where can i learn about the game of disc golf?

What is disc golf and how do you play?

Disc golf is played much like golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, though, players use a flying disc or Frisbee®. The sport was formalized in the 1970s and shares with golf the object of completing each hole in the fewest strokes (or, in the case of disc golf, fewest throws). A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target, which is the "hole."

How has disc golf evolved?

The positive experience with disc golf and the growing demand for more courses have led to the expansion of the sport all over the country, from small towns to urban areas. * Based on PDGA 2017 End of Year Demographics. Tee off order on the first tee will be by mutual arrangement or by flipping discs.

What type of land do disc golf courses use?

Disc golf courses can use a wide variety of terrain. Often times, land not suitable for other park activities or development is the perfect terrain for a disc golf course. Disc golf is one of the best lifetime fitness sports. It is easy to learn, a healthy activity, and accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels.

How many disc golf courses are there in the world?

5. 75% of all disc golf courses in the world come from the United States (over 6000 courses), while 10% come from Finland and Canada. The game has been increasing in popularity in other locations outside of the United States, but for now, the majority of courses remain in one location.

How do you start a game of disc golf?

Each hole begins with a tee throw. Tee throws must be completed within or behind the designated tee area. The lie is the spot where the player's previous throw has landed. Mark each lie with a mini marker disc or leave the thrown disc on the ground where it landed.

What are the 3 rules of disc golf?

0:435:00The Rules of Disc Golf - EXPLAINED! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor a hole to be complete the disc must land in the chains or insert the baskets. If. It is theMoreFor a hole to be complete the disc must land in the chains or insert the baskets. If. It is the target and bounces back out onto the floor. This does not count.

What do you learn from disc golf?

Stroke/Point. Like traditional golf, disc golf features strokes that represent each attempt to get closer to, or in, the hole, and penalties will add to your stroke/point count. One stroke is counted each time you throw a disc, and the goal is to get into the hole in as few strokes as possible.

How do you play disk golf?

The lowest number of total throwsDisc golf / Rules to win

What is the first throw in disc golf called?

Drive – The first throw from a tee pad. Can also refer to a long subsequent throw. Driver – A higher speed rated disc usually used for the initial throw from a tee pad. Drop zone – An area designated as a spot to throw from if the prior throw missed a mando or goes Out of Bounds (OB).

What is the average disc golf score?

Players who average the course layout SSA will have a rating of 1000. As of 2021, top pro players who average scores lower than SSA have ratings over 1000 ranging up to 1050. PDGA amateur men average around 860 and women around 725.

How many discs should a beginner have?

In order to play disc golf, you need at least 3 discs: a driver, a mid-range, and a putter. But you should carry at least 6 discs (2 of each type) with you whenever you go out to play a round.

Is disc golf hard on the body?

Among the 715 injured disc golfers in the Nelson study, 46 percent experienced injuries to the elbow, followed by the shoulder at 43 percent. The study by Rahbek and Nielson also found that the elbow and shoulder were the first and second most common problem areas.

Is disc golf easy?

Is disc golf hard to play? Yes, disc golf is a tough sport and it is very hard to play. Trying to throw a small disc hundreds of feet accurately takes tremendous skill and practice. Disc golf is an extremely challenging sport that takes years of practice to master.

What are 5 rules of playing disc golf?

Basic Rules of Disc GolfSafety First. Never throw when other players or people are within range. ... Tee Throws. Each hole begins with a tee throw. ... Throwing Order. ... Fairway Throws. ... Mandatory. ... Unplayable Lie. ... Out Of Bounds. ... Completion Of Hole.More items...

How many steps are in disc golf?

We clipped pedometers on 228 men and 112 women playing disc golf on 15 different courses. We discovered that every time a person ventures outside to play disc golf, they walk an average of about 5,613 steps (almost three miles) per 18-hole round.

How long does a round of disc golf take?

approximately 2 hoursThe aim is to send the 'golf disc' from tee to basket in the fewest throws. A typical round of 18 holes takes approximately 2 hours to play, depending on the length and terrain and technical difficulty.

Where does disc golf start?

A disc golf hole begins from a tee area and ends at a target, the most common of which is an elevated metal basket. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive throw from the spot where the previous throw landed. In group play, the farthest away player always throws first.

Why is disc golf so easy?

One disc allows the new player to focus on throwing technique, disc angles, and repetition which accelerates the learning curve. One disc is also easier for kids to keep track of when playing a course or in the classroom. Equipment responsibility is part of the game.

What is the difference between a golf disc and a Frisbee?

When compared to a Frisbee, a golf disc travels faster and farther which may make it more difficult to control.

How many discs are needed for disc golf?

The beauty of disc golf is that it only takes one disc to play. One disc is recommended in the classroom when first introducing disc golf. It makes it easy to teach and for the group or individual to learn. Implementing different discs too soon will work against the group, individual, and instructor.

What is the most popular technique in disc golf?

The most popular throwing technique in disc golf is the backhand throw. The backhand is what most people think of when they think of throwing a Frisbee.

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.

How much has disc golf increased in popularity?

Disc golf has steadily increased in membership popularity by 15 percent over the last seven years. The game of disc golf has a 72 percent course growth rate, and tournament play has increased by 90 percent. These stats translate to an all-time high for disc selection and courses to play.

What is disc golf?

Disc golf is similar to traditional golf, however, instead of using golf clubs and balls aiming for a hole, disc golf players use disc golf discs and aim for a disc golf basket which is a pole extending up from the ground with chains and a basket where the disc lands. The object of the game is to complete each hole in the fewest number of throws, ...

How did disc golf start?

The game started with people using Frisbees and aiming at targets made up of trees, trash cans, light poles, pipes, and whatever else was handy.

How to tell if disc is out of bounds?

If your disc is “out-of-bounds”, i.e., you can see “out-of-bounds” area between the edge of your disc and the “inbounds” line, place your marker disc up to 1 meter on the “inbounds” side of the line at the place where your disc went “out-of-bounds” and give yourself a one throw penalty. Again, please be careful of natural vegetation.

How many holes are there in disc golf?

Generally, a course is made up of 9 or 18 holes. Players start at hole one and complete the course in order, playing through to the last hole. The player with the lowest total cumulative throws wins. Disc golf differs from traditional golf in important ways. Disc golf courses can use a wide variety of terrain.

What is the stance of a drive?

The stance for a drive is shoulders and feet in line with the line representing the line of throw you desire. The distance throw is always on this line. As you get closer to the hole and are making an approach throw, you can loosen up your foot placement to as much as 45 degrees for a putt.

Where is the thrown disc on a basketball?

The thrown disc is always left on the lie, (where it came to rest,) until the marker disc is placed on the ground directly in front of and in line with the basket, touching the disc. The thrown disc is then picked up. Proper foot placement when throwing will require some practice.

Is a disc inbound or outbound?

Standing water or mud on the course that is caused by sprinklers or rain is not considered “out-of-bounds” and the disc may be relocated to a dryer area no closer to the hole with no penalty.

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 ...

How many disc golf courses are there in the world?

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. Country. DGC.

What is a disc golf tee box?

A disc golf tee (commonly referred to as a tee box or the box) is the starting position of a hole. The PDGA recommends that the tee box be no smaller than 1.2 meters wide by 3 meters long. The tee box is usually a pad of concrete, asphalt, rubber, gravel, or artificial turf. Some courses have natural turf with only the front of the tee position marked or no tee boxes at all and players begin from a general location based on the course layout.

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).

What is the most common type of target in disc golf?

Targets. A disc resting in a basket, the most common type of target. Main article: Basket (disc golf) Although early courses were played using trees, fence posts, or park equipment as the target, standard disc golf baskets are by far the most common type of target on modern courses.

Where is the largest disc golf tournament held?

One of the largest is the United States Disc Golf Championship . Every year, the largest teams tournament in the world is held in Austin, Texas, by John Houck. To prove the year-round sustainability of the sport, annual winter tournaments known as Ice Bowls are held at courses around the world.

How To Play Disc Golf

Educational guide to disc golf. Learn more about disc golf and the basics for what you need to know to get started playing

Disc Golf Rules For Recreational Play

The official recreational rules of disc golf. Simple to learn, simple to play, hard to get enough.

About Ed Headrick - The Father of Disc Golf

Find out about the man who invented the modern day frisbee and who Founded the sport of disc golf and DGA.

History of Disc Golf

"Disc Golf" as it is known today began with “Steady” Ed Headrick, the father of disc golf, modern day disc sports and the driving force responsible for the modern era of Frisbee sports.

Disc Golf Course Development

Disc Golf is a healthy lifetime fitness sport and game that is easy to learn and accessible to people of all ages and u001etness levels.

Disc Golf Course Design

Your disc golf course design makes or breaks your course’s success. Spend the time and effort on making your course’s layout and design the best it can be.

What is disc golf?

Disc golf, much like traditional golf, is about getting your own disc into a basket or net at the end of a hole. You’ll see multiple holes in a single course and plenty of people keeping score, hoping to keep things as low as possible.

How does disc golf work?

Like traditional golf, disc golf features strokes that represent each attempt to get closer to, or in, the hole, and penalties will add to your stroke/point count. One stroke is counted each time you throw a disc, and the goal is to get into the hole in as few strokes as possible.

What is an understable disc?

Understable. Discs that fade to the right during a straight throw at average power are considered understable. An understable disc will have a rating of (-1) to (-3), with a (-3) disc fading the most to the right. In general, you’ll want to look for an understable disc for your long drives when you’re new to disc golf.

What is the end of a golf hole called?

At the end of each hole is a basket or a set of chains. You’ll need to throw the disc into this to end the round. When you get your disc into the basket, you’ve completed the hole. This is sometimes called the completion of the hole, but is usually just called by the short-hand term: “completion.”

How to throw a basketball with your arm?

Holding Your Arm 1. Pull the disc straight and tight across your body as you throw and release. If you move your wrist and arc your body, you’ll typically throw it off to the side.

What direction does a golf disc bank?

Your average golf disc actually banks to the left for most people, especially when it comes to drivers. That means they’re often considered overstable. Sharp-edged discs tend to naturally curve left. The sharper the curve to the left, the higher the number ranging from (1) to (3).

How to throw a disc?

When releasing, bend your elbow and extend across the chest, unbending as it moves away from you to keep the disc straight. Holding Your Arm 2. Move the arm fluidly.

What is disc golf?

Disc golf is played much like golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, though, players use a flying disc or Frisbee®. The sport was formalized in the 1970s and shares with golf the object of completing each hole in the fewest strokes (or, in the case of disc golf, fewest throws). A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target, which is the "hole.".

How many acres are there in a disc golf course?

A nine-hole disc golf course can be established on as little as five ac res of land, and a championship-caliber 18-hole course uses 30 to 40 acres. Disc golf courses can coexist with existing park facilities and activity areas, with the ideal location combining wooded and open terrains and a variety of topographical change.

What is a disc golf target?

A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target, which is the "hole.". The hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets; the most common is an elevated metal basket. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive throw from the spot where the previous throw landed. The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located ...

How many members does the PDGA have?

The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) is a membership-based organization boasting more than 120,000 lifetime members across 54 countries. The PDGA is also the governing body for the sport and sanctions competitive events for players of every skill level.

Is disc golf a good activity?

Disc golf is designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages, gender identity, and economic status, making it a great lifetime fitness activity. Because disc golf is so easy to learn, no one is excluded; players merely match their pace to their capabilities and proceed from there.

What is disc golf?

Disc golf is very similar to ball golf in this regard. There are discs meant for distance driving, fairway driving, and putting. There are also mid-range discs which are like the irons in traditional ball golf and are used for a wide variety of middle length shots. You’ll find that the different types of discs will look quite different ...

How many holes are there in disc golf?

Count your score and move onto the next hole. You’ll keep going like this until you’ve played all the holes on the course, which is typically 18 holes, just like traditional ball golf.

What are disc golf discs made of?

Disc golf discs are made of plastic and each manufacturer has their own blends of plastic that they use for their discs. In fact, all disc makers have several different types of plastic that they offer, each with unique qualities that will change the way the disc looks, feels, flies and how durable it is.

What does fade rating mean in golf?

The fade rating describes the last phase of flight and refers to the discs tendency to curve, or hook, as it starts to spin more slowly. A higher fade rating means more curve and a lower fade rating means little to no curve at the end of the flight. For right handed players throwing backhand, this is a left curve.

How much weight disc should I use for a beginner?

For beginners, I recommend going with a mid to light weight disc. Somewhere in the 155 to 165 grams range.

What is the second number on a disc?

The second number on the disc is the disc’s glide rating. The glide rating is pretty self explanatory. The higher the number, the more the disc has a tendency to stay aloft, while a lower glide rating means the disc will have a tendency to drop more quickly.

Do stable discs fade?

Stable discs tend to fly very straight with little to no fade at the end of the flight path. A truly stable disc will fly straight with no fade at all.

When is disc golf day?

National Disc Golf Day takes place on August 1st each year. The PDGA founded the day to help celebrate the fast-growing game of disc golf and choose August since it’s such a popular month for discing. It was officially approved as a national day in July 2016 by the Registrar at National Day Calendar. 11.

What should I consider when choosing a disc golf basket?

That’s why the three things I consider when choosing a portable disc golf basket are weight, assembly requirements , and if it comes with a carrying case.

What is the best portable golf basket?

One of the best portable baskets on the market, the DGA Mach Lite is modeled after the popular DGA Mach II which is more of a permanent target. Even though it isn’t built for courses, you can get some great putting practice in with this basket.

What is the most popular disc golf driver in 2020?

According to InfiniteDiscs, the most popular disc golf driver in 2020 was the Innova Destroyer, followed by the Innova Wraith. Innova has been a top brand in disc golf for many years now so it’s no surprise to see them at the top of the list.

How much does it cost to join the PDGA?

Joining the PDGA costs $75 per year for a professional membership, but there are other options such as amateur and junior memberships. 2. The game of disc golf was invented in the very early 1900s by a group of elementary school friends.

What is the highest payout in disc golf?

The record for the highest payout during a tournament happened in 2020 at the Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship. Both the male and female winners took home $20,000. This high payout occurred during the year where the professional disc golf world championship wasn’t played.

Is disc golf a fast growing sport?

7. In the United States over the past few years, disc golf has been the fourth fastest-growing sport.

Take the Kids to the Nearest Disc Golf Course. They Will Love It!

Disc golf is a great sport that kids really love to play. Courses are everywhere, and it is an easy game to learn. So we have put together a short guide to get you and your family going on the disc golf course. This includes: how to locate the nearest course, learning the kid-friendly rules and where to get a few discs to start throwing with.

The First Thing You Need to Play Disc Golf Is a Few Discs

It doesn't take much to get started. Each player will need at least one disc, but I would recommend 3: A driver, a mid-range and a putter. If you do decide to only play with one disc, then the best thing to do would be to get yourself a mid-range since this is best suited to function as all three.

But Where is the Closest Disc Golf Course?

You can start out with a simple Google Search. Just include your city name with the keywords Disc Golf Course. You can also type these keywords into Google Maps. Don't be surprised to find one or more in your area that you have been driving by for years. And the great thing is, they are almost always free!

The Abbreviated Disc Golf Rules for Beginners

Trying to keep things as simple as possible, these are the rules of play that make things fun and slightly competitive. Kids love to have a challenge, and they love to win, but you don't want to frustrate them with too many rules from the start.

Overview

Disc golf courses

Gameplay

Disc types

Throwing styles

Scoring

Tournaments

Popularity