Disc Store GrowTheSport Permanent Disc Golf Basket - PDGA Championship Approved Review (2026)

Who this basket is built for

Disc Store built this GrowTheSport basket for course operators, schools, parks departments and private landowners who are installing a fixed target rather than shopping for something to move between backyard games. Its PDGA Championship Approved rating means the catch geometry and chain configuration meet the same standard used on sanctioned tournament courses, so it is a legitimate choice for anyone building out a real 9 or 18 hole layout rather than a casual practice setup. The permanent, in ground design trades portability for durability, which suits anyone planning a course that will sit in one spot for years rather than get repositioned every season. Players who want to move a target between backyard holes or take a basket to different practice spots need a portable model instead.

Chains, steel and finish

The basket uses a 36 chain, three level configuration split evenly into 12 outer, 12 mid and 12 inner chains, a layout Disc Store markets as course ready right out of the box for catching a wide range of throws and angles. Both the chains and the post are hot dip galvanized steel, a heavy duty finish built to resist rust and weathering through repeated seasons outdoors. The basket ships in a silver finish as standard, with a high visibility red powder coating available for courses that want the target easier to spot from a distance on wooded or hilly holes. Disc Store backs the permanent line with a 25 year warranty against failure from manufacturing defects, though that coverage does not extend to color fading or damage from misuse, abuse, accidents or extreme events beyond the company's control.

Installing it and living with a permanent target

Because this is a permanent basket rather than a portable one, installation involves setting an in ground metal sleeve into the ground, typically with concrete, before the basket itself locks onto that sleeve with a locking collar for secure assembly. That upfront work is more involved than unfolding a portable target, but the in ground sleeve does mean the basket can still be pulled and repositioned to a new pin placement later without redoing the entire installation from scratch. Once it is set, day to day upkeep is minimal since the galvanized steel is built to handle rain, sun and temperature swings without regular maintenance beyond an occasional check of the chains and locking collar. Course builders should plan for the concrete work and hardware as a separate project step before the basket goes in rather than something bundled with the purchase.

How it compares with other permanent baskets

Compared with Disc Store's own Course Bundle, which packages multiple permanent baskets, padlocks and number decals together for building out a full 9 or 18 hole layout, this single basket is the better fit for someone adding one hole or replacing a single existing target rather than installing an entire course at once. The DGA Mach 2 offers a similarly hot dipped galvanized, heavy duty build with two rows of chain and is sold as both portable and permanent, giving buyers more flexibility if they are not certain yet whether a hole will stay fixed. The INNOVA DISCatcher PRO-28 is a lighter weight option aimed more at practice greens and casual courses than championship level installations. None of these rivals undercut the core reason to choose this basket, its PDGA Championship Approved rating for a genuinely permanent, tournament grade install.

Verdict and who should choose differently

At our score of 8.9 out of 10, this basket earns its place as a solid, durable choice for anyone installing a fixed target on a real course, backed by a 36 chain catch system, galvanized steel construction and a 25 year defect warranty. Choose it if you are building or maintaining a course for a school, park or private property and want a target that meets championship standards without moving. Choose the Course Bundle instead if you are installing several holes at once and want padlocks and decals included, and choose a portable basket entirely if you need to reposition targets between rounds or do not want to commit to concrete installation work.

Frequently asked questions