When I first encountered Disc Golf as a sport, my initial expectation of the game was that it’d be similar to traditional golf. However, when we got to the course, I was challenged. The terrain was varied – with lots of trees and shrubbery – so I decided to look more into Disc Golf and their courses. It seems like the game is more fun than is let on.
Disc Golf is also known as Frisbee golf. Its course is explicitly landscaped and designed. But, It typically has the same number of holes as a traditional golf course. It also has a short linear layout of concrete tees, chain metal baskets, and are generally playable in various terrains.
The majority of these courses are expertly and creatively designed to keep the game challenging yet systematic. Local terrain frequently lends a unique flavor to the course. On the other hand, designers strive to create the ideal course using natural elements. That is why so many courses are available.
Statistics show that there are a little over 10,000 disc golf courses worldwide as of January 2020. In addition to that, new courses are being built daily.
How to Build Your Own Disc Golf Course?
First, the landscaping requirements and building standards for a disc golf course are quite modest, given the sport’s nature. You can build your nine-hole course on as little as a few acres of land. Furthermore, this expanse can be left entirely natural or “wild.”
Numerous famous disc golf courses showcase this rough terrain, which would preclude the land from being used in many other instances. Disc golf is a highly adaptable sport. Thus, you can play the game virtually on any landscape.
If you’re thinking of building this as part of your sports complex, the requirements and standards may differ. This is because you will have to consider how you can attract both players and spectators. However, if you are working on your disc golf course, you can customize your landscape according to your preferences.
As a general rule, an acre per hole is a reasonable estimate. However, if you have more land available, the better you can design your course. If you get to choose locations, look for the following features: mature and taller trees, varied terrain elevation, and natural water bodies. Lastly, place your course as far away from highly urbanized zones to avoid accidents.
Designing your Disc Golf Course
With that, you should consider the surrounding territories -generally, the safety of pedestrians and vehicle traffic. After a good throw, these discs can travel hundreds of feet. The impact causes significant damage if they collide with a person or piece of property. This is why you should ensure your course design, bearing in mind, to avoid congested traffic when placing tee baskets.
Avoid areas with dense vegetation or bodies of water for beginner and family-friendly courses to prevent losing your disc. Reduce the number of “blind” shots that lead to areas that are not visible from the tee box. That said, increase the number of free throws from each tee box to promote success.
The Size of a Disc Golf Course
To begin, we determine the size of your disc golf course with its intended user. If you intend to have school children or students complete your course, you can build a 1,000 to a 2,000-foot-long course on as little as 2-3 acres.
However, suppose you wish to host a major tournament or championship. In that case, you will likely require 30 – 40 acres more to accommodate a course – measuring 7,000 – 10,000 feet or longer.
Disc golf courses can be found in a wide variety of settings. One of disc golf’s most appealing characteristics is that these disc golf courses can be successfully constructed on nearly any size plot, in virtually any type of terrain, and with almost any kind of vegetation. The foliage density and natural landscaping can also affect the amount of land required for the sport.
The layout of the holes may require additional land to avoid infringing on adjacent areas. You can calculate the distances and the buffer space between holes using the density of foliage—trees, grasses, and shrubbery in strategic locations aid in containing errant throws.
How to Play Disc Golf
Disc golf’s rules are relatively straightforward. Essentially, each player throws the disc as close to a basket, which is a specially designed target. The player then throws again from the point where the discs landed, attempting to get into the basket with the fewest possible throws. The chains on a target are designed to assist the disc in being caught. This is done by deflecting the disc right into the basket.
Whenever a disc is thrown, or for every penalty incurred, one throw or stroke is counted. The objective is to complete each hole in the fewest possible strokes. The player who uses up the fewest strokes over the entire course will win the game. With that, once a disc lands in a basket, the hole is complete.
Disc Golf Courses in the Country
As listed in the official Disc Golf Course Review, there are over 4080 courses in the world. The majority of them are located in the United States of America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. While disc golf is a simple sport to pick up, the higher competitive levels of Disc Golf require skill, strategy, and a high level of competition.
The game is rapidly expanding. At this growth rate, the global population of active players will double in 4-5 years, only further increase in a few years.
As stated by the Professional Disc Golf Association or the PDGA, between 8 and 12 million people have already played disc golf at least once. On the other hand, 500,000 people play regularly. So, if you’re one of the select few that are dedicated to designing your disc golf course, you can get a lot of advice from disc golf forums over the Internet.
