How to Start a Disc Golf Business

A Practical Guide to Turning Passion into Profit

Disc golf, once a fringe sport played in city parks, has become a global phenomenon. With millions of players and thousands of courses worldwide, the sport offers a compelling business opportunity for entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, and investors alike. Whether you're interested in opening a retail store, building a course, launching a disc brand, or organizing tournaments, starting a disc golf business can be both rewarding and profitable. This guide walks you through each step—from choosing your niche to scaling your operation—offering detailed instructions and resources along the way.

1. Decide What Kind of Disc Golf Business You Want to Start

The first step in launching any business is determining exactly what you’re offering. The disc golf industry includes a variety of business models, and your decision here will shape everything that follows: your costs, your legal structure, your daily tasks, and your long-term goals.

Many entrepreneurs choose to start with a retail business, selling discs, bags, apparel, and accessories. This can be done through a physical storefront or, more commonly today, an online shop. This model requires building relationships with disc manufacturers and managing inventory and fulfillment logistics.

Another path is course design and installation. This involves consulting with city parks departments, schools, or private landowners to design and install new disc golf courses. It requires expertise in course layout, terrain analysis, safety, and player flow.

You could also explore event organization, hosting tournaments, leagues, or clinics. These businesses thrive on community engagement and require skills in logistics, promotion, and often PDGA (Professional Disc Golf Association) certification.

Other options include launching a branded disc or apparel line, offering custom-stamped discs or designing shirts and hats for players. Some choose a hybrid model, combining these services—for example, selling discs while running a local league.

To find your ideal niche, spend time in the field. Join local disc golf clubs, attend tournaments, talk to players, and participate in online forums like Reddit’s r/discgolf. Pay attention to what your community lacks. Does your area need more organized events? Is the nearest pro shop 100 miles away? Answers to these questions will help you identify your opportunity.

2. Write a Business Plan That Reflects Your Vision

Once you've selected a business model, the next step is to map out how your idea will function in the real world. A business plan is your blueprint—it defines your goals, how you'll achieve them, and what resources you'll need.

Your business plan should begin with an executive summary, briefly outlining your concept and why it's viable. Then, conduct market research to understand your target audience. How many active disc golfers live in your area? What brands do they prefer? How do they shop? You can find useful insights in PDGA's annual growth reports, which detail player demographics, course growth, and more.

Next, create a competitive analysis. Research similar businesses in your region or online. What do they offer? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Understanding your competition will help you carve out your own niche and avoid common mistakes.

Include a marketing strategy in your plan. Will you rely on social media, local sponsorships, paid ads, or grassroots events to promote your business? How will you build brand loyalty?

Perhaps most importantly, outline your financial plan. This should include startup costs, monthly expenses, revenue projections, and break-even analysis. Whether you're seeking investors or bootstrapping with your own funds, a clear financial picture is essential for decision-making.

If you’ve never written a business plan before, don’t worry—there are plenty of free tools. SCORE.org offers templates and free mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, while the Small Business Administration (SBA.gov) provides step-by-step planning guides and funding resources.

3. Handle Legal and Administrative Setup

No matter how small your business, it needs to be legally established. The process is fairly straightforward, but the exact steps depend on your location and business type.

Start by choosing your business structure. Most disc golf startups opt for a Limited Liability Company (LLC) because it offers personal liability protection without the complexity of a corporation. You can set up an LLC through your state’s Secretary of State website, or use online services like LegalZoom or ZenBusiness for guidance.

Next, apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. This is essentially a Social Security number for your business and is required to open a business bank account, hire employees, or file taxes. You can apply for an EIN online for free at IRS.gov.

You’ll also need to register your business name, often called a “Doing Business As” (DBA) name, if it’s different from your personal or LLC name. Local governments may also require business licenses, sales tax permits, and specific event or land-use permits—especially if you’re running tournaments or setting up physical installations in public parks.

Finally, separate your finances by opening a business bank account and setting up accounting software such as QuickBooks or Wave. This makes tax time easier and keeps personal spending from interfering with your bottom line.

4. Build Your Product or Launch Your Service

With legalities in place, it’s time to build the core of your business. This phase looks very different depending on your model.

If you're running a retail operation, your first task is to source inventory. Reach out to disc manufacturers like Innova, Discraft, MVP, and Dynamic Discs to request wholesale accounts. Most will ask for a resale license and have minimum order requirements. Popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce make it easy to set up an online store with integrated shipping and payment processing.

For in-person sales, consider a mobile setup using a branded trailer or tent, a Square reader for transactions, and POS software to track sales and inventory.

If you’re launching an event or tournament business, start by becoming a certified Tournament Director through the PDGA. This gives you access to insurance, scorekeeping tools, and promotional channels. Use platforms like Disc Golf Scene for player registration and UDisc for managing live scores and league results. Always secure permits for public land use, prepare signage and prizes, and be clear about rules, player divisions, and course layouts in your event descriptions.

If you’re building or designing courses, you’ll need to work closely with landowners, city planners, or school districts. Bring a pitch deck explaining the benefits of disc golf (e.g., low-cost recreation, tourism, and community engagement) and propose a custom course suited to the land. Use tools like UDisc Pro and DiscGolfPark’s design software to create professional layouts. You can source baskets and tee signage from vendors like DGA and Prodigy Disc.

5. Build a Brand and Market It Effectively

Disc golf is built on community, so branding and marketing matter more than ever. A strong brand creates loyalty and distinguishes your business in a rapidly growing industry.

Start by creating a memorable logo and visual identity. Free tools like Canva are a great starting point, or you can hire a freelancer on platforms like Fiverr, 99designs, or Upwork. Your logo should look good on discs, shirts, websites, and social media posts.

Next, build your online presence. A website is essential—even for event organizers or mobile businesses. Include your products or services, contact info, event schedules, and a signup form for email updates. Use Mailchimp or ConvertKitto manage email newsletters.

Social media is your most valuable marketing tool. Focus on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, where the disc golf community is most active. Post photos of new gear, behind-the-scenes setups, course progress, player shoutouts, or highlight reels. Engage directly with comments and DMs—building relationships matters in this space.

Finally, look for partnerships. Sponsor local players or teams with free merchandise in exchange for promotion. Collaborate with YouTubers or disc golf influencers. Set up booths at local tournaments or organize free clinics to get your brand in front of more people.

6. Monetize, Automate, and Scale Your Business

Once your business is up and running, your focus shifts to sustainability and growth. Your goal is to create systems that bring in consistent revenue and allow you to scale.

If you’re a course or event operator, consider offering season passes, player memberships, or VIP club access with exclusive perks. This provides recurring income and builds customer loyalty.

Retailers can launch exclusive disc runs or merchandise drops in partnership with manufacturers. Create hype with countdown timers, giveaways, or signed collector editions. Email marketing and social engagement are crucial to selling out limited stock.

You can also expand your offerings to include clinics, youth leagues, custom stamp services, or branded accessories. As your customer base grows, invest in automation tools: use QuickBooks for finances, Zapier to sync platforms, or Notion to manage tasks and event timelines.

Finally, remember that community drives the sport. Keep engaging with players, supporting local talent, and listening to your market. This grassroots connection is what separates lasting disc golf businesses from the rest.

Final Thoughts

Starting a disc golf business blends passion with entrepreneurship. While it’s tempting to jump straight into sales or event planning, successful ventures are built on planning, consistency, and relationships. By choosing a clear business model, building a strong foundation, and actively participating in your community, you can carve out a sustainable place in this growing sport—and have a lot of fun doing it.