The weather is cooling off but disc golf is still hot

MASON CITY – Throughout the spring, summer and fall, you can find college and high school age kids out practicing the hurling of frisbees at East Park.

As the weather cools down, the youngsters are still out playing disc golf.

“It is cheap entertainment,” says Scott Peters. “We enter as many tournaments as we can.”

The object of this game, similar to regular golf, is to get to each check point (or hole) in the lowest amount of strokes. In East Park, the baskets are at each of the nine check points. “A disc that comes to rest in the Disc Pole Hole basket or chains constitutes successful completion of that hole,” according to discgolf.com. You add up your score after the completion of a round.

Scott’s friend, Nick (pictured, right/top, walking the disc course in East Park with a friend) said that instead of special clubs, there are special frisbees for each throw. You start with the drivers for the longer throws, then the midrange and, of course, end with the putter. Or you could just use one regular frisbee if you want to avoid those technicalities. There are also markers, that are used like tees, to “mark” your throw.

At East Park, the Frisbee Golf game starts at the top of the steps on the south side of the park, west of the band shell. You take your first “tee throw” and you’re off. The exercise aspect is the same as regular golf. After the throw, you walk to where your frisbee landed for a fairway throw. “Fairway throws must be made with the foot closest to the hole on the lie. The other foot may be no closer to the hole than the lie. A run-up and normal follow-through, after release, is allowed,” discgolf.com states.

Young adults in groups of two or more were continuously beginning new games at East Park earlier this week. This is a growing, popular game that this age group seems to enjoy. Really, any age group can enjoy disc golf with their friends and family, plus it’s inexpensive enough for all to be able to afford.

If you can find a tournament, it also satisfies the competive side. “It’s a good activity, a good sport,” says Jeff, another disc golfer. “It’s fun for everybody.”

Nobody seemed to have a schedule of where, when or how often disc golf tournaments are held in North Iowa, but it seems like this sport is getting more and more popular, so there might be one in the future.

In the meantime, a group of people can play for fun or compete, then add up their scores and see who is lowest.

To find most of the best disc golf courses in the North Iowa area and within driving distance, visit this page in the Professional Disc Golf Association web site.

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