Frisbee Golf is Flying High

MANY OF US have enjoyed tossing a Frisbee back and forth with friends or family members at various times in our lives. But, for those of us with a little more of a competitive nature, there is a way to kick this activity up a notch! There is a way to keep score and to determine winners. The game is called Frisbee Golf - or perhaps more appropriately Disc Golf. This is a game where individual players throw a flying disc at targets or into baskets in the fewest number of throws possible.

A course may be set-up almost anywhere. Nine "holes" is probably a good beginning point. There should be enough space for some longer holes as well as some shorter ones. At times, a city or county park works well for the game. However, often interested individuals can find a field, a vacant lot, or outdoor areas at a school or church which works quite well for throwing Frisbees.

The golf "holes" (targets) can be most anything, including tree trunks, lamp poles, fire hydrants, or even hula hoops. More elaborate courses, especially those designed by professionals, will have "disc pole holes." These poles will include chains and a basket to catch and hold the Frisbee. Courses prepared for serious competition also include tee signs, tee pads, and discs suited for drives, mid-range shots, and putts.

There's no doubt that people have been having fun by sailing pie-shaped objects through the air for a very long time. However, George Sappenfield and Ed Headrick are credited with the founding of disc golf in the early 1960s. Headrick - who came to be known as the "father of disc golf" - created the first official disc and the first target with chains and a basket. The first disc golf course was located at Oakgrove Park in Pasadena, California. In 1975 the Disc Golf Association was established.

Most often, each player in Frisbee Golf is playing for himself or herself attempting to get the lowest score possible. However, players may be organized into teams and play a "best-disc scramble." As in regular golf, players usually realize that they are not only in competition with others, but they are also in competition with themselves.

In addition to simply being loads of fun, there are several other reasons why playing Frisbee Golf is an ideal choice as a leisure activity. Here are some of the benefits: challenge, excitement, fresh air, a beautiful landscape, and the camaraderie of friends or family. Moreover, the game is inexpensive, it appeals to a diverse range of players, and it is physically accessible.

In the United States - and elsewhere - Frisbee Golf is flying high! Perhaps now is a good time to get in on the action.