Disc Golf Backyard Course

2-3 flying discs (regular frisbees work; disc golf discs are better)

Targets — buckets, cones, specific trees, fence posts

A scorecard and pencil

Walk your backyard or a nearby park and designate 6-9 "holes." Each hole has a tee area (where you throw from) and a target (what you're throwing at). Targets can be buckets (the disc must land in them), trees (hit the trunk), or cones (land within arm's reach).

Mark each tee area. Holes should be 30-50 feet long for a backyard course. Park courses can be longer.

Start at hole one. Each player throws from the tee toward the target. Count the throw as "one."

Throw again from where the disc landed. Count "two." Continue until the disc hits the target or lands inside the bucket.

Write down the total throws for that hole. Move to hole two.

Play all 6-9 holes. Add up the total throws at the end. The player with the fewest total throws wins.

Set a "par" for each hole based on difficulty and distance. Par 2 for short holes, par 3 for longer ones. Then track whether you're under par or over par.

Redesign the course each time you play by moving tee areas, changing targets, or adding obstacles to throw around.

Disc golf is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and most communities have free public disc golf courses in parks. Check for one near you.

The backhand throw (standard frisbee throw) works for most shots. Hold the disc flat, pull across your body, and release with a snap of the wrist.

Aim low. Beginners tend to throw too high, and a disc that flies high goes everywhere the wind takes it. Low, flat throws are more accurate.

Disc golf teaches the same strategic thinking as regular golf — course management, risk assessment, and shot selection — in a more accessible, less expensive format.

Different discs fly differently. Lighter discs are easier to throw far. Heavier discs are more accurate in wind. As interest grows, a starter set of 3 discs is a great investment.