Flying frisbee®-like discs heading into baskets hanging on poles? Absolutely. Disc golf is hot everywhere and especially in Northern Michigan. Disc golfers head North with their bags of discs with good reason: Disc golfing here is spectacular.

Like ball golf, a disc golf game has the same objective: get the dise in the basket with the fewest throws. It's a great sport because it can be played all seasons--yes, winter is a great time for disc golf--it is inexpensive, and it's great exercise. Petoskey's River Road course is regularly groomed using snowmobiles while Boyne City's Avalanche course has lots of use by snowshoers and snowmobilers so is semi-groomed.

Where to play? Try these great spots.

In Petoskey, take your discs to the River Road Sports complex just south of Petoskey. This 24-hole course is somewhat flat but challenging with numerous blind holes and dense, well trimmed folliage. Multiple tee pad locations provide options for novice to advanced players. There are many creeks and riverside resting spots plus wildlife, and wildflowers.

Boyne Mountain Resort, in Boyne Falls, has an 18-hole course that begins adjacent to the Eagles Nest Restaurant atop of the Hemlock trail and includes elevation changes and forward and backward tees for both amateur and professional players. During summer months, the first tee can be reached by either a chairlift or hiking. A shuttle is often available at the hotel's front desk or at Boyne Country Sports where golf discs are available for purchase or rental. The expansive views are an effective appetizer for the numerous on site restaurants that will help you refuel after hiking the hills of this challenging course.

In Boyne City, the Avalanche Preserve 18-hole disc golf course is an existing hiking trail and is a perfect course for young and older golfers. It begins along the end of the ice rink, reaches a meadow, and continues along a deeply forested climb to the top of Avalanche Mountain where seating, a drinking fountain, and offers views stretching along the length of Lake Charlevoix to beyond Beaver Island.

And saving the best until last: a new 18-hole course, the Crowle Hole Disc Golf Course at Kiwanis Park in Harbor Springs. This spectacular course weaves through the woods with climbs and vistas of a nearby meadow. The City of Harbor Springs and a small army of volunteers made this course possible. Don't miss it.

Day trip golfers willing to travel an hour can find courses sprinkled through most northern Michigan lake shore communities. Try south to Traverse City, Cadillac and Kalkaska and north across the Mackinac Bridge to St Ignace. You can enjoy 13 spectacular championship courses within 70 scenic miles. Course locations and details can be found at PDGA.

Not online? Here is more information on how to find these courses:

River Road Sports Complex is on River Road which begins just south of Petoskey. Once at the Sheridan and US 131 traffic light, go east on Sheridan for a 0.25 mile. Take a right on Clarion St. Follow Clarion for less than a mile to the stop sign at Howard. Go straight across Howard onto what is now River Road. The park entrance is .3 miles miles south on the left. Hole one begins on the north side of the parking lot beyond the large sign mapping out the 24 holes.

Boyne Mountain is just south of Boyne Falls on U.S. 131. A large sign marks the entrance. Follow directional signs to the Mountain Grand Lodge Check in or stop at Boyne Country Sports.

Avalanche Preserve is at the south end of Lake street a block south of M-75. Take U.S. 131 south to M-75 at Walloon Junction. Follow M-75 along Walloon Lake and into Boyne City. Take a left on Lake St. and follow it to the park at the end of Lake Street. The 1st tee is at east end of parking lot.

Harbor Springs is at the top of the hill on Arbor Street. Come into Harbor Springs on M-119, turn right on the Lake Street (Reynolds Field is on the right), drive one mile to Arbor Street. Turn right and head up the hill.

Want to watch or play in a disc golf tournament? There are disc golf tournaments as part of Morel Fest, the National Cherry Festival, and Blissfest: Northern Michigan Festivals & Events.