Is disc golf a real sport?
Oct 31, 2001 · Disc Golf Association, (DGA) was established in 1976 by Ed Headrick to form a new international sport and to promote the installation and use of disc golf courses around the world. Headrick coined and trademarked the term “Disc Golf” after inventing and patenting the original Disc Pole Hole. Headrick had originally wanted to call his invention a Frisbee Pole Hole but ran …
What was the first disc golf course?
In 1976 Headrick formalized the rules of the sport, founded the Disc Golf Association (DGA), the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), the Recreational Disc Golf Association (RDGA) and invented the first formal disc golf target with chains and a basket.
What are some good basic starting discs for disc golf?
The first formal disc golf course was designed and installed that same year in Oak Grove Park, (Pasadena, California), by Headrick and was an instant success. He also founded the Professional Disc Golf Association in 1975, which he turned over to the players in 1983.By the time of his death, Ed has designed over 200 courses.
How long has disc golf been around?
The first was the Frisbee (U.S. Patent #3359678) in 1966 as an employee at Wham-O. The second was the basis of all disc golf targets today, the Disc Golf Pole Hole (U.S. Patent #4039189) in 1975. The concept of disc golf itself however has a long and blurry history.
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Modern disc golf started in the early 1960s, when it seems to have been invented in many places and by many people independently. Students at Rice University in Houston, Texas, for example, held tournaments with trees as targets as early as 1963, and in the early 1960s players in Pendleton King Park in Augusta, Georgia would toss Frisbees in 50-gallon barrel trash cans …
When did disc golf become professional?
What was the first disc golf disc ever made?
When was the first disc golf course created and by who?
The first formal disc golf course was built in Oak Grove Park, (Pasadena, California), by Headrick in 1975 and was an instant success.By the time of his death, Ed has designed over 200 courses.Oct 30, 2001
Who invented the sport of disc golf?
What country invented golf?
What year was the first disc golf tournament?
Was disc golf called Frisbee?
What was the original name or disc golf?
Who was the father of disc golf in 1966 and 1975?
What is the golden rule of disc golf?
When was disc golf invented?
Disc golf was first invented in the early 1900s. The first game was held in Bladworth, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1927. Ronald Franklin Gibson and a group of his Bladworth Elementary School buddies played a game of throwing tin lids into 4-foot wide circles drawn into sandy patches on their school grounds. They called the game Tin Lid Golf and played on a fairly regular basis. However, after they grew older and went their separate ways, the game came to an end. It was not until the 1970s that modern disc golf would be introduced to Canadians at the Canadian Open Frisbee Championships in Toronto and Vancouver, BC.
What is disc golf?
Disc golf is a flying disc sport in which players throw a disc at a target; it is played using rules similar to golf. Most disc golf discs are made out of polypropylene plastic, otherwise known as polypropene, which is a thermoplastic polymer resin used in a wide variety of applications. Discs are also made using a variety ...
Is disc golf a sport?
Yes. World Games. 2001. Disc golf is a flying disc sport in which players throw a disc at a target; it is played using rules similar to golf. Most disc golf discs are made out of polypropylene plastic, otherwise known as polypropene, which is a thermoplastic polymer resin used in a wide variety of applications.
What are disc golf discs made of?
Most disc golf discs are made out of polypropylene plastic, otherwise known as polypropene, which is a thermoplastic polymer resin used in a wide variety of applications. Discs are also made using a variety of other plastic types that are heated and molded into individual discs. The sport is usually played on a course with 9 or 18 holes.
What was the first disc golf target?
Ed Headrick's Flying Disc Entrapment Device Patent 4039189. The first disc golf target made with chains that became the standard for disc golf. In 1977, Headrick and his son Ken developed the modern basket catch for disc golf, US Patent 4,039,189, [4] titled Flying Disc Entrapment Device, which they trademarked "Disc Pole Hole". The Disc Pole Hole created a standardized catching device that had a chain-hanger that held vertical hanging rows of chain out and away from a center pole. The vertical rows of chain came together forming a parabolic shape above and angling down towards a metal basket that attached to and surrounded the center pole, and could catch a disc from all directions.
How many holes are there in disc golf?
Disc golf courses. Most disc golf courses have 9 or 18 holes, and exceptions most often have holes in multiples of three. Courses with 6, 12, 21, 24 or 27 holes are not uncommon. The PDGA recommends that courses average 200–400 ft (61–122 m) per hole, with holes no shorter than 100 ft (30 m).
Which country has the most disc golf courses?
Three countries account for 85% of all disc golf courses worldwide: the United States (75%), Finland (7%) and Canada (3%). Other notable countries include Sweden, and Estonia, which has the highest density of disc golf courses per km 2 of dry land of any country and the second-highest number of courses per capita, between Iceland and Finland, which have 150 and 111 courses per million inhabitants, respectively. Outside North American and European strongholds, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea have the most courses. There are disc golf courses on every continent, including 24 in Latin America, 8 in Africa, and one in Antarctica. The Åland Islands have been defined as the world's largest single disc golf park, with one course in each of the 16 municipalities of Åland.
When was disc golf invented?
Disc golf was first invented in the early 1900s. The first game was held in Bladworth, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1926. Ronald Brandon Cain and a group of his Bladworth Elementary School buddies played a game of throwing tin lids into 4 foot wide circles drawn into sandy patches on their school grounds. They called the game Tin Lid Golf and played on a fairly regular basis. However, after they grew older and went their separate ways, the game came to an end. It was not until the 1970s that modern disc golf would be introduced to Canadians at the Canadian Open Frisbee Championships in Toronto and Vancouver, BC.
Who was the first person to play Frisbee golf?
Two early coordinators of the sport are George Sappenfield and Kevin Donnelly, who, through similar backgrounds and the help of Ed Headrick at Wham-O, were able to individually spread the sport in their California cities. Donnelly began playing a form of Frisbee golf in 1959 called Street Frisbee Golf. In 1961, while a recreation leader and then recreation supervisor for the City of Newport Beach, California, he formulated and then began organizing Frisbee golf tournaments at nine of the city's playgrounds he supervised. This culminated in 1965 with a fully documented, Wham-O sponsored, citywide Frisbee golf tournament spearheaded by "Steady" Ed Headrick at Wham-O. This highly publicized tournament included hula hoops as holes, with published rules, hole lengths, pars, and prizes; an event in which Walter Frederick Morrison, inventor of the Pluto Platter and Frisbee inventor "Steady"' Ed Headrick, was in attendance. In 1965, Sappenfield was a recreation counselor during a summer break from college during which, he set up an object course for his children to play on. When he finished college in 1968, Sappenfield became the Parks and Recreation supervisor for Conejo Recreation and Park District in Thousand Oaks, California. Sappenfield planned a disc golf tournament as part of a recreation project and contacted Wham-O Manufacturing to ask them for help with the event. Wham-O supplied Frisbees for throwing, and hula hoops for use as targets.
U.S. Frisbee Golf History
Kevin Donnelly and George Sappenfield were early coordinators of the game. They, with the help of Wham-O, spread the sport to California cities. In 1959, Donnelly played a form of Frisbee golf called Street Frisbee Golf. He became a recreation leader and supervisor of Newport Beach, California.
Modern Disc Golf History
Like ultimate Frisbee, nobody invented disc golf. It evolved from ball-minded athletes who slightly altered the rules and play of similar sports where a flying disc replaced a ball. The Berkeley Group and Victor Malafronte established an 18-hole course on the California UC Berkeley campus in 1970. Learn more here!
Competitions in the U.S. and Canada
National disc golf competitions in Canada began with object courses in the mid-70s in Vancouver and Toronto Open Frisbee Championships. Wham-O’s $50,000 Disc Golf Tournament, in 1979, was a turning point for disc golf. The tournament was in Huntington Beach, California.
The Future of Disc Golf
Millions of people enjoy destroying discs as they play disc golf. They want to play the game, not become directors of a worldwide organization. That is problematic. We could be on the verge of exponential growth in the sport. Sophisticated management with business capabilities and ideas is needed.
Seeds of Change Sown at First Disc Golf World Championships
Ed was a control freak. He liked being the man in control of the PDGA and resented attempts by players to control the direction of the organization. It’s important to remember that, until 1982, he was doing essentially everything by himself.
PDGA Player Ratings – A Game Changer
The PDGA has seen dozens of Commissioners and Executive Directors come and go over the years. From “Steady” Ed to DGHOF members like Elaine King #3090 and John Houck #1688. One of those was DGHOF member, Jim Challas #160, serving as Commissioner in the late 90s.
Explosive Growth - PDGA Membership & Events
As pointed out by PDGA Ratings guru Chuck Kennedy, the number of PDGA members and the rate at which membership is expanding is far different today than it was in the early days. As of 11:00am EDT on July 6th, 2016, the PDGA’s newest member was assigned the number 87248 with nearly 31,000 active members.
Now What?
Decades later, one can only wonder, would the Father of Disc Golf be happy with where the sport is today? Few people would be able to speculate better than Stork, so we asked him.
Is disc golf free?
Unlike golf, disc golf is usually free to play in public parks and takes about half as long to complete a round. Disc golf is designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages, gender identity, and economic status, making it a great lifetime fitness activity.
Is disc golf a good sport?
Disc golf is the perfect solution for anyone that wants to teach, share and enjoy a lifetime sport. It's a healthy, inexpensive, recreational activity that provides upper and lower body conditioning, aerobic exercise and mental stimulation. Concentration skills expand by mastering shots and negotiating obstacles.
How many people play disc golf?
The PDGA annually presents four separate world championship: Professional, Professional Masters, Amateur and Juniors. It is been estimated that 8 to 12 million Americans have played disc golf and that over half a million play regularly. The majority of these players participate at the amateur and recreational level.
Can you throw a Frisbee in disc golf?
By the time most people try disc golf, they have had some experience throwing a Frisbee. This is a great place to start when introducing disc golf. A golf disc is like a Frisbee in the principles of flight although its smaller diameter, shallow depth, weight distribution, and edge design allow it to cut through the air more efficiently. When compared to a Frisbee, a golf disc travels faster and farther which may make it more difficult to control.
What is a mid range disc?
These have a slightly sharper edge than putters and are used for controlled shots that require more speed and distance than can be achieved with a putter. Mid-range disc offers the most versatility when teaching a class or just starting out with one disc.
Overview
Disc golf courses
Most disc golf courses have 9 or 18 holes, and exceptions most often have holes in multiples of three. Courses with 6, 12, 21, 24 or 27 holes are not uncommon. The PDGA recommends that courses average 200–400 ft (61–122 m) per hole, with holes no shorter than 100 ft (30 m). The longest holes in the world measure more than 1,500 ft (460 m) long. Course designers use trees, b…
Origin and early history
Disc golf was first invented in the early 1900s. The first game was held in Bladworth, Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1927. Ronald Franklin Gibson and a group of his Bladworth Elementary School buddies played a game of throwing tin lids into 4-foot wide circles drawn into sandy patches on their school grounds. They called the game Tin Lid Golf and played on a fairly regular basis. However, after they grew older and went their separate ways, the game came to an end. I…
Gameplay
The sport of disc golf is set up similar to a game of golf. A "round" is played on a disc golf course consisting of a number of "holes", usually 9 or 18. Each hole includes a tee position for starting play and a disc golf target some distance away, often with obstacles such as trees, hills or bodies of water in between. Players begin by throwing a disc from the tee, without crossing over the front …
Disc types
Disc golf discs are smaller than Ultimateflying discs or general-purpose recreational frisbees. They typically measure 21–22 cm (8.3–8.7 in) in diameter and weigh 130–180 g (4.6–6.3 oz). All PDGA-approved discs measure 21–30 cm (8.3–11.8 in) in diameter and weigh no more than 200 g (7.1 oz). Discs used for disc golf are designed and shaped for control, speed, and accuracy, while g…
Throwing styles
While there are many different grips and styles to throwing the disc, there are two basic throwing techniques: backhand and forehand (or sidearm). These techniques vary in effectiveness under different circumstances. Their understanding and mastery can greatly improve a player's game, and offer diverse options in maneuvering the disc to the basket with greater efficacy. Many players use what is referred to as a run-up during their drive. This is practiced to build more forw…
Scoring
Stroke play is the most common scoring method used in the sport but there are many other forms. These include match play, skins, speed golf and captain's choice, which in disc golf is referred to as "doubles" (not to be confused with partner or team play).
Regardless of which form of play the participants choose, the main objectives of disc golf are conceptually the same as traditional golf in the sense that players follow the same scorekeepin…
Tournaments
Tournaments are held nationwide and year long in the United States. Sanctioned Tournament play is communicated through the Professional Disc Golf AssociationMembership. The PDGA provides international, professional, and amateur disc golf tournaments as well as communicates event results, opinions and other information beneficial to the sport via electronic and printed media. I…
U.S. Frisbee Golf History
Modern Disc Golf History
- Like ultimate Frisbee, nobody invented disc golf. It evolved from ball-minded athletes who slightly altered the rules and play of similar sports where a flying disc replaced a ball. The Berkeley Group and Victor Malafronte established an 18-hole course on the California UC Berkeley campus in 1970. Learn more here! In that same year, Ken Westerfield and Jim Kenner (Discraft) designed a…
Ed Headrick’s Influence
- The first players’ association, introduced in 1976, provided the standardized disc golf target. While Ed Headrickof Wham-O was not the first person to play disc golf or promote competition, he was among the most significant figures in the history of modern disc golf. He introduced the formal disc pole hole made of chains and a basket. In 1976, he f...
Competitions in The U.S. and Canada
- National disc golf competitions in Canada began with object courses in the mid-70s in Vancouver and Toronto Open Frisbee Championships. Wham-O’s $50,000 Disc Golf Tournament, in 1979, was a turning point for disc golf. The tournament was in Huntington Beach, California. The cash involved was a groundbreaking factor, with the massive payout mentioned in the title. Competito…
The Future of Disc Golf
- Millions of people enjoy destroying discs as they play disc golf. They want to play the game, not become directors of a worldwide organization. That is problematic. We could be on the verge of exponential growth in the sport. Sophisticated management with business capabilities and ideas is needed. As with the Frisbee and Super Ball for instance, without thinking big, nothing big occu…