Disc Golf: A Fun Sport you Can Play Almost Anywhere

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 11

Most people are familiar with golf, but not with disc golf, a new and rising sport. Instead of hitting a ball off the tee into a hole, people throw frisbee-like discs from the tee into an off-ground metal basket.

This unique version of a sport is affordable to start playing and accessible. Even if there are no disc golf courses nearby, people can still play in their backyards or their local parks using objects like lamp posts, marked trees, and even benches. In this sport, people can play by themselves or in teams, either professionally or for fun.

There are many versions of the 66-year-old sport, including Persian, Greek and Roman. The first registered course was opened in 1975 in California, U.S.A. Since then, there have been more than 2,000 courses and more than 500,000 disc golf players.

To play an actual round of disc golf, people usually play on a disc golf course, which typically has 9 or 18 holes. The average distance between the tee pad and the basket is 400 feet. When the game starts, a player throws any disc they want from their bag toward the basket. Then they mark where they threw with a marking disc. The other player does the same. Whoever is farthest from the target throws next. They do this until both players make it into the basket. Another rule is out of bounds. This is when a player throws the disc out of the playing field and is assessed a penalty of one throw. They continue where the disc left the field of play. If the course is over water and the disc falls in, they continue from the bank where it fell. The cycle repeats until they finish a course. Whoever finishes the course with the fewest throws wins the game.

The unique game of disc golf is affordable, accessible and inclusive. The game went from one course and a few players to over 2,000 courses and over 500,000 players. It even has its pro-tour. What a wonderful game!

[Sources: World Flying Disc Federation; ESPN]