Disc golf harder than it looks

A new activity available in town could be your ticket to a nationally recognized sport, the Professional Disc Golf Association.

Frank Luna, who attended Hot Springs County High School in the 70s, started playing disc golf about 15 years ago at the urging of his son. Luna had been in the Navy right out of high school and found himself as a national recruiter for a trucking company and overweight.

His son started him out playing in Billings and Luna found it to be a great physical activity.

He played a lot, winning a number of tournaments and even considered going pro until a surgery stopped him in his tracks.

"It's a lot harder than it looks," Luna said. "Since the surgery, I can't drive like I used to."

Disc golf is basically the same as golfing with a ball, except there are differently weighted discs, like Frisbees, that are used as drivers and putters. The goal is to get the disc in the cage rather than into a small hole.

The Thermopolis course can be found in the pasture owned by the State Park on the east side of the highway between Hospital Hill and the State Park entrance.

"Its nice to see more folks using the course," said Park Superintendent Kevin Skates.

If you want to try the sport out, it's a great one for the whole family and best of all its free.

Discs are available for check out at both the Chamber of Commerce and the State Bath House at no charge.