I always tell my family that while I may not throw very far when we’re playing disc golf, at least I’m never the one trying to get my disc out of a tree, or the underbrush! It’s true that my score is always the highest of the five of us, but I’m really not out there to win, anyway. I love our family games for the sheer enjoyment of being outside, doing an activity that we enjoy, and just being together. Even if I always lose.
My favorite course is down in San Marcos, The Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club has two courses, a regular 18-hole course and a fun 18-hole putting course that is similar to a mini golf course with lots of fun obstacles! I love the putting course!
Cameron Park in Waco is probably my second favorite. Sitting along the Brazos River, it’s just a very scenic course, and it doesn’t hurt that on hot days you can just detour through the little splash pad to cool off. It does help that there are restrooms nearby, too.
Locally in DFW, we play Cedar Hill the most. Lester Lorch DGP has an ominous history, in that the park is also known as Witch Mountain, although it’s not really much of a mountain. But there have been reported eerie sightings for decades in the area. So much that the park is completely closed after dark, but I don’t think the supernatural has much to do with that. But it’s pretty much a disc-golf only park, with a big parking area, and two 18-hole courses. There aren’t restrooms, so go before you arrive, or play quickly! On weekends you’ll find the lot full, and players come out to tailgate between courses, so it smells pretty nice too, with burgers and such cooking in the lot around lunch!
Baily Lake Disc Golf Course in Burleson is a great example of a course that works along with a public park, and a park I really enjoy playing in cooler weather, as there’s not a lot of shade.
We’ve played a few courses in other states, like Colorado. I don’t recommend it, though. While beautiful, for me it was a lot of chasing my disc while it rolled down hill, then climbing back up the hill to throw again, only to chase back down after it, all while keeping an eye out for bears. I prefer my disc golf on flat ground.
For The Beginners:
Disc Golf is a great game for families because it’s crazy cheap to get started, about $10 for a disc, or when my kids were younger we would just use $1 frisbees from Walmart. In Texas, almost all the courses are public free courses, too! It’s played much like golf, with a tee box and a basket instead of holes. And like golf, there are usually 18 baskets, or some smaller courses have 9 and you’ll play through twice, or not. You’ll find the Disc Golf Police are very laid back. In fact, the biggest obstacle when playing with a family is just being sure you allow faster players to go ahead of you. You will find most players are incredible friendly and accommodating and love to encourage the interest to younger players. Many of the courses are kept up by disc-golf lovin’ volunteers, so they know to continue the sport, it needs young players!
A quick google search will help you find courses near you, usually at a public park, although there are some that are almost only for disc golf. Aside from the disc, you’ll want to take some water, wear close-toed, comfortable shoes, and apply sunscreen and bug spray as needed. UDisc Disc Golf is a great app for helping you locate the best courses, maps of the courses, and a scorecard! Personally, I use UDisc but as a casual player, I really, really like the app Mini Golf for keeping track of our scores, as that’s usually my job. It’s also great for mini golf! Both of these apps are free.
You’ll see other players using different disc, a driver and a putter, much like golf, for their long drives and at the basket, but one disc is all you need to get started. We have a huge backpack for holding all our disc, which is never my job to carry since I take score! You’ll see some rolling bags, also. A fun addition to your bag is also disc golf grabber to retrieve your disc out of the bushes, water or a tree. Ours has suction cups and a long extension, so I have to hear him tell our youngest, Leo, fifty times a game that it’s not a toy and to quit playing with it, although of course, it absolutely is a toy for a game.
Well-behaved, leashed dogs are allowed on most courses, and if the weather is right it’s a great way to get your pup out of the house, too. Unless they like to chase frisbees.
Keep Having Fun in the Texas Sun!
Michelle
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