Want to Try Disc Golf? Start Here 🥏
Maybe you’ve seen those metal baskets around the park. Maybe you’ve watched people walking around with bags full of colorful discs. Or maybe you’ve seen me posting about disc golf enough times that you’ve finally thought:
“Okay… I might actually want to try this.”
DO IT. 😂
Getting started is much easier than it looks. You don’t need to know all the rules, you don’t need a bag full of discs, and you definitely don’t need to be good.
You just need to throw the first one.
🥏 What Do I Actually Need?
Keep your first round simple:
1–2 discs — A putter or midrange is plenty to start.
Comfortable shoes — You’ll be doing some walking.
Water — Especially if you’re playing in Florida. Trust me. 😂
A course — And we have plenty around Jacksonville.
That’s really it.
Don’t worry about distance, keeping score or learning every rule yet. Throw your disc toward the basket, walk to where it lands and throw again.
Eventually it ends up in the basket.
Hopefully. 😂
📍 Where Should I Play My First Round?
Jacksonville has plenty of disc golf courses, but you don’t need to start with something difficult. Pick somewhere you can get comfortable throwing and actually enjoy yourself.
Here are three I’d recommend:
🥏 Springfield DGC
Springfield is a great place to get comfortable throwing and learning how your disc flies. It’s also the course I’ve played more than any other, so you’ll probably see Springfield mentioned quite a bit around here.
Don’t feel like you have to play every hole your first time. Throw a few and have fun with it.
🥏 Ed Austin Park — Fore Palms
Start with the RED course.
That’s the important part. 😂
The red layout gives you a friendlier way to experience Fore Palms while you’re still learning. You don’t need to prove anything by starting with the longer layout.
Start red. Learn your disc. Have fun.
🥏 Powers Park DGC
Powers is another course I’d recommend for getting out and experiencing an actual round.
But here’s my beginner advice:
AVOID THE WATER HOLES. 😂
If you’re standing on the tee looking at water between you and the basket while holding one of the only discs you own…
Just skip it.
Seriously.
Walk to the next hole and keep playing.
Your first round isn’t a tournament, and your brand-new disc doesn’t need to become a permanent resident of the pond.
🛒 Don’t Have a Disc Yet?
This part is easy too.
Stop by Par On Disc Golf and tell them you’re brand new.
You don’t have to walk in knowing what all the numbers mean or which plastic you’re supposed to buy. Tell them you’re getting started and looking for something beginner-friendly.
And while you’re there, ask questions.
What disc should I start with?
Where should I play?
How do I hold it?
Where can I meet other players?
What’s a putter? What’s a midrange?
Trust me, we’ve all had to learn this stuff at some point.
❤️ One Last Thing…
Don’t make your first round more serious than it needs to be.
Don’t want to keep score? Don’t.
Hole looks too difficult? Skip it.
Want to throw from somewhere closer? Go for it.
Disc went completely in the opposite direction from where you aimed?
Welcome to disc golf. 😂🥏
There will be plenty of time to learn the rules, understand the discs, work on your form and maybe even start competing someday.
But none of that matters yet.
Your first goal is much simpler:
Throw a disc. Walk after it. Throw it again.
And if you finish thinking, “Okay…that was actually pretty fun,” come back.
I’ve got plenty more to show you.
You don’t have to be perfect to play.
You just have to throw the first one. 🥏❤️
Come along for the mix!
New disc golf stories, adventures, beginner tips and whatever we get ourselves into next—straight to your inbox.
