Spokane, WA

Frolf is a clever combination of the words Frisbee and golf. It is not the same as Disc Golf because fancy disc golf discs are not used. In the poor college kid, I have six square feet of dorm room space, version of disc golf players grab their most expendable Frisbee and aim for agreed upon objects. The Whitworth University campus on Hawthorne between Division and Waikiki provides an excellent location for this activity. There are a multitude of unmarked courses, which I will not trace out for you because that would be too difficult, and I don’t positively remember any one. About a week ago I had to give in to a friendly game of Frolf.

On July 19th we loaded up two vehicles and headed to Jump Off Joe Lake. It is above Loon Lake and about 37 miles North of Spokane along highway 395. We should have taken the boat but my son in law wanted to check it out before hauling the boat along.

I went to elementary school with my friends Geoff and Ryan and St. Thomas More Catholic School in North Spokane. With the busyness of life, we don’t get a chance to catch up much anymore, even though we all live in the same neighborhood in West Spokane, near Downriver Golf Course. So I called Geoff to see if he and Ryan would like to play some twilight golf at Downriver Golf Course. Spokane has great, affordable golf at all times, but at the end of the day, you can get a great deal on playing nine holes at area courses

Comstock Park on Spokane’s South Hill has many options. There’s the public pool, the free tennis courts, the full basketball court, acres of grass and trees, and even a fire pit if you’d like to roast some marshmallows on a summer night.

Coeur d’Alene Park is located in the heart of Browne’s Addition, on the corner of 2nd and Chestnut.

Highbridge Park is a great little secret nestled just west of Browne’s Addition, underneath the high train bridges (hence the name). The course is quite challenging and fun, and includes some great hiking. It isn’t the most well-marked progression of holes, so if you want to play disc golf, go with someone who knows the trail, or just show up and you’re sure to find some friendly disc golfers who will show you the way, or even let you join their group. Also, Highbridge Park doesn’t have the best reputation for safety after dark, so go in groups and keep it confined to daytime. Other than that, this place is a gem for disc golfers, picnickers, and families looking to enjoy a great summer day near downtown Spokane.

Downriver Disc Golf course, like other local courses, is maintained with the support of the Spokane Disc Golf Association, a great bunch of people who like to have fun, walk in the forest, and can really throw these tiny discs a long way, with precision. If you play at Downriver, make sure the only thing you leave behind is the occasional disc you accidentally lose into the water—keep our courses free of litter. Now, get out there, and let those discs fly!

Thursday morning my MOMS Club playgroup met at Shadle Park, 4302 N. Belt in northwest Spokane, to let the kids burn off some energy by playing on the toys and running through the splash park. Shadle Park consists of 40 acres just west of Maple/Ash on Wellesley Avenue. Shadle Park has something for everyone. You can run through the water, play on the toys, become competitive on the tennis court, watch baseball games, play a game of pick up basketball, or just lay a blanket down and read a good book.

As if a perfect dichotomy of municipal Spokane, Ben Burr Trail really does show two sides of our city in perfect walking distance.

This weekend I experienced my first arena football game. I am not an avid fan of football, but I do enjoy watching sports live. I also decided that since my boyfriend and his son love football so much that I should learn a little bit about it. Once we decided on the day we wanted to go, I got the tickets for us to go to the Spokane Shock game.