Miles Bennett
Disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, is a sport that originated in the early 1960s. The game involves players throwing a disc at a target, using rules similar to golf. While the exact origins of the game are disputed, it is believed that multiple groups played independently throughout the 1960s, with some accounts of people playing golf with a flying disc predating the 1960s. Steady Ed Headrick, the inventor of the modern-day frisbee, is credited with popularizing the sport and designing the first standardized target course in California. In 1975, Headrick coined and trademarked the term Disc Golf and formed the first disc golf association, the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA). Today, disc golf is played in about 40 countries worldwide, with over 15,000 courses and growing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Invented by | "Steady" Ed Headrick |
| Year of invention | 1975 |
| First played | 1926, Bladworth, Saskatchewan |
| Course | Usually 9 or 18 holes |
| Played in | About 40 countries |
| Courses worldwide | Over 15,000 |
| Courses in the US | 75% of worldwide courses |
| Courses in Finland | 7% of worldwide courses |
| Courses in Canada | 3% of worldwide courses |
| Courses in other countries | 15% of worldwide courses |
| Courses accessible for free | 90% |
| Membership of PDGA | 107,853 worldwide |
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What You'll Learn
The Father of Disc Golf
"Steady" Ed Headrick, also known as PDGA #001, is considered the "Father of Disc Golf". He was a father of four children and a friend to many. Headrick was an employee at Wham-O and is credited with two inventions that were instrumental in the development of disc golf as a sport. The first was the Frisbee (U.S. Patent #3359678) in 1966, and the second was the Disc Golf Pole Hole (U.S. Patent #4039189) in 1975, which became the basis for all disc golf targets.
Headrick was instrumental in popularising disc golf. He founded the International Frisbee Association (IFA) in 1969 to promote Frisbee sports and began filming commercials for Frisbee games and events. He also organised the first Frisbee golf tournament in 1965, which was sponsored by Wham-O and included hula hoops as holes, published rules, hole lengths, pars, and prizes.
In 1976, Headrick formalised the rules of disc golf, founded the Disc Golf Association (DGA), the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), and the Recreational Disc Golf Association (RDGA). He also coined and trademarked the term "Disc Golf". He designed and installed the first standardised target course in California and nearly 800 disc golf courses in 20 countries.
Headrick's passion and dedication to the sport were evident, and he once said, "Disc Golf will change your life!" Following his death in 2002, his ashes were incorporated into a limited number of discs, which were given to friends and family. The remaining discs were sold, with proceeds going to a nonprofit fund for the "Steady" Ed Memorial Disc Golf Museum at the PDGA International Disc Golf Center in Columbia County, Georgia.
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Early disc golf courses
Modern disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, started in the early 1960s. However, there are accounts of people playing golf with a flying disc that predate the 1960s. For example, in 1926, a group of children in Bladworth, Saskatchewan played a game with tin lids, which they called "Tin Lid Golf". There are also accounts of disc golf being played in the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and 60s.
The early disc golf courses were "object courses", with targets such as trees, trash cans, light poles, chicken wire baskets, pipes, and fire hydrants. The sport is believed to have originated in multiple locations, with groups of people playing independently throughout the 1960s. For example, students at Rice University in Houston, Texas, held tournaments with trees as targets as early as 1964. In Pendleton King Park in Augusta, Georgia, players would toss frisbees into 50-gallon trash barrels as early as the early 1960s. In 1965, George Sappenfield, a recreation counselor, set up an object course for the children he was supervising. That same year, Sappenfield, along with Kevin Donnelly, helped spread the sport in their California cities. Donnelly, who began playing a form of frisbee golf called "Street Frisbee Golf" in 1959, organized frisbee golf tournaments at nine playgrounds in Newport Beach, California, in 1961. This culminated in a 1965 citywide frisbee golf tournament in Newport Beach, sponsored by Wham-O and spearheaded by Ed Headrick.
In 1968, Sappenfield became the Parks and Recreation supervisor for Conejo Recreation and Park District in Thousand Oaks, California, and planned a disc golf tournament. Wham-O supplied frisbees and hula hoops to be used as targets. In 1970, Ken Westerfield and Jim Kenner played frisbee golf daily on an 18-hole object course they designed at Queen's Park in downtown Toronto, and presented Canada's first disc golf competitions. That same year, the Berkeley Frisbee Group established a standardized 18-hole object course on the Berkeley campus, and the University of Michigan Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor designed an object frisbee golf course.
In 1973, there were only a few disc golf object courses in the US and Canada. That year, a group of people from Rochester, New York, who had been playing disc golf as a competitive sport regularly since 1970, promoted the Second Annual City of Rochester Disc Golf Championship. In 1974, disc golf made its debut as a side activity at larger events, and in 1975, it was featured as the main event at the City of Rochester Disc Golf Championship. In 1974, Headrick approached the county of Los Angeles Park and Recreation Department with the idea of a permanent disc golf course, and Oak Grove Park was selected as the world's first permanent disc golf course.
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The first disc golf association
The history of disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, can be traced back to the early 1960s, with multiple groups playing independently during this decade. While the exact origins of the sport are debated, it is believed that students at Rice University in Houston, Texas, played disc golf as early as 1964, using trees as targets. Similarly, in Pendleton King Park in Augusta, Georgia, players would toss frisbees into 50-gallon trash cans designated as targets.
In 1965, George Sappenfield, a recreation counselor, set up an object course for children to play on. He organized a fully documented, Wham-O-sponsored, citywide frisbee golf tournament in Newport Beach, California, in 1965. This tournament, spearheaded by Ed Headrick, included hula hoops as holes and offered prizes to participants.
Ed Headrick, also known as "Steady" Ed, is regarded as the "Father of Disc Golf." In 1975, he coined and trademarked the term "Disc Golf" and patented the Disc Pole Hole, the first disc golf target with chains and a basket. Headrick played a pivotal role in the early days of frisbee sports and founded the International Frisbee Association.
In 1976, "Steady" Ed Headrick and his son, Ken Headrick, established the first disc golf association, the Disc Golf Association (DGA). The primary objectives of the DGA were to manufacture discs and baskets and to formalize the sport. The first disc golf target designed by Ed was the pole hole, which consisted of a pole protruding from the ground. The DGA now officiates the standard rules of play for the sport.
The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) was also formed by Ed Headrick in 1976, along with the Recreational Disc Golf Association (RDGA). The PDGA has played a significant role in the growth of the sport, and as of 2023, it boasts over 100,000 active members worldwide. The PDGA provided a sense of community for players, and local clubs associated with the organization contributed funds to build new courses.
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The emergence of disc golf as an organised sport
In 1965, George Sappenfield, a recreation counselor, set up an object course for children to play on. Sappenfield later became the Parks and Recreation supervisor for Conejo Recreation and Park District in Thousand Oaks, California, in 1968, and organised a disc golf tournament with the support of Wham-O Manufacturing. This tournament, sponsored by Wham-O, included hula hoops as holes and published rules, hole lengths, pars, and prizes.
Another early instance of disc golf was played in 1965 by a group of teenagers in Alameda Park in Santa Barbara, California. This group played a form of the game called Street Frisbee Golf, which was also played by Kevin Donnelly in 1959. Donnelly, along with Sappenfield, would go on to spread the sport throughout California.
In 1970, Ken Westerfield and Jim Kenner played Frisbee golf daily on an 18-hole object course they designed at Queen's Park in downtown Toronto, Canada, and the Berkeley Frisbee Group established a standardised 18-hole course on the Berkeley campus. These early courses often utilised natural features such as open areas, woodlands, and trees as targets.
The sport continued to gain popularity, and in 1974, disc golf was included as a side activity in two major Frisbee events. This marked a turning point, as it showcased the potential of disc golf as a formal sport and recognised recreational activity. In the same year, "Steady" Ed Headrick, often regarded as the "Father of Disc Golf", approached the county of Los Angeles Park and Recreation Department with the idea of a permanent disc golf course. Oak Grove Park was selected, and Headrick, along with Mary Becker, designed and constructed the world's first permanent disc golf course.
In summary, the emergence of disc golf as an organised sport occurred through the efforts of dedicated individuals who spread the game throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The sport gained momentum with the support of companies like Wham-O and the establishment of standardised courses and rules. By the mid-1970s, disc golf had evolved from a fringe activity to a mainstream sport with a dedicated following.
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The first disc golf company
The history of disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, can be traced back to the early 1960s. While there were earlier instances of people playing golf with a flying disc, the modern sport of disc golf started to take shape in the 1960s with the efforts of multiple individuals and groups.
One of the key pioneers of disc golf was "Steady" Ed Headrick, who is often regarded as the "Father of Disc Golf". Headrick was an American toy inventor and worked for Wham-O Toys in the 1960s, where he helped redesign the flying disc known as the frisbee. He founded the International Frisbee Association and played a crucial role in the development of early frisbee sports.
In 1975, Headrick's tenure at Wham-O ended, and he left the company to pursue his new interest—disc golf. In 1976, Headrick and his son, Ken Headrick, started the first disc golf company, the Disc Golf Association (DGA). The primary objectives of the DGA were to manufacture discs and baskets and to formalize the sport. The first disc golf target designed by Ed Headrick was the pole hole, which consisted of a pole sticking out of the ground with chains and a basket.
The formation of the DGA marked a significant turning point in the history of disc golf. It not only facilitated the manufacturing of specialized equipment for the sport but also contributed to the standardization and formalization of disc golf. Ed Headrick's efforts extended beyond the DGA, as he also founded the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) in 1975, which now officiates the standard rules of play for the sport.
The early history of disc golf was characterized by a grassroots movement, with various groups and individuals independently organizing tournaments and competitions. The sport gradually gained popularity, and by the 1970s, disc golf had evolved from a fringe activity to a recognized recreational sport. Today, disc golf is played in about 40 countries worldwide, with a growing number of courses and active participants.
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Frequently asked questions
Disc golf, or frisbee golf, is believed to have originated in the 1960s. There are several accounts of people playing golf with a flying disc before this, with the first known instance occurring in 1926 when a group of children in Bladworth, Saskatchewan played a game with tin lids, calling it "Tin Lid Golf".
"Steady" Ed Headrick is regarded as the "Father of Disc Golf". He coined and trademarked the term "Disc Golf" and founded the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA).
The first disc golf course was installed in Oak Grove Park, Los Angeles in 1974.
The Disc Golf Pole Hole is the basis of all disc golf targets today. It was invented by Ed Headrick and patented in 1975.
Disc golf is a flying disc game in which players throw a disc at a target, using rules similar to golf. The aim is to traverse a course, usually consisting of 9 or 18 holes, in the fewest number of throws of the disc.
