Uncovering the Hidden History of Disc Golf Courses: A Journey Through Time
Date Published
As a volunteer PDGA Course Archivist, I've had the privilege of delving into the rich history of disc golf courses. In 2012, with the help of Cliff Towne, PDGA Disc Golf Course Directory Editor, we embarked on several projects to track and catalog disc golf courses from various sources. This journey led us to uncover some remarkable documents that shed new light on the installation dates of many courses.
One such document is a letter penned by "Steady" Ed Headrick in July 1977, listing 22 courses he had installed or was about to install. This letter marked the beginning of the disc golf course directory's evolution. In December 1977, DGA created a list of 29 courses that were included with Wham-O disc models. Bill Burns, a former PDGA Commissioner and Junior Champion, discovered this list on the PDGA Discussion Board in May 2003.
The first official DGA publication detailing new courses was released in July 1978. This newsletter featured 14 new courses, each with a signature hole description. The following year, DGA announced plans to publish a comprehensive Disc Golf Course Book, which would include location and pro data for all their courses. However, this project seemed to stall, and instead, they published newsletters listing new courses without detailed information.
The "Pocket Guide" was introduced in 1982, featuring a simple list of 116 US course locations by state and city. This guide was included with Wham-O Frisbee Golf Disc boxes and later used as a reference point for future directories. Steve Hartwell attempted to update this list but found it challenging due to location changes and the lack of detailed information.
Ted Smethers, who contacted pros in 1982 to organize a professional tour, created his own course directory by January 1984, containing 167 entries. This effort was largely unknown until later years, when "Steady" Ed published his own version of the directory without acknowledging Ted's contribution.
The PDGA began publishing its first official disc golf course directory in 1985, edited by Allen Risley and featuring 209 US courses and six Canadian courses. Steve Hartwell took over as editor in 1986, publishing directories or supplements nearly annually until 2001. He introduced the concept of including install dates for courses, which first appeared in the 1994 directory.
The PDGA's first official online disc golf course directory was launched on the World Wide Web in 1995 by Steve Hartwell and Bill Fitler. This pioneering effort laid the foundation for modern-day directories. As the sport grew, so did the need for a comprehensive online database, which led to the creation of the current PDGA Online Disc Golf Course Directory.
Today, we're proud to share with you what we believe are the earliest basket courses by state and year of installation. This list is based on extensive research and input from disc golf luminaries. If you have documented evidence of different dates or information, please don't hesitate to contact us. We encourage your feedback to help refine our knowledge and make this resource even more accurate.
To join in on the editing process, create a free account on PDGA.com and start adding new courses or updating existing ones today!
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/course-directories-and-earliest-disc-golf-courses