By full-time disc golf lover and also full-time SB Sr. Manager Bill Manger
 

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

 
Let's start with a basic definition: disc golf is a form of golf played with flying discs instead of balls and clubs, and is played very much like traditional “ball” golf (let's definitely start calling it ball golf, okay? Great). It's experienced a huge burst of popularity in the past few years, and rightly so! Disc golf has all the best parts of ball golf: it's played outdoors, it's all about aiming something small at something far away, and includes plenty of time between rounds to enjoy a tasty beverage and hang out with your friends. And, it has none of the downsides of ball golf: golf clubs are $$$$, discs are $; golf club memberships are also $$$$, disc golf courses are often free. On top of all that, it's a super welcoming sport to get into, with lots of room to refine your skills! We've never met a snooty disc golfer, since the whole sport is really all about getting outside and having fun. If you like going outside and having fun, and if you can throw a Frisbee (spoiler alert: you can), then you're going to love disc golf. Now that that's established, let's get into the details!
 

HOW DO I PLAY? WHAT ARE THE RULES?

 
You tee off from a tee box by throwing a disc. Where your disc lands and stops is where you throw from next. Just like in golf you must play from behind your lie (as in, where the disc lies on the grass). You count your throws until your disc lands in the disc golf basket, or as some lovingly refer to it, the “pole hole”.
 

WHAT DO I NEED TO PLAY DISC GOLF?

 
You can play disc golf with only one disc (which can totally be an Ultimate disc if you have one of those), or you can build a bag using several discs, just like there are different clubs for different shots in ball golf. Beginners can purchase a starter pack or build their own starter set.
 

 
When you're just starting to learn how to play, using a disc golf putter disc for 100% of your throws will teach you correct technique and form. Putters are the most accurate discs and can cover distances over 300 feet, but don't “hook” left or right very much when ending their flight. Drivers will have huge “hooks” to their flight if you are not throwing the disc fast enough.

Using putters for more than putting is disc golf’s biggest secret (well, not anymore I guess).
 

TIME FOR SOME GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS...

 
I'd recommend almost any and all putters as your beginner disc. Mid-range discs I'd recommend (when you're ready) are the Discraft Buzzz, Discraft Comet, Innova Mako3, Innova Shark, and Innova Atlas. Ultimate athletes will find these discs easy to transition too from the Ultimate disc.

As you get more experienced you can add mid-range discs and fairway drivers to your bag, but don’t move up to “fast flying discs (distance drivers)” until you have really developed your form.
 

 
But that's not all! Hiking and trail running shoes work great, as do Vans-type skate shoes at courses with drier conditions. You probably don't need to buy new shoes, unless you really want to. Depending on conditions, you may want a golf towel or two, just because they tend to be useful. If you don't like your shirt, feel free to use that instead (only kinda kidding). Also, you'll want a bag to carry your disc(s) but any day pack will work, you don't have to get fancy with it. Some courses have poison oak, so you may want to bring Technu just in case you forget the "leaves of three" rhyme. Your doctor told me to remind you to wear sunscreen.
 

WHERE CAN I PLAY DISC GOLF?

 
There are tons of courses in the Bay Area for you to try out, and more courses are popping up every day. Here is a list of my personal (free!) favorites:

• Golden Gate Park DGC (18 holes, can get crowded so go early)
• Aquatic Park, Berkeley (18+ holes with lots of wind and water hazards so losing a disc is easy. Technical holes with tight fairways and lots of rough. Not for beginners)
• Moraga Commons Park, Moraga (9 holes with elevation changes)
• Chabot Park (Lil Chabot) San Leandro (9 holes with many other variation “holes”. Great beginner course.
• Walden Park, Walnut Creek (9 holes and beginner friendly)
• Hillcrest Park, Concord (9 holes)
• Livermore Robertson Park, Livermore (18 holes, 9 baskets with alternate tees)
• Benicia Community Park, Benicia (9 holes around ball fields)
• Villa Maria Park, Cupertino (11 holes)
• Kelly Park, San Jose (18 holes)
• Hellyer Park, San Jose (9 holes, lots of uphill and downhill shots)
• Parque de la Raza, San Jose (9 holes, pretty technical)
• Stafford Lake State Park, Novato (18-23 holes, very technical, very long and a ton of hills up and down. Be prepared for a long hike of a round)
• Skyline Wilderness Park, Napa (18 holes, technical with elevation changes)
• Taylor Mountain Park, Santa Rosa (18 holes, elevation)
• Rosa Park, Santa Rosa (18 holes technical wooded course)

And here are a few places to play that have a fee other than parking:

• Glen Eagles Golf Course in McLaren Park SF (18 hole Professional level course. Long technical holes with huge elevation changes. Holes over 1000 feet)
• Monarch Bay Golf Course, San Leandro (18 holes on the 9 hole golf course. Great fun layout with some possible over water throws)
• Lake Chabot Golf Course, Oakland (18 holes with a lot of Out of Bounds and big elevation changes)
• Emerald Hills Golf Course, Emerald Hills (Redwood City area)