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Disc Golf
There’s regular golf, miniature golf, and now--disc golf! This fast-growing sport brings 15-20,000 people here annually, and Ludington has hosted the Michigan State Finals the past 13 years, normally held Labor Day Weekend.
Disc golf shares many similarities with traditional golf, but instead of a ball, players toss a disc down a course and try to get to the target in as few throws as possible. The winner is the player who completes the course with the lowest score. Disc golf courses are normally 18 holes, but there are also 9-hole, all the way up to 27-hole courses. The game moves along faster and costs much less than regular golf--three discs cost around $30 and usually a $1 donation is all it takes to play a round. Discs can be purchased at Tire It Wholesale, located across the street from Leviathan on Jebavy Drive. A portion of disc proceeds is given back to the courses.
Through the efforts of the Mason County Disc Golf Association and many volunteers, Ludington offers not just one, but five disc golf courses, for all skill levels. Mason County Park, off Chauvez Road near the Ludington Pumped Storage Project, is the site for three 24-hole courses--Beauty (5,709 ft), Beast (7,093 ft), and Goliath (8,160 ft). It is the third largest course in the world, and considered to be one of the best facilities in the country. The newest course is Leviathan, located off Jebavy Drive, just north of Johnson road. This 150 acre parcel of land, known as the School Forest, has two courses, at 7,925 feet and 4,367 feet, respectively.
Disc golf is a great sport for anyone, regardless of your age or ability, and it can be played year ’round! It’s a challenging game, and a wonderful opportunity for families to play together in a beautiful, wooded terrain. If you’ve got a couple hours, head out to one of Ludington’s disc golf courses and give it your best shot!
For more information, call Tom Organ, vice president of the Mason County Disc Golf Association at (231) 843-7628.