DISC GOLF is becoming more popular and is played at Centennial Park.
By REJEAN CANTLON
HAVING fun playing disc golf with your buddies. Courtesy photos.
Similar to traditional golf, the sport of disc golf involves throwing a frisbee or disc from a tee pad into a chained basket, with the objective of landing the disc in the basket in as few throws as possible.
Courses typically include nine or 18 baskets, with each “hole” ranging in difficulty and length.
Milan Zoldak, a first-time player decided to make a nominal investment into some golf discs (smaller than regular frisbees made especially for disc golf with a driver, midrange and putter).
He invited his two grandsons, Ramsey and Ronan to an afternoon round at Etobicoke’s Centennial Park Disc Golf Course (DGC) which open during year-round.
The youngsters quickly took to the game and left their grandfather in their wake.
“I was hoping to find an activity that I could enjoy with my grandchildren while at the same time get some exercise and fresh air,” Milan said. He added with a chuckle, “I just didn’t think I would fall so far behind on the stroke count.” Milan is an avid traditional golfer and regularly plays with his seniors’ league in the summer months.
The Centennial Park 18-hole DGC has been around since 1980 and is described as long and challenging with manicured fairways and picturesque greens.
Asphalt tee pads can be found on both the red and blue tees and it has professional tee signs to match with multiple pin locations on each hole.
The track plays roughly 9670 ft from the blue tees and 8704 ft from the red tees. Water hazards are in play on 6 holes. Please beware that some golf discs sink, just ask Milan. At $15 to $30 a disc, it’s wise to work on your aim and disc placement. The course has some elevation and interesting rolling fairways throughout.
To get there, the best place to park is at the Centennial Park Conservatory near Rathburn and Elmcrest for an easy and short pathway to hole # 1. Having said that, it’s free to play and tee times are not required. All you have to do is show up at any hole and start playing.
Regulars on the course explained to Milan and the boys that the sport of disc golf has increased in popularity in recent years. They went on to say that this particular course saw a notable spike in usership when pandemic-related restrictions meant many other recreational activities were not allowed. Disc golf is a naturally socially distance sport and is also easily accessible. No matter your age, gender or athletic ability, disc golf is a great way to get out there and play a game just for the fun of it. If you’re looking for something fun and different, go out and give it a try. Again, just ask Milan!