The Retort

Springtime Pastime: Folfing in Billings

March 26th, 2010 by Leah Campbell Of The Retort Staff

As the flu season makes way for spring fever, people all around Billings are drawn to the outdoors. Whether it’s the sprawling bike trails in the heights or local, city parks, it is easy to find people basking in the spring sun after an endless winter. One outdoor pastime for Billings’ residents has endured for years. The game of folf, or disc golf, frolf, or even Frisbee golf, does not require fancy equipment or extreme physical endurance, unlike many sporting activities today. Folf, like the name, is a cousin to the popular game golf. The object of the game is to aim your folf disk at each designated “hole” (a basket with chains) and the scoring is the same as golf. More rugged folf courses may feature buildings, garbage cans or posts as targets.

Folfing involves a lot of walking and precision and aim are key for die-hard folfers. Many folfers also display special throwing techniques to get the desired distance and speed. For beginners, throwing a folf disk like a Frisbee (more fore-arm, less wrist) suffices adequate results but more experienced folfers throw from behind their body with an elongated arm to reach optimum folfing potential. But, unlike golf, folfing only requires a folf disk and your own two feet (and a good pair of hiking shoes will save you sore feet later). Folf disks can be found at various sports stores around Billings for around $8. More high-tech folf discs can cost anywhere from $20 and up. High school students and college students have found a calling in folf; most likely due to its low cost and popular, accessible folf courses in the city. Jenny Bean, a student at MSU-Billings likewise said:

“Folfing is a great activity to do with friends because it’s so laid-back; there isn’t pressure be great at it. It’s about enjoying the outdoors more than your score at the end of the day.”

Billings offers two folf courses both scenic and remotely challenging. The extent of physical exertion depends on the chosen course. A popular folf course for beginner folfers is located at Pioneer Park. Combined with lofty trees, rolling hills, a stream, and endless green grass, the folf course at Pioneer Park is a good walk with close set targets. However, the amount of trees in the course may make it more challenging and hitting a tree with a folf disc could decrease its speed and aiming capacity or even ruin it altogether. Pioneer Park is located along Virginia Lane and Grand Avenue. The park also offers tennis courts, picnic tables and a playground.

Diamond-X is a considerably more challenging folf-course as compared to Pioneer Park and is ranked in the top five for best folf-courses in Montana. A lot of practice is recommended before folfing at Diamond-X to avoid losing discs. The course entails some hefty hiking over cliffs and canyons with elevated terrains, well spaced holes and difficult aiming. The course features 3 sets of 9 holes and has been host to many folfing tournaments. Diamond-X also offers great views of the Yellowstone Valley and the city of Billings which makes it a popular spot for bikers and hikers as well. Diamond-X is located on the far west end of Billings along Shiloh north, then off of Rimrock West.

Folfing is a growing sport that has an expanding popularity not only in Montana but around the country. Montana itself has countless folfing courses in Missoula, Helena, Bozeman and Butte. With its low cost and increasing popularity, folf is a great pastime to consider this spring and the summer ahead. The ball, or should I say, the folf disk, is in your court.