How to Choose Players for a Disc Golf Outing

With more than 3,000 established disc golf courses in the United States alone, the sport may be justly considered a mainstream recreational pursuit. The Professional Disc Golf Association (PGDA) has established a set of guidelines for tournament play, and tournaments are held year-round.

Serious "frolfers" can find like-minded players in local leagues and through local tournaments, providing themselves with a good match of skill and desire. With the sport growing in popularity, flying disc enthusiasts may be found in many different venues, at all skill levels, and with every degree of seriousness about their game.

Choosing players for an outing often comes down to matching available players according to their approximate skill level. Common divisions separate players based on age and gender. Leagues offer a more formalized playing style, and scores may be tabulated over a playing season in order to determine handicaps and even out the playing field.

Flying disc golf is a much less formal experience than traditional golf. Tee times are more informal, and games outside of league play follow a loose set of restrictions and etiquette. The initial equipment investment is much less expensive than regular golf, and many parks or public courses have provide discs for rent or loan. Appropriate disc golf apparel is more casual; jeans, shorts, t-shirts, and comfortable, loose-fitting clothing are all considered acceptable on the course. Footgear is more important, as the sport involves a great deal of walking and standing; comfortable shoes appropriate to the course should be worn. Because course hazards often involve climbing trees and negotiating sand, and because a proper disc throwing stance involves specific footwork often on wet, slippery grass, sandals and flip-flops are discouraged in favor of athletic footgear.
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Players who enjoy playing together will share some common interests, as games may take a great deal of time to complete. For a best experience on the course, players in a group should desire the same thing from their frolf outing, whether that is serious competition, dedicated practice time, a casual outing, or formal recognition. Many of these considerations can be eliminated by joining a league and setting regular tee times with a regular playing group.

League play is rapidly becoming the most popular way to engage in regular flying disc golfing. The structure of the league provides a way to track handicaps and match skill levels, as well as convenient entry into formal tournaments. Many teams, and entire leagues, commission matching disc golf apparel to provide their members with a uniform look to represent their pride and enthusiasm.