Frisbee golf gaining in popularity on and around campus
There are a lot of weird combination sports out there nowadays.
Around campus a few students swing golf clubs at tennis balls on Norlin Quad. Find a tennis court and you might see soccer players kicking a ball over the net back and forth.
But perhaps the most popular mish-mash of two sports is Frisbee golf. The sport basically follows the rules of golf, but substitutes a club and ball for a Frisbee.
There are two types of the sport: Frisbee golf-played with the average Frisbee and disc golf-played with heavier, smaller discs that travel farther but are harder to get used to.
“It’s golf without the attitude,” said Neil Robertson, a senior political science major.
Robertson plays at a number of courses around Colorado, from Arvada to Frisco to Golden. The laid-back attitude is something that attracted him to the sport,
“It’s the only sport where you can bring a 40. I think it’s one of the best all-around casual games,” Robertson said.
If sports enthusiasts had their way, CU would currently have its very own disc golf course. In the spring of 2004, a USCU bill was floated which would have allowed the construction of a Frisbee golf course on the little-used CU South campus.
The bill asked students to vote on an extra $21 per semester to fund the course. It was defeated and CU South remains a rather barren wasteland, save for a few tennis courts.
If you are looking for a slow pace, Frisbee golf offers a more relaxed atmosphere and unorthodox hole targets. Each hole has a chain-linked basket a player attempts to throw a disc into, Frisbee golf “holes” can also qualify as tree trunks, street signs or fire hydrants.
Still, disc or Frisbee golf is not for everybody. Katie Couch, a senior music major, thought the experience was a waste of time.
“I think it’s more of a guy thing,” she said. “I honestly did not like it, I thought it was boring.”
The Kittredge area has a great setup for Frisbee golf. There is just the right amount of trees, open space and water to keep things interesting. As with any place on campus, there is always the danger of hitting innocent pedestrians. Always be on the lookout before you wind up and throw.
If disc golf is your fancy, courses are spread out all over metro Denver and can be accessed at the Mile Disc Golf Web site.
For disc golf around Boulder, Harlow Platts Park , next to the South Boulder Recreation Center, has a nine-hole course that is a good place for beginners, as well as disc golf veterans to enjoy their sport.
Contact Campus Press staff writer Evan Acker at evan.acker@thecampuspress.com.
