Disc Golf continues to be one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Iowa currently has 311 disc golf courses with a population of just over 3 million – that’s the most per capita in the United States. That number is catching up to the number of regular Golf Courses in the state with 394.

If you disregard per capita and look at which states simply have the most disc golf courses, the top two with the most are Texas and California. Iowa has the seventh most in the United States. The Midwest is home to seven of the top 10 states.

…Rhode Island has the least with only 6.

Quick History of the Sport:

In 1965, George Sappenfield was working as a recreation counselor during summer break in California.  While playing golf one afternoon, he thought that perhaps the kids on his playground could play golf using Frisbees, and the kids loved the idea.

Three years later he sought support from Wham-O for a Frisbee golf tournament that he planned to promote. By the mid-1970s, Frisbee Golf became a fully organized sport.

In 1982 the PDGA (Pro Disc Golf Association) hosted the first World Championship Tournament. Since then, the World Championships have been held in 17 different states, as well as Toronto, Ontario. There are currently over 100,000 members in the PDGA.

Worldwide the Sport is Booming

Across the planet, Iceland has the most per capita in the world. It's home to 53 courses with a population of just over 353,000.

As of last fall, there are around 11,300-disc golf courses in the world and around 8,000 disc-golf courses in the United States.

Between now and the end of November, there are nearly 100 registered disc golf tournaments just in Iowa.

To see a map of the courses in Iowa, tap HERE.

 

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