GRAWN, Mich. — Consider it golf with a twist: 3-D archery trades a bow for golf clubs, arrows for a ball and artificial animal targets for holes.

The goal is to have fun while honing skills needed for bowhunting season.

About twenty minutes south of Traverse City, a group of archery enthusiasts is taking their best shots before the season starts this fall.

Through their 3-D league, the Grand Traverse Archers gear up via a six-session activity that draws about 15 archers weekly.

Their 15-target course is set up at the Traverse Region Conservation Club’s property. The course features three stakes (or tees) per target, which allows shooters to vary their distance to target if desired.

Instead of the one-dimensional targets synonymous with target shooting, 3-D archery targets are life-sized plastic animals — including a deer, wild boar, antelope, cougar, alligator, goat and a couple of turkeys.

Endorsed by both the Archery Shooters Association and the International Bowhunting Organization, the variation of competitive archery has spawned several leagues and championships in states across the country.

Points are earned through accuracy: hitting the life-sized plastic replica is worth five, a first ring scores eight, a second ring 10 and the bullseye nets 12 points. The club’s metal detector is available for finding stray (and expensive) arrows that missed the target.

Archery also requires the ability to gauge how far away a target is. This, plus a good eye, is key to driving the arrow home — the 3-D archery equivalent of a kill shot in the woods.

“Part of the game is guessing the distance: 20 yards, 30 yards — you not only have to be a good shot but able to judge the distance,” Bainbridge said.

Targets range from 25-50-plus yards away from the stake. The distances vary to help with real-world kills, said new hunter Matt Revard.

New to archery last fall, the sport has captivated him.

“I like that it is technical and also anything I can do outside is good,” he said. “It’s all about technique and form and good eyesight helps.”

Having played sports his whole life, Revard said that his athletic ability helped him pick up archery. He and Bainbridge were excited to participate in Boyne Mountain Total Archery Challenge last month.

A new craze sweeping archery circles nationally, these challenges have participants take a chair lift up the ski hill and spend the day shooting their way down from target to target.

“It’s pretty easy for somebody to put some time in and get going.” Revard said of archery. “I absolutely encourage others to try it — I’m obsessed!”

Revard and Bainbridge set up this spring’s 3-D course, bringing back that league after an eight-year hiatus. The annual fall 3-D league, which begins in August, draws more participants preparing for hunting season.

The club also offers indoor shooting in the winter.

“It’s a great group of guys,” Revard said. “Everyone’s really helpful and truly passionate about it.”

South writes for the Traverse City, Michigan Record-Eagle.