Disc Golf in Whistler

The wind whispers through the trees, the distant roar of a float plane on Green Lake echoes across the valley and the unmistakable sound of plastic hitting chains rings out under the powerlines. Many recreational users of Lost Lake’s trail network find themselves bemused as they study the strange metal sculptures spread out amongst the woodland and scattered across the clear-cut. 

“I’m pretty sure they’re some kind of installation”, a mountain biker states confidently to his wife. While those who placed the baskets are indeed creative in their use of the outdoors, their purpose is for sport rather than art. 

What is Disc Golf?

Much like the traditional sport which spawned its creation, in disc golf the aim of the game is to complete each hole in as few throws (shots) as possible. Getting your disc into the basket will earn you a birdie, par or bogey just like golf. All of the holes in Whistler are par 3s so the goal is to throw your drive as close as possible to the basket to secure the birdie. The elusive Ace has been described by disc golf aficionado Nick Thomas as, “The greatest feeling in World Sport!”. Throw for fun or take note of your score to try to beat your friends. 

With over 15,000 courses worldwide, disc golf is one of the fastest-growing sports in North America. While some may take issue with the term sport it’s hard to argue the athleticism and skill that it takes to compete at the highest level. Indeed there is a well-established Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) which boasts huge payouts for its winners. Top-ranked pros have even signed multi-million dollar contracts; all for being the best in the world at throwing plastic discs.

The Best Thing About Disc Golf in Whistler

It’s totally free to play.

Buy yourself a disc from Poolside Spas or one of the sports stores in town and you have everything you need to get started. The brighter the disc the better, you’re going to end up searching the undergrowth for it soon enough. Don’t forget to sharpie your name and number on the back. Lost discs usually find their way back to the owners when another player stumbles across them on the hunt for their own. 

There is an almost infinite range of discs designed to fly with different characteristics, few of which will matter to a novice player. Fair warning, many a casual player has laughed at those keeners with purpose-built backpacks carrying an arsenal of multi-coloured plastic only to later become one themselves. Once you’ve learned the joy of shaping a shot through a tight corridor of trees, you may find yourself investing in another disc and another, and so on. 

Where Can You Play Disc Golf in Whistler?

Whistler’s Powerlines course is the flagship destination and is extremely popular on any day in which there isn’t precipitation in the forecast. Park at Spruce Grove and meander your way to the course from there. There are a lower 18 holes with an additional middle 9 which scale a steep hill for the true Whistler experience.

The signature holes include throwing up a small cliff as well as a truly unique toss off the top of a hill, overlooking Rainbow Mountain and Green Lake. The infamous Hole 18 has indeed resulted in the unfortunate loss of many discs as a rogue gust of wind or a misjudged sling has sent the owner’s favourite sailing into the woods. The course can be tricky to navigate, so keep an eye out for arrows on each basket which will send you to your next hole. 

There is another excellent course south of the village at the RV park near Brandywine Falls. These holes are, on average, much shorter than the Powerlines course, which makes it a great place to take a novice golfer, or indeed anyone who hasn’t yet unlocked longer throws. 

Many players use the popular disc golf app U-Disc. This app shows courses worldwide on a map and can be used to score rounds. It can even show the user a GPS view of whatever course they’re playing, useful for navigating around a new location. 

To Tomahawk or Not to Tomahawk

You can throw the disc however you like. A backhand – think frisbees on the beach – will traditionally move right to left at the end of its flight (when thrown by a right-handed player). The forehand or flick will spin the opposite direction. Overhand throws like the Tomahawk or Thumber are often disapproved by hardcore players but might be useful for getting you out from a tight spot in the trees. 

Whistler Disc Golf Club

The vast majority of the work on the Powerlines course has been carried out by a dedicated group of local enthusiasts. The passionate members of the Whistler Disc Golf Club are the beating heart of the scene. It is no exaggeration to say that the course wouldn’t exist without them. They work tirelessly with the Whistler Municipality to ensure that the course is kept in great shape and the future of the sport in the valley is secure.

Despite the glorified easter egg hunt that often ensues, many locals and tourists will agree that there are few better ways to spend an afternoon than walking around the woods throwing some discs. Oh and one final tip; please don’t call it frolf. 

If you’d like to support the Powerlines, pick up a new disc or some merchandise down at Poolside Spas in Function Junction. Profits from all sales go back into the maintenance of the course.