How to Play

Don't worry, it's dead simple.

BASIC RULES

  • To start the game, each player draws 4 cards to create their hand.
  • Each player can choose to play up to 1 card per hole. Each played card must be read aloud.
  • Each time a player breaks a card rule, they “die” which means they receive a penalty stroke.
  • Card rules stack if multiple played cards affect the same player(s).
  • If the rules of played cards conflict, the most recently played card wins.
  • Follow all standard disc golf rules unless a card tells you otherwise.
  • At the end of each hole, played cards are discarded. Any player with fewer than 4 cards draws a new card. If out of cards, shuffle and reuse the discard pile.

TIMING

The label at the top of each card tells you when it can be played.

  1. START OF HOLE cards can only be played at the start of a hole before anyone tees off.
  2. Each player has a turn in throwing order to play a START OF HOLE card if they wish.
  3. BEFORE THROW cards can only be played when it's your turn to throw.

DEATHS

Card rules can cause players to “die” within the game. Each time a player dies, they receive a penalty stroke (+1 is added to their score for the hole).

A player can die multiple times on the same hole.

WINNING

The player with the lowest score at the end of the round wins.

VARIATIONS

    Based on the size of your group or how busy your course is, you can try these variations to adjust Birdie or Die to fit your round.

  1. LAST LAUGH - At the start of each hole, only the player with the worst score from the prior hole draws 1 card. The card can only be played during the current hole and is discarded at the end of the hole. To start the game, only the worst player in the group draws 1 card for hole 1.
  2. FATE OF THE CARDS - Reduce hand size for all players from 4 cards to 1 card.
  3. BIRDIE OR PIE - Each player chooses a pizza topping. Instead of names, players must refer to each other by their chosen pizza toppings for the duration of the hole. If a player uses a real name by mistake, they die. (Optional) At the end of the round, the losers must buy a pizza that includes all the chosen pizza toppings for the group to share.

Disclaimer: The words die/death are used as metaphors for penalty strokes. Do not follow any card rules that would result in harm to yourself or others, duh.