The Natural Evolution of Course Construction

Disc golf is often compared to traditional golf, and while both share fundamental principles—navigating a course with precision and skill—they diverge sharply in how their courses are built and maintained. Some argue that as disc golf grows, it should follow the path of ball golf by integrating extensive earthmoving, artificial fairways, and reinforced landscaping. However, history tells us otherwise.

To understand why disc golf courses do not need the same "armouring" as golf courses, it's useful to examine early golf course design. Before the bulldozer, courses were crafted around the land, not imposed upon it. St. Andrews, the home of golf, evolved naturally, shaped by the wind, grazing animals, and the footsteps of players. The bunkers formed where sheep sought shelter, and fairways emerged from well-trodden paths. The early architects of golf courses worked with the land rather than against it, a philosophy that was largely abandoned with the advent of heavy earthmoving equipment.

Today’s modern golf courses, particularly those designed for professional-level play, rely on artificial irrigation, extensive grading, bunker linings, and reinforced turf to withstand concentrated foot traffic and maintain playability under all conditions. This approach has created stunning landscapes, but it has also come at a cost—high maintenance budgets, environmental concerns, and a dependency on non-native grass species, fertilizers, and chemical treatments.

Disc golf, however, has yet to require such intervention. Its very nature—a sport played primarily on natural terrain with minimal alteration—makes it resilient, sustainable, and far less invasive.

Why Disc Golf Doesn’t Need Golf Course Armouring

The growing popularity of disc golf has led to more conversations about whether courses should be designed with the same construction techniques as ball golf courses. The short answer? Not yet, and maybe never to the same extent. Here’s why:

1. Disc Golf Doesn't Require Golf Carts

One of the primary reasons golf courses are heavily reinforced is the necessity of cart paths and the high volume of cart traffic. Golf carts create deep ruts, compact soil, and accelerate erosion, necessitating reinforced fairways, paths, and greens. Disc golf courses, on the other hand, are designed to be walked, significantly reducing the concentrated impact on the ground. While some high-traffic areas may develop wear patterns, they can often be mitigated through natural interventions like mulch, groundcover plantings, or minor re-routing rather than engineered solutions.

2. Foot Traffic is Distributed Differently

Golf courses concentrate traffic in a few key areas: tee boxes, fairways, and greens. These areas are used repeatedly in the same way, requiring reinforced construction and extensive maintenance. In contrast, disc golf courses distribute foot traffic more evenly across the entire width of the hole. Without a defined cart path that continuously draws players back to the same route, movement patterns are more varied, reducing the likelihood of severe soil compaction and erosion in any single area.

That said, disc golf does experience concentrated wear in certain areas—greens, tee areas, and well-worn transit paths. Unlike ball golf, where paved cart paths channel most movement into defined corridors, disc golf courses require more proactive management of foot traffic to prevent excessive wear. Effective mitigation strategies include using mulch or gravel in high-traffic areas, installing erosion control measures such as log barriers or natural rock reinforcements, and adjusting hole placements over time to distribute impact. While some professional-level courses hosting major events may require more substantial planning and mitigation, the vast majority of courses—especially smaller regional courses—can achieve sustainability through these natural and cost-effective techniques, avoiding the need for the extensive groundwork found in ball golf.

3. Soil Health and Natural Resilience

One of the key reasons disc golf courses remain sustainable in their natural state is their ability to support healthy, resilient soil. Unlike ball golf, which reinforces fairways with extensive irrigation, chemical treatments, and engineered drainage, disc golf primarily relies on natural terrain. The absence of large-scale turf management allows the soil’s microbiome—including bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms—to thrive, supporting plant diversity and long-term ground stability.[1]

However, disc golf does still have an impact. High-traffic areas such as tee decks, greens, and well-worn paths can lead to soil compaction and erosion over time. When foot traffic surpasses the natural capacity of the landscape, careful mitigation techniques are necessary. Some of these issues can be foreseen and planned for in the design phase, particularly on larger projects for tournament, championship, or destination-level courses. These courses may incorporate armoured tee areas, controlled foot traffic corridors, and erosion-resistant surfaces in high-wear areas. Not every course will require this level of planning, however, and incorporating those kinds of solutions on courses where simpler, less costly mitigation can take place after issues begin to arise is often more effective. Strategies such as using mulch, gravel, or natural barriers to disperse movement, as well as thoughtful course design that redirects players across broader areas of terrain, help to minimize long-term damage while preserving the ecological integrity of the land and maintaining playability.

Golf courses, in contrast, struggle to maintain biodiversity due to the ongoing need for highly controlled grass management. The reliance on fertilizers, pesticides, and non-native grasses weakens the soil’s natural regenerative abilities. Disc golf courses, when designed with sustainability in mind, retain their biological diversity, reinforcing the landscape’s ability to recover naturally and ensuring long-term environmental compatibility.

4. Environmental and Cost Considerations

Golf course construction can be prohibitively expensive, with costs frequently running into the millions for large-scale projects. Disc golf, by comparison, is a low-impact sport that thrives in environments with minimal alterations. The cost of armouring a disc golf course with extensive grading, drainage systems, and artificial surfaces would not only be unnecessary but would also undermine one of the sport’s greatest advantages—its accessibility and affordability.[2]

From an environmental standpoint, minimizing human intervention preserves natural landscapes and prevents unnecessary disruption to local ecosystems. Many disc golf courses exist within public parks and nature reserves, where conservation efforts prioritize minimal land disturbance. The very elements that make a course “armoured” for ball golf—artificial drainage, turf reinforcement, and large-scale earthmoving—are often counterproductive in these settings.[3]

5. Course Capacity and Player Flow

Disc golf does not accommodate significantly more players per day than traditional golf, despite some assumptions that larger groups or flexible start times increase throughput. Tournament formats such as shotgun starts and tee time starts, where a full field of players is scheduled, demonstrate that disc golf courses function under the same fundamental time constraints as ball golf. The pace of play remains similar, and while round durations vary depending on course design, the total number of players a course can handle in a day is naturally capped. Because of this inherent limitation, extensive ground reinforcement is required far less often than in traditional golf, though it remains necessary in certain cases where player traffic or environmental factors demand additional mitigation.[4]

When Armouring Makes Sense

While the natural design philosophy of disc golf is a strength, there are scenarios where certain reinforcement techniques may be warranted. These include:

• High-Traffic Tees, Greens, and Transits – Certain tee areas, high-traffic putting circles, and well-worn transit paths may benefit from reinforcements such as compacted stone, wooden platforms, or strategically placed natural barriers to minimize erosion and maintain long-term playability.

• Courses in High-Erosion Areas – In locations with steep elevation changes or heavy seasonal rainfall, well-placed erosion control measures, such as retaining walls, geotextiles, and managed drainage, can protect the course from degradation.

• Tournament, Championship and Destination Courses – Higher level courses, particularly those designed for large-scale competition, require a more structured approach to ensure both sustainability and year-round playability. Even in these cases, selective reinforcement rather than full-course armouring is often the better approach.

The Strength of Disc Golf’s Natural State

Disc golf courses do not yet require the extensive modifications seen in ball golf. The sport’s inherent design encourages natural integration with the land, making it one of the most environmentally friendly and cost-effective recreational activities available. By avoiding the pitfalls of over-engineering, disc golf courses can maintain their sustainability, accessibility, and affordability while still providing world-class playing experiences.

While most disc golf courses do not require continuous maintenance like traditional golf, all courses benefit from regular scheduled maintenance and assessment. Proactive monitoring allows for the early implementation of mitigations before long-term damage occurs, ensuring that natural features remain intact and playable conditions are preserved. As the sport continues to evolve, there may be instances where selective reinforcements improve durability and playability. However, these should be applied judiciously, preserving the fundamental strength of disc golf’s natural terrain. For now, the best disc golf courses remain those that embrace the landscape rather than reshape it—just as the earliest golf courses once did.

 

References

1. USDA Soil Biodiversity - Discusses the role of healthy soil microbiomes in maintaining biodiversity and natural resilience. USDA Soil Biodiversity

2. USFS Trail Maintenance Guide - Provides best practices for sustainable trail construction and erosion management. USFS Trail Maintenance Guide

3. Parks Canada Sustainable Trails - Outlines guidelines for preserving natural landscapes while accommodating recreational trails. Parks Canada Sustainable Trails

4. CPRA Outdoor Recreation Benefits - Examines the environmental, social, and economic benefits of outdoor recreation, including disc golf. CPRA Outdoor Recreation Benefits