About Us

INNOVA was formed in 1983 to meet the developing equipment needs of disc golfers. In that year, Dave Dunipace created the World's first disc designed specifically for the sport of Disc Golf. That first disc, the Eagle - U.S. Patent # 4,568,297, established INNOVA as the technological pacesetter in Disc Golf. Click here to view the original patent drawings. Our continuing design innovations and product improvements keep INNOVA number one in Disc Golf.

Today INNOVA is the most popular and complete line of golf discs. INNOVA's precision molded discs meet the demands of any shot regardless of the player's skill level. INNOVA golf discs offer the superior "feel" that is so critical for confident, shot making ability. INNOVA golf discs fly great right out the box and wear in slowly. The inevitable changes in flight characteristics that come with use are gradual and older discs often become those special discs you depend upon when you have to make the shot that counts. INNOVA is the brand used exclusively by 12-Time World Champion Ken Climo.

HISTORY OF DISC GOLF
By Jim Palmeri & Steve Lambert

Early 1950's - On the east coast, Bill Robs markets the Space Saucer in college campus book stores. In 1954 the first "Frisby match" was held at Dartmouth College. Morrison improves his invention with a second disc, the Pluto Platter with the now famous "Play catch - invent games" engraved on the back. Was disc golf one of these games?

Late 1950's - Wham-o begins marketing Morrison's Pluto Platter in 1957 using the name "Wham-o Frisbee". In 1958, the first International Frisbee Tournament was held in Eagle Harbor, MI.

1960's - Copar Company of Chicago markets a disc called "Sky Saucer" that included a rule book for the game of "Sky Golf".

1964 - Wham-o introduces the "Official Pro Model" to be used for sports.

1964 thru 1969 - George Sappingfield organizes several Frisbee golf events in southern California.

1970's - Disc enthusiasts introduce the concept of disc golf to other parts of the country. "Object Courses" using anything from lamp poles to fire hydrants as targets begin to crop up in the Midwest and East Coast.

1971 - The first "Frisbee Club" was formed in Rochester, NY; disc golf played on regular basis.

1973 - Flying Disc World becomes the first magazine for disc sports.

1975 - Installation of the first permanent disc golf course in Oak Grove Park, La Canada, California. Wham-o introduces the World Class 119g disc, a marked improvement in discs for competitive sports.

1976 - Ed Headrick invents the chain-style disc golf target and organizes the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA).

1977 - The first PDGA tournaments are held simultaneously in Northern New Jersey and Mobile, Alabama, the modern era of disc golf competition begins.

1982 - The PDGA becomes a player-run organization to schedule tournaments and formalize the rules of play. Harold Duvall wins the first PDGA World Disc Golf Championships.

1983 - Dave Dunipace of INNOVA-Champion Discs invents the modern golf disc, a plastic flying disc with a beveled edge rim for greater distance and accuracy.

1984 - Disc Golf World News begins publication; the first magazine for disc golf.

1985 - The World Flying Disc Federation organizes the first "World Championships" held outside of the United States, in Helsingborg, Sweden. Players from 21 countries attend. Around the world, players continue to lobby parks departments and college campuses for more disc golf courses. By the end of the decade, permanent disc golf courses are installed in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan.

1990 thru 2002 - Ken Climo of Clearwater, Florida wins an unprecedented eleven world championships establishing himself as the greatest disc golfer to have ever lived.

1993 - Lavone Wolfe establishes the PDGA Hall Of Fame. Dave Dunipace is among the first inductees to the Hall of Fame. The PDGA begins to chronicle the history of disc golf.

1995 - INNOVA introduces the DISCatcher Disc Golf Target and begin to promote new courses. In the next 5 years, the number of disc golf courses triples to over 1200.

1998 - The inaugural United States Disc Golf Championship is held in Rock Hill, SC. Ken Climo is the first to win and be crowned the U.S. Champion... he will win it 3 more times...

2000 - The number of permanent disc golf courses in the United States surpasses 1000.

2001 - Disc Golf becomes a featured sport in the World Games in Akita, Japan.

DISC GOLF continues to grow with more courses, more tournaments, more players and more fun!