Disc Golf 101: Key tips for the beginner | Carson Tahoe Health

WHAT IS DISC GOLF?

It’s a game played much like traditional golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc, similar to a Frisbee. The object is to complete each hole in the fewest strokes, or in the case of disc golf, the fewest throws. A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target which is the “hole.” The hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets; the most common is called a Pole Hole, an elevated metal basket.

As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive throw from the spot where the previous throw landed. The trees, shrubs and terrain changes in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the disc golfer. Once the “putt” lands in the basket, the hole is completed.

HOW SIMILAR TO GOLF IS DISC GOLF?

It shares the same joys and frustrations of traditional golf, whether it’s sinking a long putt or hitting a tree halfway down the fairway. There are some differences, though. Disc golf rarely requires a greens fee and you probably won’t need to rent a cart. You never get stuck with a bad “tee time.” It’s a sport designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages, males and females, regardless of economic status.

WHO PLAYS DISC GOLF?

Disc golf can be played from school age to old age, making it one of the great lifetime fitness sports available. Disc golf is easy to learn. Players merely match their pace to their capabilities and proceed from there. The Professional Disc Golf Association, with a member base of 50,000, is the governing body for the sport and sanctions competitive events for men and women of every skill level from novice to professional. Permanent disc golf courses are found in countries worldwide.

WHERE CAN I PLAY?

Carson City (coming soon!) The new disc golf course in Carson City will be located between Rifle Road and Highway 50, just over the Carson City border into Lyon County.

Click here for a list of local disc golf courses

WHY PLAY DISC GOLF?

The ongoing fitness boom finds more people taking up recreational activities in an effort to improve health and quality of life. Disc golf provides upper- and lower-body conditioning, aerobic exercise and promotes a combination of physical and mental abilities with little risk of physical injury. Concentration skills increase by mastering shots and negotiating obstacles. Players of limited fitness levels can start slowly and gradually increase the level of play as fitness improves.

Scheduling is also flexible. A round takes 1 to 2 hours and may be played alone, eliminating the difficulty of scheduling tee times. Disc golf offers year-round fitness,
even in rain or snow. Perhaps the greatest attribute of the sport is the expense, or rather, the lack of it. A professional quality disc often costs less than $20 and it only takes one for basic play.