For my first two years of disc golf, I played almost entirely solo. Show up at a course, play my round alone, go home. It was fine. Good exercise, time outside, gradual improvement. But I didn’t know anyone in the local scene, didn’t understand where I stood relative to other players, didn’t have anyone to learn from or compete against. Just me and the baskets.
Then someone at Pier Park mentioned there was a Tuesday league at Milo. Twenty bucks for the season, show up when you can, play a casual round with random people. I almost didn’t go because the idea of playing with strangers made me anxious. What if I sucked? What if everyone was serious and I couldn’t keep up?
I went anyway. It changed my relationship with the sport.
What Leagues Actually Are
A disc golf league is basically organized casual play. You show up on a set night each week (usually Tuesday or Wednesday, for some reason), pay a small fee, get paired with a group of 3-4 other players, and play a round. Your scores get tracked over the season. There’s usually some kind of payout or prizes at the end.
But the real point isn’t the competition \u2014 it’s the community. Leagues are where you meet other local players, where you learn course management by watching people better than you, where you find out about other courses and events and get absorbed into the scene.
Most leagues are way more casual than you’d expect. Yes, some players are serious. But most are just regular people trying to have fun on a weeknight. The vibe is friendly, welcoming, not intense.
How to Find One
The easiest way: check Disc Golf Scene (discgolfscene.com). Most leagues register their events there. Search by location and you’ll find what’s running in your area.
UDisc also lists events, though their coverage is sometimes incomplete for smaller local leagues.
Facebook groups for your local disc golf community usually post about leagues. Search “[your city] disc golf” and you’ll probably find an active group.
Or just ask people at the course. If you see regulars who look like they know what they’re doing, ask if there’s a league nearby. Disc golfers love talking about disc golf. Someone will point you in the right direction.
What to Expect Your First Time
You’ll probably be nervous. I was. You don’t know anyone, you don’t know the format, you don’t know if you’re good enough. Normal feelings. Push through them.
When you arrive, find whoever’s running things \u2014 there’s usually someone at a table taking money and assigning cards. Tell them it’s your first time. They’ll explain the format and put you in an appropriate group. Most leagues have different divisions by skill level.
You’ll get assigned to a card \u2014 a group of people you’ll play the round with. Introduce yourself. Everyone’s been the new person at some point. The awkwardness fades fast once you start playing.
Play your round. Keep score. Don’t worry if you’re not playing your best \u2014 nerves are real, first-time jitters happen. Nobody expects you to light it up on week one.
Afterward, hang out for a bit if you can. Results get posted, people chat, sometimes there’s food or drinks. This is where you actually meet people and start becoming part of the scene.
Why League Made Me Better
Several things happened once I started playing league regularly:
I learned from watching better players. The guy on my first card who threw 50 feet farther than me \u2014 I watched his form, asked questions, picked up things I couldn’t have learned alone. Peer learning is real.
I started caring about putting. When you’re keeping score with other people, and your score actually matters, suddenly 3-putting from 25 feet feels worse than it did when no one was watching. The accountability made me practice more.
I understood course management. Playing with experienced locals, I saw them make smarter decisions than I would’ve made. Laying up when I would’ve attacked. Throwing mids when I would’ve grabbed a driver. The strategy clicked through observation.
I made friends. Not like superficial acquaintances, actual friends. People I text about disc golf, people I play casual rounds with outside league, people who’ve become part of my social life. Brendan and I have couple friends now who we met through disc golf. It’s a whole community.
The Social Anxiety Thing
I’m not naturally outgoing. Walking up to a group of strangers and introducing myself is not my comfort zone. I almost bailed on my first league multiple times.
But disc golf leagues are weirdly easy to integrate into. The structure helps \u2014 you get assigned a card, you have an activity to do together, the disc golf itself gives you something to talk about. You’re not just making small talk, you’re playing a round. The social pressure is lower.
And the culture, at least everywhere I’ve played, is welcoming. People are excited to see the sport grow. New players get helped, not judged. Questions are encouraged. The gatekeeping that exists in some sports doesn’t really exist in disc golf leagues, in my experience.
If you’re nervous, just go once. Just try it. If it’s terrible, you never have to go back. But I bet it won’t be terrible.
Formats You’ll See
Different leagues run different formats:
Singles: Everyone plays their own ball. Most common format. Your individual score is what counts.
Doubles: Paired with a partner. Different variations \u2014 best shot, worst shot, alternate shot. More social, less individual pressure.
Random draw doubles: You don’t pick your partner, they’re assigned randomly. Great equalizer, keeps things interesting.
Tags: Not exactly a league format but common at casual weeklies. You get a numbered tag based on your score. Higher score, higher number. Lower numbers are better. You try to work your way down over time.
Most leagues have divisions by skill level. Recreational, intermediate, advanced, whatever labels they use. Play in the division that matches your ability. Moving up too fast makes the experience worse, not better.
Cost
League fees are usually cheap. Season fees of $20-40 for access to weekly play are common. Some leagues charge per-week ($5-10 at the door). Either way, it’s affordable.
The collected money often funds prizes at the end of the season or goes toward course maintenance. Either way, you’re supporting local disc golf.
What If I’m Not Good Enough?
You’re good enough. Whatever level you’re at, there’s a league division for you. I’ve seen people who couldn’t break 400 feet of distance playing league happily in the recreational division. I’ve seen people shoot +15 and still have a great time.
Nobody expects you to be a pro. They expect you to show up, play the round, keep an honest score, and not be a jerk. That’s the bar. It’s low.
The only people who don’t fit at league are people who can’t handle losing gracefully or who make the experience worse for others. If you can be a decent human, you fit.
Finding the Right One
If your area has multiple leagues, try a few. Vibes differ. Some are more competitive, some more social. Some have older crowds, some younger. Some are well-organized, some are chaos. Find the one that matches what you’re looking for.
Don’t be afraid to shop around. I tried three different leagues before settling on my current one. The first two were fine but didn’t click. The third felt like home.
Anyway
League changed disc golf for me. It went from a solo hobby to a community thing. I look forward to Tuesday nights now. I have people who know my name, who I compete against and learn from and grab beers with afterward.
If you’re playing alone and you’ve ever wondered what’s next \u2014 league is next. Find one, show up, push through the first-time awkwardness. It’s worth it.