Table of Contents 800 Introduction 804 The Throw 800.01 Description of the Game 804.01 Excessive Time 800.02 Definitions 804.02 Mandatories 800.03 Conversions 804.03 Interference 800.04 Links 804.04 Out-of-Bounds 804.05 Lost Disc 801 General 804.06 Provisional Throws 801.01 Application of the Rules 801.02 Discs Used in Play 805 Tournament Procedures 801.03 Artificial Devices 805.01 Appeals 801.04 Courtesy 805.02 Scoring 801.05 Order of Play 805.03 Special Conditions 801.06 Practice Throws 806 Discretionary Rules 802 Basic Rules of Play 802.01 Teeing Off 807 Experimental Rules 802.02 Establishing Position 802.03 Marking the Lie PDGA Q&A 802.04 Throwing from a Stance 802.05 Holing Out 803 The Lie 803.01 Obstacles and Relief 803.02 Optional Relief and Optional Re-Throw 803.03 Misplay © Copyright 2013 The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) Professional Disc Golf Association Revised January 1, 2013 PDGA Official Rules of Disc Golf 800. Introduction 800.01 Description of the Game 800.02 Definitions The object of the game of disc golf is to Approximate Lie A lie established by the traverse a course from beginning to end in player's group in order to resume play from a the fewest throws of the disc. The competitor lie which is not marked. who plays the stipulated round or rounds in the fewest throws plus penalty throws is the Approximate Position A position winner. established by the player's group that is as close as possible to the original position of Play on each hole begins at the teeing area and the disc. ends at the target. After the player has thrown from the tee, each successive throw is made Away Player The player whose lie is farthest from where the previous throw came to rest. from the target. On completing a hole, the player proceeds to the teeing area of the next hole, until all holes Casual Water A body of water which is have been played. not out-of-bounds, and which has not been declared by the Director to not be casual water. Disc golf courses are normally laid out in and around wooded areas with diverse terrain to Chains A deflection assembly which is designed to direct a thrown disc down into the provide natural obstacles to the flight of the tray component of a basket target. disc. These natural obstacles are very much a part of the game and must not be altered by a Chain Support The structure from which player in any way to decrease the difficulty of a the chains are suspended; a deflector support hole. Players must play the course as they find which often forms the top of a basket target. it and play the disc where it lies unless allowed otherwise by these rules. Read more about the rules of disc golf at www.pdga.com 800.02 Page 2 Director The person in charge of the mandatory functions to limit the allowable tournament or event. The term Director may path the disc may take to the target. refer to the Tournament Director, or to a Course Director in a tournament played on Marker (or Marker Disc) The mini marker multiple courses. disc or the thrown disc at rest, either of which may be used to indicate the lie from which the Drop Zone An area on the course, as next throw is to be made. designated by the Director, from which play is resumed as an alternative to or in replacement Mini Marker Disc (or Mini) A small disc, of play from the lie. The throwing area from not used in play, which may be used to mark within a drop zone is marked and played in a the location of the lie. manner similar to the marking and playing of a teeing area. A teeing area may be used as a Obstacle Any feature of the course that may drop zone. A drop zone is a lie. impede any aspect of play. Group The competitors who are assigned OfficialA person who is authorized to make to play a round together for the purpose judgments regarding the proper application of of verifying scores and ensuring play in the rules during play. accordance with the rules. Out-of-bounds An area designated by Hole A numbered segment of the course that the Director from which a disc may not be is a separate unit for scoring. played, and within which a stance may not be taken. The out-of-bounds line extends a plane Hole Out To successfully complete play of vertically upward and downward. The out-of- a hole. bounds line is part of the out-of-bounds area. In-bounds Any area of the course that is not Par As determined by the Director, the score out-of-bounds. an expert disc golfer would be expected to make on a given hole with errorless play under Lie The spot on the playing surface behind the ordinary weather conditions, allowing two marker, upon which the player takes a stance throws from close range to hole out. in accordance with the rules. It is a line 30 centimeters in length extending back along the Penalty Throw A throw added to a player's line of play from the rear edge of the marker score for violating a rule, or for relocation of disc. The lie for the first throw on a hole is the the lie, as called for by a rule. teeing area. A drop zone is also a lie. Players' Meeting A meeting of players Line of Play The imaginary line on the with the Director prior to a tournament, playing surface extending from the center of where players are given instructions about the target through the center of the marker tournament procedures, the course, and any disc and beyond. special conditions which will apply during the tournament. Mandatory An object or objects that the disc must pass in a designated manner. A 800.02 Page 3 Playing Surface A surface, generally the Re-throw An additional throw from the same ground, which is capable of supporting lie which is played instead of the previous the player and from which a stance can throw from that lie. reasonably be taken. A playing surface may exist above or below another playing Supporting Point At the time of release, any surface. In cases where it is unclear whether part of a player's body that is in contact with a surface is a playing surface, the decision the playing surface or some other object that shall be made by the Director or an official. provides support. Pole A central pipe or post which supports Target A device whose purpose is to clearly the other components of a basket target. determine completion of a hole. A basket target is designed to catch discs and generally Position The location of the disc after it consists of a tray, chains, and a chain support has been thrown and has initially come mounted on a pole. An object target generally to rest. has a marked target area. Practice Throw A throw of more than Tee Line The line at the front of the teeing two meters during a competitive round that area, or the line between the outside edges of does not change the lie. Provisional throws, two tee markers. misplayed throws, and stance violations are not practice throws. Teeing Area (or Tee) The area bounded by the edges of a tee pad, if provided. Previous Lie The lie resulting from the Otherwise, the area extending three meters most recent throw, as evidenced by the perpendicularly behind the designated tee line. marker disc or, if the marker disc has been The teeing area is also a lie. moved, the corresponding approximate lie. Throw The propulsion of a disc by a player Provisional Throw (or Provisional) that results in a new lie. An extra throw, sanctioned by the player's group or an official, that is part of an Tray (or Basket) An open-topped receptacle alternative sequence of throws that may be into which the disc may fall or be thrown. used in the case of a disputed ruling or to save time. Only one set of throws will be Warning Where prescribed by a rule, the counted in the player's score once a final initial advisement a player is given for violating ruling is made that rule, making the player susceptible to receiving a penalty throw for subsequent Putt Any throw from 10 meters or less as violations of that rule within the same round. measured from the rear of the marker disc to the base of the target. Relief A change made to the player's lie or surrounding area, such that an obstacle is removed from the vicinity, or when that is impractical, the lie is relocated away from the obstacle. 800.03-801.02 Page 4 800.03 Conversions C. If in doubt, players may attempt to consult All measurements listed in the rules are an official. If none is available, players have the given in metric units. The following English option of proceeding with provisional throws System equivalents are to be used when no as described in 804.06. metric measuring device is available. Under no circumstances shall players or officials use D. A player shall not receive a warning for independent conversion calculations. a rules violation unless the rule specifically provides for a warning. Warnings do not carry Metric System English System over from one round to the next round or to 10 meters 32 feet 10 inches a playoff.