Basic Rules of Play

The rules for disc golf are similar to those for traditional golf.  The main difference is that the disc golfer throws a flying disc for each shot instead of striking a ball with a club.  The order for play on the first hole is determined by chance, but is determined there after by the lowest score.  The disc golfer begins play by throwing his disc, making sure his foot does not cross the tee line until after the disc is released.  Where the disc comes to rest is the mark for his second throw.  The disc is either left on the ground as a marker or is marked (by placing a "mini marker" touching the front edge of the disc) and picked up. The score for the hole is the sum of all throws from the tee off until the disc comes to rest in the bottom of the basket. 
Penalty strokes are assessed for throws determined to be out-of-bounds or O.B..  Many O.B. requirements are determined by local rule and are often indicated on tee signs, or scorecards, or by tournament or event directors.  There are two situations which are always considered O.B., the first is when your discs sticks in a tree above 2 meters (6'6"),the second is when your disc comes to rest and is surrounded by water (other than temporary puddles).  If stuck in a tree you mark your lie directly below  and add one stroke to your score.  It the case of water you mark your lie where the disc first crossed the water or  in the case where it cleared the water but defected back in you mark it where it entered the water.  In most cases road surfaces are O.B. and in many cases crossing over a road is also O.B..  It all O.B. situations you must add one penalty stroke to your score and are usually allowed one meter relief perpendicular to the line to the polehole (since it is illegal to throw from out-of-bounds).
Many courses have mandatory dog legs which must be marked (tree, post, etc) and indicated as such on something official like a sign, tee sign, scorecard, by event directors order, or by unanimous local consent.  The mando means your throw must pass the mando marker (tree, pole, etc) to the side indicated.  If it passes to the wrong side of the marker it must be thrown back and pass the marker on the same side until it can be advanced forward passing the mando on the correct side.  Each throw required to make that possible is added to your score. When the last hole is completed you add the sum of the scores on all  holes played and that is your score for the round.

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