I walk up to the tee box and survey the scene before me. It’s a par three, so I shouldn’t need more than six strokes to reach the green.

I’m a little worried because quite a few trees line each side of the fairway and that’s never good for my game.

I also notice a nice, large tree sitting in the middle of the fairway. Well, that won’t be much of a problem since my shots never go straight anyway.

OK, deep breath, make sure I have a good grip and I’m not aiming for the parking lot.

I take a step back, release the disc, making sure to snap my wrist. I watch as the disc moves perfectly through the air ... and right into that darn tree in the middle of the fairway.

Great, the one time I needed to throw the disc straight.

I know by this point I have confused a good portion of readers who thought they were getting an extra special glimpse into my horrible golf game. Sorry to disappoint, but today’s column is about another sport that ends in “olf” — the sport of disc (Frisbee) golf, which I affectionately refer to as “frolfing.”

It’s a brilliant game really. You set up a frolfing course just like you would a golf course, but at the end of each hole instead of a cup for the ball, a metal bird cage-like structure awaits your shot. The same rules essentially apply in disc golf as in regular golf, except, the game is played with a disc, very similar to a Frisbee except is usually smaller and a bit heavier — and its doesn’t carry a trademarked name, yet.

Frolfing first entered my life in high school. Milwaukee had quite a few parks set up with frolfing courses and it was a popular way to spend an afternoon. I didn’t hear much about frolfing in Phoenix last summer, well, probably because it was too hot while I lived there to do much but swim and try not to die of heat exhaustion.

However, within weeks of moving to Grass Valley, a friend of mine took me out to one of the disc golf courses in the area and I rediscovered a great way to be outside, get some exercise and avoid spending much money doing so.

The majority of disc golf courses are free and the cost of a disc can run as little as $10. It’s an easy sport to get into, you probably won’t need a throwing coach and you can even get away with wearing shirts that don’t have collars on them.

If you have already experienced the fun that is Frisbee golf or even if you are just curious to see what it’s all about — this weekend the Sky Catz Disc Golf Club is holding the 14th annual Mother Lode Disc Golf Tournament.

It’s a two-day event with Saturday’s rounds being played at Western Gateway Park in Penn Valley along with Condon Park in Grass Valley hosting Sunday’s play.

Players will be split into age groups and divisions based upon ability. Tournament director Michael Travers tells me that even if you have never played in a tournament before, come on out because there will be novice divisions for the inexperienced players.

The tournament will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday morning with a players’ meeting, followed by a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. Participants will play 18-21 holes with a break for lunch and then another 18-21 holes in the afternoon. Sunday will feature a similar schedule.

Entry fees run from $25 to $50 depending on what division you enter. Registration will be taken at the parks, so don’t worry about missing the sign-up date.

Never frolfed before?

Swing by the parks this weekend, check it out and then try it sometime on your own.

Who knows, you might just find out that frolfing is as fun for you as it has been for me — that is of course if you can fare better at missing those darn trees in the middle of the fairways.

<I>Stacy Hicklin is a sportswriter for The Union. She may be reached via e-mail at stacyh@theunion.com or by phone at 477-4244.</I>