Flying saucers of the sporty kind seen in the Vale of Glamorgan

There will be plenty of sightings of flying saucers in the Vale of Glamorgan now that a frisbee golf course has been set up in the grounds of one of the county’s secondary schools.

Frisbee golf is set to catch on with youngsters at Llantwit Major Comprehensive School when they play the sport as part of the Sports Council for Wales’ 5x60 scheme.

It is believed to be one of the first such courses to be built in a school in the UK, and is totally different to any other activity on offer for pupils elsewhere in Wales.

Frisbee golf fits in perfectly with the 5x60 scheme’s aims to create fun opportunities for teenagers to take part in extra-curricular activities for at least 60 minutes, five times a week. The Welsh Assembly Government funded initiative is run by the Sports Council for Wales and is supported locally by the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s sports and play development team.

With no green fees, plus fours or other dubious fashions required, frisbee golf obviously differs to actual golf, but the principles are the same – master the technique to complete the ‘holes’, or in this case ‘baskets’, in as few shots as possible.

A six basket course has been built around Llantwit Major Comprehensive School’s playing fields and each basket should be reached within a ‘par’ number of shots. The distances range from a 47m par three up to a testing 117m-long par 5.

The pupils are all free to have a game whenever they want – during breaks, lunchtimes, after school, or in organised 5x60 sessions. Llantwit Major Comprehensive School’s 5x60 officer Ceri Bowley said: "Both the Head of PE Kevin Francis and I felt that frisbee golf would be an activity that is completely different to anything else available in the community at the moment. It’s also a sport that anyone can have a go at and the pupils who often don’t like sport enjoy playing it without even thinking of the physical element. We ran a frisbee golf taster day earlier in the term and since then many of the pupils have been continuously asking me when the course would be ready to use!"

The course was opened with a special session for 40 year 9 pupils. British international frisbee golf player Matt Cuttler was on hand to show them all the tricks and flicks they need, while the Vale Council’s cabinet member for leisure and tourism Cllr Anthony Ernest was also present to see the youngsters have a go at mastering the course.

Delighted with the latest activity to be introduced in Wales as part of 5x60, the Sports Council for Wales’ Chair Philip Carling said: "The Sports Council for Wales’ 5x60 scheme is proving successful in tempting pupils off the sidelines and into sport. Activities like cheerleading, street dance and now frisbee golf are encouraging even the most reluctant and act as a gateway to other sports and an active lifestyle."

To find out more about 5x60 in the Vale of Glamorgan please visit www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/5x60