Students can throw their lives away at local disc golf course
Before the snow hits, shoving Aggies indoors, get outside and play disc golf.
Disc golf, more commonly know as Frisbee golf, is one way to enjoy the last of the fall weather.
USU has its own course close to campus, making it quick and easy to go from class to a game. The nine-hole, par-three course surrounds the Student Living Center on the northwest side of campus. A map of the whole course is on the front of the Wasatch Building, which is also the number one tee.
According to students like marketing junior Jesse Olsen, finance junior David Denson and biology junior Braden Parker, the course is great for people who are just beginning to play disc golf.
They say it is simple enough for anyone to have a good time, but has challenges like trees, cars and student housing to keep the game interesting.
At first Olsen, Parker and Denson were a little skeptical about disc golf, wondering to themselves how much fun it could really be. But after a few games, they say they were hooked. No lessons are needed to go out and enjoy the game. Olsen and his friends have been playing together for the last year now and say that they have taught themselves. Parker said the best part of the game is just to have fun and be with friends.
Nate Crookston, senior in electrical engineering, is a seasoned player who has won disc golf tournaments and also plays with the USU disc golf club.
He has been playing for years and really loves the game because he says it helps him to relax when the stresses of life build up. Crookston says the disc golf course is fun for all skill levels.
As the name suggests, disc golf has many of the same rules as golf, but instead of using clubs to hit a ball, an assortment of discs are used. The object of disc golf is to throw discs at a metal basket, known as the hole, in a certain amount of throws. The person with the fewest amount of throws wins. In golf, the different clubs are used for distance, height and short range. Disc golf the same theory applies each disc is designed for distance, curve and accuracy all to get the best score possible.
Gearing up for a quick round of disc golf is simple for students. The Lundstrom Student Center rents discs for free with a valid USU ID card. For those who like to have their own gear, places like Al’s Sporting Goods, Sports Authority and the on-campus Outdoor Recreation Center all sell discs with a base price of about $9, going up from there.
Crookston said when purchasing a disc, to be careful with the packaging info. If the package says the disc is good for curving left or great for distance, it’s possible that’s all it’s good for. He advised that beginners get a disc that simple and easy to control like the Innova AVR.
The only course in Logan is the course on campus, but other places to play include Brigham City, Ogden and Salt Lake. All disc golf courses are free of charge and range in difficulty. “Disc golf is a great way to get outdoors and have some fun without spending a lot of money,” Olsen said.
-dwkoecher@cc.usu.edu