[Hairbird]

I've seen this mentioned a couple of times on here before. Can anyone fill me in on disc (or frisbee golf)?

For example, is this usually just a show up and play in a park kind-of-thing, or is it a make a "tee" time and pay to play kind-of-thing? Also, can I expect to show up and rent or borrow discs, or do you have to own your own equipment before you play? I saw somewhere that there are different types of discs used for different types/lengths of shots. Is it necessary to carry around a bag of discs, or will one do? I also read that a regular sized frisbee is too large, but I wanted to confirm that.

Specifically, I'm wondering about playing on Toronto Island when I'm in the area. Is there anyone in the area who knows about that course in particular, and the availability of disc and cost of playing there?

Thanks!

[sherpahigh]

I happen to love this game. I'll post more later when I have some time. Right now I gotta get some work outta the way so I can make my "tee time" tonight.

[Stephen Dame]

We call her "Frolf" round these parts. Organized leagues, uniforms and everything.

[grooveless touque]

It's a hippie thing so it's completely free. You find a course and justs how up and play, chat with people already there (usually the easiest way is to find ones registered with the Internatl Disc Golf Assn website). The courses are well hidden because apparently they're in almost every region but I never knew it until I met these guys I know in Fernie...so you can find them through the IDGA but it really helps to meet someone in your area who plays it because the wonderful course I played in Fernie, BC is unregistered.

Also, with minimal effort, you can plot your own course in any stand of trees. All you need is tape marking a tree (two bands a foot apart for the "hole") and a relatively uncluttered "fairway" (though unlike golf, you WANT some trees in the way for technique throwing).

There are all kinds official rules and regs - as well as DOZENS of regulation frisbees that do tons of different things, like different golf clubs - but it's like soccer: if you want to keep it simple, it's entirely possible to still enjoy yourself. Professionals (you can play for money) can have 40 discs but I think you're only allowed 18 to use on a single course at one time...but really, you can start with just two discs: a long range driver and a putter. Most of my friends have 3-4 discs, a couple drivers and a couple of putters. There are formal courses with cement launching pads and regulation baskets on the trees, but the unregistered course I played was cheap and simple...which was a part of its appeal.

It's a lot of fun and I highly recommend it!

[sherpahigh]

As has already been said it's called disc golf, frisbee golf, frolf or whatever else you want to call it. Never heard of uniforms being used but you know... each to thier own.

Usually it's free to play as courses are usually in parks and the like. Some courses are private like one here in Calgary at Park 96, it's a community park so you have to live there to get in or you can buy a membership.

Mostly you just show up at the course and play, the "tee time" I was talking about is just an informal one to meet up there with friends. Some courses have discs available for borrowing but I haven't seen that too often. You can use a regular sized frisbee, but you will soon get frustrated with that when you see what can be done with the specialized ones. I started out buying one 'multi-purpose' or mid range disc and using that for all my shots. I'd recommend that way or get one of those and a 'putter' disc to start. When you're comfy with those branch out and add a 'driver'.

I'm from out west so I'm not much help with your local course, but here's a link to some info on courses in your area:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.discgolfstuff.meridian1.net/default.asp?S=E3&Document=Disc+Golf+Course+Locations&NID=1584021">http://www.discgolfstuff.meridian1.net/ ... ID=1584021</a><!-- m -->

I'd also recommend checking out this site for info on discs and what's good for beginners, etc. There's some great articles on techniqe on the site as well. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.discgolfreview.com">http://www.discgolfreview.com</a><!-- m -->

Hope that helps you out some. Most of all go out and have some fun. It's a great time. I've met a lot of cool like-minded people out on the course.

[grooveless touque]

Yeah, it really attracts all types...the best thing about it, aside from the challenge of skill, is the people you meet. I was just gonna add that the first disc I ever really liked was a multipurpose one, a Cobra. I HIGHLY recommend it as the first disc you start with. I forgot about that, I shouldn't have said start with a single driver and a putter...the Cobra, or another all-purpose disc, is great for not only throwing at various distances, but also greatly useful for developing different styles of throwing. There are some really cool ways to throw it, only one of which I dare say I have mastered, and an all-purpose disc is good when you're just starting to move beyond basic linear tossing.

[sherpahigh]

The cobra's a good one. I just picked one up this season and have found it to be pretty acurate. I still prefer the classic roc though. Just a great overall disc that does whatever you need it to. Well, except long drives. I actually find myself putting with it most of the time as I don't have a putter that I really like at the moment. I'm gonna pick up a magnet for that pretty soon.

[Hairbird]

Thanks for the help! It sounds like a lot of fun. Some more questions though...

Where can you find these discs? Is it stricktly an online business and specialty store market, or could I expect the local SportCheck to have a Disc Golf secion? Also, how much would you expect to pay for them? Are they fairly cheap (<$20), or are they quite specialized, and a little more expensive?

As far as I know, there are no courses in my region (Sudbury), but I am around Toronto and Oakville from time-to-time, and I see that there are courses in both locations. I don't really want to go through the trouble and time-lag of ordering discs online, if I'm only going to end up using them a couple of times, especially if they cost more than a few bucks.

Is there anyone out there who's played on Centre Island, or at Bronte Creek Provincial Park, who knows whether you can borrow a couple of discs and give the game a try? Thanks again for the info!

[grooveless touque]

The basic discs are about $15. You can pay more than twice that for high end function discs, so you can pick up an entire starter set (all purpose, driver, putter) for less than $50, and you can play with them practically forever. Some of the really REALLY good people throw them so that when they hit a tree it damages the disc, but you would have to play for years before you reach that point! No, they're not as cheap as normal dollar-store frisbees, but it's so much fun that it's worth it.

They're not everywhere...not in every typical sporting goods store. Most cities with courses in or around them will have a store or two that sells them, but they are harder to find than common sport equipment. Online is a good source if you can't find one in your area because then you'd have to pay shipping...I say call around to some of the non-major-brand-name sports places and ask around. Most of the people at a place like Sport Chek probably haven't heard of this, but some of the more down-on-the-ground local sports stores are more likely to. I can't remember where my friend got his, but it wasn't from a national chain sports store. I'll ask him the next time I talk to him.