South Canterbury Disc Golf Club president Chris Smith holds frisbees used when playing at the new course at West End Park.

As golf clubs struggle to attract members, disc golf is growing with a new Timaru course at West End Park ready for an open day next month.

The nine-hole 600 metre course was organised by the newly-formed South Canterbury Disc Golf Club and cost $7000 for the baskets, with permanent tee areas yet to be created. The club had completed some fundraising for the project and found a number of business sponsors for the baskets but would be seeking more.

Club president Chris Smith said the club was formed five months ago and has 25 financial members.

BEJON HASWELL/ STUFF South Canterbury Disc Golf Club president Chris Smith leans on a disc golf basket at West End Park.

He said the game was increasing in popularity as new players joined up each week. It was something the entire family could play and the only cost was a frisbee for each player.

The sport, formalised in the 1970s, uses frisbees instead of golf balls and irons. Whereas hitting a ball in a hole is the goal of golf, in disc golf the aim is to get the frisbee landing on an elevated metal basket. What both games have in common is the best player is the one who lands the basket in the fewest shots.

BEJON HASWELL/ STUFF The object of the game is to throw a frisbee in the metal basket with the fewest number of attempts, South Canterbury Disc Golf Club president Chris Smith says.

The game was easy to pick up, Smith said.

"You can go from being a novice to the chance of getting a birdie in two weeks."

There was no dress code and players often wrote their name and phone number on frisbees in case they were lost in the trees on a windy day.

Though there has been a disc golf course at Caroline Bay since 2016, club members wanted something more pro-level to attract more touring and local players, he said.

The open day at West End Park starts at 9am on December 7.