Disc golf is dirt-cheap.
This is one of my favorite things about it.
To get started with the game, you need next to nothing. New or used, a putter, midrange and fairway driver are about all that’s required. And depending on who you ask, that fairway driver might not even be necessary. Even better, hang around a disc golf course long enough, and you’ll likely find everything you need for your first round lying on the ground – potential freebies.
Sure, there are a few additional items that might make the experience more enjoyable. But unless you’re homeless, you’ve probably got them spread out around the house – and in bulk, too.
- A water bottle.
- A pair of sturdy shoes.
- Some non-restrictive clothing.
- Maybe a small sports bag to carry stuff.
And a pulse, of course.
But again, apart from life itself …
NONE of this is required.
In fact, speaking of homelessness, there’s a homeless guy who frequents one of my local courses. When he’s up and at it, we’ve tossed a few holes together. And I must say, he’s not half-bad.
Point proven.
When I was growing up, soccer was my main sport. I played for my high school, a traveling club and Oklahoma’s Olympic Development Program. That sounds pretty impressive, but for as much as my parents forked over for me to do all of this, it sure as heck better sound impressive. Gear, travel, uniforms, lodging, club fees, off-season training: The list goes on and on – and on.
So yes, I get that the cost of premium-plastic frisbees has gone up as of late. And due to the nature of disc golf, when these things go missing, there’s no guarantee you’re getting ‘em back.
* Note: If prices have you frustrated, bookmark this link – you’ll save a boatload on discs.
But disc golf isn’t only cheap for the beginner …
It’s affordable for the cut-throat competitor, too.
My parents would’ve killed for an annual $50 PDGA fee and another 50-ish bones for event registration. And incredibly, 95% of the time, throwing 18 holes at any course within driving distance costs nothing. Even instruction is largely limited to YouTube videos and maybe the occasional $75 session for 60 minutes with a professional when he swings by your town.
In the not-so-distant future, disc golf will get more expensive. If you’ve been at this for longer than five years, you’ve seen it firsthand. But it’ll hardly burn a hole in your pocket like hockey, football, baseball, etc. And don’t get me started on the grand-daddy of cash-to-trash sports …
Equestrianism.
Rich, poor or somewhere in-between, anybody can disc golf.
I mean that literally.
And I love it.
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This is why i was okay with the udisc price increase. I’ve purchased 3 discs the last 8 months. All F2 discs. Which, by the way deserves mention in this article. What’s 30 bucks for the app????
Funny, there’s another local course a few miles away from my home (free) course… But it costs 3 bucks to play? Guess how many times I’ve played it?
94 rounds at my free home course. Once at the 3 dollar course.
I’m cheap. Disc Golf fits me. This should be perk 001.
Amen to that, Fletch!
Also, with the whole “F2” thing …
Is there an equivalent of that in other sports?
(genuine question)
Ball Golf has X-out balls that are cheaper but buying discs is not the same as buying balls. The equivalent would probably be new clubs.
Green Splatter Paint Balling Blog?
Eh, not likely …
I went paint-balling once in sixth grade.
It cost and arm and a leg, and all I had to show for it was a few bruises.
Not for me. Haha.
This is exactly my point when I’m trying to sell disc golf to people that have never tried it. Between the low entry cost and free courses it’s hard to beat. Plus with most courses being free and public I find myself playing when I can on whatever holes I feel like. 20 mins or 2 hours it cost the same – FREE! No need to spend an entire day so I feel like “I got my moneys worth”
The flip side to low entry cost is the fact that losing a disc is common and costs considerably more then losing a single golf ball.
I’ll chip in and say that there are recycled golf balls that can be bought in bulk, although not f2s this is pretty close.
Excellent points, Andy!
TBH, I’d never thought about the “I got my money’s worth” thing …
That’s great.
When I play, it’s almost always at least 18 holes.
But hey, if I’ve got the time, might as well get in four or five, if that’s all I can do.
Thanks!
Great article! 100% agree! I started by asking my coworker (who used to compete professionally 10 years ago) about disc golf. I naively asked “Do you just use any ol frisbee?” He smiled and said he’d hook me up. Next day he brought in two nicely beat in DX discs. A Roc and an Aviar and he said “THIS is all you need for now”.
I eventually bought the DX starter set and a bag so now I was up to 5 discs. But even that lasted a while, then got another Roc, then started buying fairway drivers. Almost 2 years later and I’ve got 30+ discs and none of them were over $20.
I used to be into shooting and even just taking your .22 to a gun range set me back more than a premium disc these days. Plus the disc is reusable!
Also blessed with a wide array of FREE courses. My local club has a private course for members ($40 first year, $30 renewal- good for the calendar year). (Mossy Roc DGC Bellingham) It is a screamin deal if you ask me!
And I have paid to play a single round of disc golf too, but Kayak Point DGR is an hour drive away from me. Last time I went they didn’t even charge my daughter a green fee! (We indulged in some new plastic from the pro shop of course!).
All that to say – even when it starts to get spendy – it is still way cheaper than most hobbies out there these days!
I’ve tried to think of a cheaper sport …
Running, maybe?
If you’re putting in serious miles, you’re changing shoes pretty frequently, though.
And those shoes aren’t cheap, either.
Also, I’ve never heard of a local club with a pay-to-play fee, but that sounds AWESOME.
Love the idea!
Is that all that common, do you know?
It’s the only course I’m aware of! We also have a “nomad membership” for out of town visitors for only $20 (gets you the current gate code – they change the code in february and august). They use it as a perk to attract/retain dues paying members.
The only downside to the course (besides it being the hardest par 54 I’ve ever played) is it’s not very centrally located, but I can usually get to the gate in 20-25 mins from my house. I think it’s a great idea and I’m more than willing to fork over $30 next year to keep playing that course (and to help grow the sport at the same time).
Seriously, this is SUCH a good idea …
Obviously, acquiring the land in the first place is the hard part.
But man, I love it.
If you don’t mind me asking, how did the club get ahold of the property in the first place?
Is it private land?
I don’t mind at all.
Yes it’s private land, it’s on a defunct campground. I don’t know all the deals of the land lease, but there’s an HOA community out near there and they own the land. If you live in the HOA you can play there without a membership (perk for them). The club does all the maintenance (and it’s rainy WA so everything is always growing). I just joined at the new year, but it’s easily become one of my favorite courses. Pars don’t come easily there and birdies require skill. But really the best part is that it’s never TOO busy. the parking is limited (they open up a field for tournament parking) so you are almost never waiting. Everyone is a member so everyone is friendly and naturally faster groups play through (often without having to ask).
I knew the club was blessed to have this spot, but what a good reminder to be grateful for what we’ve got!
That’s awesome!
And man, knowing what I know about HOAs, I can’t believe they signed off on disc golf …
Those people can (sometimes) be insane.
Disc golf course? Yes.
Christmas lights in the first week of November? No.
Crazy.
Bellingham! Of course this is in the PNW. I think we need a special article written about this place. Greensplatter needs to fly out to God’s Country and drive up to Mossy Roc do some journalism!
Looking at the pictures and you definitely want to wear jeans on this course.
Oh, no …
Jeans.
I’ll see if I can find airfare in the Green Splatter budget 😉
(spoiler alert: it’s not there – haha)
I’d like to second Fletch’s motion!
Let’s start a Gofundme for the Green Splatter travel account!
And yes, you would definitely want jeans out here! (and a flannel)
Bahahaha …
Maybe I’ll add a “donation” page at the bottom of the blog or something.
For now, though, I think we’ll survive.
We’ll get out to USDGC or Worlds either this year or next, so that’s nice …
In due time, Kurt!
Crap I blew right past the cheap part into expensive when I got addicted to plastic. You know back up discs and then backups for backups. Then that color you have to have or that stamp you can’t live without. I need to find courses with more water carries and send some of these to a watery grave LOL. Your point is well taken though it is certainly cheaper than when I used to play baseball or even paintball considering the consumables there
Joseph, paintball is INSANE.
I’m in my early-thirties, but when I was younger, it was ALL the rage.
My parents (who were footing the bill) put an end to that fairly quickly. Haha.
‘And a pulse, of course.’
Hmm, that might be a bit fast for a beginner and hard to find now that they’re OOP 😉
I totally spaced on the Discraft Pulse being a thing …
Thank goodness capital letters exist, right?
This is what I get for an attempt at snark. Haha.
BTW, if you DO like the Pulse, there are plenty available on Infinite Discs.
I didn’t know it was an OOP mold, but hey – maybe somebody will read this comment, and it’ll make their day.