Disc golf is a sport played just like traditional golf, except the equipment players use are discs instead of a ball and clubs. The object of the game is to traverse each hole and the course in the least amount of throws as possible. Disc golf has its own targets as well.
The invention of the “Pole Hole” by Ed Headrick in the late 1970s is really when the sport took shape. Not long after that The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) was started. The PDGA is the governing body for the sport. It sanctions tournaments worldwide and currently has over 86,000 members. Intercollegiate disc golf competition started in 2007 and has experienced similar growth. In April, 82 teams attended the National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships in North Augusta, South Carolina.
Disc golf is a great participation sport for people of all ages, but even more so for college students. It’s very inexpensive for students to get the equipment needed to start playing and not nearly as time consuming as its club and ball counterpart. A great disc golf facility is also a huge value to any institution. As disc golf continues to be one of the fastest growing sports in America and across the globe, the investment into acquiring a course is considerably less than many other recreational assets.
Top 4 Reasons to Have a Disc Golf Course on Your Campus
Value. Disc Golf is affordable. Along with having an extremely high value-to-use ratio, disc golf is also inexpensive to play. Affordable equipment, minimal to no greens fees and moderate time investment makes it easy for your entire student body to enjoy. Disc golf is a great value asset for any institution. You can add disc golf to your list of recreation activities without breaking a budget. It’s also very affordable for your students.
Fit. Does your facility have property that isn’t conducive for building recreational facilities? Disc golf can help utilize otherwise unusable spaces. Courses can be designed using almost any terrain and can fit into and around other use areas.
Fun. Disc golf is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and with good reason. It’s easy to play when first starting out and yet difficult to master. There is just something magical about getting that perfect throw and watching it fly down the fairway. The Professional Disc Golf Association sanctioned over 2,500 events in 2015 and now has over 80,000 members.
Exercise. Get students outdoors. As a great leisure activity for beginners and an athletic adventure for more advanced players, disc golf is a splendid way to encourage outdoor activity. Time-wise, a round of disc golf only takes about two hours, making it a great way for your students to relax without keeping them away from their studies for too long.
Alan Kane is the general manager and senior course designer at College Disc Golf. He can be reached at alankane@collegediscgolf.org or call 706.840.3956.
