Montgomery County is bringing a growing sport to the area with the unveiling of an 18-hole disc golf course at Northwest Branch Recreational Park in Silver Spring.
Combining the skills of golf with throwing a flying disc, the course offers county residents a free and accessible way to get outside and stay active.
Disc golf follows a concept similar to golf, but instead of hitting a ball into a hole, players throw a disc toward a designated chain link basket. Like golf, the goal is to complete each hole in as few throws as possible.
“There’s no tee time. There’s no dress code. It’s informal,” course designer and professional player Andrew Fish said. “It’s easy to have a round and have a nice walk in nature for a couple of hours,” Fish added.
The course also represents something more personal for some members of the disc golf community.
Tom Rowse of Gaithersburg explained that the sport helped strengthen his relationship with his autistic son, Cush. When his son was in high school, they were looking for activities that would get them outside and give them more opportunities to spend time together. Disc golf became that outlet.
“It’s important for us because we want to share our love for this sport with everybody in our community,” Rowse said.
