Disc Golf: One of the Fastest Growing Sports in the Past Few Years.

Disc Golf: One of the Fastest Growing Sports in the Past Few Years.

One thing I have done quite a bit prior to, but especially after the onset of the pandemic, was play Disc Golf. I am EXTREMELY fortunate to have a nice park nearby with a large, picturesque 18-hole course. The course itself is very inviting with a nice mix of long and short holes, some out in the open, some a bit deeper in the woods. The holes vary in difficulty and I would say at worst, it is an intermediate course in terms of how challenging it is. This serves me well as I have yet to get bored, having played this course almost daily for the past two years. Mind you part of that is understanding that playing on a competitive level takes a great deal of practice, of which I am committed. 

While some courses do charge you to play (or offer a “pay if you can” sort of model), many are still free to play including the one I frequent most. The initial cost for gear is reasonably low, where some discs come in under the $10 threshold. All you really need to play is a few good discs and a bag to carry them in. While I would recommend a bag (I got a nice Swiss backpack at a thrift store for about $5), they are not a necessity. Nor are multiple discs. While I own quite a few (and have found a few along the way), there are times that I will play an entire course with just one disc. If you happen to know an avid Disc Golfer, oftentimes they will have extra loanable or expendable discs that can give you a chance to try out the sport without any expense or commitment. If you know me personally, please don’t hesitate to ask for a loaner.

Please note that there is a significant difference between a frisbee and a disc-golf disc, though if it were just for fun you could get away using a basic frisbee. Still, I would recommend getting the right disc to get the correct experience. Disc golf discs are smaller, denser and fly in a very different manner than your typical frisbee. While still susceptible to strong winds, disc golf discs are much less influenced than a frisbee would be. Also, the frisbee might just bounce off the cage(essentially the equivalent to the goal in regular golf).

Disc Golf is an excellent sport as it is not good for only one demographic but, perhaps, most anybody who can handle a mild walk in varying terrain. While most players seem to be in their late twenties and thirties, teens now have competitive school clubs as well as leagues and tournaments outside of school. But, like most other sports, it doesn’t just benefit the younger folks of this world. It’s low-impact enough that even the elderly can enjoy it and compete at a higher level. While the holes and courses can be long, throwing a good distance throw doesn’t merely come down to height or arm strength. Some of the best players in the world are of a shorter stature and smaller frame. 

While the sport itself is enjoyable, especially with friends, it is also a good excuse to get a little exercise. While some courses are very small (starter courses), most are large enough that you could consider it a small hike. And given the nature of the sport, oftentimes you find yourself in the woods surrounded by trees and wild animals. At the course I frequent I have actually seen quite a bit of deer, including a pair of fawns I watched grow up together. They play in the fields and hide in the nearby brush and thicker patches of woods. I also recently saw two massive 8-point bucks, though I am not sure they are related to the fawns from previous years. Interestingly, the park I frequent is in the middle of the two towns that comprise it, but even so, you still feel like you are getting “out there”. While some of this might sound cheap, the sport proves to be a stone that kills a handful of birds. A short hike/exercise, the outdoors, good healthy way to hang out with friends and for me personally, I do some of my best thinking out on the course when I go it alone. 

While I played in my late teens and early twenties, I really didn’t get deep into it until my thirties. Having had considerable back problems for some time now, I needed to find a sport that was low-impact enough that I could get some exercise without further injuring myself. I also recently tore my meniscus and turned to disc golf for the same reasons. It has essentially been physical rehab for those issues and an excuse to move every day. It also proves to be an excellent midday break to get away from screens and recharge for a strong second wind in the afternoon.

What makes this sport extra special is it perfectly good to play year round so long as you can tolerate the elements. My friends and I play in each of the four seasons Pennsylvania has to offer. It is especially nice in the winter when outdoor exercise is much more difficult to commit to. Once you’ve played a few holes, the blood gets pumping and the cold becomes much more tolerable. We also enjoy very windy days or rain as they present challenges outside of our ordinary play. While my friends and I don’t yet play on a truly competitive league level, we practice with the mentality that we do.

Of course, just like regular golf, it is also a great excuse to hang with friends and have some beers in the sun. During the covid pandemic my buddies and I would take our time walking down to the park, checking out the scenery along the way(sometimes I would take my camera and catch some pictures), then playing a casual round. There are a few spots along the course where you can sit and chat if you wanna take a break from playing as well. Some of those days have been the best days of my adult life despite the simplicity of it all. 

All said, disc golf is super accessible, super inexpensive and quite enjoyable. It takes us about 50 minutes to an hour to complete a full round but sometimes we will just play the “back half” if we don’t have the time or desire for a full game. Since I’ve already got the discs and the bag, and because the park is within walking distance from my home, I can pretty much pick up and play at a moment’s notice with no added expense. Often when I go down to the park to write/work I’ll get up and play a few holes just to stretch, think and breathe. Sometimes when I am on my bike rides I will bring a disc along as well to get some practice in…IF the spirit moves me. It often does! Disc golf has truly proven to be an excellent compliment and balancer of my busy life and mind.

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Since it is a rapidly growing sport that is already quite popular, I tend to go midday or early morning by preference to avoid crowds/waiting. By 5 PM weekdays the courses tend to fill up quickly, and unless we go down early in the morning on the weekend, we don’t even consider it. It’s really not that bad unless there is a specific tournament on any given day, however, I am really spoiled to be able to go down midday when there is next to no one on the course. I like it much better as I don’t have to feel rushed and can spend more time in my own little world of thought and observation of the world around me. I guess it is evident that it isn’t always about playing disc golf, but that disc golf is happening while I run processes in my mind.

In closing, there is plenty to love about the sport and with a low cost of entry and free courses countrywide, it’s an activity very worthy of your consideration. The level of commitment is varied and moldable to your needs and desires. And the more you commit, the more it offers in terms of learning/growing within the sport (like the differences between the discs, adjustments to your approach/grip to improve your throw, etc.). It’s an accessible sport for all ages, walks of life and most physical conditions. And as I stated above, sometimes playing disc golf isn’t about disc golf at all!