Disc golf cheat sheet
Disc Golf
PDGA Official Rules of Disc Golf, abbreviated. When in doubt, see the official rules.
A disc that comes to rest completely past the OB line costs one throw. Play from the previous lie, or from up to one metre in from where it last crossed.
After the tee, whoever's disc lies farthest from the target throws next, until the hole is done. Throwing out of order is a courtesy violation, not a penalty.
On any throw from within 10 m of the target, you must demonstrate full control of balance behind your marker before stepping toward the target — a fall forward is +1.
Things people get wrong:
- A disc with any part over in-bounds is safe — OB only when it's completely past the line (and the line itself is OB).
- The two-metre rule is off unless the tournament director turns it on.
- Mark by placing the mini in front of your disc (toward the target), then throw from behind it.
- You get 30 s (from the tee or within 20 m of the basket) or 45 s to throw — then a warning, then +1.
- You may take line-of-play relief straight backward for +1 any time — free after an OB penalty.
- The hole ends when the disc is trapped in the chains or basket — not resting on top.
Layout
The hole
Throw from the tee, stay in-bounds, obey any mandatory, and hole out at the basket. Miss a mando and you take +1 from its drop zone.
Between throws
Marking your lie
Mini touches the front of your thrown disc; your lie is the patch right behind it. Throw with a supporting point on the lie and nothing past the marker.
Penalty
Out of bounds
OB only when the disc is completely past the line. Then +1, and play from the previous lie or within 1 m of where it last crossed.
01
Format & pace
- Scoring: stroke play — every throw counts, plus penalties; lowest total wins. Score is usually shown against par.
- Round: 9 or 18 holes; the event sets the format and card.
- Clock: once it’s your turn and you’ve reached your lie, you have 30 s (tee, drop zone, or within 20 m of the target) or 45 s otherwise.
02
Tee & order of play
- Tee stance: at release, every supporting point (foot, hand, knee) must be inside the teeing area — the pad, or 3 m behind the tee line.
- Who tees first: lowest score on the previous hole leads off; ties keep the previous order.
- After the tee: the away player — farthest from the target — always throws next.
03
The lie & stance
- Mark it: put a mini marker touching the front of your thrown disc on the line of play, then pick the disc up — or just play from the thrown disc itself.
- Stance at release: one supporting point on the lie, nothing closer to the target than the rear of the marker, and every supporting point in-bounds.
- Relief: you may always mark a new lie straight back along the line of play for +1. Free relief from casual water and harmful obstacles.
04
Out of bounds & lost discs
- OB: the disc must be completely surrounded by the OB area — the line counts as OB. Any part over in-bounds and it’s safe.
- OB penalty: +1, then play from the previous lie or up to 1 m in from where it last crossed. Moving farther back on the line of play from there is free.
- Lost disc: 3 minutes to search (the whole group helps). If not found: +1 and re-throw from the previous lie.
- Two-metre rule: off by default — a disc stuck high in a tree is played from directly below, no penalty, unless the director turned the rule on.
05
Putting & holing out
- A putt: any throw from within 10 m of the target (front of the lie to the base of the basket).
- Balance: after releasing a putt you must show full control of balance behind your marker before moving toward the target — falling or stepping through is +1.
- Holed: the throw is complete when the disc comes to rest supported by the basket — in the chains or the tray. Resting on top doesn’t count.
06
Penalties & conduct
- Straight +1: OB, lost disc, missed mandatory, tee or lie stance violation, falling putt, practice throw, optional line-of-play relief.
- Warning first: excessive time, and a marking violation — the second one in the round is +1.
- Courtesy: stand still and quiet while others throw, don’t walk ahead of the away player, help search for lost discs.
- Provisional: if a call is disputed, play a second throw provisionally and sort it out afterward rather than holding up the group.
- Discs: PDGA-approved discs only in sanctioned play.
- Casual vs event: mulligans and gimmes are fine among friends; tournaments follow the rulebook and the director.