DISCover Nature

Welcome to the first of many disc golfer/naturalist collaborations!

Disc golf is a fast growing sport and, with some help, can work well with conservation and restoration projects around the world. By using iNaturalist we are not only hoping to inspire players to learn more about the nature around them, but are also interested in knowing (1) what wildlife is using disc golf courses, and (2) which courses are doing the best job at encouraging and facilitating nature.

Disc Golf and Nature:
If you are looking for references or readings on the interaction between disc golf and nature you will be hard pressed to find any really solid experimental work since Trendafilova et al. (2011). I have linked this paper below.

What we do know is that disc golf has a significant impact on vegetation structure, soil compaction and soil erosion. But since there has been almost no work done assessing ecological impacts of disc golf in any ecosystem around the world, we really don't know how courses built up until now have influenced the systems they exist in.

However, because this sport works well in wooded and open areas, with variably narrow fairways and doesn't need the same level of course modifications as most other outdoor sports, disc golfers have a unique opportunity to be true to their sport and stewards of healthy courses as well. With some level of ecological understanding and research-informed best practices, this past time could have a positive ecological impact when applied with care.

If you are looking for a responsible disc golf course design outline, you can start with 'Sustained Flight: Ecological Disc Golf Course Design' (Greenwald 2021). This guide was developed as part of a Masters of Landscape Architecture at the University of Oregon by Hillary Greenwald.

Another good read is from the 'Parked' disc golf blog (Parked 2020). It is a frustrated and genuine look into why disc golf courses are being questioned for their assumed sustainability. It is not written by a scientist or someone who really understands the ecology or the ecosystems involved, but they do interview some experts and explain the basics of soil compactions and some mitigating practices.

By submitting observations and discussing disc golf's relationship with nature at your local course, you too can be a part of a sustainable disc golf future.

Trendafilova et al. 2011 - https://www.ijsmart.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/vol8_c-Trendafilova.pdf

Greenwald 2021 - https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/handle/1794/26344

Parked 2020 - https://parkeddiscgolf.org/2020/01/06/good-dirt-how-soil-compaction-could-affect-the-future-of-disc-golf/ less ↑