Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Take a break with campus disc golf

As daytime temperatures rise and days grow longer, it’s the perfect time to check out FSU Panama City’s disc golf course. Set against the beautiful backdrop of North Bay, the course winds around campus for 18 holes.


The rules of disc golf are similar to those of regular golf. Players take turns and throw a disc from the tee pad. The goal is to land a disc in the basket some distance away. Each hole has a par value, which defines the number of throws it should take to make it into the basket. The game is scored the same way as regular golf. Strokes are added for excess throws, and strokes are removed for making a basket in fewer throws. The lowest number of throws wins.

Despite its more compact size, the campus course is a full 18 holes in length. The course is great for beginners because the hole distances are reasonably short. However, the course does include several more difficult holes to challenge more experienced disc golfers. Nice concrete tee pads and professional signs add to the appeal of the course.

With the end of the semester drawing ever closer, students are knuckling down and studying for finals. The campus disc golf course offers a great way for students to take a break from the books, get out into the sunshine, breath some fresh air and stretch their legs. Because of its small size, the course is perfect for fitting in a quick game between studying and classes. Students can check discs out from the library or bring their own.

For anyone ready to try another course, there are several to choose from in the area. In east Panama City, Joe Moody Harris Park is similar to the campus course in size. Although the Moody course only has nine holes, it is another great course for beginners. It is also a good choice if conditions are windy.

The 18-hole Bay Memorial course on Balboa just south of 11th Street is the newest course in Panama City. In Callaway, Under the Oaks Park is a larger course. It is more challenging, with longer hole distances, lots of open space and 18 holes.

There are several more disc golf courses in the surrounding area. The Bear at Compass Lake in Alford is a large, challenging 18-hole course with long hole distances. The Freeport Regional Sports Complex has a large course with several large water hazards. Ferry Park in Fort Walton Beach is a large, scenic course and worth the drive to get there.

Check out the Professional Disc Golf Association’s website for lots of good information about the game.

— Phoebe Isaac

Four Crossed Logs intern
professional communication major

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Four Crossed Logs is produced by students at Florida State University Panama City. All opinions represent those of the individual writer and not the university or its administrators. The blog is intended to showcase the talent, communication and insight of FSU Panama City students.