Some odd-looking contraptions have popped up in Pendleton’s Community Park. To the unfamiliar eye the tangle of wire and chain sitting on a pole might look like some kind of squirrel or bird trap, or maybe a new art installment commenting on the futility of modern life.

But to disc golf players in the area they are a godsend.

Nine baskets have been placed thoughout the park, creating Pendleton’s first disc golf course.

The sport involves the same basic rules as golf with a tee-off point from which each player tries to get their disc into the basket in the fewest number of throws.

While some would describe it more as a hobby, which to most it is, there is a governing body, the Pro Disc Golf Association, that holds sanctioned tournaments and world championships.

Disc golf seems to grow in popularity each year. When I?moved to Pendleton from Ohio, where there are an abundance of nearby courses no matter where you are, I?was a bit disappointed.

The closest options to play were Walla Walla and Kennewick.

Both courses offered a good deal of challenge and individuality to make the drive not seem as bad, but neither are stunning by any means.

So when I?heard they were installing a course in Pendleton I?was excited. When I?learned of the location I?had mixed emotions. While Community Park definitely had potential, if used unproperly the landscape could have led to a very boring course.

With the course now in place, I?took the chance to give it a try Sunday with EO?photographer E.J. Harris and former deputy managing editor Dave Sager, and I?wasn’t let down.

The course had plenty of positives and not very many negatives.

The course begins and ends at the parking lot nearest the softball fields and the tee boxes were marked clearly by wood poles with numbers on them. The first time through was a little confusing but maps of the holes placed in a holder by the first tee box would cure that problem.

There were no cement throwing blocks, but that does help maintain the aesthetic appeal of the park.

With the short length of the course, cement pads would have been a bit redundant anyway.

While the course was a bit shorter than most – since footage was unmarked I’d guess the longest hole couldn’t have been more than 360 feet – it made up for it in other areas.

The first hole provides a nice warm-up with no trees or obstructions as long as you keep away from the parking lot to the left, but the course doesn’t stay vanilla too long.

The second hole has an out-of-bounds area running to the left, a walking path (also out of bounds) running right down the middle and a small group of trees ready to cut yardage off your drive to the right.

Then if you overshoot the basket by too much you could have your first run-in with McNary Creek.

The creek and walking path come into play throughout the course and we even ran into a man that had lost five discs to the fast moving current since the course went in three weeks ago.

The third hole throws over the water and the fourth does too, as does the eighth. The distance is no trouble for somebody that has played enough to be able to control their disc, but just like regular golf, thinking about the hazard definitely increases your chance of hitting it.

None in our threesome lost any discs after playing the course twice, which is rare.

Weeds and tall grass come into play on No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 but they are small areas that make it easier to locate a wayward shot. Trees also do not pose much threat of swallowing up a disc never to be seen again.

I?also got the opportunity to see the course played with a forehand and backhand throwing style. With only one dogleg left, the backhanded thrower might have a slim advantage but the course really favored neither style.

After 18 holes it was unanimous that while the course is not the most challenging, it definitely offers enough tough shots to keep a veteran player interested while keeping the holes short enough that new players of any age can learn the game without much strain.

It won’t be hosting any professional tournaments at its current length but the project should be considered a resounding success and I?know I’ll be saving some gas money by not having to travel for a quick game.

Matt Entrup is sports editor of the East Oregonian. Write him at mentrup@eastoregonian.com.