Disc golf park

Disc golf is played like golf, but with flying discs instead of balls and clubs: players throw a disc from a tee toward a metal basket with chains, trying to get it in with as few throws as possible. The sport is easy to learn, cheap to play and suited to all ages, and it has spread quickly in Slovenia, where mountain valleys and meadows provide good terrain. The disc golf park at Planica is one of the best-known courses in the country, set in the high valley beneath the great ski-flying hills in the far north-west, with the peaks of the Julian Alps and the Karavanke forming a backdrop.

The course has nine holes and was laid out in recent years at the Nordic Centre Planica. It winds across meadows and through patches of forest, with a mixture of open throws and tighter shots between trees, and the surface changes from grass to gravel and paved tees. The hills of the valley give the holes a gentle slope, and some holes require throws across small obstacles or around bends, so there is variety even for a short layout. The setting is exceptional: the huge shape of the flying hill, with its long in-run and steep landing slope, dominates the end of the valley, and the last holes finish near the foot of the hill, so that players finish their round in the arena where world records are set. A game typically takes an hour or two, depending on the group and how often people stop to look at the view.

The course is suitable for beginners, who can learn the basic throws in a few minutes, as well as for experienced players looking for a scenic round. Discs and instructions can be obtained at the information shop in the Nordic Centre, so there is no need to bring equipment, and there is a modest charge for the use of the course. Comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes are advisable, as the terrain is uneven and not suitable for pushchairs, and a jacket is useful since the valley can be cool. Check the opening dates, usually from late spring to autumn, and the current rates when you arrive.

The park combines well with other activities at Planica. The Gorišek Brothers' hill and the Large Rožman/Bloudek hill are the great ski jumps of the valley, and the Planica Zipline, the Ski Jumping Simulators, the Heroes of Planica interactive game, the Judging Stations and the Planica wind tunnel are further attractions. A day at the Nordic Centre can be filled with sports and sightseeing, and the valley is quiet and pleasant in summer, with meadows full of flowers.