The game of disc golf is played with flying discs, just like regular golf, except the player throws a frisbee-like disc instead of a club. The aim is to score points by completing each hole in the fewest throws.
In Canada, disc golf has increased recently, and the sport is now a popular pastime. According to PDGA member statistics, the number of registered players in Canada has jumped from 14,000 to 70,000.
Several factors have contributed to the growth of disc golf in Canada. Some of these include the increase in the number of courses, the introduction of new players, and the fact that the game is relatively cheap.
It can be played by people of all ages and abilities and is highly accessible to those with limited budgets. In addition, the game is relatively easy to learn and can be played in various environments, including forests, parks, beaches, fields, and even indoors.
The rules of disc golf are designed to be simple and understandable. Generally, the game is played by throwing the disc from the teeing area to a designated target or target line. When the disc lands outside of this designated area, it is considered out-of-bounds and the player must make a throw from the spot where the disc landed.
Other rules can also apply to the game, such as teeing off on the correct side of the tee box or using a specific type of disc. Some courses may also have special rules, such as that a player can only throw one disc at a time.
Although the game originated in the United States, it became popular in Canada through the 1970s. Ken Westerfield and Jim Kenner, both disc athletes, first played Frisbee disc golf on an 18 object course they created in Queens Park in Toronto. They also ran disc golf tournaments on the Toronto Islands during the Canadian Open Frisbee Championships and in Vancouver at the Vancouver Open Frisbee Championships.
After a few years of playing Frisbee disc golf in the Canadian province of Ontario, Ken and his long-time friend Mike Sullivan decided to design and install a 9-hole course on Toronto Island in 1980. This was the first official 18-disc golf pole hole course in Canada and the start of competitive disc golf in Canada.
Since then, many more disc golf courses have been installed in the country, with more being added frequently. Currently, there are 702 disc golf courses in Canada, including 315 with 18 or more holes.
Almost half of Canada’s disc golf courses are located in British Columbia and Ontario, but there are now courses in every province and territory. This includes courses located in the northernmost part of the country, which could not have been imagined just a few decades ago.