Maybe the traditional form of golf isn't exactly your cup of tea. After all, it requires a considerable investment of time and money to become really good and may not exactly be considered as exciting as other activities. If regular golf isn't for you, try one of these alternatives instead.

Disc Golf
Rather than a set of clubs and golf balls, disc golf is, as its name indicates, played with a flying disc, also commonly known as a Frisbee. Though the idea didn't really take off until the 1990s, the sport has actually been played in various forms since the early 1900s, but became an officially recognized sport in the 1970s.

Though the equipment differs significantly, the concept of disc golf is similar to that of regular golf. Instead of aiming a ball for a hole in the ground, disc golf players aim their disc for a basket or target. The disc is still thrown from a tee area and golfers progress down the fairway as they would on a regular golf course, with each throw made from the spot where their previous shot has landed. Disc golf players still aim for the lowest score possible, accumulated by the amount of throws required to complete the "hole." Many of the challenges of golf are also experienced in disc golf, such as surrounding trees, shrubs and terrain. Unlike "real" golf, disc golf is relatively inexpensive to play since many official courses don't charge a fee to use the space, nor do you pay to rent a cart or need to buy a full set of equipment (clubs and balls and bags, oh my!). However potential disc golfers may want to look for an official disc golf disc, which are smaller than standard flying discs and have extended lips around the edge rather than a simple edge. If you're really into it, you can look for a variety of discs to carry with you including putters, all-purpose, mid-range discs and drivers.

Disc golf may be easier for many individuals to pick up as well, since a good, accurate throw is all that is required to succeed. This of course means you may have an easier time finding partners or groups to play with. And because it's not as physically demanding as other disc sports such as Ultimate Frisbee, it's an activity that can be enjoyed by those of almost any age.

To search for a disc golf course near you, click here to check out the Professional Disc Golf Association's directory. You can also hit the jump to visit their official site, where you'll find the official rules of the game, as well as information about the PDGA tour (yes indeed, there is a tour).

Extreme Golf
Perhaps it's the slow pace of a golf game that you find off-putting. Apparently that was the case for Steve Scott, a runner from California who invented extreme golf (also known as speed golf or fitness golf) in 1979. The idea of extreme golf is to complete a course with the lowest combination of strokes and time. For this reason, players generally carry only one to six clubs in a small bag as they run between shots (no caddies or carts allowed!). The final score is added up according to minutes and strokes - meaning if it takes you 105 minutes and 10 seconds to shoot a round of 75, your final score would be 180:10.

Beyond the challenge of speed, extreme golf follows the same general rules and etiquette as regular golf, with the exception that those playing a round of speed golf can leave the flagstick in the hole while putting. Repairing ballmarks, replacing divots and raking bunkers must all still be completed by the competitor. And for those who think it sounds far too difficult, remember that not only is the cardio workout is significantly better than traditional golf, but many players reportedly improve their scores despite the faster speed and reduced number of clubs used.

If you're itching to give it a try, ensure that the course you are planning to play will allow you do so. Obviously courses that often face line-ups at each hole won't be your first choice, so find out if you can get there early in the morning before anyone else, or try to play during colder seasons that mean less golfers out and about.

» Professional Disc Golf Association