11 Weird & Wonderful Courses

Here’s a bucket list for you. Playing disc golf on some of the craziest, strangest and wonderfully different disc golf courses on the planet. Imagine teeing off around life sized dinosaurs, among sculptures, old car wrecks, disused mines or in a ghost town. We’ve put together 11 of these outlier courses from around the globe that you definitely should consider on your disc golf travels.

FLYING ARMADILLO, TEXAS

It won’t surprise you to know that most of the kookiest disc golf courses in the world are in the United States. The course that gets brought up the most by disc golf punters globally for it’s uniqueness and quirkiness is Flying Armadillo in San Marcos. The gold course has short fun holes and you’re throwing through yard art. There’s the Alamo hole, a tank hole and a yellow submarine. Featured among the top courses in the world on UDisc, it’s basically putt-putt or mini golf and has glow disc golf fridays. Play the Alamo then go see the real thing in San Antonio about 45 minutes south of Flying Armadillo.

MAKOSHIKA STATE PARK, MONTANA

Golf made it onto the moon but disc golf sadly hasn’t got to tee off in space yet. However, if there is a course on Planet Earth that gives you a moonscape vibe, then this is it. Bring hiking shoes, a spotter and a big arm to Makoshika State Park Montana - Buccaneer Flats for your round.  The views and holes are stunning at Makoshika, rated as Montana's top track, but the reviews put this course into perspective. Bring plenty of water, a sense of adventure, endurance and possibly a compass. And maybe leave your cart at home. It’s a challenge so the warning is it’s not for beginners. The huge weird rock pillars in this park are called hoodoos and the course is not far from the largest dinosaur and fossil museum in the US in Glendive. There's another course, Makoshika State Park - Ponderosa Pines in the same park.

ALPINE DISC GOLF BACH, AUSTRIA

The hills are alive with the sound of sweet chain music. This course is exactly how it sounds, disc golf up in the Austrian Alps. Before you tee off, you have to get to the top of the ski slope at 6000ft via a gondola and then you play down the mountain. The stunning scenery you play through and the views receive rave reviews but you may need to have a moderate level of fitness. Cow bells optional. Make sure you grab a local ale afterwards at one of the bars or restaurants in Bach along with Brettljause, an Austrian alpine version of an English Ploughman’s Lunch with smoked meats, aged cheeses, pickles and thick slices of freshly baked bread. 

GARGOYLES GARDEN, HAWAII

After you’ve seen the famous Kilauea volcano or driven up the top of the tallest mountain on earth Mauna Kea there’s just playing Gargoyles Garden disc golf course to make your trip to the big island complete. Unique island disc golf on a private course in Mountain View not far from Hilo. You call Mike to play and don’t just show up cause he could be using noisy equipment and might not hear you. All this, alongside car wrecks with crash test dummies and baskets on top. Mike may also like taking photos of tropical flowers, there are many on the course’s Facebook page. Despite its quirkiness, Mike and the course get nothing but praise for the location and the enjoyment factor of playing at Gargoyles Garden. Disc golfers have recommended that the best way to put a full stop on your day/round is to head to Hilo and get a burger at Cronies Bar & Grill. 

GHOST TOWN, COLORADO

Russell Gulch was once a thriving Colorado mining town. But then the deposits dried up and Russell Gulch turned into a ghost town until disc golf came in and saved the town’s good name. Just outside Central City up the mountains from Denver is the Ghost Town Disc Golf course that plays among the crumbling buildings and old houses. Call owner Brian to reserve a tee time.  There’s still an open gold mine nearby in Central City called Hidee where you can pan for gold to possibly fund your disc golf trip. 

CRATER LAKES DISC GOLF PARK, AUSTRALIA

Australia’s top disc golf course just happens to be inside a dormant volcano at Mt Gambier. It’s about half way between Melbourne and Adelaide and this South Australia area is renowned for its volcanic craters, sink holes and underground caves. Blue Lake, only five minutes from the Crater Lakes Disc Golf Course is famous in the region for its colour change from blue to a deeper turquoise colour in summer from November to March. The course itself is beautiful and is a big drive from either Adelaide or Melbourne (4+ hours). But if you’re embarking on one of the most amazing road trips in Australia, along the Great Ocean Road, you can easily add in Mt Gambier as an extension. 

BRENT BACA MEMORIAL DISC GOLF, NEW MEXICO

There’s nothing like a bit of post apocalyptic disc golf to test your game. Think Breaking Bad meets Mad Max in Albuquerque. One Reddit reviewer summed up the course nicely: “It’s like a folk artist made a disc golf course in the middle of nowhere. In two different directions echos of gunshots in the distance. I felt like a first world traveller visiting a war torn country and seeing kids play soccer with an old shirt tied together with string, but they’re all having so much more fun.” Apart from the odd bits of art, fencing, poles around the course, there could also be wild animals lurking and look out for snakes.

WHALE ROCK DISC GOLF, CALIFORNIA

Pair a nice glass of chilled sauvignon on a warm California day with a round of disc golf on one of the state’s top courses and you’re on to a winner. This Templeton disc golf course in San Luis Obispo aka SLO plays through the Castro Cellars vineyard, past old oak barrels and grapes hanging off the vines. The area is known for its vineyards, low key lifestyle and proximity to Hearst Castle - the bonkers tourist attraction and former home of former newspaper tycoon William Hearst. It’s filled with lots of treasures, over the top decorative design and once served as a getaway for celebrities like Charlie Chaplin, Greta Gabo and Winston Churchill. 

FRANZ FERDINAND DISC GOLF COURSE, CZECHIA 

This is a disc golf course that plays around the stunning historical grounds of the Konopiště Castle, which was once owned by Archduke Franz Ferdinand until he was assassinated in 1914 triggering the start of World War I. Unfortunately, for disc golf fans this course isn’t permanent but only set up for the Konopiště Open that doesn’t run regularly. If it is running, book your tickets to Czechia and a chance to play the grounds surrounding this castle that dates back to the late 1200s. You can tour the castle grounds year round but inside the castle is only open April to October. The property is a 40 minute drive south of the Czech Republic’s capital Prague - one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

VANHAN KAIVOKSEN DISC GOLF, FINLAND 

In the eastern part of frisbee golf mad Finland is an old historic mining town of Outokummun. The copper mine closed in 1989 and has since been turned into a bit of a tourist attraction with a museum, kids playground in the old mine, a restaurant and a disc golf course. The disc golf might not be the best you’ll ever play, but you can chalk up a round in a disused mine for your socials.

WILD VINES, NEW YORK 

Do you like dinosaurs or even the odd shark spectating while you play disc golf? If you answered yes, then Wild Vines in Watkins Glen, New York is the course for you. However, cast your eyes over the online reviews before you start any serious planning. Beer and wine tasting on the property aside, it seems the lack of course maintenance, gravel tee pads and price - anything from $US5 to $US10 for a round - erks most players no matter how many paleontological distractions there might be. Maybe worth a stop if you’re travelling between New York City and heading to Niagara Falls.