Disc golf: golf played with a set of Frisbees

Disc golf

Popular in the US and UK, disc golf is basically what it sounds like: golf played with a set of Frisbees. The aim is to use various discs (named drivers, mid-ranges and putters) – which are all smaller and have sharper edges than the average Ultimate frisbee – to reach a target (a standing basket) with the least number of throws.

There’s an 18-hole disc golf course set up along Upper Serangoon Road on a piece of land that used to be Bidadari Cemetery, which was set up informally by an American expat a few years ago. Now, it continues to serve a small but dedicated group of disc golfers here in Singapore. The course is maintained by local disc golf enthusiast Isaac Souweine – who also manages the Bidadari Disc Golf Course Facebook page – and it’s open at all times for anyone to use, but gatherings can be arranged online and Souweine will occassionally bring out newcomers to the course for a trial run.

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Playing on modified rules, targets here are PVC pipes you have to hit, as they leave a smaller footprint on the public land. ‘They’re a little less intrusive and the groundskeepers leave them alone,’ he says. At our session, Souweine lent us a spare set of discs, and we found the game pretty easy to pick up. Basic backhand and forehand throws you’d execute in a faster Ultimate game can be applied here, but for better control of the disc’s trajectory, try picking up techniques like the overarm tomahawk or the upside-down baseball to help get around obstacles such as trees or logs. You’re also allowed to take a running start at tee off, which helps to build momentum for a longer drive. Throws are more about technique than physicality, so even out-of-shape folks can play effectively.

Each hole in the 18 at the Bidadari Disc Golf Course is a par three – which means that it should take three throws to hit the target – and like golf, your score is a tabulation of the total number of throws you took to finish the course, though Souweine assures us that finishing two-over (five throws per hole) is pretty decent at a beginner level.

We also recommend taking plenty of bug repellent and wearing long socks and boots to play – there’s a narrow pathway through the park, but extremely tall grass everywhere else (and you’re likely to end up in the rough). Still, it’s nice to be out in nature for a bit and it’s a pretty relaxing way to take up a sport.

Difficulty factor: 2/5. Throws can be picked up pretty easily with practice, and once you’ve got that down, you can tailor your shots to each situation.

Equipment required: You can complete the course with a single disc, but advanced players often have a set that includes more accurate discs such as putters and mid-range ones. The discs can be purchased online from an overseas retailer like www.pdgastore.com for around $12/disc.

Training days: None.

How to join: No formal registration is necessary to play at the disc golf course – just pop by whenever you want. The Bidadari Disc Golf Course Facebook page is a good place to meet other disc golf players and organise a group round. com for around $12/disc.