Some disc golfers know the PDGA rulebook inside and out. Tragically, I’m not one of them. There’s a good chance you aren’t, either. If you aren’t, perhaps the below situation has caused you a moment (or two) of panic on the course, especially during a round of sanctioned play.
You’re putting from the edge of the circle on a slight incline – let’s call it 35 feet. The putt leaves your hand, but comes out a bit higher and hotter than you would’ve liked. In an instant, it smacks the top of the top band, bounces back towards you and starts rolling and rolling and rolling …
It’s headed for your bag.
If it’s a buddy’s, he runs like mad to move it before your disc comes into contact with it.
Why?
Well, in many disc golfers’ minds, one of TWO impending penalties is on the table:
- If you putt the disc, once it contacts a cardmate’s bag, you’ll receive a penalty stroke.
- If it’s your bag (or gear) that makes contact with a cardmate’s disc, you’ll get the penalty.
Here’s the crazy part …
Neither is a penalty.
Wild, right?
Here’s what PDGA Rule No. 810.D Interference says:
“It is a violation if a player or their equipment interferes with the course of their own thrown disc. The throw and one penalty throw are counted in the player's score; the player continues play from the previous lie. Any other penalty throws incurred by the throw are disregarded. If a throw is interfered with by request of the thrower, that is considered the same as a player interfering with their own throw.”
* Note: The entirety of PDGA Rule No. 810 Interference is worth a read – click here.
In other words, a penalty stroke is assessed ONLY if you’re the one who threw the disc, and it hits your own bag. Furthermore, should you ask another player to grab your disc to stop it from rolling into a pond, for example, as that was entirely your call, you still get a penalty stroke.
The only way in which a cardmate gets pinged with a penalty for making contact with your mid-flight (or -roll) frisbee is if they mean to do it. As determined by the card, there must be intention to disrupt the shot. When this happens, a two-stroke penalty is given to the offender. Thankfully, the lone exception to this rule is a player interfering with a disc to prevent injury.
Right quick, back to the putting-green example I presented at the start of this piece …
If you’re the one putting, you do yield some power in this situation to prevent confusion. It’s well within your rights to request that other disc golfers move their gear to avoid even the appearance of interference. Should they refuse, it’s an automatic courtesy violation.
Boom.
So, is there drama with discs unexpectedly grazing or smashing disc golf bags and water bottles that’ve carelessly been left on the ground? Yes, but only if they belong to you, or you have the misfortune of playing with a bunch of too-brained low-lifes out to sabotage your game.
Otherwise, accidents happen.
And when they do, proceed without issue.
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