The phenomenon of disc golf’s rapid growth is undeniable, as its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, making it one of America’s fastest-growing sports.
As a result, frisbee golf courses will increasingly become a fixture in local communities, with many more in development. The Great Lakes State, home of Michigan online gambling, is no exception.
The sport’s nationwide prominence can be attributed to a combination of factors. It’s accessible, affordable, and there’s an emphasis on active outdoor recreation. The rise of professional and amateur events is pushing disc golf to new heights, inviting diverse participation on all levels.
Currently, the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) has established 233 events globally, highlighted by 11 PDGA Majors (one European), 16 DGPT Elite Series (one European), 11 Euro Tour A-Tier, and 172 North American A-Tier competitions.
But despite the sport’s massive growth in recent times, U.S. sportsbooks – including MI sports betting sites – are currently not offering odds on disc golf events.
With National Disc Golf Day arriving on Aug. 5, BetMichigan.com decided to look at which states across the United States are the most interested in disc golf.
We used two combined data points to develop rankings of the 50 states from most interested to least interested in disc golf. We used the online course directory at the Professional Disc Golf Association website to find the most disc golf courses per capita in each state. Then we measured Google Trend’s search interest for the phrase, “Disc Golf Near Me” over a 12-month span (from Aug. 1, 2022 to Aug. 1, 2023).
Then BetMichigan.com, your source for the best Michigan casino promotions, awarded points from 50 (highest interest or course density) to 1 (lowest ranking in either category) to all 50 states.
Here are our findings.
According to our calculations, Kansas and Vermont are tied in first as states most into disc golf, each with 92 points. Kansas holds the most courses per capita, according to the PDGA Course Directory website, thus earning 50 points in our chart. Vermont had 45 points in that category, but we found that search interest in the Green Mountain State was higher with 47 points, compared to Kansas’ 42 points.
Maine, Wisconsin, and Iowa complete the top five in our rankings. Maine joins the top two as the only states surpassing the 90-point mark, largely because that state owns the highest search interest with 50 points on this list. The Badger State and Hawkeye State are tied for fourth, each with 89 points.
Joining the top 10 is the Wolverine State with 79 total points. Michigan has the second-highest search interest, with 49 points, behind only Maine. That figure is carrying the state’s ranking, because Michigan has the second-lowest disc golf courses per capita among states in the top 15; its 30 points in that category are ahead of only North Carolina’s 28.
Michigan hosts 104 Tier A through Tier C DGPA events from the beginning of August until the end of December. The most important event is the DGPT - Discraft’s Great Lakes Open in Milford, from Aug. 17-20. Last year’s event consisted of an entire pro purse of $86,675 for 163 contestants with the top male and female players each earning $6,000 in prizes.
Make sure to follow along with BetMichigan.com for information on new Michigan online casinos as well as any developments in sports, gaming and more.
Author
Felix Veletanga is an experienced reporter who has covered local news, politics, and sports in Northern New Jersey, and now lends his expertise to the Michigan sports betting market. He previously covered the Saint Peter’s men’s basketball team’s 2022 NCAA Cinderella run for HudPost. Felix specializes in combat fighting and soccer betting analysis with a focus on the Premier League.
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