A golf course is basically known by most people but some confuse it with a disc golf course. Some may think that it is actually the same but there are varying features that make both courses unique from one another.
In this article, you will be able to discover more about a disc golf course. There are also tips on how to find a disc golf course where you can play the sport near you. If no disc golf course is near your area, there are some ways on how you can build your improvised course. Furthermore, it will feature some disc golf courses.
How to Find a Disc Golf Course Near You
Technology has been a great help especially in finding disc golf courses near your area. Through the use of technology, you can find disc golf course directories that contain information about the courses, difficulty level, and physical features where you can play disc golf.
DiscGolfCourses.com has been one of my favorite directories. It is a website that allows you to find suitable courses during your vacation or going from one place to another. The UDisc App is another good application that serves as a great source of information about every disc golf course in the world.
Understanding the Basics of a Disc Golf Course
Disc golf has been found to be similar to golf. It only varies with the use of a flying disc instead of a ball and clubs. What separates it from golf is the experience it gives to most players. Manipulating the disc flight, proper positioning to avoid obstacles such as trees, and hazards in both land and water are just some of what most players may encounter during the course of the game. The sport is also a good form of recreation for it provides scenic views. It is a good challenge because it allows the mind to think before executing a throw.
The sport formally started in the 1970s. The main goal is to finish the hole in the least amount of throws possible. The starting point of players is a tee area wherein they need to throw to the target. A metal basket called a Pole Hole is the most common type of target used. However, some courses or improvised layouts use trees and poles as alternatives.
A fairway is designated for the players which can be used to get to the hole. Completing a hole often involves many obstacles that can hinder a player’s progress. Some of the most common obstacles are terrain, shrubs, bushes, and trees.
The putting area or the green is the last area of the disc golf hole, usually a few feet around the basket. Oftentimes, there is a different kind of grass or turf surrounding the target or it may be the same terrain as the rest of the hole. The “inside the circle” is the area within 10 meters (33 feet) of the basket. Throwing within the circle changes the disc golf rules because it requires the player to show balance and prohibits stepping forward for putts inside the circle.
Disc golf can be a great source of different emotions as they are anticipated in every game. There will be times when you throw with all your might and have a masterful drive and there are times when you will miss a short putt. Victories and defeats can always occur in many disc golf courses which can leave excitement, happiness, frustration, or joy.
Disc golf courses can be found in the city, suburbs, rural areas, and almost any place where a basket or target can be installed. Endless options are present for a disc golf course.
Disc Golf Green Fees
One of the differences between golf and disc golf is that disc golf does not usually have a fee associated with playing on a course. Most courses are free or very inexpensive to play.
Players can walk during a disc golf game and do not need a cart. The people in the course are usually fewer which makes flexible tee times possible. Most importantly, it is economically friendly which allows people to play regardless of their financial status.
How Many Disc Golf Courses are in the United States of America?
As of 2025, there are more than 6,500 disc golf courses in the United States of America, serving an estimated 7 to 10 million disc golfers. For professional disc golfers, almost 400 courses are used on a year-to-year basis for organized tournaments.
These courses are expected to remain and grow in popularity for decades to come.
How to Build a Disc Golf Course
If you are thinking of building your own disc golf course, remember to consider the design itself. A course’s design can really make or break your disc golf course. Time needs to be spent planning out your layout. Even if you have the best equipment, none of it will truly matter.
When creating your course, create fun holes that have wonderful views. Imaginative holes give players the opportunity to try new throws. With a proper course flow, you can use the natural beauty around you to create something memorable.
Some of the equipment you will need includes tee areas, signs to direct players around the course, and of course the disc golf basket. You can install permanent disc golf baskets by cementing them into the ground, or choose portable baskets that are easy to move. Portable options let you experiment with different hole layouts and course designs.
Is Disc Golf a Sport?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a “sport” is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.”
This definition classifies Disc Golf as a sport both for individuals and as a team.
Walking around the course and throwing the disc from hole to hole requires physical exertion and skill.
The National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships feature teams of six players, with substitutions allowed throughout the tournament to boost team performance. Of course, this substitution can only happen between rounds, but the team dynamic is still important here.
Disc golf also has a doubles format wherein a team competes together to achieve success. It provides relief to pressure because players know they can rely on each other if things start to go out of hand whenever a throw occurs.
