It's the best time of the year to get out and enjoy a round of golf -- no bugs, spring rates, no humidity, free. Free? That's right, if you are on one of Milwaukee's area disc golf courses.
Two locations in the Milwaukee area, Dretzka and Valley View Park, offer you a chance to throw down.
Disc golf provides all the amenities of golf at a fraction of the price. It incorporates the beauty of nature, the drive of competition and a sense of relaxation. And it forges the friendships commonly found on the golf course. All the while you're soaking up the sun's rays and burning off a few pounds.
The game operates on the same principles as a regular round of golf except you use a disc (Frisbee) instead of a ball. Instead of hitting the disc with a tiny faced, expensive club, you throw it. But not as hard as you can, since accuracy comes before distance.
Many of the same obstacles found on golf courses are strategically placed to frustrate your game in disc golf, too. One good thing is you don't see much water or sand traps on these courses, but they do have dog-leg turns and trees.
It is up to the individual golfer to choose his disc. Different sizes and weights can be used on different shots considering the hole placement. Discs are inexpensive ($5-9) and can be purchased at local sporting goods stores or Art Smarts Dart Mart, 1695 N. Humboldt Ave., (414)-273-3278.
Scenic Dretzka Park, located on the outskirts of northwest Milwaukee at 12020 W. Bradley Rd., offers 18 holes of disc golf with challenging pin placements and elevation changes.
Valley View Park, off Hwy. I43 in New Berlin, also offers 18 holes of disc golf with various pin placements and obstacles and it's a great spot for beginners. For detailed directions to Valley View check out www.discoverwisc.com. The site offers links to information on Wisconsin's 41 disc golf courses including Lime-Kiln Park in Grafton.
A group of local disc golf enthusiasts formed the Great Lakes Disc Golf Club in 1989. Today there are more than 120 members promoting the sport through special events and are advocates for the development of new courses in the Milwaukee area. To learn more check out www.gldgc.com.
Beginners should check out the World's Biggest Disc Golf Weekend at the UW-Parkside Disc Golf Course, May 5-6, in Kenosha. Held throughout the country, the event encourages brand new players to give it a try by offering a chance to learn from seasoned veterans. For $12, participants receive a t-shirt and their choice of a golf disc. Contact Tony Jandrowski at (414) 543-1963 for more information.
