Disc golf is rapidly gaining popularity, with thousands of new courses popping up all over the world, from Canada to Japan. But behind the sporting boom lies a problem: uncontrolled development threatens ecosystems. How can we develop infrastructure without destroying natural areas? The answer lies in sustainable design. Below we looked at real cases from discgolfstats.com, practical approaches and examples where disc golf helps nature rather than harms it.
The Growth of Disc Golf and Challenges for Nature
Disc golf is no longer just a pastime for enthusiasts. In recent years it has become a mass phenomenon, especially in North America and Scandinavia. According to UDisc, by 2024 there will be more than 16,000 courses around the world, and the number continues to grow. This scale of development requires rethinking: how to combine sports expansion with care for nature?
Problems became evident early on: fields were created spontaneously, without taking ecosystems into account. This led to soil compaction, trampling of plants, cutting of trees and degradation of animal habitats. Urban parks and nature reserves were particularly affected, where courses were created without consulting ecologists.
Now the approach is changing. More and more developers are realising that sustainability is not just a fashionable term, but a necessity. Disc golf is important not just to fit into the landscape, but to preserve it. This is why projects are emerging where sport and nature do not contradict each other, but complement each other.
Canadian Experience: Field and Eco-Education in One Project
Two courses, Albion Albatross and Albion Birdie, were launched in Ontario, Canada, with the participation of the ChainLink Disc Golf community and the regional environmental authority. The project was an example of how a course can be introduced into the natural environment with minimal intervention.
First, the area was cleared of invasive plants, then throwing zones and baskets were built without disturbing fragile parts of the landscape. Information stands with descriptions of local flora and fauna and reminders of the rules of behaviour in the eco-zone appeared on site. This format not only preserves nature, but also teaches players how to treat it with care.
Moreover, the courses are regularly updated to reduce stress on the soil, and the area near the baskets is covered with mulch. Tournament participants describe the project as the most “nature-friendly” in the region, and local residents support it for being environmentally friendly and open.
How to Design Sustainable Fields: Basic Principles
A green field is not created by eye. One example of a systems approach is the University of Oregon’s Sustained Flight study, which suggests consideration in planning:
- soil structure and its vulnerability to compaction;
- direction of water flow and presence of wetlands;
- biomes and areas sensitive to disturbance (e.g. bird nesting sites);
- Opportunities for landscaping and restoration after a season of activity.
Implementing such principles takes effort but has an impact. For example, Draper Rotary Park in Utah has been recognised as the first course with zero impact on the ecosystem. Here, logging is minimised and new plants are planted around the course, which has even improved biodiversity over time.
Simple Measures That Work
Even in existing fields, it is possible to implement changes that reduce environmental damage. Some examples are drawn from Philadelphia’s Friends of Sedgley Woods. Community members:
- Move the baskets throughout the year, giving the soil time to recover;
- Lay a protective layer of mulch and install fencing around the trees;
- Holding clean-up days and picking up trash after tournaments;
- Inform players about the rules of behaviour in natural areas.
This approach does not require large budgets but produces sustainable results. The main thing is the initiative and participation of the community.
Norwegian Case Study: Sustainability Through Donations
Krokhol Disc Golf Course is located in Norway, near Oslo. The course was built without deforestation, preserving the existing paths and with minimal disturbance. Players are free to use the course but are encouraged to donate money for landscaping, installation of benches, information boards and maintenance of the natural part of the area.
Most importantly, the course does not just exist, but interacts with the ecosystem. It records the return of some bird species, which is directly linked to new plantings and minimised noise levels during matches. In this way, the course becomes part of the landscape, not just an object on it.
Long-Term Impact: Sport as an Educational Platform
The development of disc golf can be used not only for recreation, but also as an educational tool. Where information boards, stands about the local flora and simple rules of ecological behaviour are installed, players begin to see the course as part of nature rather than as an abstract arena for throwing.
The example of ChainLink in Canada has shown that if an athlete is involved in caring for the environment, he or she becomes an ally of nature. This, in turn, affects the image of sport as a whole – authorities are more willing to co-operate, society supports the initiative, and new projects are launched with greater awareness.
Conclusion
Sustainable development of disc golf courses is not a compromise, but a profitable solution. This approach helps to preserve nature, strengthens the community and creates a responsible sporting culture. It is a case where sport can help the environment as well as not harm it.
