You may have seen people running around your neighborhood park throwing a Frisbee but failing to catch it. They move in groups and appear to be playing together, but they don’t seem to catch anything. So, what’s the deal? That, my friends, is most likely a game of disc golf. But what is disc golf?
Disc golf is kind of similar to traditional golf, but rather than using golf clubs and balls to aim for a hole, players use disc golf discs and aim for a pole with chains & a basket where the disc lands. It’s just as much a mental game as it is a physical one, requiring you to strike a delicate balance between long drives and precise curves as you make your way around the course.
Let’s get to know everything about disc golf!
What Is Disc Golf?
Disc golf is comparable to traditional golf, but players use discs instead of clubs and balls and aim for a pole with chains and a basket at the top.
The aim of the game is to complete each hole with the fewest number of throws possible, beginning at the tee box and ending with the disc landing in the basket. Typically, a course consists of 9 or 18 holes.
The course is played in order, beginning with the first hole and concluding with the 18th. The winner is the player with the fewest cumulative throws. Significant differences exist between traditional golf and disc golf.
What Is The History Of Disc Golf?
The origins of modern disc golf can be traced back to the early 1960s, though credit for the game’s inception is often disputed. However, it is generally agreed that many different bands operated independently during the ’60s.
As early as 1964, students at Rice University in Houston, Texas, held tournaments using trees as targets, and in the early 1960s, players in Pendleton King Park in Augusta, Georgia, threw Frisbees into designated 50-gallon barrel trash cans.
Teenagers from Santa Barbara, California’s Anacapa and Sola streets played Frisbee Golf in Alameda Park in 1968. This course featured gazebos, water fountains, lamp posts, and trees.
It was formalized in the 1970s, and like golf, it aims to finish each hole in the shortest amount of time.
How Is Disc Golf Played?
A disc golf hole starts with a tee area and ends with a target, most commonly an elevated metal basket. As a player moves down the fairway, each subsequent throw must be made from the same spot where the previous throw landed.
The rule for who throws first in a group game is determined by who is at the farthest distance from the center. A teammate or friend should not rush ahead of the away player. The fairways are surrounded by trees, shrubs, and potentially difficult terrain changes. The hole is finished when the putt is successfully made.
Over half a million people in the United States daily play disc golf, and it’s estimated that anywhere from 8 to 12 million people in the country have tried it at least once. Unfortunately, most of these players are just having fun and aren’t serious about their sport.
Who Can Play Disc Golf?
Disc golf is one of the few lifetime sports that an individual can play. Disc golf is a fantastic lifetime sport because people of all ages can play it.
Most disc golf courses charge no fees to play, and discs cost between $8 and $20, making it a more accessible sport than traditional golf. Furthermore, it has the potential to be highly addictive. The “disc golf bug” has definitely bitten many people. However, disc golf is a fun, inclusive outdoor activity for people of all ages and skill levels.
What Will You Need To Start Playing Disc Golf?
To play disc golf, all you need is a disc. That’s all! You don’t need an established disc golf course; you can take your disc to almost any uncrowded open space and create your own golf course.
However, you can expect to find a disc golf course in your area. There are more than 7,000 courses in the United States and more than 10,000 courses worldwide, so bring a disc with you on your next family vacation.
Discs are cheap, costing anywhere from $10 to $25 depending on the plastic quality and extras like printing or stamping. That means a family of 4 can get started on a new hobby for less than $100, with access to over 10,000 golf courses, the vast majority of which are free to play.
Bottom Line
This was all about what is disc golf. Disc golf is a fun and inexpensive way to stay in shape for people of all ages & skill levels. Learning to play disc golf is a breeze. In light of this, it is a great option for families to enjoy together because no one will feel left out.
Thank you for reading!