Basic Rules of Disc Golf

How to Play Disc Golf – rules in a nutshell

Basic Rules for Recreational Play

The rules for disc golf are like those for traditional golf.  The main difference is that the disc golfer throws a flying disc for each shot instead of striking a ball with a club.  The order for play on the first hole is determined by chance but is determined there after by the lowest score on the previous hole.  The disc golfer begins play by throwing his disc, making sure his foot does not cross the tee line until after the disc is released.  Where the disc comes to rest is the mark for his second throw.  The disc is either left on the ground as a marker or is marked (by placing a "mini marker" touching the front edge of the disc) and picked up. The score for the hole is the sum of all throws from the tee off until the disc comes to rest in the bottom of the basket.

Penalty strokes are assessed for throws determined to be out-of-bounds or O.B.  Many O.B. requirements are determined by local rule and are sometimes indicated on tee signs, or scorecards, or by tournament or event directors.  There are several situations which are considered O.B., the first (now optional and designated or agreed to at the beginning of play) is when your discs sticks in a tree above 2 meters (6'6").  The second is when your disc comes to rest and is surrounded by water (other than temporary puddles).  If stuck in a tree you mark your lie directly below and add one stroke to your score.  It the case of water you mark your lie where the disc first crossed the water’s edge. The third situation is when the disc crosses an out of bounds line and comes to rest fully surrounded by out-of-bounds.  The remedy for this is to mark the disc where it crossed the line, except on a tee shot in which you re-tee.  In any of these cases you add a one strike penalty to your score.

Many courses have mandatory dog legs (Mando) which must be marked (tree, post, etc.) and indicated as such on something official like a sign, tee sign, scorecard, by event directors order, or by unanimous local consent.  The mando means your throw must pass the mando marker (tree, pole, etc.) to the side indicated.  If it passes to the wrong side of the marker, you must proceed to a designated drop zone and throw your next shot from there with a one stroke penalty.  When the last hole is completed you add the sum of the scores on all holes played and that is your score for the round.

Learn the rules of play and insist your playing partners play by the rules.

For a complete listing of the Official Rules of Disc Golf proceed to:

https://www.pdga.com/rules/official-rules-disc-golf