Golf on the fly

I always dismissed the idea of golf as an active, fitness sport -- until I played a round on the 18-hole Innova Disc Golf Course at Bolton Valley in Vermont. I gained a whole new perspective on the game.

If you know as much about disc golf as I did when I showed up to play, your first reaction is likely to be "Whoa, what's disc golf?"

Basically it's a game of golf with tees, fairways, roughs and holes. But, instead of using clubs and a ball, it's played with flying discs (most people call them "Frisbees" but that's a registered trademark of Mattel). The only thing that the discs you use for golf have in common with the ones you and your dog use to play catch are that they are round and fly. And yes, there is even a professional disc golf "tour" with money prizes.

There are over 3,000 registered disc golf courses in the US -- including at least 12 in Maine, three in New Hampshire, six in Vermont, 12 in Massachusetts, five in Connecticut and two in Rhode island.

Some are free, some have a small "greens fee" and some have rental discs available. At the Bolton course, your $5 greens fee includes the use of three discs.

In disc golf, you tee off with a "driver," a compact, heavy, thick disc designed to fly a long way. If you're good, you can make it fade left or right at the end of its flight for precise shot placement. Some of the holes on the course at Bolton are very long, requiring a couple of shots with a driver from even the very best players. We amateurs take lots of shots.

When you get close enough to the hole, you make your approach shot(s) with an "iron" designed for accuracy. If you only played with one disc, this would be the one you used.

As with regular golf, you then use a "putter" (a soft and sticky disc) to sink your final shot into the "hole." The softer disc is less likely to bounce away.

Holes can vary from simple targets to the fancy Innova "Discatcher" holes at Bolton. Discatcher holes use hanging chains which stop the disc (if you hit them!) and drop it into a catch basket about waist high. Way cool! Accuracy is required.

The Bolton course has 18 holes and spectacular scenery. Best of all, it climbs most of the way up the mountain, twice, so you're getting lots of exercise. It takes at least a couple of hours to play -- more if your discs have a tendency, as mine did, to float away into the woods.

Playing disc golf at a ski area is a serious physical challenge. The course twists through the woods and along (sometimes straight up!) the ski trails. I don't think most golf players have to worry about being winded as they make their putts, but it's a definite risk on the Bolton course.

Insider tips

1) Wear long pants and hiking boots. You need the long pants for searching for lost discs in the ferns and brush of the "roughs." I wore shorts and got a lot of scratches.

2) Unless you're a real pro with a flying disc, go for accuracy rather than distance. Keeping your disc in or near the fairway makes the game go a whole lot faster. Searching for lost discs is the least fun part of the game.

3) Let the best player shoot first, then have him or her move down the course to spot for other players in case the wind takes their discs into the trees.

4) Take a whole crew with you when you go to play. Disc golf is ideal for a foursome or sixsome of mixed ages and abilities. It's cheap, fun and easy.

5) Forget that you don't know what you are doing, forget "par," forget beating your buddies. Just go out, get some exercise and have a great time.

Where to play

Bolton is a great place to spend a summer or fall weekend.

Some New Hampshire-area courses include:

Metro:

• Normandy farms Campground in Foxboro
• Hodges Village Dam DG Course in Oxford
• On the Cape, Burgess Park in Marston Mills and Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable.

Southbridge

• Hodges Village Dam Disc Golf Course in Oxford
• Goodnow Park in Princeton

Concord

• Terrace Pines Campground in Center Ossipee
• Bellamy Park in Dover

Claremont, Peterborough

• Kennebec Quaker Hill Farm in Fairfield  has an 18-hole course ($3)

Manchester

• Wickham Park in Manchester has an 18-hole course and offers instruction.

St. J

• Oxbow High School in Bradford has an 18-hole course open to the public.

For a complete listing of other disc golf courses, go to Professional Disc Golf Association and search by state.