Originated in the 1900s, disc golf saw a rebirth in popularity during the 1970s. Today, according to the Disc Golf Association, it has developed into one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S. with over 2,500 disc golf courses across the country. They also have 24,000 members and pro-players who compete at 390 sanctioned tournaments, including a world championship. 

What’s behind this rise in popularity? The sport is accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels. Plus, the sport, which is to similar to golf but with a flying disc, is easy to learn. 

It’s gotten so popular that new parks are incorporating disc golf into their design.

Gilbert’s newly planned 272-acre mega-park, which is breaking ground this fall, will include a disc golf course. If you’re itching to start playing, however, there are already quite a few courses across the Phoenix area to check out.

Courtesy of PDGA

Fountain Hills Park — Fountain Hills 

Located near the Plaza Waterfront Condominiums, Fountain Hills Park offers plenty of trees and well-manicured grass. It’s also home to the Fountain Hills Disc Golf Club, whose members can often be found playing on the Fountain Park Disc Golf Course. 

The course features Mach X disc golf baskets across its 19 holes with multiple basket positions. The man-made lake with a 300-foot water feature inevitably holds a barrage of misguided discs while hole 3 is a favored downhill shot.

Courtesy of Disc Golf Scene

Buffalo Ridge Park — Paradise Valley Village

Buffalo Ridge Park near the Country Hills neighborhood has an 18-hole disc golf course with rugged terrain and blind holes. A long course with vivid scenery, many players opt to take advantage of the Alpha-9 course for a total of 27 holes to play in one location. Moderately wooded, there are both uphill and downhill opportunities to throw.

Courtesy of Disc Golf Scene

Vista del Camino Park — Scottsdale

Vista del Camino Park is a 71-acre greenspace with two lakes for fishing and boating. The disc golf course, named The Shelly Sharpe Memorial Disc Golf Course, was redesigned in 1997 by PDGA Hall of Fame member Dan Ginnelly.

According to the Professional Disc Golf Association those lakes do come into play at four holes, so having a disc retriever may be required. If you can’t retireve them, highly-rated pro disc golf shop Spinners on the Green can be found at hole #12 for replacement discs.

Courtesy of Disc Golf Scene

Paseo Vista Park — Chandler 

This former 30-year old landfill turned recreation area, Paseo Vista Park near Kerby Estates may lack typical park amenities like trees and grass areas, but it makes up for that in views as well as an interesting course. The 11-hole course offers two concrete culvert mandos through pipe (concrete tunnels), multiple berms (bunkers), and a couple of blind shots.

Courtesy of Freedom Golf Course

Freedom Golf Course — Mesa

Freedom Golf Course by the Sunridge neighborhood boasts a “must-play” course called the Patriot Disc Golf Course for avid, novice, or expert level disc golfers. The location features a heavily tree-lined 18-hole course, which provides shade in the hotter months. A challenging course, the holes are long and there are plenty of opportunities to lose your disc in water.