Some of Our Favorite Disk Golf Courses

A Walk Unspoiled:
Some of Our Favorite Disk Golf Courses
by Brant Wellman & Martell

De LaVeaga Park
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Holes: 27

This is a fine park, as you would expect from a disc Mecca like Santa Cruz. It is challenging, weaving through a forest and changing elevation. The locals are friendly, hard-core disc golfers. The one thing to watch out for is poison oak.

Morley Field
Location: San Diego, CA
Holes: 19

Located on the outskirts of Balboa Park, Morley Field is well-maintained and easily accommodates single golfers or elevensomes. Perhaps its best feature is the starter's shack, which sells discs and snacks at reasonable rates.

Skyline Wilderness Park
Location: Napa, CA
Holes: 18

A very difficult course, as on some holes you have to drive from the top of one hill onto another hill. Any stray shots can send you hiking down into a valley full of bushes.

Aquatic Park
Location: Berkeley, CA
Holes: 18

Looming water hazard on along one side of most holes. Bring your floating disc if you are unsure of your drive. If your disc goes too far astray, there often are homeless people who will paddle out on the pond and dredge it up for you (for a small fee, of course; always a bargain, nonetheless). Even in the summer, the course can be damp, so take along a towel, as well.

La Mirada Regional Park
Location: La Mirada, CA
Holes: 27

Tournament quality course in sprawling urban park. Home of the 2003 Spooky Weekend O' Fun.

Bijou Community Park
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Holes: 27

Bijou Community Park has lots of trees, and the other patrons don't mind it if someone in your party is a drunken fool, wearing a bright pink Betty Boop nightee. That sort of thing is commonplace in Lake Tahoe.

West Arvada (Bird's Nest)
Location: Arvada, CO
Holes: 24

In the process of being renamed Bird's Nest Disc Park, for course designer, John Bird. Fairly new course, but a lot of work has been put into it over the last year. Recent improvements include cement tees for most holes and multiple areas scattered throughout the course that are outlined by rocks and designated as out of bounds. Good mix of short and longer holes. Not many obstacles during the winter when the trees had no leaves, but now in the spring with green foliage and with the addition of out of bounds areas the course has become much more challenging.

Johnny Roberts DGC
Location: Arvada, CO
Holes: 18

Short, but tight course. Crosses a creek many times. Accuracy very important here.

Frisco Peninsula Recreation Area
Location: Frisco, CO
Holes: 18

Incredible views of the Rockies with the course at 9000 ft alongside Dillon Reservoir. Many narrow fairways, and if you end up in the trees, it'll usually take a couple throws just to get out.

Sipapu Ski Resort
Location: Vadito, NM
Holes: 18

Extreme elevation changes make this course difficult. 2-3 different tee position for each hole depending on skill level. Bring shoes with good traction.

Terrace Creek
Location: Mountlake Terrace, WA
Holes: 18

18th hole modeled after "Top of the World" at De La Veaga.

Acorn Park
Location: St. Paul, MN
Holes: 18

Plenty of trees and swampy areas make the course challenging. Bring DEET to ward off mosquitoes.

D.F. Buchmiller Park
Location: Lancaster, PA
Holes: 18

Incorporated into an evergreen forest, this disc golf course looks much like a real golf course—long green fairways surrounded by the trees. Quite a drive from civilization, but just great once you get there.