how to tell nuber of people who play a disc golf course

by Ricardo Nitzsche 6 min read

Most disc golfers put their name or at least a number on the bottom of their discs. If you find a disc out on the course, shoot them a text or give a call to see if you can reach them. A lot of times I’ve found that whoever lost the disc is still out on the course, which makes for an easy return!

Full Answer

What is disc golf and should you try it?

This is a great place to start when introducing disc golf. A golf disc is like a Frisbee in the principles of flight although its smaller diameter, shallow depth, weight distribution, and edge design allow it to cut through the air more efficiently.

What do the numbers on disc golf discs mean?

Discs intended for disc golf will have four numbers on top. These numbers represent the flight pattern when the disc is thrown, and they are identified from left to right as follows: To understand a disc flight characteristics and patterns, you need to understand each of these four components.

How many holes in a disc golf course?

Generally, a course is made up of 9 or 18 holes. Players start at hole one and complete the course in order, playing through to the last hole. The player with the lowest total cumulative throws wins. Disc golf differs from traditional golf in important ways. Disc golf courses can use a wide variety of terrain.

What happens if a disc hits the ground on a golf course?

If the disc is touching any land above the water, it is “inbounds”. Standing water or mud on the course that is caused by sprinklers or rain is not considered “out-of-bounds” and the disc may be relocated to a dryer area no closer to the hole with no penalty.

How many people are currently playing disc golf?

The PDGA estimates that more than a million people regularly play the game, including many families. Douglass says disc golf is one of the few games a family can do together.

How do you count disc golf?

Stroke—Count one stroke per each throw you make on a hole. Your total throws (from your initial tee shot until when discs come to rest in the disc golf basket tray or chains) represent your score for the hole. Your total throws for all holes added together represent your score for the round.

What type of people play Frisbee golf?

Although Parked's population estimate of 15 percent women is higher than that of previous studies, and two times greater than the percentage of women among PDGA members, a clear majority (85 percent) of disc golfers are men. And among the women who do play, they tend to be less involved in the sport than men.

What do the 4 numbers mean on a disc?

These four numbers represent different characteristics of the flight. The four numbers are: speed, glide, turn, fade. For example, let's take the Discmania FD. The FD has flight ratings of 7, 6, -1, 1. That means this disc has a speed rating of 7, glide rating of 6, turn rating of -1, and a fade rating of 1.

What is the golden rule of disk golf?

Basically, the Golden Rule of Disc Golf is to have respect and manners while you're on the course and interacting with other players. Not only is it about treating other players how you'd like to be treated, but it's also about respecting their property, the course, and the game as a whole.

What are the 3 rules of disc golf?

0:435:00The Rules of Disc Golf - EXPLAINED! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor a hole to be complete the disc must land in the chains or insert the baskets. If. It is theMoreFor a hole to be complete the disc must land in the chains or insert the baskets. If. It is the target and bounces back out onto the floor. This does not count.

Can you make money owning a disc golf course?

Disc golf has become a viable alternative to raising golf club fees and prices to play. In fact, this simple addition to any golf course can raise the revenue dramatically, even in the first year of implementation.

How many discs should a beginner have?

If you want to play disc golf, you are going to need at least 3 discs. This is because you will need a driver, a mid-range, and a putter. However, it is recommended that you carry at least 6 discs, including two of each type, whenever you go out to play a round.

Why do people love disc golf?

In short, I play disc golf because it's essentially free to play, it's fun, it's challenging, relaxing, quicker to play than ball golf, it helps you connect with friends and family, helps you network with more people, mentors love to teach new players, the community is awesome, it helps you stay fit, it's easy to learn ...

What is a Hyzer Flip?

A Hyzer Flip is very similar to an S-Shot but follows a straighter line. An understable disc is thrown very fast with a hyzer angle of release. The disc turns or “flips” up and brings its nose down in the process. This allows for a long straight glide.

What is the 5th number on a disc?

We applaud this move! First you'll see the four digits which equate to speed / glide / turn / fade, followed by a fifth number which is the old-school Discraft flight number.

What is an Anhyzer in disc golf?

0:202:10What Does Hyzer & Anhyzer Mean in Disc Golf? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo a hyzer. If throwing right hand back in is when the left side of the disc is pointing downMoreSo a hyzer. If throwing right hand back in is when the left side of the disc is pointing down towards the ground. And the right side of the disc is pointing up towards the sky. And a player would use

What percentage of disc golfers have college degrees?

The results suggest that disc golfers tend to have a surprisingly low level of education. Only 36 percent of the sample reported at least some college education, whereas 59 percent of American adults have completed some college or more.

How does disc golf socialize?

For many participants, becoming a “disc golfer” involves a gradual socialization process during which they learn more about the sport, improve their skills, increase their rate of play, internalize roles, and then seek out larger, more formal groups for the benefits of competition, enjoyment or social identity. Those who are new to the sport are less likely to join Facebook groups or the competitive ranks of the PDGA than veteran players.

What percentage of disc golfers are white?

Few studies have examined the racial composition of the disc golfer population. Offering the first large-scale estimate, this study found that 91 percent of disc golfers appear to be white. This estimate is lower than that of other studies, but blacks, Latinos and other racial/ethnic minorities are clearly underrepresented in the disc golfer population.

Which region has the largest disc golf population?

In line with previous studies, the Midwest has the largest per capita disc golfer population. It exceeds the populations in the Northeast, South and West by 50 to 100 percent.

How to become a better disc golfer?

By spending a good amount of time practicing on your own and studying the numbers, you will become a more confident and intuitive player in no time. When you start out in disc golf, the rule of thumb to live by is lower numbers.

How many discs can a disc golf bag hold?

Some serious players will have bags that hold 20 or more discs, meaning they are prepared for absolutely any scenario. There are tons of great choices for disc golf bags (trust us: you want to buy a bag specific to disc golf to stay organized during play).

What is the difference between a disc and a frisbee?

Disc golf dics are smaller and denser than frisbees. Frisbees can be around 12 inches in diameter, whereas a disc will be 8 inches. Another important reason to distinguish between the two is the numbers representing flight patterns.

How does a disc stay aloft?

A disc stays aloft initially when it is thrown. The higher the disc’s glide, the further it will travel. The factor that influences glide more than any other is the shape of the disc. This shape is what air passes over and under when the disc is in flight. In addition to shape, the glide is affected by the player.

What happens if you throw a disc at an angle?

If you choose to throw the disc at an angle where the wind is under the disc, it will achieve more glide. If there is more air across the top of the disc, it will have less glide. Less glide is also inevitably going to mean less distance.

What are the numbers on a disc?

For stable discs, look for a set of numbers close to these: 1 Speed 9 2 Glide 4 3 Turn -2 4 Fade 2

What is a high turn disc?

What to Know About Disc Turn as a Beginner. A high turn disc rating will help a beginner achieve a longer flight. Understable discs, those with a high turn rating, will naturally want to turn over. You have to get the hang of throwing these in different winds, which will affect the turn.

What is disc golf?

Disc golf is similar to traditional golf, however, instead of using golf clubs and balls aiming for a hole, disc golf players use disc golf discs and aim for a disc golf basket which is a pole extending up from the ground with chains and a basket where the disc lands. The object of the game is to complete each hole in the fewest number of throws, ...

How many holes are there in disc golf?

Generally, a course is made up of 9 or 18 holes. Players start at hole one and complete the course in order, playing through to the last hole. The player with the lowest total cumulative throws wins. Disc golf differs from traditional golf in important ways. Disc golf courses can use a wide variety of terrain.

What does the arrow on the tee sign mean?

It is normally designated as such on the tee sign. The arrow indicates the side and direction the disc must pass. If your disc passes to the wrong side of the mandatory, you would either re-throw from the previous lie or throw from a designated drop zone area if marked and apply a one throw penalty.

How to tell if disc is out of bounds?

If your disc is “out-of-bounds”, i.e., you can see “out-of-bounds” area between the edge of your disc and the “inbounds” line, place your marker disc up to 1 meter on the “inbounds” side of the line at the place where your disc went “out-of-bounds” and give yourself a one throw penalty. Again, please be careful of natural vegetation.

How did disc golf start?

The game started with people using Frisbees and aiming at targets made up of trees, trash cans, light poles, pipes, and whatever else was handy.

What is the stance of a drive?

The stance for a drive is shoulders and feet in line with the line representing the line of throw you desire. The distance throw is always on this line. As you get closer to the hole and are making an approach throw, you can loosen up your foot placement to as much as 45 degrees for a putt.

Where is the thrown disc on a basketball?

The thrown disc is always left on the lie, (where it came to rest,) until the marker disc is placed on the ground directly in front of and in line with the basket, touching the disc. The thrown disc is then picked up. Proper foot placement when throwing will require some practice.

How many people play disc golf?

The PDGA annually presents four separate world championship: Professional, Professional Masters, Amateur and Juniors. It is been estimated that 8 to 12 million Americans have played disc golf and that over half a million play regularly. The majority of these players participate at the amateur and recreational level.

Why is disc golf so easy?

One disc allows the new player to focus on throwing technique, disc angles, and repetition which accelerates the learning curve. One disc is also easier for kids to keep track of when playing a course or in the classroom. Equipment responsibility is part of the game.

What is the difference between a golf disc and a Frisbee?

When compared to a Frisbee, a golf disc travels faster and farther which may make it more difficult to control.

How many discs are needed for disc golf?

The beauty of disc golf is that it only takes one disc to play. One disc is recommended in the classroom when first introducing disc golf. It makes it easy to teach and for the group or individual to learn. Implementing different discs too soon will work against the group, individual, and instructor.

What is the most popular technique in disc golf?

The most popular throwing technique in disc golf is the backhand throw. The backhand is what most people think of when they think of throwing a Frisbee.

How much has disc golf increased in popularity?

Disc golf has steadily increased in membership popularity by 15 percent over the last seven years. The game of disc golf has a 72 percent course growth rate, and tournament play has increased by 90 percent. These stats translate to an all-time high for disc selection and courses to play.

What is a mid range disc?

These have a slightly sharper edge than putters and are used for controlled shots that require more speed and distance than can be achieved with a putter. Mid-range disc offers the most versatility when teaching a class or just starting out with one disc.

What is the goal of disc golf?

One throw (stroke) is counted each time the disc is thrown and when a penalty is incurred. The goal is to play each hole in the fewest strokes possible. The player with the lowest total strokes for the entire course wins.

What is mandatory in golf?

Mandatory. A mandatory, or mando, is one or more designated trees or poles in the fairway that must be passed to the correct side as indicated by an arrow. If the disc passes to the wrong side of mandatory, either play from the previous lie or from a marked drop zone area if applicable and add a one throw penalty.

Who is the first to tee off on the next hole?

The player with the least amount of strokes on the previous hole is the first to tee off on the next hole. After all players have teed off, the player whose disc is farthest from the hole always throws first. Fairway Throws. Fairway throws must be made from directly behind the lie.

How to get better at disc golf?

1. Buy the right discs: making sure you get discs that match your playing style and your skill level is critically important if you want to improve and get better in disc golf. Nothing is worse than being a beginner and throwing discs that are way too overbearing for your crappy technique. Believe me, I’ve been there and I don’t want you or anyone you know to have to go through that. So make sure you check on the discs you are throwing and make sure they are for beginners.

How to improve disc golf?

Having someone watch you or film you throwing are good ways to improve in disc golf. 3. Increase your arm speed: If you can increase your arm speed, which is not difficult if you do all of the six things I listed a little while ago, you will quickly start to dominate on the disc golf course.

Why are disc golf discs so hard to master?

The physics of disc flight control exactly how a disc will fly. The Australian Flying Disc Association has a good article called,The Physics of Disc Flight,” that explains how spinning discs fly .

What do the numbers on a disc mean?

So what do the numbers on a disc golf disc mean? The four numbers on a disc golf disc are a flight ratings system that represent the true characteristics of a disc golf disc as it flies through the air, including the speed, glide, turn, and fade of the disc. Basically, how a disc is supposed to fly.

What is a low speed disc?

High speed discs are normally drivers. Those with moderate speed ratings are usually mid-range discs. And low speed discs are often putters and approach discs.

What is a katana disc?

The Katana is a high-speed distance driver all the way. It cuts through the air (pun intended) like a katana. This disc is also known for extraordinary beginning turn and ending fade. If you throw this disc correctly, it will live up to it’s nickname: the “sidewinder on steroids.” Grab a Katana from Infinite Discs for your bag.

What is field practice?

4. Field practice: Field practice is much different than course practice. With course practice, there is strategy and technique involved. During field practice, where you literally practice in an open field, there is less thinking about strategy and more thinking about technique and throwing the disc well.

What is disc golf etiquette?

Disc golf etiquette includes ideas on how to behave on the course, how to treat other disc golfers, and how to have a safe and enjoyable time playing.

What to do when disc is headed in the direction of another player?

If you release a disc and can tell right away that it is headed in the direction of another player the best thing to do is shout out to them. The common thing to do is yell “Fore!”, which should alert everyone to watch out. As early as you can is best that way anyone in the way has plenty of time to dodge an incoming disc.

Is disc golf loud?

Disc golf baskets can be pretty loud, especially if you live near close neighbors and plan on daily putting. The consistent (hopefully!) rattling of chains is bound to drive somebody crazy after a while.

Can you put umbrella lights on disc golf baskets?

These umbrella lights fit perfectly on a disc golf basket and offer quite a bit of light when it starts getting darker outside. By having this attached to the top of your basket , you’ll be able to use your basket even when you start losing some visibility.

Do disc golf courses have trash cans?

Luckily for us disc golfers most courses are plenty of trash cans around the course. Nothing can ruin a course more than the people not taking simple care of it.

The Quick-And-Dirty

  1. In 2017, the U.S. disc golfer population stood at roughly 530,000.
  2. The number of women (15 percent) and racial minorities (9 percent) exceeded previous estimates, but these groups were clearly underrepresented.
  3. The mean age of disc golfers was 33.
  4. The percentage of disc golfers with some college education (36 percent) was surprisingly low.
See more on parkeddiscgolf.org

A Deeper Dive

  • Our sample is based on social media profiles. The sample was drawn in two stages. First, we carried out an electronic search for disc golf groups on Facebook, which returned a population of 3,213 groups. These groups varied greatly in size and organizational structure. The population includes everything from large, well-established disc golf clubs to small “meet-up” groups and fri…
See more on parkeddiscgolf.org

The Takeaways

  • This study makes three contributions to disc golf research. First, it provides a road map for studying not only disc golfers, but other emerging sports communities. Employing multistage cluster sampling of Facebook profiles, we collected a random sample of 2,551 subjects from a large, geographically diverse population at a low cost. The sample includes individuals from eve…
See more on parkeddiscgolf.org

Limitations of The Population Estimate

  • Perhaps the most notable contribution of this study is its probabilistic estimate of the disc golfer population in the United States. Among the 2,551 subjects, roughly 15 percent were active members of the PDGA in 2017, which leads to a population estimate of 252,502. This number certainly underestimates the total population. There are four types of disc golfers who are not lik…
See more on parkeddiscgolf.org

Last Words

  • Our population estimate should be treated as preliminary evidence that requires confirmation from future studies. Given the novelty of our methodology and the “known unknowns” involving lone wolves and small groups, it is possible that many more than 530,254 Americans play disc golf. At the same time, the popular claim that millions of Americans play disc golf regularly shou…
See more on parkeddiscgolf.org