Disc Golf in the Bu
Written by our Calamigos Local Disc Golf Expert: Alex Egan
When you stroll around your local park, you will likely walk past a strange looking metal contraption sticking out of the ground, complete with chains hanging around the middle. If you were to survey the area, you would likely see some people in the distance, waving at you, holding brightly colored discs in their hands. If this is the case for you, odds are that your local park (like many others) has fallen to one of the fastest rising sports in the nation today: disc golf.
What is Disc Golf and How Do You Play?
Disc golf is a sport that mimics the much more well-known sport of golf; however, instead of using a ball and a club to make progress toward the hole, players throw a disc. A venue where disc golf is played is called a disc golf course. Course lengths can range from 9 holes to 27 holes, although regulation size courses are 18 holes. Like golf, the goal is to complete each hole on the course, trying to get from the teepad to the basket in as few throws (or strokes) as possible.
Each hole has a defined number of strokes that is deemed as par; it is the goal of the players to shoot par or better. For example, if a player made it from the tee box to the basket in three strokes, and the par is three strokes, then that player made it in par. That is good. If another player did the same hole and got it in two strokes, then that would be one stroke under par, which is called a birdie. That is very good. If a third player did the same hole and got it in four strokes, then that would be one stroke over par, which is called a bogey. That is very bad.
As you progress through the course, you continue to keep score of your number of strokes on each hole compared to the number of strokes that were deemed par for that hole. For example, if a player got 3 strokes on the first hole, 4 strokes on the second hole, and 3 strokes on the third hole, while the par on all three holes was 3, then that player would be 1 over par through three holes. At the end of the round, the total number of strokes per player is totaled and compared to the total number of strokes that are considered par for each hole. The lowest score in the group wins. While many people play against each other in groups, singles players often play against par and try to get their lowest score. Here is an example of a scorecard for disc golf:
What Types of Discs Are Used?
Discs used in disc golf are far different from other recreational discs such as Ultimate Frisbees, which are mostly used for catch-and-throw games. Instead, disc golf discs fall into standards created by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), an association that organizes official rules, regulations and events (such as tournaments) for professional disc golf. These standards include: a disc diameter between 21 cm and 30 cm and a weight of no more than 200g, among other specifications. From these qualifications, many different breeds of discs have been created, and are categorized in a way that replicate actual golf club types. In large part, discs fall into one of the following groups: long-distance driver, fairway driver, mid-range, or putter. Here is a photo that exemplifies what different discs look like:
The top disc pictured in this photo is a putter, as evidenced by the deep rim and domed top. The middle disc is a mid-range disc, with a slightly sleeker profile, beaded rim for stability and still domed top for glide. Finally, the bottom disc is a distance driver, as evidenced by the wide, sharp rim and a comparatively flat top.
Due to the plentiful room for flexibility in design, there are hundreds of types of discs, all of which have a unique flight path and are suited for different people. With all these different types of discs, it could become confusing for beginners to understand a disc’s flight characteristics just by looking at it. Luckily, there is a number system for discs established by Innova, a disc manufacturing company, that helps shed some light on how the disc performs after throwing it. In order to truly understand the number system, some terms will need to be defined:
RHBH - Right Hand Backhand Right Hand Backhand || Left Hand Forehand
LHBH - Left Hand Backhand
RHFH - Right Hand Forehand
LHFH - Left Hand Forehand
Finish Direction - the direction that the disc’s flight finishes in during a normal flight path, entirely dependent on the direction the disc is spinning during flight.
For RHBH or LHFH Throwers: To the left
For LHBH or RHFH Throwers: To the right
Now that those terms have been defined, we can get into the nitty gritty of describing disc flight paths. As I mentioned previously, each disc has a four number combination associated with it that describes its typical flight path. Here are the four categories:
Speed: How fast the disc can travel (Scale: 0 - 14)
Glide: The tendency of the disc to stay aloft during flight (Scale: 1 - 7)
Turn: How likely the disc is to flip over during the initial part of the flight (Scale: +1 - -5)
Fade: The tendency of the disc to complete its flight in the finish direction (Scale: 0 - 5)
At first glance, these numbers might seem daunting and difficult to understand; however, they truly do a fairly comprehensive job of both categorizing discs and describing flight paths.
For example, long-distance drivers are typically thrown the fastest in order to maximize distance. Therefore, they have the highest speed ratings, usually falling between 9 and 14 depending on experience level. The higher up in speed you go, the harder you will need to throw it. As a result, most beginners start to get used to driving with fairway drivers, which hang in the 6 to 8 speed range. These drivers have more control over their higher-speed counterparts, and do not need to be thrown as hard to achieve a good flight path. Just below fairway drivers, we have mid-range discs, which are usually used for further approach shots to to basket or for short hole drives. These fall in the 4-5 speed category and are typically very easy for players of all experience levels to throw. Finally, between speeds 1 and 3, we have putters, which are used for shorter approaches and for putting at the basket. Since they do not require much speed out of the hand, they are easily controllable and good for maximum accuracy and precision shots (thus, good for trying to get it in the basket).
Glide is a good flight characteristic to understand how buoyant the disc is while in the air, and a measure of how long it will stay in the air compared to other discs of varying glide values. A disc of high glide, such as a 5 or a 6, will be very likely to stay in the air for longer as opposed to a disc of lower glide, such as a 3. Sometimes, low glide can be beneficial, especially on a low hole where it is windy. If you want the disc to cut through the wind better while not overshooting a hole, then low glide would be helpful.
Turn and fade are two metrics that will be helpful with a couple more defined terms.
Disc stability - the tendency of the disc to fly flat in the air, similar to how a plane flies straight and flat
Overstability - when a disc has high fade and is hard to turn over, very likely to complete its flight in the finishing direction no matter how hard the disc is thrown
Understability - when a disc has high turn, very likely to turn over when thrown hard
Together, turn and fade numbers roughly describe a disc’s stability during flight. High turn and low fade would characterize an understandable disc; understandable flight paths tend to start out turning in the direction opposite of the finish direction more easily than a stable or overstable disc. An example of an understandable discs’ turn and fade numbers might be: -4, 2. The more negative the turn number (down to -5), the more understandable the disc. The fade number of 2 means that the disc will tend to finish in the finishing direction, albeit more gently than an overstable disc.
Stable discs tend to fly straight and flat, and typically are characterized by turn and fade numbers that are more central and fairly close. A good example of this would be turn and fade numbers of -2 and 1. As you can see, the turn number is more in the middle of -5 and 1, and the fade factor is close to 0; thus, the disc will tend to fly straight and flat for a majority of the flight, while having a gentle finish in the finish direction.
Overstable discs are much more difficult to turn over and end up fading in the finishing direction the most aggressively. Turn and fade numbers of a disc like this might be 0 and 4. The turn number is fairly close to 1, signifying that the turn on the disc is extremely low, while the fade is close to 5, meaning the disc will finish in the finishing direction in an aggressive manner.
Of course, flight patterns vary greatly for discs from player to player depending upon arm strength, throwing technique and the angle at which the disc is released. Additionally, weight and plastic play a role in how the disc responds in certain environments and in the hands of each thrower, but for most beginners, having an understanding of the flight numbers will aid greatly in choosing the right disc from the beginning.
As an example, here is an extremely common disc found in many professional players’ bags. The Destroyer is a long-distance driver made by Innova that has a somewhat stable but mostly overstable flight path. It is a 12 speed driver, so not the fastest disc in production, but still has some serious speed to get maximum distance off the tee pad. The glide of 5 is, again, not super high, but does enough to keep the disc afloat for long periods of time to maximize distance while not compensating too much in windy situations. The -1 turn of the disc is fairly neutral, meaning that it won’t turn over too easily, but is fairly forgiving for players who are unable to put too much arm strength behind a throw. Finally, a 3 fade makes the disc have a reliable fade at the end of its flight, ensuring that it isn’t going to float too far off its flight path due to wind or an extreme power toss. Not every player would be able to throw this disc well from the get-go, but as far as high speed drivers go, it is forgiving, making it a popular choice among many disc golfers.
As you can see, discs are engineered to have very different characteristics in the air to fit the needs of many different players on a wide variety of holes and in many unique situations.
Why Should I Play?
The main reasons why disc golf is one of the best leisure activities in the US right now is due to its accessibility, affordability, and straightforward nature. Beginning with its leisurely nature, it is a great activity to both bring people together and to get outside in the fresh air. This nature of disc golf has been highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic. While many people struggled to find enjoyable ways to get active during Stay-at-Home orders, disc golf provided the perfect escape. Like regular golf, disc golf courses are located outdoors, leaving people with an avenue to get outside for fresh air while still being able to social distance from friends or family that they bring along to engage with. Additionally, disc golf is only as competitive as the group makes it, making it a very enjoyable group activity, despite someone’s expertise level. As a result, many people can use it as their daily exercise, a break from the monotony of the day, and a way to connect with friends and family.
Moving into the main reasons now, disc golf is incredibly accessible for many people. Disc golf courses are now becoming very popular, and many local parks have recognized its rise in prominence. As a result, local parks have started creating their own courses, putting in permanent baskets and/or object targets. With the increase in course locations, more people have access to the ability to play. Additionally, disc golf shops are becoming even more widespread, so people are able to purchase discs at the course. If this isn’t an option for someone, Amazon now sells the discs of most major disc manufacturers, so a potential player could have their hands on a new disc in only a few days' time.
On the subject of purchasing discs, disc golf is one of the most affordable forms of golf one can play. Disc golf presents itself as a much more affordable option due to the lack of actual clubs, balls, and, in many cases, green fees. On the cheap end, balls usually sell for around $1.00 each. For a set of clubs, you could spend roughly $500, or rent every time you play. On top of it all, every public course charges a green fee, making it much more expensive each time you want to play. The beauty of disc golf is that the club and ball are both combined into one, so you only have one material cost, which is not too expensive. Even discs in the most premier plastic from each company runs for roughly $20.00 after tax. Thus, those who are looking to play on a budget can purchase a mediocre all-around disc for roughly $10 and be able to do a full round with no big problems at that price. In fact, this is extremely common, especially for people who are just getting into the sport. If that person decided they enjoyed playing, they could purchase a set of discs in premium plastic for roughly $100 (but they do have the option to buy cheaper discs, depending on the plastic). Combined with the widespread cheap cost of play (since many courses are in public parks), disc golf becomes a much more affordable option for people on a budget to enjoy.
Finally, disc golf is fairly straightforward for entry-level players, especially if they know the rules of golf. The only intricacies arise when a player tries to refine their throwing form or practice to get better. Otherwise, a recreational disc golfer can enjoy the sport for what it is for them, regardless of how proficient they actually are at throwing a disc. It is mostly a sport of comradery, of leisure, and of being outside in the sunlight
Where Can I Play Disc Golf?
As a member of the Calamigos community, you are probably wondering: “where can I possibly find a course to try out this awesome activity?” Luckily for people in the Malibu Cafe area, residents have access to two different courses that are relatively close to the area.
The first course is located at Pepperdine, on Alumni Park. This wide-open grassy field is perfect for getting in some drives before a round, or practicing putting on the basket for the second hole which is located under a few trees in the middle of the park. While the course only consists of nine holes, they are all perfectly scaled-down holes with plenty of obstacles to avoid for beginner players. Overall, this is the best introductory level course in the Malibu area; I would highly recommend it to anyone just getting started with disc golf. Here is the course map, and for more advanced players who are looking for a more challenging setup, check out the safari course map for the unofficial back nine at Pepperdine.
Note this is for Pepperdine students, alumni, faculty, and staff - Address: 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
Sapwi Trails Recreational Park
The second course is located at a public park in Thousand Oaks called Sapwi. The Sapwi course is situated in a valley that has lots of trees and bushes, minus a few wide open holes. Contrary to the hole at Pepperdine, Sapwi is a full 18 hole course, including a bonus 19th hole at the end of the round. With all the brush, many other obstacles, and a large variety of holes, Sapwi is a much more difficult course than Alumni Park at Pepperdine. Oftentimes, there is a strong wind on the unprotected holes that severely hinder a disc golfer’s ability to make progress. When it is a nice day, the park is really nice to walk around in. Despite how tough it might be to perform at Sapwi, it is a destination to check out if you are looking for a challenging course. Here is a course map and some rough directions to get there:
Address: 2562 Covent Garden Ct, Thousand Oaks, CA
Conclusion
Disc golf is a wonderful activity to do with your friends, family, or even by yourself just to enjoy the outdoors. While it can be extremely competitive between amateurs and professionals alike, the root of disc golf is recreational, leisure time in the local park. Next time you take a stroll through your local sports park and see a basket, hear chains rattling in the distance, or listen to the hoop and holler of disc golfers enjoying their afternoon, pick up a disc and give it a try. It will surely give you a reason to be outside, a reason to be in community, and a reason to have a great time!