Cherry Hill Man Loves Disc Golf—and Thinks You Will Too

Dear Editor:

Rattling chains, much like slamming a gate that uses a chain and lock, is the new sound that is spreading around South Jersey. Ask anyone who's played a round of disc golf if they know that sound and I can guarantee you they will have stories of birdies, bogies and saved pars all ending with that familiar sound of rattling chains.

Disc golf is a booming sport for all ages. It's golf but instead of a ball and club, you use a disc. Also, instead of long open fairways, there are tight winding corridors in the woods. Instead of putting it in the hole you have to hit a target consisting of a chandler-like set of chains and the disc must settle in the basket. Oh, I forgot to mention my favorite difference—disc golf is free. That's right—no greens fees.

I have been playing for about five years now and I love this sport. In years past, I would routinely (and I mean multiple times a week), travel 50-plus miles to go play the courses in Pennsylvania. However thanks to the wonderful work of all the volunteers and freeholders there are now set to be two courses in South Jersey—Stafford Woods and Timber Creek.

Stafford Woods is on the site of the old Stafford Farms in Voorhees at the corner of Evesham and Springdale. This course is a wonderful mix of challenging holes that are great for the most novice up to a pro. Timber Creek is in Gloucester Township. Timber Creek is set to open with a ribbon-cutting on Saturday, Oct. 13, and from what I hear it's set to be amazing.

Disc golfers are excellent stewards of their courses as well as the parks in which they reside, because almost all disc golf courses are maintained by volunteer organizations. Just ask the volunteers from Stafford how much old barbed wire they cut out. Disc golfers are typically some of the nicest people you could meet and are always willing to explain the game, if you see them out while running the trails at Stafford or walking your dog at Timber Creek. Chances are you will hear the chains rattling more than you will actually see the golfers.

I highly suggest that everyone gets out and gives disc golf a try. I mean, c'mon, it's free. How often do you hear that these days? And who knows? Maybe you too will crave that rattling of the chains.

Jesse Reim
Cherry Hill