Disc golf

Disc golf is a flying disc sport in which players throw a disc at a target; it is played using rules similar to golf.[2][3] It is usually played on a course with 9 or 18 holes. Players complete a hole by throwing a disc from a tee area toward a target, throwing again from where the previous throw landed, until the target is reached. Usually, the number of throws a player uses to reach each target is tallied (often in relation to par), and players seek to complete each hole in the lowest number of total throws.[3]

Disc golf

Highest governing body	Professional Disc Golf Association
Registered players	53,366 (as of 2019)[1]
Clubs	Yes
Characteristics
Contact	No
Team members	Single competitors, doubles
Type	Outdoor
Equipment	Flying disc, Target, Tee off location
Presence
Olympic	No
World Games	2001

The game is played in about 40 countries and, as of 2019, there are 53,366 active members of the PDGA worldwide.[1]

Origin and early history

Main article: History of disc golf

Disc golf was first invented in the early 1900s. The first game was held in Bladworth, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1927.[4] Ronald Franklin Gibson and a group of his Bladworth Elementary School buddies played a game of throwing tin lids into 4-foot wide circles drawn into sandy patches on their school grounds.[4][5][6] They called the game Tin Lid Golf and played on a fairly regular basis. However, after they grew older and went their separate ways, the game came to an end.[7] It was not until the 1970s that modern disc golf would be introduced to Canadians at the Canadian Open Frisbee Championships in Toronto and Vancouver, BC.[8][9]

Modern disc golf started in the early 1960s, but there is debate over who came up with the idea first. The consensus is that multiple groups of people played independently throughout the 1960s. Students at Rice University in Houston, Texas, for example, held tournaments with trees as targets as early as 1964, and in the early 1960s, players in Pendleton King Park in Augusta, Georgia would toss Frisbees into 50-gallon barrel trash cans designated as targets. In 1968 Frisbee Golf was also played in Alameda Park in Santa Barbara, California by teenagers in the Anacapa and Sola street areas. Gazebos, water fountains, lamp posts, and trees were all part of the course. This took place for several years and an Alameda Park collectors edition disc still exists, though rare, as few were made. Clifford Towne from this group went on to hold a National Time Aloft record.

Disc golf courses

Most disc golf courses have 9 or 18 holes, and exceptions most often have holes in multiples of three. Courses with 6, 12, 21, 24 or 27 holes are not uncommon.[10] The PDGA recommends that courses average 200–400 feet (61–122 m) per hole, with holes no shorter than 100 feet (30 m).[11] The longest holes in the world measure more than 1,500 feet (460 m) long. Course designers use trees, bushes, elevation changes, water hazards, and distance variation, along with out-of-bounds zones and mandatory flight paths to make each hole challenging and unique. Many courses include multiple tee positions or multiple target positions to cater to players of different ability levels.[10]

Most disc golf courses are built in more natural and less manicured environments than golf and require minimal maintenance. Professional course designers consider safety a critical factor in course design, and are careful to minimize the danger of being hit by a flying disc while providing designs that create strategy in play and variety in shots for enjoyment. Holes are designed to require a range of different throws to challenge players with different strengths or particular skills. Many courses are central organizing points for local disc golf clubs, and some include shops selling disc golf equipment. More than 80% of the courses listed on Disc Golf Course Review are listed as public and free to play.[12]

List of disc golf courses by country

Three countries account for 85% of all disc golf courses worldwide: the United States (75%), Finland (7%) and Canada (3%). Other notable countries include Sweden, and Estonia, which has the highest density of disc golf courses per km² of dry land of any country and the second-highest number of courses per capita, between Iceland and Finland, which have 150 and 111 courses per million inhabitants, respectively. Outside North American and European strongholds, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea have the most courses. There are disc golf courses on every continent, including 24 in Latin America, 8 in Africa, and one in Antarctica. The Åland Islands have been defined as the world's largest single disc golf park, with one course in each of the 16 municipalities of Åland.[13][14][15]

Country	Courses	as % of world total		per 1M inhabitants		per 10,000km^2 of dry land		Distribution # Holes (18+/9+/<9)
United States	6,652	75.1%	75.1	20.1	20.1	4.1	4.1
Finland	615	6.9%	6.9	111	111	20.2	20.2
Canada	277	3.1%	3.1	7.3	7.3	0.3	0.3
Sweden	217	2.5%	2.5	21.5	21.5	5.3	5.3
Estonia	152	1.7%	1.7	114.4	114.4	35.9	35.9
Germany	116	1.3%	1.3	1.4	1.4	3.3	3.3
United Kingdom	93	1.1%	1.1	1.4	1.4	3.8	3.8
Czechia	91	1%	1	8.5	8.5	11.8	11.8
Norway	89	1%	1	16.4	16.4	2.9	2.9
Japan	76	0.9%	0.9	0.6	0.6	2.1	2.1
Denmark	63	0.7%	0.7	10.9	10.9	14.8	14.8
Australia	59	0.7%	0.7	2.3	2.3	0.1	0.1
France	52	0.6%	0.6	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8
Iceland	51	0.6%	0.6	149.3	149.3	5.1	5.1
New Zealand	33	0.4%	0.4	6.8	6.8	1.3	1.3
Switzerland	27	0.3%	0.3	3.1	3.1	6.8	6.8
Austria	19	0.2%	0.2	2.1	2.1	2.3	2.3
Netherlands	19	0.2%	0.2	1.1	1.1	5.6	5.6
South Korea	14	0.2%	0.2	0.3	0.3	1.4	1.4
Spain	11	0.1%	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
Poland	9	0.1%	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3
Slovakia	9	0.1%	0.1	1.6	1.6	1.9	1.9
Rest of the world	110	1.2%	1.2
Total	8,854	Source: https://www.pdga.com/course-directory/advanced

Tees

A disc golf tee (commonly referred to as a tee box or the box) is the starting position of a hole. The PDGA recommends that the tee box be no smaller than 1.2 meters wide by 3 meters long.[10] The tee box is usually a pad of concrete, asphalt, rubber, gravel, or artificial turf. Some courses have natural turf with only the front of the tee position marked or no tee boxes at all and players begin from a general location based on the course layout.

Signs

Established courses have tee signs near each tee position. Signs may depict a simple map of the hole including the tee, target, expected disc flight, out-of-bounds areas, water hazards, trees, and mandatory paths. Signs typically include the distance to the hole, and par. Some courses include a unique name for the hole and may have sponsor logos. They are often supplemented with a larger sign near the course entrance which has a map of the entire course.[10]

Targets

A disc resting in a basket, the most common type of target

Although early courses were played using trees, fence posts, or park equipment as the target, standard disc golf baskets are by far the most common type of target on modern courses. Some courses feature tone targets that are designed to make a distinctive sound when hit with a disc. Disc golf baskets are constructed with a central pole holding a basket under an assembly of hanging chains. When a disc hits the chains, it is often, but not always, deflected into the basket. Per PDGA rules, in order to complete a hole with a basket target, the disc must "enter the target above the top of the tray and below the bottom of the chain support, and come to rest supported by the target.[16] There are many different brands of baskets made by numerous manufacturers.

Gameplay

A red disc sailing towards a "Tonal Pole" style target at the disc golf course on Pender Island.

The sport of disc golf is set up similar to a game of golf. A "round" is played on a disc golf course consisting of a number of "holes", usually 9 or 18. Each hole includes a tee position for starting play and a disc golf target some distance away, often with obstacles such as trees, hills or bodies of water in between.[17] Players begin by throwing a disc from the tee, without crossing over the front of the tee prior to releasing the disc when throwing. This could lead to a fault similar to the foot fault in bowling. Players then navigate the hole by picking up the disc where it lands and throwing again until they reach the target. The object of the game is to get through the course with the lowest number of total throws.[18] Play is usually in groups of five or fewer, with each player taking turn at the tee box, then progressing with the player furthest from the hole throwing first, while the other players stand aside. 

Each course is unique, so each course requires a different combination of throws to complete, with the best players aiming to shape the flight of the disc to account for distance, terrain, obstacles and weather. In order to facilitate making different shots, players carry a variety of discs with different flight characteristics, choosing an appropriate disc for each throw. Some players also carry a mini marker disc, used to accurately mark the throwing position before each throw.  Use of mini marker discs is particularly prevalent in formal competitive play.

Many courses include out-of-bounds areas, commonly called "OB zones" or just "OB". If the disc lands in these areas, the player is usually required to add a penalty throw onto his or her score and continue play from near where the disc entered the out-of-bounds zone. Some courses include out-of-bounds areas with special rules requiring the player the resume play from a specified area called a drop zone, or requiring the player to restart the hole from the tee. Some courses also include Mandatories (also called "Mandos") which require the path of the disc to be above, below or to one side of a specific line indicated by a sign.

By tradition, players throw from the tee box in the order of their score on the previous hole, with the lowest scorer throwing first. Most players also follow a loose code of courtesy while playing, which includes norms such as standing out of the sight line of the throwing player and avoiding making distracting noises. Because a thrown disc could injure someone, the Professional Disc Golf Association recommends that players "Never throw into a blind area or when spectators, pedestrians or facility users are within range."[19]

Formal competitive play is governed by the PDGA Official Rules of Disc Golf and the PDGA Competition Manual for Disc Golf events.

Disc types

See also: List of disc golf brands and manufacturers

Three discs showcasing different edge profiles. From top to bottom: a driver, a mid-range, and a putter.

Disc golf discs are smaller than Ultimate flying discs or general-purpose recreational frisbees. They typically measure 21–22 centimetres (8.3–8.7 in) in diameter and weigh 130–180 grams (4.6–6.3 oz). All PDGA-approved discs measure 21–30 centimetres (8.3–11.8 in) in diameter and weigh no more than 200 grams (7.1 oz). Discs used for disc golf are designed and shaped for control, speed, and accuracy, while general-purpose flying discs, such as those used for playing guts or ultimate, have a more traditional shape, similar to a catch disc. There is a wide variety of discs used in disc golf and they are generally divided into three categories: drivers, mid-range discs, and putters.

Driver

Drivers are recognized by their sharp, beveled edge and have most of their mass concentrated on the outer rim of the disc rather than distributed equally throughout. They are optimized for aerodynamics and designed to travel maximum distances at high speeds. They are typically thrown by experienced players during tee-off and other long distance fairway throws.[20]

Some disc brands further sub-divide their drivers into different categories. For example, Innova has Distance Drivers and Fairway Drivers, with a fairway driver being somewhere between a distance driver and a mid-range disc. Discraft has three categories of drivers: Long Drivers, Extra Long Drivers, and Maximum Distance Drivers. Another type of driver, used less frequently, is a roller. As the name indicates, it has an edge designed to roll rather than fly. (Although any disc can be used for a roller, some behave quite differently than others.)

Because the physics of a disc require "snap" or "flick", which means putting spin on the disc, new players generally find that throwing a distance driver accurately can be somewhat difficult and will require experience with golf disc response. This is why it is better for players to begin with fairway drivers, long drivers, or even mid-ranges, and incorporate maximum distance drivers as their strength and disc control increases. Most players that are starting off will be most likely throwing lighter discs.

The world record distance for a golf disc is 863.5 feet (263.2 m), thrown by Simon Lizotte on October 25, 2014.[21]

Mid-range

Mid-range discs feature a dull, beveled edge and a moderate rim width. They offer more control than drivers, but they have a smaller range. Mid-range discs are typically used as approach discs. Beginner players will often use mid-ranges instead of drivers at tee-off, as they require less strength and technique to fly straight than higher speed drivers.

Putter

Putters are similar to the discs used in simple games of catch, such as the Wham-O brand Frisbee. They are designed to fly straight, predictably, and very slowly compared to mid-range discs and drivers. They are typically used for tight, controlled shots that are close to the basket, although some players use them for short drives where trees or other obstacles come into play. Usually a pro carries 1–7 putters depending on their flight characteristics. As a beginner it is suggested that you only use a putter or mid-range while building fundamentals such as proper follow-through, disc throw positioning, and hyzer/anhyzer technique. Additionally, higher speed discs won't fly properly without a fast enough release snap, so a putter or mid-range with lower snap requirements is more forgiving and will behave in a more regular way.

Stability

Stability is the measurement of a disc's tendency to bank laterally during its flight. A disc that is over-stable will tend to track left (for a right handed, backhand throw), whereas a disc that is under-stable will tend to track right (also for a right handed, backhand throw). The stability rating of the discs differs depending on the manufacturer of the disc. Innova Discs rate stability as "turn" and "fade". "Turn" references how the disc will fly at high speed during the beginning and middle of its flight, and is rated on a scale of +1[22] to −5, where +1[22] is the most overstable and −5 is the most understable. "Fade" references how the disc will fly at lower speeds towards the end of its flight, and is rated on a scale of 0 to 5, where 0 has the least fade, and 5 has the most fade. For example, a disc with a turn of −5 and fade of +1 will fly to the right for (right handed, backhand throw) the majority of its flight then curl back minimally left at the end. A disc with a turn of −1 and a fade of +3 will turn slightly right during the middle of its flight and turn hard left as it slows down. These ratings can be found on the discs themselves or from the manufacturer's web site. Discraft prints the stability rating on all discs and also provides this information on their web site. The stability ranges from 3 to −2 for Discraft discs; however Discraft's ratings are more of a combination of turn and fade with the predominance being fade.

Spin (rotation) has little influence on lift and drag forces but impacts a disc's stability during flight. Imagine a spinning top. A gentle nudge will knock it off its axis of rotation for a second, but it will not topple over because spin adds gyroscopic stability. In the same way, a flying disc resists rolling (flipping over) because spin adds gyroscopic stability. A flying disc will maintain its spin rate even as it loses velocity. Toward the end of a disc's flight, when the spin and velocity lines cross, a flying disc will predictably begin to fade. The degree to which a disc will fade depends on its pitch angle and design.[23]

Plastics

There are a variety of different discs, each with a specific plastic made with them. Plastics such as DX, J-Pro, Pro-D, X-Line, D-line, retro, and R-Pro from Innova (https://www.innovadiscs.com/), Latitude 64°, Discmania, and Discraft are some of the less durable plastics, but good for beginners due to their lower prices, compared to the higher end plastics. Plastics such as Champion, Titanium, FLX, GStar, Gold Line, Tournament Plastic, Fuzion and Star plastics, which are the best offered from the same companies, offering the best quality, durability and flight compared to the other types available. There are also plastics that provide additional functionality, specifically glow in the dark plastic and plastic that allows the disc to float in water. Most companies also offer a line of plastic that is much lighter than the maximum throwing weight (normally filled with air bubbles) which is conducive to beginners or players with less arm speed. Players might prefer bright colored discs to contrast most green flora and recover their disc easier.

Throwing styles

Main article: Flying disc techniques

While there are many different grips and styles to throwing the disc, there are two basic throwing techniques: backhand and forehand (or sidearm). These techniques vary in effectiveness under different circumstances. Their understanding and mastery can greatly improve a player's game, and offer diverse options in maneuvering the disc to the basket with greater efficacy. Many players use what is referred to as a run-up during their drive. This is practiced to build more forward disc momentum and distance. Throwing styles vary from player to player, and there is no standard throwing style.

All discs when thrown will naturally fall to a certain direction determined by the rotation direction of the disc when released, this direction is termed Hyzer, the natural fall of the disc, or Anhyzer, making the disc fall against its natural flight pattern. For a right-handed backhand throw (RHBH), the disc will naturally fall to the left. For a right-handed forehand throw (RHFH), the disc will naturally fall to the right. For a left-handed, backhand throw (LHBH), the disc will naturally fall to the right. For a left-handed, forehand throw (LHFH), the disc will naturally fall to the left.

Backhand

To perform this throw, the disc is rapidly drawn from across the front of the body, and released towards a forward aimpoint. Due to the potential snap available with this technique, one can expect greater distance than with a forehand throw. It is important to initiate momentum from the feet and allow it to travel up the body, hips and shoulders, culminating in the transfer of energy to the disc.

Forehand

The forehand (sidearm) throw is performed by drawing the disc from behind and partially across the front of the body: similar to a sidearm throw in baseball. The term sidearm actually predates the term forehand, which is seemingly in use today as a simpler means to communicate the technique, equating to a tennis forehand.[24]

Alternative throws

The following examples of throws may be used to better deliver a disc where the former common two throws would be impeded by obstacles such as bushes, trees, boulders, or artificial structures.

Common alternative styles

• The Hatchet (or Tomahawk). Gripped similarly to the sidearm toss but thrown with an overhand motion; the disc orientation nearly perpendicular to the ground over much of the flight.
• The Thumber (or U.D.). Thrown in an overhand manner but with thumb held on the disc's underside.
• The Roller. Thrown either backhand or forehand, the disc will predominately be in contact with the ground. The disc remains in motion while travelling on its edge at a slight angle, and can travel exceedingly far in ideal situations. Once perfected, the roller is an invaluably versatile tool in the golfer's arsenal.
• The Turbo-Putt Thrown with a putter when the player holds the disc upright, supported in the middle by the thumb, with the finger tips outside of the edge, somewhat like a waiter holding a platter. The player stands with the leg opposite from the throwing arm forward, reaches back, and then extends their arm towards the basket, throwing the disc in a motion similar to that of throwing a dart. Ideally the thrower does not rotate his wrist; the act of following through will give the disc its spin.[25] The Turbo-Putt is a throw known for its accuracy, but it has extremely limited range.

Other alternative styles

• The Baseball or Grenade. Thrown as in the backhand, but with the disc upside-down. This shot is used often to get up and down on a short shot where there is danger of a shot rolling away or going out of bounds if thrown too far. Primarily used on downhill shots but can be used to go up and over. Also due to the quick turn and backspin of this shot, it is sometimes used to get out of the woods.
• The Overhand wristflip (or chicken-wing [ambiguous origin] ). This is a very difficult and stylized throw with which accomplished free-stylers and classic ultimate players are familiar; it is less used in disc golf. It is thrown in the same manner the "baseball" but drawn on the sidearm side of the body, and by inverting the arm and disc. Using the thumb as the power finger, the disc is drawn from the thigh area rearwards and up from behind the body to over the shoulder, releasing toward a forward aimpoint. The disc flies in a conventional flight pattern. To the untrained eye, this appears to be an ungainly throw. It is, however, elegant and accurate. The term "overhand wristflip" has been in use since at least circa 1970.

Scoring

Stroke play is the most common scoring method used in the sport but there are many other forms. These include match play, skins, speed golf and captain's choice, which in disc golf is referred to as "doubles" (not to be confused with partner or team play).

Regardless of which form of play the participants choose, the main objectives of disc golf are conceptually the same as traditional golf in the sense that players follow the same scorekeeping technique.

Scoring terms for a single hole:

• Condor – Where a player is four throws under par, or "-4".
• Albatross (or double-eagle) – Where a player is three throws under par, or "-3".
• Eagle (or double-birdie) – Where a player is two throws under par, or "-2".
• Birdie – Where a player is one throw under par, or "-1".
• Par – Where a player has thrown par, "E" or "0".
• Bogey – Where a player is one throw over par, or "+1".
• Double Bogey – Where a player is two throws over par, or "+2".
• Triple Bogey – Where a player is three throws over par, or "+3".

Doubles play is a unique style of play that many local courses offer on a weekly basis. In this format, teams of two golfers are determined. Sometimes this is done by random draw, and other times it is a pro-am format. On the course, it is a "best-disc" scramble, meaning both players throw their tee shot; and then decide which lie they would like to play. Both players then play from the same lie, again choosing which lie is preferable. The World Amateur Doubles Format includes best shot, alternate shot, best score (players play singles and take the best result from the hole) and worst shot (both players must sink the putt).

Tournaments

Ken Climo teeing off at hole 5 of the 2008 USDGC

Tournaments are held nationwide and year long in the United States. Sanctioned Tournament play is communicated through the Professional Disc Golf Association Membership. The PDGA provides international, professional, and amateur disc golf tournaments as well as communicates event results, opinions and other information beneficial to the sport via electronic and printed media. In 1982 the PDGA hosted the first World Championship Tournament. Since then, the World Championships have been held in 17 different American states, as well as Toronto, Ontario.[26]

Disc golf tournaments are popular around the world. As with traditional golf, there are many championship tournaments. One of the largest is the United States Disc Golf Championship.

Every year, the largest teams tournament in the world is held in Austin, Texas, by John Houck.[27]

To prove the year-round sustainability of the sport, annual winter tournaments known as Ice Bowls are held at courses around the world. Using the motto "No Wimps, No Whiners", Ice Bowls collectively are designed to create sport awareness, and are considered charity events that typically benefit a food bank local to a given tournament location. The official Web site reports that the 2010 Ice Bowls raised over $250,000 and donated over 67,000 pounds of food in the 222 tournaments for the year. Ice Bowl HQ | Other charitable tournaments include the annual St. Jude Disc Golf Tournament[28] which first started in 2017 and has raised over $100,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.[29]

Popularity

A disc golf course in a public park.

Disc golf is a rapidly growing sport worldwide,[30] and is the 4th fastest growing sport in United States, behind mixed martial arts, roller derby, and parkour.[31] DGCourseReview.com, which tracks courses worldwide along with opening dates, shows a rapid increase in installed permanent courses with an average of more than 400 new courses added each year between 2007 and 2017. The site lists 6800 courses worldwide (in May 2017).[32]

Although most players play on a casual, amateur level, the professional disc golf scene is also growing rapidly, with the top professionals playing full-time and earning their livings through tournament winnings and sponsorship from equipment manufacturers. Online viewership of major tournaments and events has increased rapidly, with coverage of several tournaments in 2016 achieving more than 75,000 views on YouTube.[33][34] and a clip focused on a single throw by professional Philo Braithwaite achieving more than 1.2 million views.

Women in disc golf

While there are more male than female players, the Women's Disc Golf Association exists to encourage female players and arrange women's tournaments. A PDGA survey states that out of its 35,662 active members in 2016, 7.6% are female, or about 2,728.[35]

Several companies have started programs and websites to help attract women to the sport. The PDGA Women's Committee is "Dedicated to Attract, Encourage, and Retain Female Participation in Organized Disc Golf Events". The PDGA Women's Committee set historical records on 12 May 2012 by running the Inaugural Women's Global Event that attracted 636 female players in 24 states and 4 countries. The Women's Global Event was expected to take place every two years from 2014, with hopes of increasing the number of participants.

There are also Disc golf companies such as Disc-Diva, that have started up with a primary, though not exclusive, focus on women in the sport, promoting accessories geared towards women and using catch phrases like "you wish you threw like a girl".[36] Sassy Pants is another group that focuses on getting more involvement from women in the sport, advocating for sponsorship of women to enter tournaments.[37]

Women's disc golf teams are involved in the National Collegiate Disc Golf Championship, and the Mississippi State Women's Team were the inaugural champions.

The Disc Golf Hall of Fame

Inductees:[38]

Year	Inductees
1993	Vanessa Chambers	Dave Dunipace	Ed Headrick	Tom Monroe
	Jim Palmeri	Dan Roddick	Ted Smethers	N/A
1994	Harold Duvall	Nobuya Kobayashi	Darrell Lynn	Dan Mangone
	Doug Newland	Snapper Pierson	Lavone Wolfe	N/A
1995	Ken Climo	John David	David Greenwell[lower-alpha 1]	Johnny Roberts
	Dr. Rick Voakes	N/A	N/A	N/A
1996	Mike Conger	Patti Kunkle	Rick Rothstein	N/A
1997	Steve Slasor	Elaine King	Jim Kenner	N/A
1998	Gregg Hosfeld	John Houck	Carlton Howard	N/A
1999	Sam Ferrans	Steve Wisecup	Tim Selinske	N/A
2000	Tom Schot	Royce Racinowski	N/A	N/A
2001	Stan McDaniel	Johnny Sias	N/A	N/A
2002	Alan Beaver	Gary Lewis	N/A	N/A
2003	Mark Horn	Brian Hoeniger	Dr. Stancil Johnson	N/A
2004	Derek Robins	Geoff Lissaman	Johnny Lissaman	Marty Hapner
2005	Mats Bengtsson	Sylvia Voakes	N/A	N/A
2006	Chuck Kennedy	Kozo Shimbo	N/A	N/A
2007	Fred Salaz	Michael Travers	N/A	N/A
2008	Dan Ginnelly	Juliana Korver	N/A	N/A
2009	Crazy John Brooks	Lynne Warren	Michael Sullivan	N/A
2010	Charlie Callahan	Tomas Ekstrom	Brian Cummings	N/A
2011	Don Hoffman	Joe Feidt	Brent Hambrick	N/A
2012	Tim Willis	Jeff Homburg	Bob Gentil (New Zealand)	N/A
2013	Barry Schultz	Becky Zallek	Jim Challas	Ken Westerfield
2014	Don Wilchek	Jim Oates	Italian Victor Parra	N/A
2015	Gail McColl	Anni Kreml	J Gary Dropcho	N/A
2016	Joseph Mela	Ace Mason	Tita Ugalde	N/A
2017	John Bird	Des Reading	Brian Graham	N/A
2018	Andi Young	Jay Reading	George Sappenfield	N/A
2019	Eric Marx	Mitch McClellan	N/A

See also

• Flying disc games
• Flying disc techniques
• Glossary of disc golf terms
• List of disc golf players
• List of disc golf brands and manufacturers
• List of disc golf associations by date of foundation

Notes

1. Founder of prodigy disc

References

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28. "St. Jude Disc Golf – Disc Golf Product Reviews and Charity Tournament". St. Jude Disc Golf. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
29. "St. Jude Children's Research Hospital". www.stjude.org. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
30. "2007-2014 International Demographics" (PDF).
31. Golf, Parked: The Sociology of Disc (1 May 2017). "Disc golf is trending in U.S. newspapers: Supporting evidence for disc golf's "fast-growing sport" claim". Parked. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
32. "Disc Golf Courses in the World - Disc Golf Course Review". www.dgcoursereview.com. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
33. "thediscgolfguy". YouTube. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
34. "Central Coast Disc Golf". YouTube. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
35. "2018 PDGA Year End Demographic Report - Memberships, Courses, and Events" (PDF). 22 March 2019.
36. "Disc Diva Socks". Discgolfdiva.startlogic.com. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
37. Archived 2014-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
38. "Disc Golf Hall of Fame". Professional Disc Golf Association. Retrieved 15 April 2016.

External links

• Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) – official rules, course directory and list of members
• History of Early Frisbee Sports
• History of Disc Golf, Ultimate and Frisbee Pioneers
• Home Site of DiscGolfPark