Disc Golf Facts: History of Disc Golf

From Backyard Fun to Global Sport

Disc golf, as we know it today, has its roots in the late 1960s when a group of creative individuals started adapting traditional golf concepts to a more casual, disc-throwing game. While there are a few competing stories about who first came up with the idea, one of the most widely accepted is that it was inspired by a childhood game played by a man named "Steady" Ed Headrick. Headrick, often referred to as the "father of disc golf," began experimenting with flying discs as a way to merge his love for frisbee throwing with the structure of traditional golf. He developed the first formalized set of rules and, in 1975, introduced the Disc Golf Target—a unique basket designed specifically for the sport. This marked the beginning of disc golf as a competitive, organized game.

The 1970s saw the rapid growth of disc golf as Headrick and others like him worked to spread the sport across the United States. Headrick founded the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) in 1976, which became the governing body for the sport, setting rules, organizing tournaments, and promoting disc golf globally. The early days of the sport were marked by grassroots efforts to establish permanent disc golf courses, often in public parks. The simplicity of the game, with its low-cost entry (all you need is a disc), and its outdoor appeal helped it spread quickly, especially in the 1980s when the sport’s first world championships were held.

Since its humble beginnings, disc golf has experienced significant growth, both in terms of participation and infrastructure. Today, there are thousands of disc golf courses worldwide, from small community parks to championship-level courses designed to test the world’s best players. The PDGA has grown into a global organization, and major tournaments like the PDGA World Championships and the Disc Golf Pro Tour now attract elite players and large audiences. The sport has also gained recognition in the broader athletic world, with disc golf’s inclusion in college programs and a growing network of professional athletes. What started as a fun backyard game has evolved into a globally recognized sport with a passionate, dedicated community of players at all levels.