Europe
Estonia
About
Estonia is a wonderful blend of medieval history and Nordic cool in a post-soviet country. Its close proximity to other European disc golfing nations has seen a surge in the sport and put it firmly on the world map as a place to play and travel.
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Why Visit?
Estonia gives you plenty to do despite it being a fairly small compact Baltic state. The capital Tallinn has one of the best preserved medieval urban centres alongside Nordic cool cafes, cute shops and beautiful parks with a bustling port harbouring huge Cruise Ferries navigating the Baltic Sea. Get on the road and explore this country of just over 1.3 million people. Its easy driving around Estonia to its ancient bogs, castles, forests and disc golf courses. Mass musical protests were held in the 80s challenging Soviet control at the famous Tallinn Song Festival Grounds where you can play disc golf at special one off events like the European Open. Estonia declared its independence in 1991 and has now firmly established its own identity but as you travel the country there’s still remnants of its Soviet years.
Things to Do
Tallinn is likely your jumping off point for Estonia. Explore the UNESCO heritage-listed Old Town, winding your way around cobbled streets and up to Toompea Castle. You get great views back to the city and the port from up the hill where there’s also the stunning Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Inside the Old Town, you’ll find the KGB prison cells - a notorious detention centre during the Soviet era. Take a tram or a bus out to the beautiful Kadriog Park and wander past the Baroque styled Kadriog Palace built by Russian Tsar Peter the Great. Not far from here are the famous Song Festival Grounds. East out of the main centre and outside Maarjamäe Palace is the Soviet statue graveyard - a collection of discarded statues that were cut down or left after the Soviets left. Not far from the port is Estonia’s Museum of Maritime History housed in a stunning disused seaplane hangar.
Apparently you’re never more than 15 minutes from a bog when you’re in Estonia. Some of the bogs date back thousands of years and they’re an important part of the Estonian ecosystem. Once seen as nasty and horrible, they’re now popular tourist attractions with a lot of hiking with boardwalks and viewing platforms helping you guide your way through them. An hour’s drive from Tallinn in Loksa is the Viru Bog Trail. It’s a 5.5km circular trail on a boardwalk with an observation tower. Spend a night in the glass and mirrored houses in the forest that beautifully reflect everything around you.
Alongside bogs, there are lots of manor houses scattered around the Estonian landscape. More than 1000 of these manor houses, built by German nobility, are being restored and turned into boutique hotels, guesthouses and museums. In Tartu there’s the famous Upside Down House next to the Estonian National Museum. Try the distinctive red Estonian Caviar, which you don’t need to find at a five star restaurant, it’s sold in supermarkets around the country. The Estonians love their spas and wellness retreats and in the southern part of the country you can enjoy a spa in the Wagenkull castle and wander around the slightly weird and kooky Alice in Wonderland magic park.
Where to Play
About 25 minutes south of Parnu is the country’s top course, Joulumaee disc golf in Liena. There’s three distinct courses but be prepared for elevation and woods. The property has accommodation and a restaurant. There’s a shorter, fun and popular course called Sindi Disc Golf Park not far from Parnu.
A former number one course, Sportland Korvemaa Discgolf park is 50 minutes from Tallinn by car in Pillapalu. It’s part of a hiking and skiing centre and has food and accommodation options as well as two courses but in summer bring plenty of bug spray. Not too far from Tallinn is Epidbet Jarve discgolf park. It’s flat with mostly wooded holes and can also get pretty buggy in summer.
Half an hour west of Tartu, Estonia’s second largest city behind Tallinn, is Terminal Energia Annikour disc golf park - a scenic forested course. Not far from Annikour is Sportland Elva Disc Golf Park. Also in Tartu and not far from these courses, you can play on old Soviet military grounds at Roosi Disc Golf Park next to the Estonian National Museum. And if you want to play at an Estonian beach, try Valgeranna Disc Golf, 10 minutes drive from Parnu and featuring a white sand beach.
