Game of Throws

Maia playing disc golf. Source: Jack Barrie and Tia McCallum. 

If you’ve entered the UCSA building from the Ilam road side, or been to Ilam Fields recently, you may have noticed the appearance of some cage-looking things and wondered, “what are those?” 

Well, they’re baskets for the recently-installed UC disc golf course! 

If you don’t know what disc golf is: it’s a combination of frisbee and golf. The game has similar rules to golf, but you throw a frisbee disc – a smaller frisbee – at one of these baskets. The goal is to do it in the fewest throws possible. 

The course is a short nine holes that start at the field behind Haere-roa and then move over to Ilam Fields. It goes around the outside of the field, and finishes on a patch of grass by Waimairi Road. 

Cameron Wu, President of the UC Disc Golf Club, says “the course provides equitable access to cheaper sports for students” and described it as “‘a great outdoor activity to do with friends”. 

Although I’m not a big disc golfer, I knew I had to check it out for myself. So, on a Friday afternoon once I was finished with university, myself and my friends Jack, Tarek, Tia, and Toby – along with Cameron as a guide – went to the course to check it out. 

Cameron, Tarek, and Toby at the second hole. Source: Maia Aramakutu. 

It took us under an hour to do the course, and the consensus from my friends was that it was a fun time. 

As someone who is not the biggest fan of disc golf, as I find it kind of boring, this course pleasantly surprised me. I had a great, fun time and would really recommend doing this with friends.  

Tarek, who had only played disc golf once prior to this occasion, found that the course was “as good as you’d expect from UC”. 

“It was a cool thing to do and a nice way to unwind,” Tarek said. 

Toby, who is an avid disc golfer and had already played the course a couple of times, said, “I love disc golf, but there is nothing particularly amazing about this course.” 

However, Toby said the course is “good and convenient, as it is close to the university,” and found that it’s “good to do between lectures”. 

Although playing was genuinely fun, we did run into some issues when trying to complete the course. 

Because the course is on Ilam Fields, we ran into issues with other people on the field. This meant that we had to skip two holes – due to a rugby practice happening close enough to the baskets, we ran the risk of throwing the disc into the training session. 

Although this issue can’t be helped, it was a little annoying. But that’s what you get when you put a disc golf course on a field that is actively used by sports teams.  

Interruption on the course is not guaranteed. It just so happened that we went at an inconvenient time to use the disc golf course. 

Wu assured us that “some of the holes intersect with sports – on a free day, the course is great”. 

Sports are not the only obstacle to be aware of when playing. You also need to be careful that you don’t accidentally hit people who are walking on the field. There isn’t a large amount of foot traffic around the course, but it is still important to be aware of others when playing. 

Another thing to note: there are safety hazards near some of the holes.   

This photo shows the first hole, which is close to Ilam Road, a footpath, and the Haere-roa carpark. 

Edited photo of the first hole. Source: Maia Aramakutu. 

Other holes have similar hazards, as they’re either close to a carpark or a road. One hole is even dangerously close to a fenced-off ‘danger, no entry’ zone. 

Therefore, when you’re playing, you need to be extra careful with your throws, as you might hit a car or a pedestrian or you may even lose your disc. 

Which is less than ideal. 

But if you’re careful, you should be completely fine.  

Overall, this course is fun and a great addition to UC and an accessible way to get outside and move your body that doesn’t require much admin. 

Although the course is not set to officially open until next semester, it is up and ready for anyone to grab a frisbee and play. 

And if you don’t have a frisbee, you’ll be able to get one from the USCA next semester once the course has officially opened. 

So, grab your mates and check it out!