Golf Merit Badge
Two requirements. Requirement 1 is safety on the course and first aid for the injuries and illnesses golf can bring. Requirement 2 is ONE of two options, traditional golf or disc golf, each done in full: the rules, history, a healthy lifestyle, the shots or throws shown, a round played with another golfer about your age and your counselor or an adult your counselor approves, and careers.
Elective Merit Badges Health Merit Badges Requirements Safety
The plan behind this
Requirement 2: ONE of two options, each done in full
Each option says "Do ALL of the following" and has seven parts that mirror each other:
| part | Option A, traditional golf | Option B, disc golf |
|---|---|---|
| (1) | study the USGA Rules of Golf now in use: the three categories of golf etiquette, the definitions of golf terms, the Rules of Amateur Status | study the PDGA Official Rules of Disc Golf now in use: the six areas of Courtesy (812), the seven areas of Scoring (808) |
| (2) | the World Handicap System | the history of disc golf and why it is an inclusive game |
| (3) | the early history of golf, its early years in the United States, and a top golfer of your choice | the history of disc golf and why it is inclusive, Ed Headrick's contributions, the evolution of disc design, and a top disc golfer of your choice |
| (4) | golf and a healthy lifestyle; an exercise plan, and two exercises shown | disc golf and a healthy lifestyle; an exercise plan, and two exercises shown |
| (5) | show the grip, stance, posture and swing, then the driver from a tee, fairway wood, long iron, short iron, approach, chip-and-run and pitch, a recovery from a bunker or heavy rough, and putting | show the throwing grip, the X-step runup, backhand, forehand, overhand and rolling shots, two putting stances, the putting grip, the putting motion and follow-through, and a mini-marking disc |
| (6) | play at least two nine-hole rounds or one 18-hole round | play at least 18 holes |
| (7) | three careers related to traditional golf, one researched | three careers related to disc golf, one researched |
The round needs other people
Part (6) of either option is played with another golfer about your age and with your counselor, or an adult approved by your counselor. During it you follow the rules from part (1), practice good etiquette, and show respect: to fellow golfers, committee, sponsor and gallery in traditional golf; to fellow disc golfers, other people in the park, and any wildlife, trees and plants in disc golf. Arrange who will play, and where, early.
Requirement 1: safety and first aid
Discuss safety on the golf course, and show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while golfing, including lightning, heat reactions, sunburn, dehydration, blisters, animal or bug bites, poison ivy exposure, sprains and strains.
What this page is
The Golf merit badge, drawn so the round played with others stands out, with requirement 2 drawn as a question of two options and every part of the chosen option shown. It is not a copy of the requirements: each step is a short label with a link to the official requirements, which are what actually governs and which change from year to year. The free official pamphlet is the fuller guide.
Sources for this page
- Golf Merit Badge Requirements, Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2025-09-19 · The requirements themselves, and the free official pamphlet linked from them.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.0.3 · The process every merit badge is earned through, which this page does not repeat.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.4.3 · Which version of a changed requirement applies to a Scout who has already started.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 4.0.0.1 · Why the requirements are not in the Guide to Advancement and are expected to change annually.
Last checked against its sources on .