Disc Golf: A Simple Summary

I am a disciple of a fringe religion where there are no gods or texts, just festively colored discs and online instructional videos. The religion is a small, cultish sport called disc golf, a premise that is loosely  similar to the traditional game of golf and is appealing due to its interaction with nature, need for creativity, and lack of cost. I began playing disc golf sporadically as a sophomore in high school, and really became a devotee my senior year, when my friends decided they would play as well. We became a roving band of amiable, easily frustrated players with a propensity to find discs and curse extremely loudly. These traits, for better or for worse, are with us to this day.

Disc golf centers around the premise of putting discs (shaped approximately like frisbees but with a few key distinctions) in chained baskets. There are multiple ways of getting to the basket, whether you go with a backhand or forehand approach, a thumber, or a basic hammer. The game centers around your capacity for making shots and seeing the course from different perspectives. Maybe there's a tree that requires an interesting shot to get around, or a slope that has to be accounted for. I have learned that disc golf is as much about the approach as it is the form.

The sport is an extremely cheap one to play, as most courses are free to enter and used equipment can be bought for low prices or simply found around the course. It is common courtesy to call the owner of a lost disc if that option is available, but a simple blank disc is not rare, and it is through these little finds that you can build up your own collection. There are a variety of brands and types of discs that contribute to a round, and these can be broken up into the three categories of putter, mid-range and driver, which I assume are self-explanatory. Without going into too much detail, you should know that a disc may be more inclined to break left or right at the end of a flight depending on the model.

I'm trying to spread a little more appreciation for the game of disc golf, namely because I'm sick of answering questions about it and am always happy to find a new player on the course. Good sites for more information about discs and play are Innova Discs and Discraft, and a good way to find a course near you is Disc Golf Course Review. Good luck and happy playing.