Frisbee and Disc Golf Courses in the Hudson Valley, Upstate NY

Tee off — with frisbee and disc golf

It’s a good bet that most people have tossed a Frisbee around with a few friends on a sunny day. A related activity to try this summer is disc golf. In this game, players move from hole to hole as if on a golf course, but instead of hitting small balls, they throw discs at baskets (called tee boxes). As in golf, the aim is to land the disc in the “hole” using as few throws as possible. Test your aim at these Valley courses:

Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz
Completed last October, the newest course in the area sports 18 holes. “It fits in with the Mohonk statement of getting everyone involved in the natural, beautiful environment,” said Alex Sherwood, the site’s director of recreation.

Sherwood both designed and helped construct the course on the property with the aim of working with the existing landscape. “The goal was to build a course that didn’t impact the natural forest,” he said. As a result, players are challenged by small cliffs, steep hills, and thick trees, around which they must toss their disks before reaching the baskets. Each hole has a unique feature: on the second hole, the tee box sits on a pole almost 100 feet in the air; on hole 17, the box can only be accessed by hurling the disk through a split tree trunk. But even with these obstacles, the course is not intimidating. “The great thing about this sport,” Sherwood declares, “is that anyone can play.” The course is free with admission to the Mountain House; discs are available for $10. 845-255-1000; www.mohonk.com

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Brakewell Steel/Warwick Town Park, Warwick
Actually two courses in one, this park offers the opportunity to play 36 holes. Disc golf enthusiasts have praised the older course — known as “Animal” — as one of the best in the country. The rolling hills and manicured lawn sport four different layouts with pars ranging from 54 to 67. The newer Wolfe Woods course — located behind Animal’s 15th hole — makes players contend with a meandering brook when playing holes one through nine. http://nynjdiscgolf.com/courses/brakewell-steel-warwick-ny

FDR State Park, Yorktown Heights
One of this park’s major draws, the disc golf course boasts 18 holes, with a front and back nine that mimics a traditional golf course layout. Spread over rolling terrain, players are never too far from the rest areas or concession stands. Be careful you don’t overshoot on hole seven — you wouldn’t want to lose your disc in the adjacent lake. The course was built and is maintained entirely by volunteers who often host tournaments throughout the year. Park admission $8 per car. 914-245-4434; http://nysparks.com

Saugerties/Woodstock KOA, Saugerties
Only two and a half miles from the New York State Thruway, this campsite hosts a nine-hole “Ace” course, giving newbies and experts alike many opportunities for holes-in-one. But don’t get the idea that it’s easy: the dense woods force players to negotiate around many trees. Free for campers ($2 suggested donation); discs are available for purchase or rent. 845-246-4089; www.saugertieskoa.com

Read writer Greg Ryan’s article about disc golf — and watch him play it — here:

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