The Trentham Estate has unveiled yet another new outdoor activity for its visitors to enjoy.
Disc Golf originated in the USA in the late 1960s, and has spread throughout the world. Said to be “a way of experiencing the countryside and connecting with nature”, the sport is a great way to spend family time in the great outdoors – and should be well on par with all of the other popular attractions currently on offer at the award-winning Trentham Estate.
Similar to ‘regular’ golf, the main difference is that it is played by throwing a flat disc into a metal target instead of hitting a ball into a hole. The aim is to send the golf disc from tee to basket in the fewest throws.
Occasionally likened to a Frisbee – which has led to the sport sometimes being dubbed “frolf” – a golf disc is actually very different to its more famous cousin, in that they are smaller in diameter, have a bevelled edge and are generally heavier.
The sport is now played in about 40 countries and there are well over 100,000 active members of the Professional Disc Golf Association worldwide.
The rules and the basic skills required to enjoy the sport are very simple to grasp. Trentham’s new 9-hole course – which has been designed with both beginners and professionals in mind – is located in parkland well away from its formal gardens, on the western side of the lake.
Like normal golf, each disc golf course has its own design, and quirks. And players at Trentham will find themselves encountering a number of challenging holes, including “Knock on Wood (Hole 3), which requires some skilful throwing to get the disc through a narrow cutting in the woodland; and the dog-leg left of “Can’t see the disc for the trees” (Hole 6) where players can’t see the basket before they tee off.
A typical 9-holes game will take around one hour to play.
Visitors wanting to play a round of Disc Golf at Trentham will need to have paid the regular entry fee to the gardens, or have an Annual Ticket. A round then costs £5 per person, for disc hire: or is free to anyone who brings or buys a disc of their own.
For more information, see www.trentham.co.uk