Disc Golf – Cooper’s Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk Disc Golf Course

A fun and rather wacky game of golf through the trees, instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc also known as a Frisbee.  The concept is the same as in regular golf in which you strive to achieve the fewest number of throws to complete each hole.  A golf disc is thrown from a tee to a target “hole” which is much like an elevated metal basket.  As you progress down the trails, you must make each successive shot from the spot where you had your earlier pitch landed. 

The terrain in which you are playing offers the challenge of obstacles for the golfer.  Sharing the same joys and frustrations of traditional golf, disc golfers need to sink a long put or hit a tree in the fairway, although disc golf does not require a greens fee, no golf carts are necessary and there is no such thing as a bad tee time, enjoyable for people of all ages, male or female regardless of economic status.

            Who can play?

Disc golf can be played by people of all ages, fit or handicapped, making it a great lifetime fitness sport.  Easy to learn, but can be ultimately very competitive.

            Where to play?

The Willow Point Sportsplex features a disc golf course, hidden amongst a beautiful setting of second growth trees and west coast rain forest.  The course is a Par 3 with 9 holes.  This idea location combines wooded and open terrain and a variety of topographical challenges.

            As a Recreational Sport

Disc Golf offers an ongoing fitness regime; it provides upper and lower body conditioning, aerobic training and encourages a combination of physical and mental abilities that permit very little threat of physical injury.  Concentration skills intensify by mastering shots and negotiating obstacles.

            Rules and Regulations

This is an outline, it is suggested that anyone seriously interested in the competition of Disc Golf look up the Disc Golf Association’s rules and regulations or obtain a copy from the Sportsplex staff before commencing your game.

• One stroke per disc is counted each time the disc is pitched or when there has been a designated penalty.

• The victor is the golfer with the lowest result.

• After tee off, the participant with the disc that landed furthest away from the hole always throws first.

• The player with the least number of strokes on the preceding hole is the first to tee off.

• To facilitate fairway throws your foot must be closest to the hole on the point where your previous pitch came to lie.  The alternate foot may be no nearer to the hole than the first foot.

• A run-up and common follow through, after release, are allowed more than 10 meters from the hole.  Closer than 10 meters, a competitor may not step past his or her lie. 

• Falling or jumping putts are not sanctioned inside the 10 meter mark.

• Disc’s that appear to lean within the basket or chains constitutes the successful completion of that hole.

• A disc that happens to rest more than 2 meters above the ground is to be deemed out of play, the disc must be tossed from the ground exactly below where the disc came to rest.  This constitutes a 1 stroke penalty.

• Never commence play until all the people ahead of you are out of range and the fairway is clear of spectators and visitors.