While millions of Americans love traditional golf, the lesser-known sport of disc golf is not one to count out, as it is steadily gaining attention. Courses can be found all over Missouri and around the country. Although this is a professional sport, many people consider it to be a hobby they picked up.
“The popularity of disc golf, I feel, peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic because many people were looking for a recreation opportunity that allowed for social distancing and at the same time some level of camaraderie and reason to get out of the house,” community member and disc golfer Neil Schutte said.
Many courses offer options based on the number of holes preferred and the golfer’s skill level. Some of the most popular courses include Creve Coeur Hillside, Quail Ridge Park, and many in the metropolitan St. Louis Area that have great courses to choose from that vary in level of difficulty. There are even a variety of courses close to home.
“People living in St. Charles have many options available for them to play at different courses that range from short and simple courses to professional courses that require much higher levels of skill,” Schutte said.
Sophomore Noah Button, on the other hand, loves to play the sport and usually gets around three to five rounds in each week. He doesn’t play it for a team or for a school, but just finds tournaments whenever he can to make himself improve.
“I try to play in tournaments as much as possible to help myself get better and because I’m very competitive, so I really enjoy it,” disc golf amateur Button said. “Part of what makes tournaments so fun and disc golf in general is the people. Mostly everyone I’ve played with has been nice and encouraging.”
Disc golf has a way of connecting people of all different ages and backgrounds, but especially reconnecting families and building lifelong relationships.
“One main connection I’ve made is growing closer to my brother,” senior Logan Niederer said. “Growing up, we were very competitive, but disc golf is the one activity that we both enjoyed getting better at and watching each other get better.”
The under-recognized sport has plenty of pros. Whether someone is looking to play competitively, meet new people, stay active, or just find a new hobby, this sport has been all of those things for a wide variety of people.
“The disc golf community, in my opinion, is very welcoming to new players and the sport has a wide variety of levels of competition for everyone to participate in,” Schutte said. “If someone is looking to enjoy an outdoor activity that allows them to hike with a purpose and a competitive aspect, I feel that disc golf is a fun activity for them to participate in.”
However, most people don’t understand what it takes to get into disc golf, which can make it an intimidating sport to get into; some overlook it and don’t fully understand all the work it takes for it to become enjoyable. Disc golf follows the same structure as traditional golf, with the exception of discs and metal baskets.
“One common misconception is that it is easy,” Niederer said. “A lot of people think it is something you can just show up and be good, but there is a lot of technique that goes into it.”
The disc golf community is a small population of today’s sports; however, most don’t seem to mind the close-knit group it has created. Players often recognize the familiar faces on the course and bond over the love of the sport that not many share.
“I think disc golf is a great recreational sport that nearly anyone can find some fun and enjoyment doing, but I don’t feel that disc golf should necessarily receive more recognition,” Schutte said. “If the general population has the opportunity to try the sport, I feel that a certain number of people will find the experience enjoyable, and a portion of those people, like myself, will find the sport enjoyable enough to become more invested in it.”
