Category: Course Design

Good Dirt: How Soil Compaction Could Affect the Future of Disc Golf

by Parked, posted in Course Design, Environment

By Josh Woods ~

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Soil compaction and visible tree roots are common on popular disc golf courses. Photo Ronald Harkey.

Try this: Search google for “environmental impact.” In the results, you’ll quickly see that almost everything humans do affects the environment, and that many of these impacts have been carefully studied by scientists.

Research on disc golf’s influence on the environment is still developing, but there are at least two studies, published in peer-reviewed academic journals, that examine a little-known problem that is right beneath our feet. Continue reading “Good Dirt: How Soil Compaction Could Affect the Future of Disc Golf” →

Flying Blind: How Disc Golf Can Be Played by People with Visual Impairments

by Parked, posted in Community Outreach, Course Design

By Kaycee Glattke ~

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Working out in the gym and playing sports are two great ways to stay active and in shape. Yet, both have drawbacks.

While hitting the gym is an excellent way to gain strength and maintain a healthy lifestyle, it lacks in other areas such as social inclusion and cooperation. And while organized sports provide opportunities to interact and socialize with others, many rely heavily on sensory cues such as sight in order to be played. Continue reading “Flying Blind: How Disc Golf Can Be Played by People with Visual Impairments” →

The problems with disc golf and why we love it anyway

by Parked, posted in Course Design, Culture

A Review of Five Common Gripes on Disc Golf Course Review

By Josh Woods ~

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Defectum Hills DGC depicts a humorous exaggeration of problems that exist, to a lesser degree, at some disc golf courses. Illustration by Jon Higgins.

Imagine yourself on disc golf’s death row. You can only throw one last round. Where would you play?

I’ve asked several disc golfers this question, and I’m always a little surprised by the answers. I half-expect people to name a legendary course, one that tops the charts on Disc Golf Course Review, or one located in a far-flung corner of the planet where most drinks are served with tiny umbrellas. Continue reading “The problems with disc golf and why we love it anyway” →

Two keys to growing the sport: Money and safer courses

by Parked, posted in Course Design, Opinion

Results from the 3DiscGolf Survey (Part II)

By Dee Leekha and Josh Woods, PhD ~

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Disc golf is a player-driven sport. For decades, the players have built their own courses, created their own clubs, and told their own stories. Their volunteerism and charity are legendary. Without their common desire to join with friends and build their own worlds, disc golf would hardly exist.

Yet, the willingness of players, by choice or necessity, to shoulder so much responsibility also has downsides. Continue reading “Two keys to growing the sport: Money and safer courses” →

The most important problems facing disc golf courses in the United States

by Parked, posted in Course Design

Results from the 3DiscGolf Survey (Part I)

By Josh Woods, PhD, and Dee Leekha ~

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Garbage on disc golf courses, long grass on fairways, uneven or small tee pads, erosion, and no bathrooms top the list of concerns among experienced course developers.

Disc golf has changed a lot over the last twenty years.

Two decades ago, there were 4,776 active members of the PDGA in the United States. Today, there are more than 28,861. Americans played in 329 PDGA sanctioned events in 1998. They will play in no fewer than 2,368 in the coming year, per the PDGA.

In 1998, Scott Stokely broke the World Record for distance with a jaw-dropping throw that carried 693 feet. In 2017, Simon Lizotte parked a 726-foot hole during tournament play, and the World Record is now held by David Wiggins Jr. with a distance that exceeds Stokely’s by nearly 400 feet. Continue reading “The most important problems facing disc golf courses in the United States” →

Two perspectives on disc golf and why we need them both

by Parked, posted in Course Design, Grow the Sport, Opinion

By Jim Palmeri ~

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Why is disc golf such a fun, fast-growing recreational and competitive activity? Part of the reason is that disc golfers embrace two different perspectives on the game.

Advocates of the first viewpoint—the ball-golf perspective—believe that disc golf should encompass all the subtleties and nuances that make ball golf the widely celebrated sport that it is today. Continue reading “Two perspectives on disc golf and why we need them both” →