Patented in 1966, the Wham-O Frisbee paved the way for ultimate frisbee and disc golf. The PDGA was established in 1976, though disc golf as an organized sport predates it by a few years. The concept is simple and has not changed: Throw a disc from a tee into a basket with the least amount of throws possible.

Much like its club-using counterpart, disc golf is a big deal in Michigan, home to more than 250 courses — among the top five states in the country. Unlike with “stick golf,” as disc golfers often refer to traditional golf, the number of disc golf courses is growing. The primary capital investments for a disc golf course are cement tee pads, chain baskets and maintenance, making it an inexpensive and effective way to activate park land.

Disc golf is also far less costly to play, with discs starting around $15. Most courses are free to play or charge no more than a few dollars, though many are part of state, county or Metroparks systems that require annual passes.

That’s not to say serious players don’t rack up big bills for their passion. There are a host of different types of discs, categorized similarly to regular golf with drivers, midranges and putters. Each is rated for speed, glide, turn and fade, which dictate how far a disc flies and its natural flight path. A science, to be sure. There are also disc backpacks, carts and other accessories, as well as a growing market for high-priced, collectible discs.

Discraft was started in 1979 by husband and wife Jim Kenner and Gail McColl, who were among the first to start playing the sport. McColl died in 2017. Kenner still owns the company but has stepped back from daily operations.

“Since the late 1970s, we’ve been consistently growing by 10 or 15 percent,” Wagner said. “In the last five years, we’ve seen larger…