Frisbee Golf Facts

Amateurs and professionals all over the world enjoy the game of Frisbee golf. From its origins in the mid-1960's, the sport has expanded into national and international tournaments, thousands of Frisbee golf courses and three Associations that standardize rules. Frisbee golf players can toss a disc around on a Sunday afternoon, engage in a highly competitive match with world-ranked players or do anything in between.

  1. History

    • For as long as the flying discs have been available, people have been aiming Frisbees at targets and goals. George Sappenfield is one of the first known players of the game; he had the idea of playing golf with Frisbees and with hula-hoops for goals. Ed Headrick, an early Frisbee disc engineer and Frisbee enthusiast, turned informal Frisbee golf tournaments into the modern game. Ed established the three disc golf associations that govern the recreational, competitive and professional aspects of the game today. The PDGA officiates tournament play, oversees the professional league and forms the official Frisbee golf rules.

    Frisbee Golf Discs

    • Frisbee golf discs are particular to the sport and share few similarities with the traditional throwing discs. There are three different classes of Frisbee golf discs. Drivers have sharp edges and are small, heavy and flat. They are used when teeing off from a Frisbee golf platform. Drivers cut through foliage and branches, and travel the greatest distance of the three discs. Medium discs are slightly larger and lighter, and are meant to traverse middle distances. They are also easier to control than drivers. Putters are large and wide, with a sloping lip. Putters are the easiest of the discs to aim, but go the smallest amount of distance. Often, the putter is used to sink the hole.

    Playing the Game

    • Throwers stand on the tee-off pad facing a particular hole. The hole is actually a metal pole supporting a mesh wire cage. The object of play is to land the disc in the cage in as few throws as possible. Players begin their throw with the driver disc, and usually switch to a putter or a medium-range disc. Disc golf is scored like normal golf; there is a par listed for each course, and instead of stokes, throws are counted.

    Frisbee Golf Courses

    • The DGA, or Disc Golf Association, maintains most of the courses around the United States. Many of them are located in parks or public spaces, and do not cost money to use. The courses have a variable number of holes, typically 18, concrete tee pads, and signs that map out the layout of the hole. Frisbee golf courses are often picturesque.

    Tournament Play

    • The Professional Disc Golfer's Association hosts tournaments throughout the year. The United States Disc Golf Championship takes place in October once every year, and is a highly popular and competitive event. The PDGA also puts on a variety of International Opens and a World Championship tournament, as the PDGA has regulatory authority across the globe. In recent years, women's tournaments and amateur tournaments have been held, to great enthusiasm and participation.