Disc Golf and Mini Golf
Let’s be honest, the game of golf – traditional golf, that is – isn’t for everyone. The cons are well documented. It’s expensive. It’s time consuming. It’s difficult. It’s not very family-friendly. And there are more. (But, for the record, I’m a golf lover through and through!). However, for people who don’t share that love, there are other forms of the game that circumvent some of that “negativity.” Disc golf and mini golf immediately come to mind. And Cochrane has both of these!
Disc Golf Course
Located at Riverfront Park in a beautiful riverside setting, the 9-hole Cochrane Disc Golf Course is, for obvious reasons, drawing plenty of interest. Disc golf courses don’t come much prettier or more peaceful than this one! The brand new course, which features handmade wooden baskets and plenty of interesting holes, is free to use and is open seven days a week. If you’ve never played it, the sport of disc golf is fun, social, and doable for every age and skill level.
The premise of disc golf is simple. Grab a few friends, a few discs (they’re like frisbees and are widely available at sporting goods stores) and play each hole in succession like golf. You keep track of your strokes, or throws, in the same way as golf. Except in disc golf the “hole” is a raised basket. If you can fling a frisbee you can play disc golf! No clubs. No intimidation. No fuss! Scorecards and maps are available at the first tee so you won’t get lost and you can document your greatness.
Mini Golf Course
Not surprisingly, the 18-hole championship Mini Golf Course at the Cochrane Golf Club is also a busy little place in summer. The super-fun course is mini golf at its finest! Beautiful landscaping, water hazards, well-maintained synthetic turf, bridges, benches, and asphalt pathways throughout make every round at the course memorable.
“The mini golf course here is incredibly popular,” says Brad Walz, the General Manager at the Cochrane Golf Club. “It’s beautifully maintained and it brings families and the community together. There’s always lots of laughter when you’re playing mini golf. If you’re looking for a fun, laid-back version of the game that absolutely anyone can do, this is it.”
So the next time someone in Cochrane asks you if you’re up for a round of golf you now have another response: “Disc or mini, my friend?”
Guest Journalist – Andrew Penner
Photography – Jacquie Matechuk
