Disc Golf is a recent development in the world of sports, but it is gaining popularity among outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers.

Here’s what happened: Young, energetic people were looking for a challenging sport that wouldn’t break the bank account. What they got was Disc Golf.

Or to some 'Frolf.' __ __ _ (Frisbee + Golf = "Frolf")

The object of the game is to throw your disc into the basket or "chains" in the least amount of throws. You could even play the game with a normal frisbee, it'd just be much harder to play the sport well.

Most holes are par 3 in disc golf. There is occasionally a par 5 or a hole many players call a 4 on the course, but traditionally, everything is a par 3 unless otherwise ridiculous.

Discs used in Frisbee golf are shaped pretty much like a normal Frisbee, but with the overall design of a pizza-cutter — or maybe a flying saucer — as they have much sharper edges than a normal Frisbee. See Below.

This is for cutting through the air and keeping a low aerodynamic profile, which allows the disc to glide (or cut through the air), "keep going fast," and it makes the disc not only fly farther, but straighter and with a predictable fade as well. The idea is basically this:

less resistance = more speed + stability...

(which, in turn, leads you to have a much longer and straighter flight-path for your drive! It's like the dimples and composite-modern-materials of a golf ball (gives you an extra maybe 30 to 50 yards, in disc golf, it turns out it's about even at a foot to a yard). Thank you, physicists and engineers for that one [and I'd like to thank Mr. Johnson, for teaching me the physics lesson]!:)

Regulation baskets — again, these are sometimes referred to as "chains" (perhaps because of the clanging sound the metal chains make when the disk strikes them!) — are about 4 and a half feet tall, and almost 3 feet wide. The chains have a width of about 2 and 1/2 feet.

See Larger Images Below - Click Here to be Redirected

*Images Courtesy of Gateway Disc Sports.

You see those chains, you are supposed to aim at them in order to get the disc to catch a few of them in mid-flight; if it does, it will slow the disc down and cause it to fall into the basket directly below. Or you could try to land right in the basket (like you would try to get a basketball in the hoop) with a hammer toss or Larry Bird shot (swoosh!). Editorial Note: I've only done this two or three times, but once it was over a 40 foot pine tree. These are the kinds of shots that make you keep coming back!

All baskets have chains in them that cause the plastic discus to stop in mid-flight and fall into the basket below... (-/*\-See image above -/*\-) So, all you have to do is hit the chains with your disc directly, and nine out of ten times your disc will end up falling down directly into the basket, which is what you want: A Hole in One!

That was 2-time World-Champion, Barry Schultz, getting an ace on a 340 foot par 3.

How to Play Disc Golf

First you need a disc, then a target. You can aim at a tree for practice before heading out to a real disc golf course. There are many different techniques for throwing a disc, including normal hand (or back hand, where the disc is thrown basically like a frisbee [more on technique later]), side-arm (or flick, where the disc is thrown mainly with the wrist and forearm), and over-hand (hammer toss, where the disc is thrown like an outfielder throws a baseball with a "crop hop"). To get the disc most of the way to the target you will have to have a good Drive. Then you will have to take an approach shot (like chipping in golf) and then a putt. They even make different discs with flight characteristics matched for each different shot (more on this later).

It will probably take you a good deal of practice to get good at Disc Golf. (Editor's note: I've only ever seen one complete natural: A boy I met when I taught the correct form of throwing a disc to students from a middle school related to my high school; this young lad, who is now definitely a young man, stepped up and threw the disc with perfect balance, stability, height, speed, line and glide (on his very first try!), and he threw the disc about 250 feet! —> right —> straight down the imaginary fair-way (we were outside throwing in a practice area where the high school football and soccer teams practiced). Not everyone will be able to step up and launch a disc like he could. Indeed, I threw my disc up high into the air to see it crash down to the left like a duck or a fighter plane that got one of it's wings shot off! Just like pretty much everyone else I know who ever first attempted to throw one like this on their first try!)

But it is a really fun outdoor activity and GettingOutside.com is here to help! We are going to be posting demonstration and step-by-step instructions on techniques for Drives, Approach/ Midrange Shots, and Putts. We hope you find the sport to be just as much fun as we do! Just wait until you get your first ace... or sink a putt from a distance... or get your disc stuck up in a tree and have to go caveman to get it back down!

Some holes can be made in one shot if the player has great accuracy, or luck [wrong basket]! It’s actually probably easier to get a hole in one in disc golf (referred to ubiquitously as an “ace” – something that is true of both sports).

Similarities between disc golf and real golf (traditional old, white-ball!)...

• You try to get your disc in the basket in the least amount of throws (just like real golf:)
• You try to get your ball in the hole in the least amount of strokes...

• You have dedicated discs to throw for different shots: Drives (long), approach (mid), putt.
• You have different clubs (drivers, irons, wedges, and a putter) in real golf.

• There's an official tour for people who play: Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA)
• There's an official tour for people who play: Professional Golfer’s Association (PGA)

So basically disc golf is just the same as real golf, except it’s less expensive and—for those out there who can throw a disc well, at least—it can be more rewarding—and more fun!

Disc Golf has a unique niche in the world of outdoor sports. You do have to be somewhat athletic to play, but you need not be in incredible shape. It's a unique truth about this outdoor activity: People of all shapes, sizes, and ages can play the game of disc—and it's a more than likely possibility that you'll have a good time with it, not neccessarily by playing well or having lots of great throws—but by enjoy yourself being outside, w/ nature, for some fresh air, exercise and activity. And if you make an awesome shot or two, all the better!

Quite possibly, in this author-player's opinion, the best part about disc golf is that you must go back to nature for a short while (or maybe longer for some of your crazies out there who decide to play 36 holes instead of just the normal 18; more props to you!. Now that will count for some serious exercise, maybe burning 1,000 calories or more!). There is a special element to the game, the challenge with the pricker bush, or the height of tree branches which conceal your disc, the birds, geese, snakes, fish, crabs, deer, owls, bears, tigers, no not tigers (unless you decided to set up a basket on Safari!), foxes, rabbits, mice, bugs, and possibly even, a few friends or relatives, perhaps a beverage or two (but be sure to LNT).

To play the sport, find any of the State Parks offering the equipment for the game (tee boxes and target “chains,” or baskets) or a specialty-dedicated disc golf course. You can usually buy a cheap starter disc or two at the Park Nature Center or Visitor Center. Bring like 20 bucks cash (you might want to get two, because they can get lost). Our Destinations Section will help you find some of the coolest courses out there, and now that the sport has gained so much popularity, it’s almost guaranteed that there’s one near you (say, within a 25 mile radius... and there's almost definitely one within 50 or 100 miles... there might even be one right down the road)! Click here.

Come on! What are you waiting for? Give it a try today — or once the weather gets a little nicer — You can test the waters for the first time; or if you're a returning player — refresh your skills and intellect by playing a new course — we know you’ll have so much fun, you'll be right back out there on the disc golf course with a couple of new nicer plastic (championship edition) discs, ready to play the game again and lower your previous best score! 

Learn more about Disc Golf vs. Real Golf  (and Disc Golf Culture) here!

Go back to the Getting Outside.com Activities Section   to find more fun outdoor activities!

Click here to find those awesome State Parks where you can Play Disc Golf!

Get out there on the disc golf course, and do it soon!

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