5 Tips to Enjoy a Round of Disc Golf

Disc golf should be an enjoyable experience. No matter your talent level you should finish a round feeling better than when you started. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. I have had friends walk off the course in the middle of a round due to poor play and exaggerated reactions. That’s ok. It’s understandable. We get frustrated when we perform under our expectations. Just remember, it’s not ONLY about your score.

Below are five tips for how to enjoy a round of disc golf no matter how you play. 

1) Stretch

How many times have you shown up to the course and put your hands on your hips and bent left, bent right, bent forward, and with a questionable groan said, “All right, let’s do this.” Just me? The first 15 years playing this is how my round started. My body was tight and my shots were loose. Over the years I now have a 15-minute regimen for warming up that includes stretching and short jogs.

Disc golf is a sport. Treat it like one. I recognize the leisurely approach most players have but stretching is your best friend for muscle memory and recovery. Simply put, 5 minutes of stretching before and after your round will help you play better disc golf and be able to play more due to muscle recovery. I highly recommend Disc Golf Strong as a resource for disc golf specific stretching and training.

2) Enjoy Being Outdoors

You could be anywhere you want to be and lucky you, you have chosen to be outdoors at a disc golf course. Appreciate that. You have given yourself this time to enjoy yourself. Notice what time of year it is and what is happening with the flora.  Appreciate what types of birds are singing and possibly even look up the species after the round. Make note of the types of trees around the course. Especially make note of the types of trees you keep throwing your disc into!

Fresh air and exercise bring endorphins to the body. Disc golf naturally has healing properties just by showing up. Few other activities can reward you with this type of somatic benefit. Walk and breathe and know that you are in a beautiful space outdoors.

3) Focus for 15 Seconds at a Time

Have you ever thrown a shot and immediately pondered, ”Why did I just do that?”  Chances are you did not take the time to focus before your shot. There are bound to be obstacles between you and the basket. There are also bound to be better paths for your disc to fly based on your skill set. Take a few seconds and pick the route of least resistance. Visualize the flight of your disc from start to finish. Take a deep breath and throw on the exhale.

Is it windy? Are there any out of bounds areas? Are there any low hanging branches? These are all factors to quickly take inventory of in your 15 second pre shot routine. 

4) Allow Yourself To Throw Bad Shots

Everybody throws bad shots. Yes, they are frustrating. But they are also our best teachers. Take the time to think about what went awry during the shot. What led to a poor result? Then comes the biggest factor to enjoying a round of disc golf; leave the shot there and move on. Let it go. Step up to the next shot with the confidence that you can throw a quality shot and then execute. 

The difference between enjoying a round and not enjoying a round lies in the small stuff. Let it go. Walk lightly around the course as you will throw bad shots and you will throw great shots. Remember the great shots. These will keep you coming back for more and give you stories to embellish to your friends!

5) Just Show Up

We take this for granted but the only way to enjoy a round of disc golf is to show up!  Our lives become so busy that we may put leisurely activities on the back burner. I propose the idea that the rest of your life will be enhanced by showing up to the course. There are a myriad of reasons why you can’t make it to the course; many are valid. However, bring intention to the course and you will leave feeling better than when you showed up.

Only you know how often is reasonable to play for a balanced lifestyle. We certainly need to take care of our priorities in life. However, do not allow the busy world to deny you the enjoyment of a round of disc golf. Show up and enhance your life. Notice that none of these recommendations have anything to do with throwing technique or your score. Treat disc golf as a place to feel better and take it with you.  Treat it as a space to let go instead of carrying more baggage. The most important part of a round is that you feel better after a round than before it started. Now get out there and enjoy a round!