At the Cato Falls Disc Golf Course in Reedsville, Wisconsin, the Manitowoc River flows through unique rock formations and cascades into a waterfall. As discs sail over verdant fields, river otters sometimes swim by, says Tita Ugalde, a Hall of Fame disc golf athlete.
Arrive early enough and you might spot grazing deer, says Ugalde, 66, who has been playing disc golf for 50 years.
Disc golf — a variation of ball golf except with discs (Frisbee-like gear, but the correct terminology is disc) — is growing in popularity among people who are 50-plus because it’s low-cost, gentle on the body, easy to learn and accessible. Players say one of the sport’s biggest perks is the setting — bucolic and forested courses that are often in parks and free to play.
“You’re breathing the fresh air, and you’re laughing. And you’re in nature,” says Ugalde. “For those of us that are a little older — especially those of us that would like to get in our 10,000 steps — it’s a lovely walk in the park. All you need is really one disc, and you just toss, walk, toss, walk.”
The rules are simple — throw the disc into the basket. If you know how the game of ball golf is played, you have a basic understanding of how to play disc golf, says Dan “Stork” Roddick, a Hall of Fame disc golf athlete.
Disc golf is relatively young compared to other American sports. In December, the first-ever permanent disc golf course in Pasadena, California, celebrates its 50th anniversary. And it is an inclusive sport — the oldest division in the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) is for those 80-plus. “It is truly an ageless game compared to many others,” says Roddick, 77.
With more than 16,000 disc golf courses worldwide, players at any level can make one their next travel stop or spontaneous roadside adventure. AARP talked to PDGA Hall of Famers about their favorite course recommendations. Before you go, Ugalde says to research the courses using directories like UDisc, which lists course difficulty, terrain and accessibility, or PDGA. Yelp can also provide information and reviews.
“The most fun wins all,” says Andi Young, 65, a disc golf Hall of Famer. “You can take [disc golf] from school age to old age.”
Tita Ugalde, a Hall of Fame disc golfer, plays at Oak Grove Disc Golf Course, the first permanent disc golf course.
Courtesy Tita Ugalde
Oak Grove Disc Golf Course
Pasadena, California
The first permanent disc golf course, established in 1975 by pioneer Ed Headrick, winds through thickets of tall trees and hiking trails at Hahamongna Watershed Park. If you don’t have your own disc, borrow one from the community bin near the parking lot entrance, Ugalde says. The course’s easy access to parking and portable toilets makes it ideal for beginners, she adds.
During its golden jubilee celebration (Dec. 5–7), Ugalde says a tribute basket will be installed in Headrick’s honor — a perfect blend of fun and history.
