America's Earliest Disc Golf Courses
| Course # | Course Install | Basket Install | City | Course Name |
| 1 | 1976 | 1976 | Huntsville | Brahan Springs Park |
| 1 | 1976 | 1976 | Robertsdale | Styx River Resort |
| 3 | 1977 | 1977 | Huntsville | Redstone Arsenal |
Where is the world’s first disc golf course?
In 1974, Headrick approached the county of Los Angeles Park and Recreation Department with the idea of a permanent Disc Golf Course. Sy Greben, Director of the Park Planning Division saw the potential and Oak Grove Park was selected and approval was given to install the world’s first Disc Golf Course.
When did disc golf start in Canada?
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, British Columbia. Modern disc golf started in the early 1960s, but there is debate over who came up with the idea first.
Who invented the term “disc golf?
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 into issues over the Frisbee trademarked belonging to Wham-O where he had served as Vice President.
When was the first Frisbee golf course designed?
In California, the Berkeley Frisbee Group established a standardized 18 hole object course on the Berkeley campus in 1970. University of Michigan Nichols Arboretum, Ann Arbor had an object Frisbee golf course designed in the early 1970s.
Where was the first disc golf course invented?
Pasadena, CaliforniaThe First Disc Golf Course 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.
Who made the first disc golf disc?
Creation of the modern game Dave Dunipace invented the modern golf disc in 1983, with the revolutionary change of adding a beveled rim, giving the disc a greater distance and accuracy. Dave was one of the founders of Innova, a well-known disc manufacturer.
What was the first disc golf disc ever made?
The Eagle (U.S. Patent #4,568,297) was the first disc designed specifically for disc golf. Innova was formed in 1983 and production of their earliest golf discs began.
What country invented golf?
ScotlandSt. Andrews, Scotland. It was here at the St. Andrews Golf Links that the R&A was formed and where the 18-hole round was established.
What is the golden rule of disc golf?
Basically, the Golden Rule of Disc Golf is to have respect and manners while you're on the course and interacting with other players. Not only is it about treating other players how you'd like to be treated, but it's also about respecting their property, the course, and the game as a whole.
Who made disc golf?
Ed Headrick, also known as “Steady” Ed Headrick, (June 28, 1924 – August 12, 2002) was an American toy inventor. Headrick served in combat in the Army in WWII and was a deep-sea welder. He is most well-known as the father of both the modern-day Frisbee and of the sport and game of disc golf.
Where is disc golf most popular?
Where Is Disc Golf Most Popular in the U.S.?RankStateTotal Disc Golf Rounds in UDisc (2021)1Maine169,8622Minnesota458,9883Vermont51,5754New Hampshire110,92046 more rows•Jan 26, 2022
Who invented the disc golf?
From Frisbees to Disc Golf. “Steady” Ed Headrick #001 is considered the Father of Disc Golf. Of his dozens of patented inventions, two of them hold infinite importance to our sport. The first was the Frisbee (U.S. Patent #3359678) in 1966 as an employee at Wham-O.
What is the International Disc Golf Center?
The facility now boasts three championship courses, a pro shop, office space for the PDGA staff, the “Steady” Ed Headrick Memorial Museum, the Disc Golf Hall of Fame, picnic pavilions, and more.
What year did the Datsun B210 win the American Flying Disc Open?
They called the event the American Flying Disc Open (AFDO), and to attract the attention of the Frisbee community, they put up a brand new 1974 Datsun B210 to be awarded to the winner. Jim Palmeri #23 (left) handing Dan "Stork" Roddick #003 (right) the keys to his prize for winning the 1974 American Flying Disc Open.
Where was the Wham O's disc golf tournament held?
Another significant turning point for disc golf was an event organized by, you guessed it, “Steady” Ed in 1979. Held in Huntington Beach, California, Ed named the event the $50,000 Disc Golf Tournament, boasting its massive payout right in the title.
Who were the players on the 1985 disc golf championships?
According to Rick Rothstein ’s Disc Golf World News (the source of accurate informative disc golf news for decades), the players approved a steering committee of Ted Smethers, Ed Headrick, Lavone Wolfe #580, Patti Kunkle #283, and Roy Culbertson #1814 at the 1985 Disc Golf World Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Do people play golf with flying discs?
There are many historical accounts of people playing golf with a flying disc, some of which pre-date the advent of the plastic flying discs by many years. Each account was an isolated instance of recreational disc golf play, and none of the participants knew of anyone else playing disc golf.
Is there a frisbee golf course in the book?
Surprisingly, there was only a very brief mention of the concept of Frisbee golf, and that was buried in a section titled “the obstacle course.”. There was no further description of Frisbee golf anywhere else in the book.
When was the first disc golf pole hole invented?
In July of 1977 the inventor of the original Disc Golf Pole Hole, founder of Disc Golf Association (DGA), and former VP of Wham-O Inc., "Steady" Ed Headrick #001 sent a letter to the Executives of Wham-O listing 22 courses that he had installed (or was about to install).
When did DGA send Pocket Guides?
On August 24, 1982, DGA sent a Memo to All Sales Reps and Regional Pros "We have finally received our order of Pocket Guides to the Game of Disc Golf. We feel that these are an excellent sales tool and educational aid to be given to people who have little or no knowledge of Disc Golf".
When did Steve Hartwell become involved with P.D.G.A.?
In 1986 , Steve Hartwell became involved when Allen Risley got married and started grad school and no longer had time to devote to the directory. The 2nd edition of the “P.D.G.A. Course Listing” was published in October of that year with 229 United States, six Canadian, and eight Scandinavian courses.
When did Allen Risley and Tom Monroe drive to New York?
I am pretty sure that a number of these courses had already been removed, but Ed was unaware of it. In July of 1984 Allen Risley and Tom Monroe #033 drove from Florida to New York for the 1984 World Championships in Rochester, and, unaware of any directories, played as many courses as they knew about on their route.
When was disc golf invented?
The first formal disc golf course was built by DGA’s founder Ed Headrick in 1976 and was an instant success.
How many acres are there in a disc golf course?
A small beginner disc golf course can be built on as little as two acres of land. A full championship course utilized for tournament play is usually built on one to two acres per hole. Disc golf is found in national, state, county, city parks, and even private property in all types of diverse climates and terrain.
What is disc golf basket?
Disc golf baskets are the most important components of a disc golf course. The model you choose to install on your course depends on your course design objectives. There are baskets that are better tailored to schools and camps, and others that may be better for championship play.
How long does a disc golf course last?
A disc golf course is inexpensive to install, easy to maintain, and if built with quality DGA equipment the course will last for decades. Some courses generate income from daily parking passes, pro-shop sales, and disc rentals.
Why is disc golf important?
Increasingly, traditional golf courses are incorporating disc golf to increase traffic during otherwise slow times. Disc golf often utilizes land unsuitable for other activities, therefore turning what was underutilized or unused land into a productive asset for park departments.
What is disc golf?
Disc golf offers one of the highest returns on investment activities to a park and recreation facility. The sport provides a healthy outdoor activity accessible to people of all ages and abilities and can be played year round. If you can throw a Frisbee you can play disc golf.
When was the DGA established?
DGA was established in 1976 by Headrick to formalize disc golf and to promote the installation and use of disc golf courses around the world. Headrick, always the forward thinker and entrepreneur, saw the huge potential in disc golf and devoted his life to seeing it succeed.
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.
Who started the disc golf industry?
Disc Golf Association In 1976 "Steady" Ed Headrick and his son Ken Headrick started the first disc golf company, the Disc Golf Association (DGA). [3] . The purpose of DGA was to manufacture discs and targets and to formalize the game for disc golf.
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.
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.
When did disc golf start?
Modern disc golf started in the early 1960s, but there is debate over who came up with the idea first. The consensus is that multiple groups of people played independently throughout the 1960s. Students at Rice University in Houston, Texas, for example, held tournaments with trees as targets as early as 1964, and in the early 1960s, ...
Who invented disc golf?
"Steady Ed" Headrick and Dave Dunipace are two inventors and players who greatly impacted how disc golf is played. 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. Dave Dunipace invented the modern golf disc in 1983, with the revolutionary change of adding a beveled rim, giving the disc a greater distance and accuracy. Dave was one of the founders of Innova, a well-known disc manufacturer. In 1982 Ed Headrick turned over control of the PDGA to the players and Ted Smethers to be run independently and to officiate the standard rules of play for the sport.
How many qualifying events were there for the disc golf tournament?
The tournament was groundbreaking, first and foremost because of the cash involved, its massive payout right in the title, but also because the competitors had to qualify for an invitation. 72 qualifying events were established around the country, bringing in the best disc golfers from across the United States.
Where was Frisbee Golf played in 1968?
In 1968 Frisbee Golf was also played in Alameda Park in Santa Barbara, California by teenagers in the Anacapa and Sola street areas. Gazebos, water fountains, lamp posts, and trees were all part of the course.
Who was the first coordinator of 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.
How to Build a Disc Golf Course
Disc Golf is a sport that is growing globally rapidly, and the demand for building a new disc golf course is high. But building a new disc golf course will depend on a lot of factors. Please check below:
How Many Disc Golf Courses in the US
As of February 2020, the latest tally of the number of disc golf courses in the United States of America is 6,652 based on the official PDGA website.
Conclusion
It is usual for inexperienced disc golfers to ask about a disc golf course and its difference from the regular golf course. Building a disc golf course is quite a challenge with all the planning, scheduling, and looking for funding that must be done accurately.
