How To Play Disc Golf

Disc Golf Rules

#fdgc

The Rules of Disc Golf

Simple & Easy to Learn

Disc Golf is a fun and easy to learn sport. The rules of disc golf are similar to traditional golf, but with a disc and basket as opposed to a club and ball. For more rules and information about disc golf visit DiscGolf.com to continue learning.

SAFETY FIRST

Never throw when players or other park users are within range. Always give park users the right of way. Be aware of your surroundings and environment at all times.

Objective of the Game

Disc Golf is played like traditional golf, but with disc golf discs instead of balls and clubs. One throw (stroke) is counted each time the disc is thrown and when a penalty is incurred. The goal is to play each hole in the fewest strokes possible. The player with the lowest total strokes for the entire course wins. The hole is completed when the disc comes to rest in a disc golf basket.

Tee Throws

Each hole begins with a tee throw. Tee throws must be completed within or behind the designated tee area.

Fairway Throws

Fairway throws must be made from directly behind the lie. A run-up and normal follow-through, after release, is allowed, unless the lie is within 10 meters of the target. Any shot within 10 meters of the target requires that the player maintain balance and not move past the lie until the disc comes to rest.

Out Of Bounds

If any area of O.B. is visible between the disc and O.B. line, then the disc is considered O.B. A throw that lands out of bounds, must be played from a point up to 1 meter in bounds from where the disc crossed over the out of bounds line. Permanent water hazards, public roads, and most park boundaries are almost always out of bounds.

Course Etiquette

Try To Remain Quiet And Avoid Unnecessary Movements While Others Are Throwing.
Stand Behind The Player Who Is Throwing Until Throw Is Complete.
Remove Disc From The Basket After Completing The Hole.
Help New Players Learn The Rules.
Allow Faster Groups To Play Through When Possible.
Pick Up Trash And Put In Proper Receptacles.
Do Not Alter The Course (Trees, Bushes, Etc.) In Any Way.

Throwing Order

The player with the least amount of strokes on the previous hole is the first to tee off on the next hole. After all players have teed off, the player whose disc is farthest from the hole always throws first.

Lie

The lie is the spot where the player’s previous throw has landed. Mark each lie with a mini marker disc or leave the thrown disc on the ground where it landed. The player’s subsequent throw is made from directly behind the marked lie.

Completion Of Hole

A disc that comes to rest in the disc golf basket or suspended in the chains constitutes the successful completion of that hole.

Mandatory

A mandatory, or mando, is one or more designated trees or poles in the fairway that must be passed to the correct side as indicated by an arrow. If the disc passes to the wrong side of mandatory, either play from the previous lie or from a marked drop zone area if applicable and add a one throw penalty.

This information was provided by DiscGolf.com. Check out their extensive video library on How To Play Disc Golf for some great lessons and tips for new and old players alike.

Flagstaff, AZ Courses

Featured Disc Golf Courses

Thorpe

mcPherson

Ft. Tuthill

NAU

Snowbowl

FDGC Bag Tag Rules

Have fun and follow the rules and spirit of disc golf. The purpose of the Bag Tag is to add another fun element to personal, league, and tournament rounds of disc golf. Please display your Bag Tag where others can easily see it.

How to receive a bag tag

Bag tags are available to persons who purchase an annual FDGC membership. Tags are distributed in order of purchase matching their FDGC membership. Only the designated tags for that year are eligible for play. Leather tags are permanent property of the original owner.

The Goal

Your goal is to have the lowest numbered Bag Tag possible and have fun along the way.

Bag Tag rules

Any FDGC members who currently and physically possess a bag tag may challenge, be challenged or participate in bag tag challenges.
Any member with a higher Bag Tag number may challenge any player with a lower Bag Tag number to a round of disc golf.
Members cannot avoid challenges by leaving the Bag Tag at home or by concealing your Bag Tag (see forfeiture).
Challenges may be made in person, by telephone or electronically (ie, social media, email). When a challenge has been accepted, neither player can participate in Casual challenges until the agreed upon match has taken place.
The player receiving the challenge can choose the course to be played AND must make a “fair and reasonable” effort to be available within 72 hours. With the exception of if the person is unable to play ie; illness, injury, travel etc. The maximum amount of time someone could be physically unable to play without forfeiting their tag would be 30 days.
If the challenger cannot agree to a reasonable time or date for the match within the 72 hours, the challenge is void and both players may look for new challenges.
Once the challenge has been agreed upon, any changes must be agreed upon otherwise a forfeiture may occur.
If the challenger has the lowest score for the round, the tags must be exchanged immediately following the round.
Challenges are on a round-by-round basis; i.e. challenges are for one round only in a multiple round event.

League Challenges

Automatic challenges occur during any FDGC sanctioned singles leagues
The league director has sole discretion in format of tags. Tags can be either played per card or full field. In special circumstances, such as testing out new layouts or extra holes the League Director may opt to not run a tag challenge or to change format from full field to per card.
The challenge does not need to be publicly announced or agreed upon before the start of the round–it is automatic!
Members may not deny this challenge by refusing to turn in their tag. Failure to turn in your during a LC results in automatic forfeiture.

Casual Round Challenges (CRC)

FDGC members may casually meet at a course OR agree to meet at a course/time to compete for bag tags in:

Head-to-Head (me vs. you) challenges.
Group Challenges, where multiple players each put a Bag Tag at stake during the group round.
Members may not deny a challenge and then proceed to play a round (see forfeiture).

Exception:

Any League Challenges take precedence over any challenge from another card. You must settle with your league challenge first.

Wins, Ties, and Exchanges

Q: How do I win?

A: The player with the lowest score at the end of the challenge round earns the lowest numbered Bag Tag among the challengers.

Q: I won, when do I receive my winning Bag Tag?

A: Bag Tags must be exchanged immediately following the round.

Q: What happens if we have a tie?

A: In the event of a tie, the player who started with the lowest numbered Bag Tag will be awarded the lowest numbered Bag Tag. This may require some sorting in a group challenge.

Rematches

Challengers who have just won, may, but do not have to accept/schedule a rematch challenge from a player that the s/he just beaten unless one of the following occurs:

Either player completes another, separate challenge.
One week has passes.,

Whichever comes first.

Eligible Tags

Members may only challenge members who possess the Yearly FDGC Bag Tag; no other Bag Tags are eligible to participate in challenges. You must have your Bag Tag with you to challenge or accept challenges.

Forfeiture

Each Bag Tag belongs to the entire club membership and should be accessible to all club members. Any club member will be required to surrender his/her Bag Tag if:

He/She is found to be purposely concealing the Bag Tag, especially with a low number.
Refusing and/or “forgetting” to carry his/her Bag Tag, especially to events where members are “likely” to be present.
Refusing Automatic Challenges.
Generally denying Bag Tag access to other members (TBD by 2 or more club officers).
Abandoning a challenge while it is in play
The player possesses a tag in the lowest 1/3 of available numbers and hasn’t played in a qualifying challenge within 30 days

If you lose your Bag Tag, please report it immediately. You may then purchase the next lowest number Bag Tag available. Replacement tags, if available, will cost $5.00.

Rules are subject to change and the FDGC Board of Directors will decide all disputes. The FDGC Board of Directors reserves the right to revoke your Bag Tag at our discretion.

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Contact Us

The Flagstaff Disc Golf Club is 100% Volunteer Driven. We do our best to manage the courses, forest, events, membership and relationships with our community. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for any questions, comments or suggestions you have. Our most awesome Board Members will get back to you shortly.