Disc Golf Discovery Zone

Disc Golf Discovery Zone®
with Scott Stokely

Disc Golf's Biggest Challenge: Limited Space

While disc golf continues to enjoy unprecedented growth in both players and course development worldwide, the largest number of potential players still have limited or no access to disc golf courses. We refer to those living in cities and dense urban areas, where space is limited and often shared with other activities. Even a typical 9-hole municipal recreational disc golf course requires ~10 acres. In cities where parks have long since been developed with no space to expand, this means new disc golf courses get relegated to the outskirts where there's more room. This means that unless public transit reaches these courses the sport is essentially out of reach of the majority of residents. These potential players may never be exposed to it, let alone try it. This is a big problem and one that's been difficult to find a solution for.

So how do you shrink disc golf down into a form that is still fun to play, offers something interesting to both new and experienced players, and can co-exist with other activities safely?

The Solution: Disc Golf Discovery Zones

Fluent’s Disc Golf Discovery Zone course packages are an elegant solution for cities and communities looking to bring disc golf to the people! Designed with ACA (Accessible Canada Act) and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) considerations in mind, these solutions provide a safe, fun, and family-friendly experience that can be adapted to virtually any park size—even the smallest parkettes.

But simply shrinking courses down isn’t the answer by itself. We needed a solution that players of all levels and abilities could enjoy and benefit from. Novices can learn the rules of the game and up to 22 different throws, intermediate players can work on upshots and expand their skillsets, and advanced players will appreciate the putting practice, ace runs, and shorter playing time!

Who is Scott Stokely?

Fluent Disc Sport is a disc golf course design company and experts in our field, but while we love to design, build, play and compete, we're not the pro's when it comes to instruction. For this we wanted to partner with someone who has the background, the credentials, and the history of providing the best instructional content in the sport, someone who would bring true legitimacy to the techniques we're presenting!

Who better than Scott Stokely, 17x World and National Disc Golf and Distance Champion. Scott has a following of more than 125k players through his various social media channels, and has produced more than 700 videos. He has spent his career travelling the world providing professional instruction through clinics and has trained countless players on proper form and technique. We are honoured to have Scott work with us to deliver The Stokely Method!

Adaptive Disc Golf

At Fluent Disc Sport, we believe disc golf should be accessible and welcoming to everyone, regardless of physical abilities, age, or experience level. That’s why each Disc Golf Discovery Zone is designed with adaptive play in mind. By incorporating guidelines from the PDGA Adaptive Rules (Appendix F), we ensure players who use assistive devices—like wheelchairs, crutches, or prosthetics—have the best possible experience on the course.

By intentionally integrating adaptive guidelines into our Disc Golf Discovery Zones, everyone gets to discover the excitement of disc golf in a way that works best for them. We’re proud to help communities expand their recreational offerings while bringing more people into this wondrful sport.

How do we Support Adaptive Disc Golf?

• Accessible Course Layouts
  Our Discovery Zone layouts emphasize clear paths, minimized elevation changes, and thoughtful tee and basket locations to accommodate a wide range of mobility levels.
   

• Flexible Throwing & Stances
  Whether seated or standing, participants can adapt their throwing motion without sacrificing fun or fairness. PDGA Appendix F outlines various allowances for stable positioning and device support during play.

• Inclusive Instruction
  We offer training tips and modifications that help adaptive players learn grip, release, and follow-through. These options provide a safe and rewarding way to experience disc golf’s physical and social benefits.
   

• Community & Encouragement
  Our team and partners foster an environment where everyone is welcomed and supported, making the Disc Golf Discovery Zone a great place for all players, regardless of ability or skill level.

Discovery Zone: Putting Stations

Discovery Zone elements begin with as little as 1 basket paired with an interpretive sign which includes both instructional content and games for between 1 and 30 simultaneous players! Combined with the fact that it only has a 20m diameter footprint, requires no special site preparation, and can be installed and playable in only a few hours, there's no reason you can't add disc golf to even the smallest spaces!

Highlights

• Players learn the essentials of putting including grip, 2 stances and 4 different techniques!
• Putting stations only have a 20m/60ft diameter footprint.
• They can also be installed as a stand-alone feature in parks without enough space for a discovery course.
• 3 games are included and can host from 1 to 30+ players at once!
• Adaptive-friendly design: Stations can be easily configured for players using mobility devices or other assistive equipment, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the fun of putting practice.

Discovery Zone: Discovery Courses

With a little more room, our solutions grow to include either a 3, 4, 5 or 6 hole skills development course that can teach players up to 22 different types of throws and techniques! Each hole is only 100ft / 30m long and is specially designed to mimic traditional scenarios where a player would use a specific type of throw. The matching interpretive tee signs include simple instructions and visual aids for both left and right handed players. Through QR codes, players can view online video instructions from one of the greatest players of all time, 17x World and National Disc Golf and Distance champion, Scott Stokely.

Discovery Zones include matching Baskets, Welcome and Tee Signs, and a comprehensive guide with all of the tips and tools your staff will need to route and install a safe and fun environment for both disc golfers, and your other park visitors! Our hands on approach to these packages includes support during your design process, and a review of your pre-installation plans, ensuring that risk is minimized and that your players get the most out of the experience. This allows Fluent to deliver exceptional value to you and the general public!

Highlights

• Players learn up to 18 different throws and variations on 3, 4, 5 or 6 specially designed holes!
• Signs include visual aids for both right and left handed players.
• Adaptive-friendly design: Emphasizes level ground or gentle slopes, standard-height baskets, and ample maneuvering space to accommodate mobility devices and ensure a comfortable playing experience for everyone.
• QR codes link to online instructional videos from world champion disc golfer and professional coach, Scott Stokely!
• Custom branded with logo and style guide matching.

Discovery Zone: Driving Range

Our Disc Golf Driving Range solution redefines what’s possible for player training and facility revenue. One of the biggest challenges with traditional driving range concepts has been the inconvenience of retrieving your own discs, a barrier that has limited widespread adoption. Our solution is designed to overcome this, streamlining the experience so players can focus on throwing, not fetching.

These ranges aren’t just for practice, they can be profit centres. Players can train with their own discs in a safe, controlled environment, or rent a variety of discs directly from your pro shop to test different plastics, weights, and flight characteristics before buying. This creates new revenue opportunities, encourages repeat visits, and helps players make informed purchasing decisions.

Whether part of a larger Discovery Zone or a standalone attraction, our driving ranges deliver an unmatched combination of player development and business potential.

Discovery Zone: Skills Stations

Skills Stations take targeted training to the next level with modular, purpose-built ground structures and features that replicate real-world disc golf challenges. Elevation changes, angled putting platforms, narrow “fairway” targets, obstacle-rich approaches, and wind-deflecting elements help players practice every aspect of their game.

Stations can be arranged as a standalone training area, combined into a skills challenge loop, or integrated with other Discovery Zone offerings to create a fully customized player development space.

Equipment

There’s a common phrase disc golf players repeat about training: practice what you play. It means you should be practising on the same baskets you expect to encounter out on the course. Learning on baskets with fewer or lighter chains — or ones that don’t match championship specifications — doesn’t fully prepare players for the experience of playing elsewhere. One of the goals of the Discovery Zone is to build that confidence, helping players not only explore but truly enjoy other disc golf courses.

To ensure we’re providing the best possible experience, each Discovery Zone is equipped with the Fluent Borealis Championship Target — a PDGA Approved basket that meets the highest level of certification offered by the sport’s governing body. Built to the same standard as baskets used in major tournaments, the Borealis gives players a true-to-life feel from their very first putt.

The Borealis uses the popular 28-chain, 3-ring configuration with 14 outer, 7 middle, and 7 inner chains. Each chain drop hangs from independent sliding mounts to help absorb and grab discs as they strike, reducing cut-throughs and spit-outs. The three rings are mounted separately for optimal balance and consistency, resulting in excellent overall catching performance.

By giving players access to the real thing right from the start, Discovery Zones help remove the gap between learning and playing — making disc golf more enjoyable, more intuitive, and more accessible for everyone.

Discovery Zone Packages

Our standard packages are composed of a 3-6 hole discovery course, and 1 putting station, but each package can be customized for the specific needs of the project project by adding or adjusting elements. For cities considering disc golf in more than one location, we offer bulk discounts starting at 2+ discovery packages with further discounts at 6+ and 11+ packages.

Request a Quote!

Funding & Grant Opportunities

Discovery Zones for Existing Courses

Looking to make disc golf more approachable at your existing local course? Fluent offers generic Discovery Zone signage that can be added to any hole on any course to help new players navigate the types of throws they could be learning.

Despite the size difference between a Discovery Zone course and a traditional disc golf course, every hole starts with a drive and helping players unerstand the type of shot that would work best on a hole, or the throw that the hole was designed for will go a long way to making them feel more confident as they expand their skill set. Have holes with more than one line, no sweat, we've designed smaller signs that can be added under your regular signage but still provide a brief description, visual aides, and QR codes for video demonstrations!

Kevin and Fluent Disc Sport have thoroughly impressed in all facets of operation. I have the utmost confidence that they will be a major player in the continued rapid development of our sport’s infrastructure on both a Provincial and National scale. I cannot wait to see the next design they have in store for us.

Chris Ozolins
President ~ Ontario Disc Sport Association  |  Ontario, Canada  |  Oct 12, 2022