Disc Golf Tee Pads: Materials, Size and Installation
The short answer
The best surface for a disc golf tee pad is sand-filled artificial turf, and the recommended size is 2 × 4 metres (about 6.5 × 13 ft). The turf is installed over a pressure-treated timber frame filled with compacted gravel or crushed stone. A 2 × 4 m tee pad needs about 0.75 m³ of 4–8 mm gravel and about 160 kg of infill sand. The excavation is typically 200–500 mm (8–20 in) deep, depending on the ground.
The tee is the most worn spot on a course. Every throw on every hole starts there, and players run up and turn on the same spot round after round. A worn, muddy tee is the most common reason a course looks badly maintained, and an uneven or slippery tee causes injuries.
This guide covers tee pad materials, the right size, the materials and quantities you need, and installation step by step.
Tee pad materials
A tee surface must be level, grippy and wear-resistant in all weather. The most common options are sand-filled artificial turf, concrete, asphalt, and stone dust or gravel.
| Material | Advantages | Things to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Sand-filled artificial turf | Grippy and level, pleasant to throw from, blends into parks and woodland. The best option in players' experience. | Needs a careful sub-base and frame |
| Concrete | Very durable, almost maintenance-free | Hard surface, heavy construction work, blends less well into nature |
| Asphalt | Durable and level | Needs machinery, blends poorly into nature |
| Stone dust or gravel | Affordable and quick to build | Wears quickly, needs regular topping up and becomes uneven |
Artificial turf is the most common choice for new courses. Players prefer it, and a properly built sub-base keeps it level for years.
The right size
We recommend a tee pad size of 2 × 4 metres (about 6.5 × 13 ft). Smaller pads, such as 1.5 × 2.4 metres, have proven too small in use: players run up from outside the pad, the ground behind it wears, and their steps land on an uneven surface.
A long throw needs room for the run-up, so a length of 4 metres serves both beginners and experienced players.
Our standard tee pad is 2 × 4 metres. Other sizes can be supplied by separate agreement.
Tee pad structure
The tee pad consists of four layers:
- Artificial turf 2,000 × 4,000 mm with 0.3–0.8 mm infill sand.
- About 100 mm (4 in) of 4–8 mm gravel or crushed stone inside the frame.
- If required, 0–32 mm sub-base aggregate compacted in layers.
- If required, geotextile over soft subsoil.
The frame is made of pressure-treated 48 × 98 mm timber, with outer dimensions of 1,900 × 3,900 mm. The turf is about 50 mm (2 in) larger than the frame on every side and is fixed to the sides of the frame.
Product page: Tee pad (2 × 4 m)
Materials and quantities
| Material | 1 tee pad | 9 tee pads | 18 tee pads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial turf 2,000 × 4,000 mm | 1 | 9 | 18 |
| Pressure-treated timber 48 × 98 mm, frame 1,900 × 3,900 mm | about 11.6 m | about 104 m | about 209 m |
| Gravel or crushed stone 4–8 mm | about 0.75 m³ | about 6.75 m³ | about 13.5 m³ |
| Infill sand 0.3–0.8 mm (15–20 kg/m²) | about 160 kg | about 1,440 kg | about 2,880 kg |
| Stainless-steel screws for the frame, approx. 8 × 150 mm | about 8 | about 72 | about 144 |
| Stainless-steel screws for the turf, approx. 40 × 30 mm | about 40 | about 360 | about 720 |
| For soft or frost-susceptible ground: geotextile and 0–32 mm aggregate | as required by the subsoil | ||
The timber quantity is calculated from the frame's outer dimensions (2 × 1.9 m + 2 × 3.9 m). Allow a little extra for waste.
Tools
- Excavator or spade
- Rake
- String line and stakes
- Spirit level
- Drill/driver
- Plate compactor
The sub-base
How much groundwork you need depends on the soil. The excavation is typically 200–500 mm (8–20 in) deep. Free-draining, non-frost-susceptible gravel ground needs the least work, while soft or frost-susceptible ground needs geotextile and 0–32 mm sub-base aggregate compacted in layers.
Compact each layer separately before adding the next. Careful compaction prevents settlement and hollows, so the finished pad stays firm, level and flush with the surrounding ground.
Shape the excavation so that water cannot collect in it. An excavation that fills with water like a basin is a common reason for frost heave and settlement.
Installation step by step
Align the tee pad with the fairway's intended throwing line. The finished turf must be flush with the surrounding ground, and the entire sub-base must be firmly compacted.
Before excavating
- Align the tee pad with the intended throwing line.
- Mark the outer dimensions of the turf and leave working space around the excavation.
- Set the finished level: the turf must meet the run-up area without a step.
- Make sure the excavation cannot become a basin where water collects.
Work goes faster if you assemble the frame on level ground and check the diagonals before lowering it into the excavation.
Installation steps
- Align and mark out: mark the throwing line, the outer dimensions of the turf and the finished height of the front edge using stakes and a string line. Make the excavation area slightly larger than the turf.
- Excavate: remove topsoil and soft material. Excavate typically 200–500 mm deep according to the ground conditions, and shape the base so that water cannot collect in the excavation.
- Assemble and position the frame: assemble the frame to the correct outer dimensions and check the diagonals. Lower it into the excavation, align it with the fairway and level it. Set the top edge one turf thickness below the surrounding ground.
- Fill and compact: on soft ground, install geotextile and 0–32 mm sub-base aggregate in compacted layers. Fill the frame with 4–8 mm gravel or crushed stone. Compact thoroughly and leave a gentle 20–30 mm crown at the centre.
- Install the turf: lay the turf so that it extends about 50 mm beyond the frame on every side. Fix it to the sides of the frame with evenly spaced screws. Do not leave wrinkles in the surface.
- Add infill and finish: spread 0.3–0.8 mm infill sand in several thin applications, 15–20 kg/m² in total, or about 160 kg per tee pad. Brush the sand into the fibres and reinstate the surrounding edges without creating a trip edge.
How we help: we mark the tee positions on site during course design and supply the tee pads and installation instructions, so the work can be done by your own staff, a contractor or volunteers.
Common mistakes
- The pad sits higher or lower than the surrounding ground, creating a trip edge.
- Layers are not compacted separately, so the pad settles and develops hollows.
- The excavation collects water, and the pad heaves with frost over the winter.
- The pad is not aligned with the fairway's throwing line.
- The turf is left wrinkled, or there is too little infill sand.
- The pad is too small, and the ground wears behind it in the run-up area.
Maintenance
- At the start of each season, check that the pad is level and flush with the surrounding ground.
- Repair worn edges so that no step forms between the pad and the ground.
- Top up infill sand if the fibres start to flatten or the surface becomes slippery.
- Check the turf screws and edges.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a disc golf tee pad be?
We recommend a 2 × 4 metre (about 6.5 × 13 ft) tee pad. Smaller pads have proven too small in use, because a long throw needs room for the run-up. Other sizes can be supplied by separate agreement.
What is the best material for a disc golf tee pad?
Sand-filled artificial turf is the best option in players' experience. It is grippy, level and pleasant to throw from. Concrete and asphalt are durable but hard and heavy to build. Stone dust and gravel are affordable but wear quickly.
How deep should you excavate for a tee pad?
The excavation is typically 200–500 mm (8–20 in) deep, depending on the ground. Free-draining, non-frost-susceptible gravel ground needs the least preparation. Soft or frost-susceptible ground needs geotextile and 0–32 mm sub-base aggregate compacted in layers.
How much gravel and sand does one tee pad need?
A 2 × 4 m tee pad needs about 0.75 m³ of 4–8 mm gravel or crushed stone inside the frame and about 160 kg of 0.3–0.8 mm infill sand. An 18-hole course therefore needs about 13.5 m³ of gravel and about 2,880 kg of sand.
Can volunteers install the tee pads?
Yes. The work can be done by your own staff, a contractor or volunteers, provided you have a plate compactor and equipment for digging. We supply installation instructions, and the tee positions are marked on site during course design.
Why leave a crown in the middle of the pad?
A gentle 20–30 mm crown in the centre of the gravel fill sheds rainwater off the surface, so puddles do not form on the pad.
How to get started
Tell us about your course and the number of holes, and we will quote the tee pads, baskets and signs. Tee positions are marked on site as part of the course design.
Read also: How to Build and Design a Disc Golf Course: The Complete European Guide and How to Choose Disc Golf Baskets for a Permanent Course