What to Expect on Opening Day
Maybe you have been lingering in the shadows for a while, curious about disc golf but not really sure how to start. Maybe you are a regular disc golfer who has wondered if playing on the mountain is for you. It's entirely possible that you have never heard about disc golf until just now and something about this beautiful and somewhat odd game has caught your eye. Well, you are in luck no matter who you are because we have the perfect opportunity to satisfy your curiosity, meet your wonder, or simply just make you aware of exactly what disc golf is and how to use it. This Saturday Ski / Bike Wentworth is officially launching our disc golf courses and we want you to be a part of it.
To put it plainly, disc golf is a game played much like traditional golf but insteading of using a club and a ball to try and get it into a hole, disc golfers attempt to throw discs (frisbees) for the least amount of shots into a basket. Disc golf discs are specialized, they are heavier than the normal frisbees you grew up throwing at the beach, they have special features that make them fly farther, curve through the air, or to create one of the several unique shapes possible. Most players will only ever use a small handful of discs including a putter, a midrange, and a driver. Some players become obsessed with different frisbees and collect more discs than they could ever throw (you get to decide which kind of disc golfer you are!). Some discs are easier to throw than others. Some discs have beautiful stamps that make them pretty to look at. At the heart of it the general rule is, if the discs fits comfortably in your hand it is probably the right one for you.
The first step is getting a disc in your hand so you can feel for yourself why they are different, then you can start to understand how the game can be played. On opening day we want to give you that opportunity with a couple of free 'learn to play' demonstrations. The first one will be at 9am on the bunny hill. The first 25 new players to show up and take part in our 'learn to play' will receive their own disc to use, and keep for life. During this season we will teach you the proper way to hold the discs, how to throw with different techniques, and give you tips on how to putt. We will also give you a crash course in how the game is played and show you where to start on the mountain. For those who can't make the 9am demo we will have another one at 2pm, also on the bunny hill.
During the day our 4 courses will all be available to play. The fee is $15 for all day play, $35 for all day play and all day access to the chairlift. We have a brand new putter course, called 'The Hopper' that will be freshly open. This course plays around the bunny hill, it is very short and can be played in under 25 minutes. It will get you familiar with tee pads, putting, and game play. For those players who wish to try their hand at something a bit bigger with more of a walk (and a spectacular view!!) We encourage you to play "The Climber". This 9 hole course (plus a warm up hole) takes players up the Chickadee, Pugwash, and the Glade before ending near the chairtop. For some players this will take roughly an hour, if you are new or have a bigger group you might be closer to 95 minutes with this layout. Players should be prepared to climb a mountain. Wear good shoes and take your time getting up. We have built some beautiful benches and are constantly working on walking trails and stairs to help with the climbs.
Starting at 10 am and running until roughly 4pm there will be an official PDGA event taking place on our Summit Course too. The PDGA is the Professional Disc Golf Association which regulates the official rules and events side of the game. You don't have to be a professional to be a part of this group; the vast majority of members are amatuer status. These events are great for players who still wish to compete in formal settings, to meet new people playing the game, and to test your skills. This Saturday's event will use the Summit course at the top and play down the Beaver and Rose Bowl, before finishing at the top of the bunny hill. It is a great experience to just watch some of these throws and see what experienced players can do. The general public can tee off on the Summit any time after 2pm.
To finish up our opening day we will have a small skills competition near the barn at 5 pm. It will be free to enter and will feature the longest putt competition. There will be a small awards ceremony for the day's winners (and previous winners from this year's Summit Series).
We have discs to lend or buy and we will have some experienced staff on site to help you answer your questions. The courses are looking great, the game is as healthy as ever, now all we are missing is you!!