During the 1960s, Ed Headrick invented and patented an amazing new toy for the Wham-O Toy Company–the Frisbee. Headrick never lost his fascination with Frisbees. Neither did the rest of the world. Tournaments involving freestyle throwing soon became popular, and one side show at these tournaments was what became known as disc golf. The first targets were trees, water fountains, and garbage cans. Headrick, seeing the potential for disc golf, invented what he called the Disc Pole Hole in 1976 which marked the official beginning of disc golf. Today, disc golf has become a very popular sport enjoyed by both families and professionals. Many more people would enjoy the sport if they understood the rules of the game, the importance of choosing right gear, and the availability of local courses.

When playing disc golf, it is important to understand how scoring works and also which discs to use and where to use them. Scoring is quite basic. The player counts the number of throws that it takes for him to score in the disc golf basket. Each hole has a par. Par is a preset number of throws that the designers of the course feel is necessary for the player to score in the basket. Par is always subtracted from the total number of throws that it takes a player to score. The object of the game is to have the lowest score. A good disc golfer also understands disc types and uses. Discs fall into one of three categories: putt and approach discs, midrange drivers, and distance drivers. Putt and approach discs are usually designed with blunt, rounded edges and are suitable for making short, accurate shots into the basket. Distance drivers have a sharp, aerodynamic design which helps the player gain distance on his first throw. The midrange driver is a crossover between putt and approach discs and distance drivers. It is mainly used on a player’s second throw to get close enough to the basket to use his putt and approach disc. When a player understands how to use his or her discs and how to play the game, the player then can properly understand how to pick the right gear.

When playing disc golf, one must know what design of disc to buy and what gear to buy besides discs. Engineers have carefully analyzed how discs fly and have developed a numbering system to reflect each one’s flight pattern. Across the board, all distance drivers, midrange drivers, and putt and approach discs can be classified as “understable” or “overstable.” An “overstable” disc will curve to the left on right-hand, back-hand throws. “Understable” discs will curve to the right on right-hand, back-hand throws. “Understable” discs are usually easier to control and work well for beginners. “Overstable” discs are more versatile and are used more frequently by advanced players. A disc golfer must also decide what gear to buy along with his discs. Avid players usually carry bags with fifteen to thirty discs, but even less enthusiastic players can benefit from a small bag to hold their few discs. Some players even carry a special towel to wipe any moisture off of their fingers or disc. One interesting accessory that companies are experimenting with is disc retrievers for discs that have ended up in a water way. Whether it be disc design or the right bag, proper gear always makes disc golf more enjoyable.

Finally, a disc golfer must consider the availability of disc golf courses in his or her area. Disc golf courses can be found in almost any state in the United States as well as in many countries around the world. Disc golf courses are usually part of parks maintained by the state which means that they are free for anyone to use. After confirming that there are parks with disc golf courses available in his or her area, a person can count on playing disc golf for free.

In many ways, disc golf is unlike any other sport. It requires as much knowledge about the sport as it does athleticism. To many, the challenge of understanding the rules, choosing the right gear, and finding disc golf courses in one’s area keeps them from enjoying the sport; however, disc golf continually grows in popularity as more and more people realize how simple it really is. What started as a game played at the sidelines of big events and in people’s backyards has grown to become an official sport enjoyed by athletes and amateurs alike.