History of Disc Golf
If you are a disc golf fanatic you may wonder about the history of the sport. Disc golf saw it’s start in 1976 when “Steady” Ed Headrick, known today as the father of disc golf, established the Disc Golf Association (DGA). A couple years previous, Headrick approached the county of Los Angeles Park and Recreation Department about installing a disc golf course. This idea would soon form into the first ever permanent course located in Oak Grove Park.
Disc Golf Course Origination and Growth
The first disc golf competition took place shortly thereafter in 1969 at Brookside Park in Pasadena, CA. It was on of the many events included the “All Comers Meet” and Jay Shelton took home the win. This competition sparked a fire in many players and was key in aiding in the growth of the sport as many disc golf players began to get more serious now that there were official competitions taking place and exponentially more disc golf courses being built. In 1982 DGA published “Pocket Guide for the Game of Disc Golf by Ed Headrick” which listed 117 US disc golf course locations. This guide served as a bible of sorts for dedicated disc golf players. This guide was instrumental for players. Before it’s publication, disc golfers had to resort to word of mouth to locate courses. Some even resorted to creating makeshift courses on their own.
By 1985 209 courses existed and were detailed in the “Flying Disc Golf Course Directory”, edited by Allen Risley and published by the Professional Disc Golf Association. The PDGA stills exists today as the main source for all disc golf information. Their directory is updated with every new recorded course and now includes a user friendly map for convenience.
Today there are over 4,00 registered disc golf courses across the United States. Take a look at the directory to find the course nearest to you and get out there! With our custom discs and equipment you will be ready to step out on any disc golf course.
