DGA was established in 1976 as the founding company of disc golf by Ed Headrick in order to form a new international sport and to promote the installation and use of disc golf courses around the world.
The name Disc Golf Association (DGA) was established when Headrick coined the term Disc Golf, after inventing and patenting the original Disc Pole Hole to be installed in the first formal disc golf course. Headrick had originally wanted to call the device a Frisbee Pole Hole but ran into issues over the Frisbee trademark
Prior to founding the sport of disc golf Ed Hedrick worked where he served as Executive vice president and General Manager.
During the era when Ed started the Disc Golf Association (DGA), Headrick also founded the International Frisbee Association (IFA), the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), and the Recreational Disc Golf Association (RDGA). He standardized the rules and the equipment for the fast-growing sport. Ed released his trademark term Disc Golf to the general public and in 1983 Ed opened control and administration of the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) to the growing body of disc golf players to continue the promotion of the sport around the world.