If you’re like me, winter is a time to hibernate – staying indoors where it’s warm, under a blanket, with a hot drink, watching TV, or playing games on your phone. The urge to go outside and enjoy nature seems to fade as the snow covers the last of the fall colours and the temperature drops below zero. Physical activity tends to be limited to whatever you can do in your house, unless you are one of those rare individuals who makes it beyond the first two weeks of the January gym membership.
If you are a winter sport enthusiast, you likely already enjoy skiing/snowboarding, ice skating, hockey, or curling, but apart from skiing and snowboarding, many of these are played indoors, maintaining that separation from nature. Not to mention, most winter sports come with a hefty price tag for equipment and use of the facilities, and none of them can happen outdoors without minimal winter conditions. It seems like every year our winter weather is becoming less and less predictable. So, what incentive do we have to get outside during the winter, regardless of the conditions, to enjoy some fresh air, winter scenery, maybe even some sun, all while getting some moderate, low-impact exercise, without breaking the bank? Until about 9 months ago, I would have said, none.
I have known about the sport of disc golf since the 90s, and even played the odd solo round with an old-fashioned ‘frisbee’, but it wasn’t until this past spring when Haute Goat Farm, north of Port Hope, opened their disc golf course that I was able to play alongside experienced disc golfers using official golf discs. I joined their summer league and came out on its inaugural evening in May. As a complete beginner, I didn’t play particularly well, but the next day I found myself itching to get back out there and improve on my game. And I did. With practice, a weekly round at the Goat, and the odd YouTube video (of which there are enough to last a lifetime), my skills ramped up quickly. I even started following the pros. That’s when I realized how big this sport really is. And it’s growing.
Though its actual beginnings are difficult to pinpoint (rumour has it the first game was played in Bladworth, Saskatchewan in 1927, using tin lids aimed at circles drawn on sandy ground), disc golf as an organized sport officially began in the 1970s and has grown steadily through the end of the 20th century and into the new millennium. However, in the past 10 years or so the sport has exploded, especially since the pandemic, as people searched for an activity that got them outside while still adhering to
COVID safety protocols.
According to UDisc.com (UDisc is the app for disc golfers allowing players to track their scores, progress, find local leagues and tournaments, check out course leaderboards, and even manage their disc inventories), in 79 countries around the world, over 17 million disc golf rounds were recorded using the app in 2021, but that number is likely quadrupled if you include casual rounds not recorded electronically. Of the over 13,000 disc golf courses worldwide, 71% were built in the last decade, including Haute Goat. Pretty impressive numbers for a sport that is still considered ‘niche’.
Teeing off from the first hole for a great winter game.
One of the best things about disc golf is just how approachable it is. Players of all ages, genders, and experience levels enjoy this sport around the world every day. It’s very possible to see experienced disc golfers, whether 7 or 77, playing alongside newbies of any age still developing their skills. To get started, you don’t need much more than a couple of discs and a reliable pair of shoes. The average golf disc will only set you back about $20, and green fees are typically $15 or less (many courses are free to play!). Like ball golf, the object is simple: reach the target (or basket) in as few throws of the disc as possible, with each throw counting as one stroke. Each ‘hole’ has a set par, typically 3 or 4, but par 5s are common as well. Disc golf courses are measured in feet, rather than yards, and each hole can be anywhere from 100 feet to 700 feet long, depending on the course layout or difficulty chosen.
One of the most attractive aspects of the sport is how passionate and welcoming the disc golf community is. Disc golfers tend to be very supportive of each other’s game. After all, we were all beginners at some point, and no matter what your skill level is you are bound to make that great throw, and that’s when everybody celebrates. We’re all out there for the same reasons: to enjoy the outdoors, and for the love of the sport. But here’s the best part: you can play it year-round.
Certainly, if you ask a pro, there is an ‘off-season’ – between the final tournament in the fall and the first one in February – when they rest and re-train their bodies, sign new contracts, and spend time with family. For the amateur or recreational disc golfer, however, disc golf is a great excuse to get outside any month of the year. Not surprisingly, the disc golf course has a different feel in the winter. With all the foliage gone from the trees, the baskets are much easier to see, even at a great distance, and the fear of losing a disc in the ‘rough’ is greatly reduced. The ground tends to be a little harder with the cold too, so, when there is no snow on the ground the disc can often get a little bit more distance if it skips or slides just right, which may be helpful for your score (but admittedly, sometimes not!). Even with snow on the ground the game is still playable. Players simply tape or glue long, thin ribbons to the underside of their discs, making finding the disc in the snow easier, surprisingly without really affecting the flight of the disc. And of course, it’s important to dress in plenty of layers to protect you from the cold and to allow you to remove a layer or two as needed. More importantly, it provides free movement of your body that a big bulky winter coat might not provide. All this might sound like a lot of extra work, but I assure you it’s not. And let me tell you, there is nothing like a walk through the woods on a clear, sunny winter day after a fresh snowfall. The fact that you can also throw a disc at a target along the way simply makes it better.
Friendships are made on the disc golf course
At the café, Hitarth prepares delicious dishes to refuel after the game.
Designed and built by Darrell Bankes, owner of TinLid Disc Golf (yes, it’s named after that 1927 event), Haute Goat Disc Golf is a purpose-built disc golf course (many courses are located on traditional golf courses, in public parks, or on school grounds), which means great care is taken to cater to the disc golfer first and foremost, without worrying about interfering with other users in the area. The course is regularly maintained for the optimum disc golf experience. They even have shovels located at each tee pad so players can clear off any snow that may have accumulated, which ensures proper footing no matter the current conditions. Tees and baskets are clearly marked with signage indicating the various stats for each hole and how to get to the next one. There are currently two layouts: longs and shorts. Choose the layout that best suits your skill level, but of course you are welcome to try both. $10 ($5 for youth under 16) gets you a day pass, meaning you can play as many times as you like during regular course hours. If you are so inclined, Haute Goat Disc Golf hosts many leagues and tournaments throughout the year. It’s one of the best ways to meet like-minded people and improve your game. If it’s your first time out or you just don’t have any discs, there are plenty available for rent at the Screaming Goat Café.
Shovels are stashed by the tee pad to help keep them clear.
Speaking of which, you’ll want to stop at the café during your visit to browse locally sourced snacks, preserves, beer, wine, and other beverages, household items, gifts and crafts, and of course plenty of goat’s milk and alpaca fibre products, not to mention a huge selection of new golf discs from Innova. If you happened to lose your disc during a recent round you can check the lost and found bin here as well (they always come back!). Need some pre- or post-game nourishment? The café offers a great menu of soups, salads, and mains, all made to order and with local ingredients. The Smash Burger is amazing! They recently created a small lounge area where you can gather to enjoy your food and talk (or laugh) about your round. There are plenty of other activities to enjoy while visiting the farm. Visit Haute Goat online for more information on everything they have to offer.
I’ll leave you with this; when asked what he liked best about disc golf in a 2022 TV interview, 9-year-old Cole from Pennsylvania said, ‘Just watching the disc fly’.
And he’s right, it’s a beautiful thing!
I’ll see you on the course!
Drew Johnson is an amateur disc golfer and current member of Haute Goat Disc Golf. He lives in Cobourg. Follow his disc golf adventures on Instagram.