Are you craving some time outside but don’t know what to do? Are you looking for a fun activity to pass the time and something that requires minimal skills?  Frisbee Golf may be just the thing. 

Frisbee golf, otherwise known as disc golf, is a sport that is played similar to a game of golf. It is a flying disc sport in which players throw a disc at a target, aiming to complete each hole with the fewest number of throws.  Instead of using clubs and golf balls, they use flying discs or frisbees. The targets in frisbee golf are typically metal baskets with chains to catch the discs. Each hole starts at a teeing area and ends when a player successfully hits the target. The player who completes all holes with the fewest number of throws is declared the winner.

Even if you have never played this sport or thrown a frisbee, don’t worry!  It’s good to try something new, as novel activities feed the brain. We all feel good when we set out to do something we have never done before and succeed at it. Nothing compares to that feeling.  And you can’t really lose at this sport.  You may lose your frisbee, but you won’t be a “loser.”

A Different Frisbee

For this activity, you will need a frisbee.  There are discs specifically marketed for this sport, and these are subtly different than your typical beach-friendly frisbee.  You can easily purchase a disc set when visiting a local sports store, such as Big 5 Sporting Goods.  Discs are usually sold in packs of three: driver, mid-range, and putting. Beginners may find it easiest to use one frisbee. More experienced players generally use all disc options for the different distances on the course.  Personally, I have not yet gotten to the point where I am skilled enough to know the difference between the frisbees when I throw them. They still go all over the place. When I play Frisbee Golf with a group (usually a gaggle of young children), we find it easiest for each child to pick a specific colored frisbee.  That way, we know whose disc is whose.  It is a good idea to have some back-up frisbees when you play a course, just in case one gets lodged in a tree or wedged precariously in a pile of poison oak.  Sometimes it’s best to say goodbye to the frisbee rather than hello to a rash.

To get started in this sport, you will need to find a course and an opening for you and your group.  You can definitely play by yourself, but it is way more fun to go with some friends. Frisbee golf can be played in various settings such as parks, open fields, and even urban areas.  You can set up your own targets with bright-colored cones. Most cities have dedicated disc golf parks with multiple courses of varying difficulty.

If you use KidFriendlyVenues app you can look up where all the local frisbee golf courses are located. Some courses require a tee-time, and others do not. Most require some sort of fee but there are some that are free.

Lots of Outdoor Exercise

Frisbee golf is super fun!  My young boys love it, and so do I!  I love the sport itself, and I love the chance to be outside in the fresh air!  You can’t beat the exercise! Not only are you walking the course, but you get additional exercise with running after your frisbee, searching in bushes and climbing trees to retrieve the discs!

The game moves fast, even when you are with a group that doesn’t know how to throw the discs correctly.   Challenges you may encounter on the course are similar to those on any golf course.  The first most obvious challenge is losing the frisbee.  They’re quite big, and I recommend using bright colored frisbees until you get more experienced at throwing them. When my friend and I took our children to the frisbee golf course, we spent most of our time climbing trees and wading through bushes looking for the discs. But I will say that we all were laughing and had a fantastic time despite our terrible throws.  The next challenge is the pace on the course.  Other groups will often catch up to you, and you may find you ride up behind the group in front of you.   The time we spent combing through bushes messed up the timing on the groups behind us, so there were definitely some bottlenecks on the course.  The final challenge is making it back to the car without having to carry any children.  If they tucker out on the course, it can be a long way back.  Definitely bring water and snacks.

Tips and recommendations

When planning your day of Frisbee Golf, I suggest going for a place that has nine or less baskets. 18 is way too many unless you are very experienced!   When I take my young boys out on the course, we often skip baskets when I see they are getting tired.  And rest assured, your children will get tired!

An added bonus for children playing frisbee golf on a proper golf course is the added activity of hunting for golf balls.  My children love collecting these along the way. With the amount of searching we did for our frisbees in bushes, we encountered many orphaned golf balls.  Everyone loaded their pockets with these.  Our final count on our recent excursion was 48 balls!  And most were in great condition!

Frisbee Golf is a great activity to get outside and to clear your mind.  If you go with friends, it’s a wonderful way to catch up while doing something physical. Children never complain about being bored.  But, they will complain about being tired.   And that isn’t a bad thing.

Laura D