For a different way to enjoy the natural beauty of Napa’s hills, Skyline Park offers the sport of disc golf.

I took in a round on a beautiful day over the holidays with my wife Julie, brother Greg and sister Carrie.

As our most experienced disc golfer, Greg led us through the course.

The 18-hole course criss-crosses through the northeastern corner of the park, and to just walk the course would be a nice hike covering a good couple of miles. But with the accuracy of our disc throws, we covered quite a bit more ground!

The sport is similar to traditional golf, in that each hole has a tee area (really more like a launch pad), and the players are aiming for a hole, which takes the form of a bright yellow, heavy wire basket raised about two feet off the ground.

The distances from tee to basket generally range between 150 and 300 feet.

But instead of a club and ball, an ordinary Frisbee-type disc is used.

Each hole on the course is a standard par-3.

The more serious golfers will have several kinds of discs in their bag, from the streamlined “drivers” to the slower, more accurate “putter” discs. But the average disc tosser (like our group) can use just one disc throughout the course.

Skyline Park has discs available for purchase at the check-in station.

At each tee there is a diagram showing where the basket is located, including several alternate setups.

Oftentimes the basket will be behind a tree or over a hilltop, out of sight from the tee location. This is where strategy comes into play, and you need to aim your disc for an open area that has a better angle on the basket.

But even the best strategy can be foiled by an errant throw. Most throws will have a natural “tail” to one side or the other, and the wind can play havoc with the disc’s flight as well.

Adding to the challenge is the slope of the hillside where your throw lands. The disc can roll for quite a distance if it lands just right (or just wrong, depending on your perspective).

And on some of those steep downhills it can travel far down into the canyon, often to the dismay of the golfer!

Trees also come into play. Oaks, manzanita, and the occasional olive tree will conspire to smack your disc out of the air, or stand defiantly between you and the basket. Now this sounds more like the traditional golf I know!

Between throws, you can enjoy some fantastic views from the park.

From certain hilltop vantage points you can see nearly all of the city of Napa, and from others you get a great view Upvalley to Mount St. Helena and beyond.

On clear days, these can be truly breathtaking.

As an added benefit, disc golfing provides great exercise. Besides adding some sport to a couple-mile hike, running up and down the slopes chasing a runaway disc can really get your blood pumping!

On uncrowded days you can spot wildlife roaming the course as well.

Deer and turkey thrive throughout the park, along with a variety of other woodland creatures. Red-tailed hawks, Canada geese, and many kinds of ducks will also pass overhead on occasion.

Access to Skyline Park is $4 per car, and there is no additional charge for the disc golf course.

Bicycles, horses, cleats and smoking are all prohibited in the disc golf area.

Winter hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The course may close subject to weather conditions or saturated ground, so call ahead (252-0481) to make sure it’s open.

Guy Carl is a CPA and partner with BDCo Accountants and Advisors in St. Helena (www.bdcocpa.com). Contact Guy at GC.outdoors@sbcglobal.net.