyond a beginner’s level.
Lately, the sport has gained significant steam both here in Ontario and around the world. With a professional league, high-profile tournaments, and rising stars like Simon Lizotte, Ricky Wysocki, and Paige Pierce making a name on the pro circuit and gobbling up sponsorship opportunities, disc golf has exploded in popularity in recent years.
Don’t believe me? Hop on YouTube and type in ‘Disc Golf hole-in-one compilation’ or something to that effect and enjoy the flood of videos your search yields. There are countless tutorials, pro tournament coverage aplenty, and a thriving community of players pretty much anywhere a course can be found.
I personally got my start in the early, languid days of the Covid pandemic. Desperate to get out of my house, and longing for any sort of activity I could do with friends while maintaining distance, disc golf came into my life at the exact right moment. Ordering a set of beginner’s discs off Amazon, I was all set to go.
Early rounds yielded hilariously high scores. It wasn’t uncommon for me to notch a +20 or higher in those days. It was a little embarrassing to be honest, but it didn’t take long before those +20s turned into +10s. Three years into the hobby, my average cumulative score so far this year is +3.
Now, I’m not a gifted athlete. I routinely play with players who notch much more impressive scores than I am currently capable of myself. But the drive to better myself, to throw a disc just a bit further, to finally hear the sweet sound of chains as I sink a career-first hole-in-one, these things keep me excited and motivated to get out and play a round any time I can. I sneak them in on early mornings occasionally, or I’ll do a quick nine on the way home from work by myself here and there. I’ll even bike over to a nearby soccer field to practise throwing. It’s a bit of an obsession, really.
One of the best things about disc golf is how easily accessible the sport is. Most disc retailers offer disc-starter packs in the range of $30-$50, and most courses in Ontario are completely free to play on. In that sense, the sport acts as a great equalizer, free of the high financial barriers that come with actual golf and many other sports, and encouraging players of all ages, backgrounds, and financial means to come out and play.
Of course, having said that, once the sport gets its hooks into you, it’s easy to get lost in a world of buying new discs, gear, and more to help propel your game to the next level. That’s just part of the fun of digging deeper into any hobby though.
Parks that install courses experience considerable increases in traffic, bringing more people into public spaces. The installation and maintenance of a course is small potatoes compared to the expenses related to maintaining other sports facilities.
Here in Haldimand, we are lucky to have access to two top-shelf courses. For the beginner, Jarvis Lions Park offers a great nine-hole course perfect for those just dipping their feet in. For the seasoned player, Caledonia’s beautiful La Fortune Park offers a challenging, technical course that will test even the best of players. Both are free to access and both are maintained well.
Nearby, courses at Brantford’s Mohawk Park, Paris’ Green Lane Sports Complex, Hamilton’s Christie Lake Conservation Area, and Woodstock’s Pittock Conservation Area offer varying challenges and beautiful views.
Now, you may be saying, ‘Isn’t it a bit late into the season to be recommending disc golf?’ Surprisingly, many players, yours truly included, will continue to play well into the fall and even the winter seasons. It’s not uncommon to see a group of friends out in the depths of February, dressed in full winter gear, with streamers taped to their discs in case they land deeply in a snowbank.
So, if you’re like me, and love finding new ways to get out into the world and stay active, consider grabbing a set of starter discs today, or head to the Jarvis Library where you can choose from a selection of discs, free to borrow with a library card. Watch a couple tutorials, head on out to the park, and enjoy your new hobby.
You can thank me later!
