Disc golf is an fun, environmentally-sound recreational activity that can be enjoyed immediately by players of all ages and skill levels.

The Sport
Disc golf is the fusion of two common pastimes in America — Frisbee and golf. Disc golf is played much like traditional golf, but instead of hitting a ball into a hole, you throw a more streamlined looking Frisbee disc into a supported metal basket in the fewest shots possible. A golf disc is thrown from the tee to each basket, which is the “hole.” Similar to golf, players must make each shot from the spot where the previous shot landed. Various degrees of landform, plant material and water provide the obstacles as players progress down the fairway. Once the putt lands in the basket, the hole is completed.

While disc golf and ball golf are very similar in their guiding principles, disc golf is far less demanding in terms of land allocation, initial investment and natural ability needed to enjoy it. Roughly speaking, a disc golf course needs one acre per hole, while most 18-hole golf courses sprawl over dozens, if not hundreds of acres. Maintenance of disc golf courses is minimal, with limited mowing and absolutely no pesticide application necessary. While getting setup with golf clubs and a yearly memberership can set players bask thousands of dollars, disc golf discs cost about $10 per disc and the majority of courses are free to play. Lastly, and most importantly, disc golf can be enjoyed by players of all ages and abilities almost immediately!

The Growth
Currently one of the fastest growing sports in the world, disc golf is an environmentally-sound recreational activity that can provide a wealth of resources for any community. With the number of disc golf courses more than doubling between 2000 and 2008, there are currently more than 4,000 courses globally, while the sport is played in over 40 countries around the world. These places have found that there are few recreational activities that offer the high benefit-to-cost ratio of disc golf. With relatively low capital and maintenance costs compared to other recreational installations, disc golf is played year-round in all climates and is enjoyed immediately even by beginners of all ages.

In a 2010 study by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was found that just over 1/3 of American adults are obese, while 17% remains true for children. Ideally, a person should walk around 10,000 steps a day to maintain a healthy level of fitness — an 18-hole round of disc golf finds players taking an average of over 6,000 steps. It’s no wonder why the Professional Disc Golf Association, which boasts over 40,000 members, has enjoyed an annual player growth of 15% in recent years! A well designed course will attract recreational players for casual rounds and weekly leagues, while disc golf tournaments will attract competitive players from across the region, or even country, increasing sales at not only your establishment, but hotels, restaurants, movie theaters and other shops in the surrounding region.