Starting any new hobby or activity is a commitment of time and energy. So, it’s important to know if your new adventure will be an enjoyable one before jumping in with both feet.
Here are my top 7 reasons why disc golf is fun and why you should get started playing today!
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Is Disc Golf Fun?
Disc golf is fun because it combines a sport with other enjoyable aspects like being outdoors, getting exercise, socializing with different people, providing a challenge, and relieving stress. Disc golf is also fun because it’s easy for anyone to get started. The equipment is not expensive, and most disc golf courses are free to the public.
Check out these 7 different reasons why you should get started playing disc golf today.
Is Disc Golf a Good Sport?
Disc golf has many unique qualities that make it a good sport to give a try.
Unlike other sports, you don’t have to gather a team to play, there is no expensive equipment to buy just to get started, and you don’t have to possess natural athletic ability just to get started.
In fact, disc golf is a sport that’s enjoyed by a very wide swath of the general public.
People from small children to 70+ are out there playing disc golf according to 2020 statistics provided by the PDGA.
The graph below shows the distribution of age ranges, locations, and income levels for people participating in playing disc golf. The raw data for the below graph can be found here.
As you can see, in short disc golf isn’t just played by a small set of people. It’s enjoyed by a pretty large set of the population.
Disc Golf is Fun: 7 Reasons to Get Started
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that disc golf is the same as normal ball golf. You don’t need to be a member of a fancy country club or have an expensive set of equipment just to play the game.
Disc golf is a sport all of its own and it’s easy to get started.
If you’re still on the fence over whether you should invest your time and energy to start playing, here are the 7 most compelling reasons why disc golf is fun and worth giving a try.
1. You Can Meet New People
A positive aspect of disc golf is the fact that you can play the game alone or with a group of people.
But, if you want to play and don’t have a group to play with, many times it’s easy to join in with a group already at the course.
Most areas with a lot of players will form a disc golf club that you could join. This is the perfect opportunity to meet new people with the same interests.
I like the fact that if I can’t find anyone to tag along or play a round of disc golf, chances are I can usually find people or a group at the course to link up with at the beginning of the round.
You’ll find that the community of people who play disc golf is friendly and inviting.
2. Good Exercise
When thinking of a good way to get exercise, disc golf might not be the first activity that comes to mind.
It’s not as high impact as running, or stressful as lifting weights, but playing a round of disc golf can be a great way to get outside and get some exercise.
Typically, during a normal round of disc golf, a person will walk 1-2 miles sometimes up and down hills, repeatedly throw a disc, bend over and pick up the disc, and so forth.
This might not seem like much to fitness buffs out there, but put together over an hour or more of playtime and you can get in a decent workout.
Combine that with the added benefit of being outdoors and you can see there are plenty of health advantages.
You can play with the calculator below to get an idea of the calories you can burn playing disc golf. Just use golf as the activity and enter your info to get an idea.
3. The Game is Beginner Friendly
Disc golf doesn’t require complicated rules or heavily practiced techniques to play. Sure, there are pros out there who practice relentlessly and are incredibly good at what they do.
For the average disc golf player, it’s an easy game to catch on as soon as you know the rules.
4. Inexpensive to Start Playing
Getting started playing really only requires a few discs. No need for a bag or a lot of different discs. A disc golf starter set will run around $50 for six discs that will do everything needed on the course.
Compare this to traditional golf. Ball golf will require a bag full of expensive clubs, balls, tees, gloves, shoes, green fees, and probably a membership to a course.
Almost every golf disc course is free to play on, so all you need is a few discs to get started. The nice part is that this is mostly a one-time purchase and you’re good to go.
5. It’s Challenging
What makes disc golf fun is that it’s easy to get started but there is also a challenge to the game itself. Any sport that is too easy won’t be fun after a short amount of time.
The key to a fun sport is a skill and competition aspect. While anyone can play disc golf, there is a level of skill that can continuously be achieved.
Playing against someone can be fun too. Winning always makes everything more fun and competition between friends or even someone you just met on the course can make the game even more fun.
6. Stress Reliever
If you have a lot of stress in your life there are two things that can help: going outside and doing something that will take your mind off that stress and even relieve it.
Disc golf is an outdoor game, and some courses are set in very scenic areas. Studies have shown that just being outdoors and in nature can lower cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is the hormone linked to stress, so lowering this will help any feelings of stress.
Exercising and healthy activity can also release endorphins in the body and lower blood pressure. No to mention that we get vitamin D from sunlight.
7. Different Courses Everywhere
No matter where you’re located or wherever you happen to travel, chances are there is a disc golf course somewhere along the way.
In 2020, there were an estimated 9,342 disc golf courses in the US. These are the PDGA certified courses, so there are more than likely a higher number scattered around the country.
There are plenty of scenic areas within the US, so this can make for some pretty great places to play a round of disc golf.
You could even be on vacation and hit a local course as a low-cost way to have some fun in a new place.
The point is that there is most likely a course close by no matter where you happen to be located.
Why is Disc Golf So Fun?
Disc golf is fun because it combines an easy-to-learn game that also takes some skill to become good at.
The cost to start playing is very low and anyone can play from children to senior citizens.
Another great aspect is that the game is played outdoors and you can play with a group of people or alone if you prefer.
I think that the variety and flexibility of disc golf make the sport fun and keep people coming back. So, the only way to know is to get out there and try it for yourself.
