How Many Holes in Disc Golf? Plus the Rules Every New Player Should Know

The short answer: a standard round of disc golf is 18 holes. But the slightly longer answer covers why some courses have 9, why some have 24 or 27, what counts as a "hole" in disc golf in the first place, and how the format compares to ball golf.

If you are walking onto a course this weekend for your first round, this is the article that gets you up to speed in five minutes. We will cover the standard layout, the rules that actually matter on hole one, and how rounds are scored - without the PDGA rulebook footnotes.

The Standard: 18 Holes

A regulation round of disc golf is 18 holes. Each hole has a tee pad (where you start) and a basket (where you finish). You throw your disc from the tee, walk to where it lands, throw again, and keep going until your disc comes to rest in the basket. The number of throws it took is your score for that hole.

This 18-hole format mirrors ball golf and was inherited from it directly. When Steady Ed Headrick was designing the first standardized disc golf courses in the mid-1970s, he modeled the round structure on the sport that disc golf was named after. Eighteen holes balances out to a round that takes about 90 minutes to two hours to play, which fits the way most people have time to spend on a recreational sport.

Most established courses you will play - especially anything in a state park, college campus, or dedicated disc golf facility - will have 18 holes. The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) considers 18 holes the regulation count for tournament play.

Why Some Courses Have 9 Holes

Plenty of disc golf courses have only 9 holes. These tend to be:

• Smaller properties where there isn't space for 18 holes worth of fairways
• Beginner-friendly courses designed as introductory layouts
• Urban or community courses in city parks
• Schools and colleges with limited footprint
• Shorter "executive" courses designed for quick play

A 9-hole course is not a downgrade. Many great courses are 9 holes, and you can play them twice for an 18-hole round. Some popular courses have a 9-hole "front" and a 9-hole "back" treated almost like separate courses with their own character.

If a course is listed as 9 holes on UDisc or PDGA Course Directory, expect a 30 to 45 minute round.

Why Some Courses Have 24 or 27 Holes

On the other end, a few large courses have 24 or 27 holes. These are usually:

• Tournament venues that need extra holes for round flexibility (e.g., 24-hole courses can run 18 holes in multiple configurations)
• Resort or destination courses built on big parcels with room to grow
• Multi-loop layouts where 18 holes happen to fit alongside an extra 9 for variety

For your first round, you probably will not run into one of these. But if you visit somewhere like Maple Hill in Massachusetts or other tournament-grade courses, do not be surprised if there are more than 18 holes available.

What Counts as a "Hole" in Disc Golf

In disc golf, a hole is the path from a tee pad to a basket. The tee pad is usually a 4 by 12 foot concrete or rubber slab where you start your throw. The basket is a metal pole with a chain assembly and a tray that catches discs.

Each hole has:

• A tee pad (the starting point)
• A fairway (the route the hole is designed around, often through woods or open terrain)
• A basket (the target you throw at)
• A par (the expected number of throws to complete the hole)
• Often hazards like out-of-bounds areas, mandos (mandatory disc paths), or water

Hole length varies wildly. The shortest hole on a typical course might be 150 feet. The longest might be 700 feet or more. Most fall in the 250 to 450 foot range. Course difficulty is partly a function of length and partly a function of trees, elevation, wind exposure, and pin placement.

The Basic Rules of a Disc Golf Hole

Here is what you actually need to know to play your first hole without getting yelled at:

1. The Tee Throw

Your first throw must be made from the tee pad. Both feet have to be on the tee pad at the moment of release. After release you can step off, but during the throw your supporting foot has to be on the pad.

2. The Lie

After your first throw, your disc lands somewhere. The spot directly behind your disc (between the disc and the tee) is your "lie." That is where your next throw comes from. Your supporting foot must be within 30 cm directly behind the disc when you throw.

3. Throwing Order

The player whose disc is furthest from the basket throws next. This applies after the tee shot. So if your group has four players, after everyone tees off, the person whose drive went the shortest throws first on the second shot, then the next furthest, and so on. Whoever takes the fewest strokes on a hole tees first on the next hole.

4. Out of Bounds

If your disc lands in a marked OB area (water, road, designated zones), you take a one-throw penalty and re-throw from where it crossed into OB - or from where it landed, depending on local rules. Always check the OB markings before teeing off.

5. Completing the Hole

The hole is completed when your disc comes to rest supported by the basket - either in the chains, in the tray, or wedged in a way that the basket is holding it. A disc that hits the basket and falls out is not in. You play it from where it lands.

6. Scoring

Each throw counts as one stroke. So if you tee off, throw an approach, and putt in, your score for that hole is 3. Add up your strokes for all 18 holes and you get your round total. Lower is better, just like ball golf.

That is it. There are more rules in the PDGA rulebook for tournament situations, but those six get you through any casual round.

For more on basic rules and a wider beginner walkthrough, see our how to play disc golf guide.

What is Par in Disc Golf?

Par is the expected number of throws to complete a hole. Most disc golf holes are par 3, which means a good player should be able to tee off, hit an approach, and putt out in three throws. Some longer holes are par 4 or par 5.

For an 18-hole course, total par is usually 54 to 63. A round at par means you completed every hole in the expected number of throws. If you score 60 on a par-54 course, you are six over par for the round.

For most beginners, finishing the round at all is the goal. Don't worry about par on day one. Aim to keep your score under double-par per hole and you are doing fine.

How Long Does a Round of Disc Golf Take?

A casual round of 18 holes takes:

• 60 to 90 minutes for a solo player or fast group
• 90 to 120 minutes for a group of two to three
• 2+ hours for a group of four or more, especially with beginners

If the course is busy, you might wait at the tee for the group ahead to clear. If the course is wooded and you spend time finding lost discs, expect to add another 20 to 30 minutes. Tournaments add even more because of formal play and group dynamics.

For a 9-hole round, divide those numbers in half.

Tournament Rounds vs Casual Rounds

Casual rounds are 18 holes, played for fun, with whatever group you bring. No formal scorekeeping required.

Tournament rounds at the PDGA-sanctioned level usually involve:

• Two rounds per day of 18 holes (so 36 holes per tournament day)
• Multi-day events with cuts to a final round
• Strict adherence to the PDGA rulebook including formal lie marking, foot fault rules, and time limits per throw
• Group play with players in groups of three to four scoring each other's cards

If you are watching a televised disc golf tournament like the World Championship or a Disc Golf Pro Tour event, what you see is multiple rounds of 18 holes accumulated over several days, with a final round determining the winner.

How Many Holes Per Round Format

Round Type: Half round | Holes: 9 | Time: 30-45 min | Common Use: Quick play, lunch breaks, beginner courses

Round Type: Standard round | Holes: 18 | Time: 60-120 min | Common Use: Casual play, most courses, single tournament round

Round Type: Tournament day | Holes: 36 (two rounds of 18) | Time: 4-6 hours | Common Use: Multi-day PDGA events

Round Type: Doubles round | Holes: 18 (two-player teams) | Time: 90-150 min | Common Use: Weekly leagues, team events

The 18-hole standard is so universal that most disc golfers will say "a round" and mean 18 holes by default. If they mean 9, they will say "9 holes" or "a quick 9."

Other Common Beginner Questions

Does the basket count as part of the hole?

Yes. The basket is the target. The hole is complete when your disc is caught and held by the basket assembly. A disc resting on top of the basket without being held is not in.

What if I miss a putt and the disc rolls away?

You play it from where it stops. Disc golf is "play it where it lies" by default. If your disc rolled into the woods after a missed putt, your next throw is from there.

Can I throw the same disc the whole round?

Yes, especially if you are a beginner. Most pros carry 15 to 20 discs because each is tuned for different shots, but you can absolutely play a full round with one or two discs. Many beginners start with just a putter like the Innova DX Aviar and add a midrange like the Discraft Buzzz once they're comfortable.

What happens if my disc gets stuck in a tree?

If the disc is more than two meters above the ground in a tree, you mark your lie directly below it and take a one-throw penalty. If it is less than two meters above the ground, you play from where it sits (good luck reaching it).

Do I have to use disc golf discs, or can I use a frisbee?

You should use disc golf discs. Recreational frisbees are too large, fly differently, and won't fit cleanly into the basket. For more on the difference, see our disc golf vs frisbee guide.

How do I know if a course is 9 or 18 holes?

Check the PDGA Course Directory or UDisc app for any course before you go. Both list the hole count, par, course length, and difficulty. Most courses also have a sign at hole one indicating the layout.

Final Thoughts

Eighteen holes is the standard round of disc golf, inherited directly from ball golf. Nine-hole courses are common and totally legitimate. A round takes one to two hours depending on course size and group size. The basic rules - throw from the tee, throw from where it lands, get it in the basket - are simple enough to pick up on hole one.

If this is your first round, do not worry about par or technique. Just go play. Bring one or two discs, find a beginner-friendly course, and learn by doing. Once you have a few rounds under your belt, the disc golf for beginners guide covers what to focus on as you start improving.

For your starter disc, the Innova DX Aviar is the most beginner-friendly disc in the sport - cheap, durable, and forgiving across every shot you'll need on hole one.