DISC GOLF Long throws and challenging holes

from Summer Times 2023

Horse Show celebrates 100 years

BY JAMIE SHELL

The sport of golf has been a favorite sport among weekend warriors and outdoor enthusiasts in the High Country. However, the unique activity of disc golf continues to grow in popularity, especially in pastoral regions like the northwest North Carolina area.

Disc golf is the perfect solution for anyone that wants to teach, share and enjoy a lifetime sport, as it’s a healthy activity that is considerably less expen- sive than its golfing counterpart. Among the benefits of playing disc golf are upper and lower body conditioning, aerobic exercise and mental stimulation. Concentration skills expand by mastering shots and negotiating obstacles, while players that are in less than tip top physical condition can still enjoy the sport, starting slowly and gradually increasing their level of play.

Disc golf is played much like regular golf, except instead of a ball and clubs

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 122 players use a flying disc. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, the sport was formalized in the 1970s and shares with golf the object of completing each hole in the fewest strokes or, in the case of disc golf, fewest tosses as possible.

A disc golf hole begins from a tee area and ends at a target, the most common of which is an elevated metal basket. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive throw from the spot where the previous throw landed.

In group play, the farthest away player always throws first. Players should not get ahead of the away player. Much like regular golf, trees, shrubs and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles to reach the final destination. When the “putt” lands in the basket, the hole is complete.

According to the PDGA, the flying discs are made of solid, non-magnetic plastic material and are between 21 centimeters to 30 centimeters. The maximum weight of a disc can not exceed a weight of 200 grams.

There are three types of discs players can use: long-range driver, a mid-range wood or iron and a short range putter. Discs are also fairly cheap with a decent set ranging at about $50, while golf clubs can range to hundreds of dollars for a decent set.

For those wanting to try disc golf, the High Country offers a variety of courses for all ages to play.

The High Country Disc Course

Located at Ashe County Park in Jefferson, the High Country Disc Course is a great place for beginners or pros to better their skills. The park offers 20 holes of disc golf. Throughout the twomile course on every hole, concrete and platform rubber decked tee-pads and easy-to-spot DiscCatcher baskets have been installed.

The last nine holes are located deep in the woodland while the front nine more in the open. Some of the holes have alternate baskets for newer players. The course also provides “Birdies” and “Tree Love” scorecards that also double as field guides, which allow players to identify birds and trees during their round.

For more information, visit www. kidsinparks.com/ashe-county-parkntdgc.

WAHOO’S ADVENTURES

Another great disc golf course is at Wahoo’s Adventures where you can also camp, canoe and tube in the New River.

The course features nine holes that each have both long and short tees. It also has a warm-up hole for players to prep their throwing arm. The course itself is a beautiful hike in the New River area for disc golf players. It features a catwalk bridge over a creek, perfect for a hot summer’s day.

The cost of the course is $5 per person or free for those tubing with Wahoo’s Adventures. More information can be found at www.wahoosadventures.com.

Beech Mountain Resort

Beech Mountain Resort is welcoming for players of all skill levels. The course features 18 holes designed into the mountain landscape. Players can walk the course for free, or they can take a scenic lift ride for $12 to tee off from the summit.

A rental of three discs cost $10. For more information, call 1 (800) 4382093 or visit www.beechmountainresort.com/summer/disc-golf/.

Chetola Resort

Chetola Resort offers a nine-hole course with three practice holes to boot. Unlike other courses, Chetola is a private resort and its course is reserved for guests. For more information, call (828) 295-5535 or visit the resort website at www.chetola.com.

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Roan Mountain Disc Golf Course

Located mere minutes from Avery County at 133 Freeman Rd. in Roan Mountain, Tenn., Roan Mountain Disc Golf Course was created in 2006, RMDGC is a basically flat course that makes it friendly for all levels of ability. A river runs along Hole Nos. 1 and 9, with dual tees on Hole No. 18. and alternate layout plays 3, 5 and 1.

Primarily a beginners’ course or a practice course for letting loose long drives, the final hole on the 9-hole course calls for a long tee-off throw. The course is a popular destination for those hiking, vacationing in the area and is only a few minutes drive from nearby Roan Mountain State Park.