Disc golf, often called Frisbee golf or frolf (although that irritates some purists who are still holding a grudge against Wham-O) is just about the best time you can have outside with your clothes on. Since finding al fresco places to be amorous is (un)covered elsewhere in this here “Vanguard Outdoor Guide,” let’s keep our shorts on and talk about throwing stuff.
Those crazy things in your local park that look like a mutant hybrid of a barbecue grill and a miniature basketball hoop are, in fact, disc golf baskets. The array of chains hanging from the frame catches a thrown disc and deposits it into the basket, and just like that we’re playing golf!
But wait, isn’t golf all about wearing plaid shorts and smoking cigars while tooling around a gardener’s nightmare in a go-kart? It can be. At its core, golf is about conquering geography, moving your ball (or disc) from the tee to the green and into the cup or basket. It’s also about being out in the sunshine enjoying nature with your friends.
Disc golf offers an experience that is analogous to traditional golf, but without the country club atmosphere or expense. The disc golf courses in the area are either free or require a daily fee of a few dollars. They range in setting from an easy stroll in a nicely manicured park to a serious hike up and down hills, fighting through underbrush while throwing over lakes and rivers.
Whatever style of scenery you prefer, there are dozens of courses within driving distance of Portland. In the city itself, Pier Park in North Portland is free and a relatively easy walk, and it has a minimum of ferns and other ground cover in which to lose an errant throw.
Just a few minutes from the Portland State campus on the property of the Greater Portland Bible Church is a 15-hole course known as Lunchtime, because of the ability to play a round there in about an hour. I can reliably report that a two-hour break between classes is plenty of time to get there, play and get back to campus on time.
There is a very well organized website called DGCourseReview.com that players can use to find other nearby courses. In addition to current course conditions, there are also detailed driving directions, reviews, photos and maps of the courses.
Portland is home to a very active disc golf community, with local clubs like Stumptown Disc Golf and Disc Golf or Die! taking a leadership role in maintaining the courses, helping to design and build new courses, and putting on tournaments.
The Professional Disc Golf Association is tournament disc golf’s governing body, and their sanctioned tournaments make up a big part of the local disc golf calendar. This summer, Portland will host the PDGA World Championships, which will attract all of the biggest touring pros—yes, there actually are people who make a living playing disc golf—as well as top local players.
The World Championships will be spread out over five of the area’s best courses. Pier Park, Milo McIver in Estacada, Troutdale’s Blue Lake Park, Trojan Park in Goble, and the newest area course at McCormick Park in St. Helens will play host to competitive disc golf at the highest level Aug. 9–16.
While new players won’t be ready to jump into competition at the World Championships, there are plenty of events aimed at beginners. The PDGA website maintains a calendar of upcoming sanctioned events, but there are unsanctioned informal events as well. 4DiscGolf.com is a website that allows you to register online for upcoming tournaments. You can also get information about local events at any of the area stores that specialize in disc golf.
The newly opened Huk Lab store in the St. Johns neighborhood is right down the street from Pier Park, so it’s easy to swing by to grab a new driver or putter on your way to play a round. Disc Golf Depot on the east side of town has been catering exclusively to disc golfers for ages, and owner Jerry Miller is considered the godfather of Oregon disc golf. Disc Heroes in Gresham is another new shop with a good selection, and Next Adventure is also a great place to buy plastic.
If you visit any of the above shops you will find someone who is willing to walk you through a selection process that can be intimidating to newcomers. There are hundreds of different discs out there and they all have fancy names, graphics and colors, as well as claims to be the “fastest and longest, the only disc you’ll ever need to buy!” Ignore the marketing and trust the people at the store.
It’s important to start with something that is relatively easy to throw, so you don’t get discouraged by trying to use a disc designed for an experienced player with a big arm. Try to find a putter and midrange disc that feel good in your hand, and trust your shopping Sherpa to pick a driver or two you’ll actually be able to throw.
Once you find a disc and get a couple of rounds under your belt out in the sunshine, I bet you’ll be hooked. It’s a quick spiral from there to watching throwing tutorials on YouTube and planning your vacations around favorite disc golf destinations.
Pro tip: Camping at Whistler’s Bend outside of Roseburg is on the yearly must-do list for every Oregon disc golfer. I’ll see you out on the course; throw them long and straight!