The Rules
How the 51 Club Works.
Two rules. Two payouts. Zero scorekeeping. Here's everything you need to know before you clip in.
ACE
Sink a hole-in-one.
If your disc lands in the basket from the tee pad — a clean ace — every player currently in the 51 Club owes you five dollars. Collect on the spot.
10 players in the game = $50 in your pocket.
METAL HIT
Hit the chains or cage — but miss the ace.
If your disc makes audible contact with the chains, cage, or basket hardware without completing an ace, you owe every player in the game one dollar. Pay up.
10 players in the game = $10 out of your pocket.
Getting In
How to Join
Get a bag tag.
Order your 51 Club bag tag from the shop. It's your buy-in and your proof of play. No tag, no game.
Clip it to your bag.
Attach the tag to your disc golf bag before the round starts. Visible tags mean everyone knows you're in and good for it.
Declare before the round.
At the first tee, players with tags confirm they're playing the 51 Club that round. Count the players — that's your payout multiplier.
Play and pay as it happens.
Settle up on the spot — right after the ace or metal hit. No waiting until the end of the round, no IOUs.
FAQ
Common Questions
No. The metal hit rule only applies to throws from the designated tee pad on each hole. Approach shots, putts, and rollers that hit the basket do not count.
The bag tag is your commitment to pay. Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle all work — settle up before you leave the course. Repeated non-payment gets you pulled from the game by the group.
Yes. The 51 Club is always optional. Just don't declare in at the first tee. Your tag stays on your bag — you're just sitting that round out.
If at least one other player in the group hears or sees the disc make contact with the chains, cage, or basket hardware, it counts. Disputes are settled by group majority.
That depends on the tournament director. The 51 Club is a side game and runs independently of any official scoring format. Always check with the TD before running it during sanctioned events.
One tag is all you need. It travels with you to any course, any group, any round. As long as you're clipped in and declared, you're playing.