The main thing that you should score in Frisbee or disc golf is a great time with your friends. However, like in regular golf, there are guidelines for scoring. Also, like regular golf, getting your Frisbee into the hole in par or under is the most desirable score. It can also be the most frustrating part of what seems like it should be a simple game to master. Throwing technique, arm speed and strength, wind, and a variety of other factors can affect your score in this simple game.
Frisbee golf consists of a link style course with holes that have a par rating assigned based on the length and difficulty of the hole. As in regular golf, the par rating is usually either 3, 4, or 5. Instead of counting strokes, you have to count throws. If you have an agreement, mulligans can be allowed for those times when your hand and arm just would not cooperate. One or two mulligans per round is an acceptable number.
The course should have some areas that are considered out of bounds. When the Frisbee lands in this area, a penalty stroke should be assessed. Likewise, Frisbee golf rules say that a Frisbee that does not land on the ground that is more than 6 feet up is due a penalty. Unlike a golf ball, Frisbees that have an errant throw will often land on something other than the ground. For those that land below 6 feet or 2 meters depending on how you measure, the Frisbee is played as if it were on the ground. No penalty is required as long as it is in bounds.
Score the round by keeping track of each throw made on each hole. Like golf, you record the number of throws at the end of each hole so that an accurate count can be maintained. Add in penalty strokes as you go as well as the regular throws. By comparing the actual score to the par of the hole, you can see if you birdied, parred, or did some type of bogie. For a really good hole, you might even double birdie or eagle. At the end of the round total up all of the throws for each player to arrive at their respective scores. The lowest score is the winner.
Variations of scoring can be done as it is in regular golf. Match play, longest throw is used for the team, or other inventive scoring that might be agreed upon at the beginning of the round. Bonus scoring might be awarded for closest to the pin or longest throw from the tee. For beginners, penalties might be waved or a more generous mulligan rule might be applied. For younger children playing Frisbee golf, you might want to reduce their throws by half or a third to make it more competitive with older and more experienced players.
