1. Policy Statement

The English Disc Golf Association (EDGA) is committed to providing safe, enjoyable, and sustainable sporting environments for all participants, volunteers, officials, and members of the public.

Disc golf takes place primarily in public parks, forest estates, and shared green spaces. Thrown discs travel at considerable velocity and require strict safety discipline. EDGA acknowledges its fundamental duty of care to mitigate risks associated with thrown discs, course terrain, environmental conditions, and shared public space within activities under its control.

Safety is the collective responsibility of all players, tournament organisers, affiliated clubs, and course designers. This policy establishes the minimum standards, rules, and procedures necessary to ensure that EDGA activities and sanctioned disc golf in England are conducted safely and responsibly.

2. Objectives

The primary objectives of this policy are to:

1. Identify and systematically manage physical hazards and operational risks associated with disc golf;
2. Protect the non-playing public, dog walkers, and other park visitors who share recreational land with disc golfers;
3. Enforce the universal rules of the sport regarding throwing safety and player courtesy;
4. Establish clear course design, signage, and risk assessment standards that minimise risk during sanctioned competition and organised club play;
5. Provide clear, straightforward procedures for reporting, investigating, and learning from accidents, near misses, and safety incidents.

3. Scope of Policy

This policy applies across England to:

• All EDGA-sanctioned tournaments, leagues, series, and events;
• All EDGA-affiliated clubs and registered activity groups in respect of their organised sessions and activities;
• Course layouts, temporary configurations, and safety provisions specifically established or utilised for EDGA-sanctioned competitions;
• All individual members, event participants, officials, volunteers, and tournament directors taking part in EDGA activities; and
• All coaching sessions, beginner clinics, and school delivery programmes delivered under the EDGA name.

3.1 Third-Party Facilities and Public Course Directory Disclaimer

Permanent and temporary disc golf courses across England are situated on land owned, leased, or managed by third parties, including local authorities, Forestry England, private estates, educational institutions, or commercial leisure operators. Landowners and facility operators retain statutory occupier’s liability and site management responsibility under the Occupiers’ Liability Acts 1957 and 1984.

EDGA does not own, operate, license, inspect, or formally register physical disc golf courses. For public information and grassroots signposting, EDGA provides an online Course Finder on its public website that lists disc golf facilities across England. This directory consumes course information provided via an independent third-party directory service (discgolfapi.com).

Inclusion of any course or facility in the public directory is provided solely as an informational navigation aid for players. It does not constitute formal EDGA registration, certification, safety inspection, or operational endorsement. Individual disc golfers using third-party courses do so subject to landowner rules, local park bye-laws, and personal responsibility.

Where an EDGA-affiliated club manages, maintains, or delivers regular activities on a course under a local agreement with a landowner, the club is responsible for completing its own local risk assessment and following EDGA safety guidance.

4. Key Risks Arising from the Sport

While disc golf is a low-impact and accessible lifetime sport, specific inherent risks must be managed:

1. Thrown Discs (Impact Hazards): Discs thrown with power can cause blunt force injury to players, caddies, spectators, or members of the public.
2. Shared Public Space (Conflict of Use): Courses situated in municipal parks, nature reserves, or Forestry England estates are shared with pedestrians, cyclists, children, dogs, and horses.
3. Terrain and Physical Hazards: Slopes, tree roots, dense undergrowth, muddy embankments, rocks, and rabbit holes pose slips, trips, and falls risks.
4. Water Hazards: Ponds, rivers, and lakes can present drowning or submersion risks during disc retrieval.
5. Adverse Weather: Lightning, high winds, falling branches, ice, and extreme heat create acute physical risks during outdoor play.

5. Risk Reduction Measures and Operational Rules

5.1 Player Rules and Throwing Discipline

All participants in EDGA activities must follow the safety requirements in the PDGA Safety Manual, the applicable PDGA rules, and the following event controls:

• Never Throw Blind: A player must never throw until they have clearly verified that the fairway, target area, and surrounding flight corridor are entirely clear of people, pets, and cyclists.
• Spotters on Blind Holes: On any hole where the basket or landing area is obscured by trees, crests, or corners, the player or group must post a spotter before throwing.
• The Warning Shout (“Fore!”): If a disc strays on a trajectory towards any person, the thrower and all players in the group must immediately shout “Fore!” loudly and repeatedly.
• Public Right of Way: In shared public parkland, non-playing members of the public always have absolute right of way. Players must wait patiently until pedestrians have fully cleared the area before throwing.

5.2 Equipment Safety and Standards

• Only discs manufactured for disc golf that meet Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) technical specifications (weight, diameter, flexibility, and rim configuration) may be used in sanctioned play.
• Sharpened, cracked, or excessively altered discs that present an edge hazard are prohibited.
• Permanent and temporary targets must be stable, securely assembled, free from sharp protruding wires or edges, and suitable for the applicable PDGA event tier.
• Tee areas must provide stable, level footing (e.g. artificial turf, concrete, or compacted crushed stone) free from slip hazards.

5.3 Course Design and Safety Buffer Zones

When establishing course layouts for EDGA-sanctioned competitions, or when providing advisory guidance to landowners, affiliated clubs, and course designers, the following safety principles must be observed:

• Fairways must maintain adequate safety buffer zones from paved footpaths, public roads, children’s play areas, and property boundaries.
• No fairway may cross an active public highway or designated cycle track.
• Where a public footpath intersects a fairway, prominent warning signage must be installed facing both players and pedestrians.
• Basket locations must not be placed in blind spots directly behind major trees or footpath intersections where walking pedestrians cannot be seen.

5.4 Adverse Weather Protocols

• Lightning: Play must be immediately suspended upon hearing thunder or seeing lightning (the “30/30 rule”: suspend play if the flash-to-bang count is under 30 seconds; resume only after 30 minutes with no thunder).
• High Winds and Forest Access: EDGA-organised play must be suspended, relocated, or cancelled where high winds, a weather warning, a landowner restriction, or local tree conditions create an unacceptable branch-drop risk. Decisions for third-party sites remain subject to the landowner or operator’s instructions.

6. Risk Assessment Framework

1. Mandatory Event Risk Assessments: Every Tournament Director running an EDGA-sanctioned event must complete a written risk assessment before the event, using the EDGA Event Risk Assessment Template or an equivalent document. The Tournament Director must keep it available for the landowner or EDGA on request and update it if conditions materially change.
2. Affiliated Club and Venue Safety Checks: Where an affiliated club hosts an EDGA-sanctioned competition or holds an operational agreement with a landowner to manage a course, the club must conduct and document an annual course safety review, inspecting tee pads, baskets, safety signage, pedestrian sightlines, and tree canopy conditions. Statutory occupier safety on municipal and commercial sites remains the legal responsibility of the respective landowner or operator.
3. Retention of Records: Risk assessments and safety check records must be stored securely and kept only for as long as needed for event administration, incident follow-up, legal obligations, or an applicable landowner requirement, in line with the EDGA Data Protection Policy.

7. Incident, Accident, and Near-Miss Reporting

1. Immediate Care: In the event of an injury, first aid should be administered immediately and emergency services (999) contacted if required.
2. Local Record: The Tournament Director or organiser must make a written record of any incident involving personal injury, significant property damage, or a dangerous near miss. Clubs may use the Club Incident Report Form as a template. Safeguarding concerns must instead follow the confidential reporting route in the EDGA Safeguarding Policy.
3. EDGA Notification: A significant event connected with an EDGA-sanctioned activity must be reported promptly to the Director of Competitions at [email protected] or through the EDGA contact form. Do not send unnecessary medical or safeguarding information by ordinary email.
4. Investigation and Review: The Board, or a suitably competent and non-conflicted person appointed by it, will decide what review is proportionate, record corrective actions, and refer matters to the landowner, emergency services, safeguarding officers, or another authority where appropriate.

8. Roles, Responsibilities, and Named Contacts

• EDGA Board: Responsible for policy oversight and for appointing a suitable, non-conflicted person to review a serious incident where required.
• Tournament Director or Organiser: Responsible for the event risk assessment, on-site controls, incident records, and timely escalation.
• Competition Contact: The Director of Competitions can be contacted at [email protected] or through the EDGA contact form about tournament safety requirements and significant event incidents.

9. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Review

This policy will be reviewed at least every two years by the EDGA Board, or sooner following a serious safety incident or a relevant change in law or recognised safety guidance. The Board will consider recorded incidents and resulting actions as part of that review.

Official National Governance Policy adopted by the English Disc Golf Association Board on 05 October 2026. Registered in England and Wales under Company Number 17481886.