If you combined Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Iceland, you'd almost have the land area of South Africa (which is about two Texases big if that's easier for you to imagine). But whereas you'd find nearly 3,000 disc golf courses in those Nordic countries, South Africa has fewer than 20.
Disc golf enthusiasts in the country boasting Africa's largest economy are working hard to change this, though. One place they've taken significant steps forward is George, a coastal city with around 300,000 residents best known as a vacation destination and a great spot for business conferences. Leaders in George's disc golf community filled us in on what's working for them as they patiently grow the sport in a place where almost nobody knows the game.
From Tossing Frisbees to Building a Disc Golf Course
The two biggest promoters of disc golf in George are Gary Knoetze and Leon Strauss. Knoetze turned Strauss on to the game in the latter half of 2021 when they were tossing a Frisbee and Knoetze described the huge variety of flight patterns disc golf discs made possible. Curious, Strauss ordered some discs from a South African distributor, and he and Knoetze started creating layouts with mobile baskets in nearby public spaces.
In 2022, they began hosting events to introduce others to disc golf and discovered an abandoned mashie golf course (a "mashie" golf course is meant for approach and putting practice, with "mashie" being an old club similar to today's five-irons) on a sports ground in the Rooirivierrif neighborhood. No one but dog walkers were using the area, and Knoetze and Strauss thought it'd be a perfect spot for George's first permanent disc golf course.
Making local officials see it that way didn't happen instantly. It took patience and a willingness to explain the basic concept of disc golf over and over again.
"It was a matter of schlepping through it and sticking with it and getting to the decision-makers," Knoetze said. "It was also an educational process – most people have never even heard of it before."
Their dogged efforts paid off, and they were eventually allowed to make Eden Disc Golf Course a permanent fixture in the area they'd hoped for. When it opened, it became the only free disc golf track in South Africa open to everyone every day. That, plus its easy-to-access location, helped create a steady growth in interest.
"This course is right in the middle of our town," Strauss said. "It's right in between me leaving home and getting to work. Most of our players that play regularly can do it quickly in the afternoon. They don't sit in traffic. They get in the car, they pop over to the course, get out of the car, and start throwing their discs."
A Growing Group of Disc Golf Lovers
To keep up the momentum, Knoetze, Strauss, and other regular players continue to run disc golf events at Eden and elsewehere in George. Many of them are aimed at helping people of all ages discover the little-known recreation option just minutes from their doors. Even when they find time for private rounds, George's devoted disc golfers are still raising awareness of the game.
"We get a lot of attention from passers-by, and 90% of the people that walk past us have no idea what we're doing – absolutely none," Strauss said.
So those in the know take a minute to explain the game and invite their fellow parkgoers to try it out no matter their age or physical condition. Strauss proudly stated that a number of regular George disc golfers hadn't played sports or consciously exercised for years before finding their way to disc golf. He believes the game's accessibility for people of various fitness levels can make it a great motivator to lead a healthier, more active life.
Nowadays, George is typically well-represented at the few South African disc golf tournaments held each year, their numbers often rivaling disc golf groups based in cities with hundreds of thousands and even millions more people.
"When there are national events, George players make up a large percentage of the players," Strauss said. "We've got a small group, but they're very fanatical."
Work, Family, & Disc Golf
The success disc golf has enjoyed so far in George has helped Knoetze and Strauss reach another milestone: Convincing the George Municipality to allow them to install a second course they're calling Ground Zero at Van Riebeeck Gardens, a popular public park with a coffee shop and bike track.
"It's the only real alley of trees in George, and it goes for 100 meters," Knoetze said. "And that's quite nice."
Knoetze said that along with "a lot of talking, a lot of begging, a lot of meetings" and "sheer stubborness," using UDisc stats from Eden that showed play counts and how far people were traveling to enjoy the course helped convince officials to greenlight the new installation.
Another thing in the works is a target invented by Knoetze that's made out of PVC pipe. He's doing this because he believes a big reason South African disc golf has grown so slowly is that all the metal of nine or eighteen baskets in one place is attractive to thieves. Though Knoetze's efforts are moving along slowly as it's just a hobby project, he hopes they will yield usable permanent disc golf targets made of low-value materials that aren't worth much to anyone but disc golfers.
But, as you've probably noticed, taking tiny steps toward a distant goal isn't something that bothers Knoetze and Strauss – at least when it comes to their favorite pastime.
"It's easy to access, it doesn't take a marathon runner to do it, everyone can play," Strauss said. "Go to work in the morning, family at night, and disc golf on the weekends – that's my life in George. We have a deep passion for it and enjoy the game immensely."
