Ultimate v. Disc Golf

When people ask me what I like to do in my free time I usually respond that I enjoy traveling, running, playing ultimate Frisbee and disc golfing. Because ultimate frisbee and disc golf are two pastimes that have exploded in popularity only recently many people who did not grow up playing these two sports often think they are the same thing. I would like to clarify the difference between the two sports.

Ultimate Frisbee is a highly active sport that is played on field approximately the size of a soccer field. Each team of seven members lines up on an end zone as one team “kicks off” (called pulling) to the other. Once the team on offense receives the pull their goal is to cross the other team’s end zone line. The disc can only be moved by passing it from one player to another. Immediately after catching the disc the receiver must stop running and has ten seconds to pass it to a teammate. If the person with the Frisbee does not pass it within ten seconds this constitutes a turnover. The team also turns over the disc if it is thrown out of bounds or a passing attempt is incomplete. Once a team successfully passes the disc to a player in the end zone they score one point and the above scenario plays out again until the next point. It is a past-paced exciting game with no stoppage of play or timeouts.

Disc golf is very similar to the familiar form of golf that is played with a ball, with the obvious substitution of clubs for Frisbees. The discs used in disc golf vary in diameter, weight and material. Drivers are designed for long distance throws, and based on their design can be used to play straight up the fairway, or curve around obstacles. Putters are generally made for flying at lower speeds and are made with a softer plastic that is less durable than that used for drivers.

Most disc golf courses have either nine or eighteen holes with each hole starting at a slab of concrete that is used as the tee. The player can take a running approach, but must release the disc before crossing the plane at the front of the tee pad. The target that is the “hole” in disc golf is actually a metal basket that stands approximately three feet off the ground. When the player successfully throws their disc into the basket without it bouncing out they have completed the hole and move to the next. For most holes three throws (drive, approach, put) is considered par.

Both sports have their own appeal. Ultimate Frisbee is a great workout that is rewarding for those who enjoy sports that require speed, stamina and strategy. It’s a great game to play with friends, requires no equipment other than a standard ultimate Frisbee disc (175g) and is safe because it’s a non-contact sport. Disc golf allows for a slower paced, more intimate event that can be played individually or with a small group of friends. It allows you to get outside and enjoy nature; most courses are free and on public land, many in county and state parks. Stopping at courses on a road trip can be a great way to see the country. Whether you prefer the excitement of a past-paced ultimate game, or the relaxed setting of a round of disc golf either one is an affordable fun way to spend a day.