Scenic course experience exposes popularity of disc golf

While it might not come to mind as a traditional outdoors sport, it would be difficult to play disc golf anywhere except outside. Jefferson County has several locations, so I have had many opportunities over the years to give the game a shot.

Many decades ago when I was in college, we played what we called Frisbee golf, picking locations around the quadrangle and throughout campus at Truman State to toss our discs toward. This past weekend I finally took the chance to join the legions of enthusiasts who recognize the game’s popularity.

Hanna Hills Disc Golf Course near Fort Leonard Wood in southwest Missouri is no place for a beginner. Fortunately, I made the loop with a couple of top-notch players, so I could pretend I fit in at the place that is rated among the 100 best courses in the world, in the top three in Missouri, and the state’s No. 1 most scenic course, according to udisc.com, the online authority for the sport.

After his retirement from the U.S. Army, Vic Bentele developed his property in Pulaski County to create a play space for his family and his soldier friends from nearby Fort Wood. He and his wife Diana cleared fairways through the woods and up and down the Ozarks hills.

With more than 300 feet of elevation change and spectacular views of the Roubidoux Creek valley, I did not have time to contemplate what happened to my college days’ disc skills. I just admired the scenery, along with the precision and distance displays put on by Vic and Diana’s son Michael Bentele, and disc golf equipment manufacturer Russ Burns.

Vic Bentele said the course does not charge players to try their luck at the course, but they do accept donations and require all players to complete a registration certificate before attempting their first toss across a small pond from the elevated No. 1 tee box.

The Jefferson County region offers more than a dozen disc golf courses. They are among 339 in the state, 10,644 in the United States, and 16,267 around the world, according to data from udisc.com. Across the state about half of the courses offer 18 holes or more, and the remainder are nine-hole courses.

Arnold, Festus and Hillsboro all have disc golf options in city parks. They are among the 89 percent of courses that are free to play. The 20 holes at Larry G. Crites Park in Festus include long open holes and wooded areas. The website says, it’s “not very beginner friendly.”

For the newbie in town, the nine-hole course at Jokerst Park in Festus gets a positive review from udisc.com. “Fun park-style course that is easy enough to bring a new person and still has enough to be fun for the seasoned player.”

The nine-hole course at Arnold City Park is rated as beginner friendly, and the same is said about the Hillsboro nine with the caveat that its “mostly shorter, but very technical holes feature wooded shots with terrain.”

The 18-hole course at Pacific Community Park opened in March 2024. Udisc.com says, “beautiful area with open and wooded holes with lots of shade. Great mix of regular and technical shots. Generally flat terrain.”

Other area courses in and around Jefferson County include the new 18-hole Knight’s Flight Disc Golf Club and Grace Way nine-hole course in DeSoto, an 18-hole course at Jefferson Barracks Park, Sunset Lakes former ball golf course in Fenton, and nine-hole courses at Kircker Park in Eureka and at Oakville Middle School, which is only open to the public when school is not in session.

Visit udisc.com/courses to find places to play near you.

John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.