Disc Golf in the Snow: 5 Ways to Not Lose Your Disc

Playing disc golf doesn’t have to end when the weather turns cold. But, what about playing with snow on the ground? One big problem is losing a disc in the snow after throwing it 200 feet down the fairway.

There’s nothing worse than losing a disc in the snow. But, there are some tips you can use to not lose a disc next time you’re playing disc golf in the snow.

Here is How to Not Lose Your Disc in the Snow

There are simple steps to take to not lose your disc in the snow. Make your disc more visible against the snow by using bright colored discs, attaching ribbon to the disc, or adding some chalk to the disc. A slip-free disc can minimize errant throws, and a partner can add an extra set of eyes for each throw.

In this article, I’ll explain in detail 5 easy steps you can take to not lose your disc in the snow.

Heavy snow on the ground in a park

Do People Play Disc Golf in the Snow?

Disc golf is known more as a fair-weather sport. Think more spring-summer-fall type weather.

When the weather starts to get nice and people start to venture outside for their activities is when the disc golf course will see a majority of its foot traffic.

But, some play disc golf year-round. This means they will play even in the winter when there is snow on the ground.

The truth is, if you truly want to improve your game, you need to practice all year long. There is no real substitute for playing a round of disc golf on the course.

If you only play and practice disc golf from April through September, you’re going to experience quite a bit of drop-off from year to year.

If you are trying to play competitively, not practicing 3-4 months–or more–out of the year is going to set you back.

If you want to learn more about practicing disc golf in the winter, see this post I made as a guide.

5 Ways to Not Lose Your Disc in the Snow

1. Ribbon Your Disc

If the snow on the ground is even a little deep, it can easily hide any disc right out of sight. This can make it very difficult to find your disc after each throw.

Even in a couple of inches of fresh powder, this can be an issue when trying to find your disc.

Ribboning a disc is a simple solution to more easily finding a disc that has been thrown in the snow.

All that is required is a colorful piece of ribbon, string, or a streamer that can be attached to the disc.

By attaching the ribbon to the disc, the ribbon will show you exactly where the disc is hidden in the snow.

2. Use a Bright Colored Disc

This may seem like a no-brainer, but when there is snow on the ground, don’t use a white disc. In the winter there isn’t as much contrast in the landscape, to begin with.

So, even if there isn’t snow on the ground, it’s still a good idea to use a lighter-colored disc.

Even if you have a bright-colored disc, there is still the possibility that an errant through will result in a lost disc.

In addition to using discs that are brighter than normal, use a set that you won’t mind if they are lost on the course.

3. Use Disc Chalk

If you don’t want to deal with the added drag that can happen when attaching a ribbon to your disc, you can use chalk to mark where the disc lands in the snow.

Using any chalk will do, but carpenters’ chalk (like what is used for setting a chalk line) is an easy way to do this.

Red is the most common color of carpenters’ chalk. The key is to make sure your disc is a little wet, then spread the chalk on the top of the disc.

When the disc hits the snow, it will leave a red chalk trail leading straight to your disc in the snow.

4. Try a Slip-Free Disc

Because disc golf discs are made from polypropylene plastic, the cold weather can have adverse effects on the disc itself.

Typically, you’ll want a disc golf disc to be pliable and flexible for longer throws. Cold weather can cause the molded plastic of the disc to become stiff and even brittle.

Some players will attempt to keep their discs warm throughout course play, but this isn’t a great strategy because the warmth of the disc will only melt the snow and cause it to refreeze on the disc during play.

Luckily, there are golf discs designed to solve each of these problems when playing in cold winter weather. It’s a good idea to have a set of cold-tolerant discs for practicing in the winter.

Cold-tolerant discs are made from a softer grade plastic than most discs, which allows them to retain flexibility and resist becoming too rigid in the cold.

5. Play With a Partner

Sometimes it can be easy to lose sight of your disc after a hard drive. Other times your throw might disappear behind a bend in the course.

Playing with a partner will add an extra set of eyes to every hole to reduce the chance that your disc gets lost.

Whether you’re playing with a partner or not, playing in the snow means you’ll need to take a careful mental note of where every disc lands.

You and your partner can work together to spot each other’s discs and help locate discs quicker after they are thrown.

How to Ribbon a Disc Golf Disc

If you’ve decided to ribbon your disc, here are some easy steps to follow to add this to your disc.

Step 1: Measure and Cut Your Ribbon

Start by choosing any color of ribbon for your disc (except white of course). If you’re unsure, the best ribbon to use is for crafting or presents.

Cut the ribbon in a 4-5 foot length. This length is best for most snow. But, depending on where you live, and how deep the snow is the length of the ribbon may vary.

Step 2: Apply the Ribbon to Duct Tape

Using duct tape is the best for this application because it will continue to stick to the disc even when it gets wet from the snow. It also won’t get too brittle in the snow.

The strip of duct tape should only be about 3-4 inches in length. Start by piercing the center of the strip of duct tape.

Feed about 3 inches of ribbon through this hole. Feed the ribbon from the backing and through to the sticky side of the tape.

Step 3: Apply the Ribbon to the Disc

For this step, make sure the disc is at room temperature. This will make the duct tape adhere better to the plastic of the disc.

Place your strip of duct tape on the bottom side of the disc, right in the middle. Press down firmly from the center to the edge of the tape to ensure full adhesion.

It’s best to let the disc sit for an hour or two before taking it out into the cold and snow.

Summary | How to Not Lose Your Disc in the Snow

Playing disc golf in the snow, and more broadly, in the winter is never as bad as you think. As long as you’re not trying to play disc golf in terrible weather, it can be quite pleasant.

Playing through the winter can be anyone’s secret weapon to walking into the start of the spring season ready to play competitively while having a leg-up on the others who took the winter off.

As long as you dress appropriately and follow some easy steps to not lose discs in the snow, playing in the winter can be easy and fun.

Marty

Hi, my name is Marty. Sporting Disc is dedicated to delivering actionable tips and information when it comes to enjoying any disc sport. Whether it's disc golf, ultimate frisbee, or any other disc sport, I want to help anyone get out there and take their game further.

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