Need to learn the rules of disc golf? You’ve come to the right place; we’ve got you covered with all the official and unspoken rules of disc golf!
Objective of Disc Golf
Disc golf is played much like traditional golf, but uses discs and baskets instead of golf balls, clubs, and cups. In both games, the goal is to finish the course in as few strokes as possible. Most courses have anywhere from 9 to 27 holes; to complete a hole the player throws the disc as many times as it takes to land one of his or her discs in the basket. A stroke is counted every time the player throws his or her disc. The person with the fewest strokes at the end of the course or tournament is the winner.
Par and Scoring
Each hole in disc golf, like traditional golf, has a par, which is the number of throws expected to complete the hole. Scoring is done by calculating how much over or under par a player is. For example, if a player has played one par 3 hole and one par 4 hole and threw a 4 and 5 respectively, they would be considered 2 over par or just +2 for the round. A player that has parred every hole is considered 0 for the round.
Safety
Be aware of your surroundings at all times and always wait to start a hole until other players have finished playing it. If you accidentally throw towards people, yell “Fore!” to warn them to take evasive action.
Tee Throws
Each hole begins with a tee shot. Run ups are allowed as long as the player stays in the designated area before releasing the disc (usually a concrete or rubber slab). Make sure to check the tee sign when starting a hole which contains valuable information such as the location of the basket, distance, and par of the hole.
Beginner Tip: Take 2 tee shots off the first hole and choose the best disc to start your round with. While not PGDA approved, this is a great way to warm up and a personal favorite “house rule” here at Remix Outdoors.
Throwing Order
After the first hole, the player who shot the least amount of strokes on the previous hole is the first to tee off; then the 2nd, 3rd, etc. Once everyone has finished throwing from the tee pad, the player with the disc farthest from the basket throws first.
Lie
The lie is where the player’s previous throw landed. According to official PDGA rules, the lie is a 30 cm by 20 cm box directly behind the thrown disc that a player must either stand in when throwing or plant their lead foot in after performing a run up. You cannot step or hold onto something in front of your lie before the disc is thrown; doing so is called a foot fault. You can also place a mini marker disc in front of the disc you threw and the lie moves behind that, but don’t worry about that if you’re just starting out.
Out of Bounds
Holes usually mark out of bounds (O.B.) near the tee pad on the tee sign. If a player throws his or her disc out of bounds, a stroke is added to their score and they must make their next throw from either 1 meter in bounds from where the disc crossed over the O.B. line or at a designated drop zone. Common out of bounds hazards include rivers, lakes, roads, and walking trails.
Putting
When throwing from a lie within 10 meters (about 33 feet), the player is not allowed to do a run up and must maintain balance and not move past the lie until the disc comes to rest. This type of shot is called a putt; learn how to putt in disc golf in our complete guide.
Mandatory (Mando)
Some holes have a mandatory line, also known as mando, as indicated on the tee sign and/or arrow on a tree or pole. This means that the player must throw on the indicated side of the mandatory; if he or she misses the mando, they can choose to either rethrow from the previous lie or throw from the designated drop zone (if available) with a one stroke penalty.
Completing a Hole
A hole is completed when the disc either rests in the basket or chains. A disc that lands on top of the basket is counted in with a one stroke penalty.
Unspoken Rules
So now you’ve learned the official rules of disc golf, but what about the unspoken rules that all the veterans know? Don’t worry, we’ll help you out.
If You Are in A Slow Moving Group, Let Faster Moving Players Play Through
No one likes to wait behind a large group when they’re trying to get a quick round in; sit at the start of the next hole and let them through.
Don’t Make Noise When Someone is Throwing
Much like traditional golf, this is just a common courtesy.
Try to Return Lost Discs
Discs get lost, but unlike golf balls, most players want them back and write their contact info on the back of the disc. If you happen to find a disc, make sure to call or text the number and try to return it to the original owner before adding it to your collection.
Always Carry a Towel
You can get away without one for a while, but when your disc hits the water hazard or mud pile, you’ll be glad you had one in your bag.
Treat the Course with Respect
Never litter or vandalize a disc golf course (or anywhere for that matter).
Have Fun!
It’s easy to get frustrated after a bad throw or embarrassing missed putt, but remember, disc golf is about having fun and enjoying the place you’re at and people you’re with. Don’t beat yourself up over a poor round; getting better takes time and you’ll always play better if you’re not angry.
Conclusion
Well there you have it, you now know everything you need to know about the official and unspoken rules of disc golf. If you enjoyed this article subscribe to our newsletter to stay in touch about new articles and products that we’re launching soon here at Remix Outdoors!
While you’re here make sure to check out our other articles such as Best Disc Golf Discs and Innova Starter Set Review.
