The 10 Best States for Disc Golf in 2026, Ranked by Courses and Community

How were these states ranked?

Primarily by total PDGA-registered course count from the ThrowSpot directory (7,008 courses, September 2026), which is the most objective measure of where the sport has infrastructure. Within close course counts, we weighted community activity (leagues, tournaments, clubs), presence of nationally recognized destination courses, and per-capita density. This produces a ranking that reflects both where you can play the most and where the scene is strongest. Every state has courses worth playing; these ten have the most.

Source: ThrowSpot directory, PDGA course data, September 2026.

1. Texas: 472 courses

Texas leads by nearly 120 courses, a margin driven by the state's size, year-round playable weather, and an early-adopting disc golf culture that dates to the 1980s. Austin is the epicenter with over 35 courses in the metro area, including Roy G. Guerrero, Bartholomew, and Circle C. The DFW Metroplex has 22+ courses; Veterans Park in Arlington and Lake Lewisville are standouts. Houston and San Antonio each support strong scenes. Texas terrain ranges from flat open prairie courses to technical wooded tracks in the Hill Country. The Waco Annual Charity Open is a DGPT Elite Series stop. Summer heat is the main constraint: June through September rounds are best played before 10 AM. Browse all Texas courses.

2. Wisconsin: 350 courses

Wisconsin punches far above its population. With roughly 5.9 million residents and 350 courses, it has one of the highest densities in the country. The state's park systems and public land access make installation straightforward, and a culture of outdoor recreation supports play through the snow. Highbridge Hills in Ashland County is the crown jewel: a private property with six full courses, camping, and lodging, drawing players nationally. Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Eau Claire all have deep scenes. Wisconsin's wooded northern courses and rolling southern layouts offer real variety. Browse all Wisconsin courses.

3. Minnesota: 343 courses

Minnesota is disc golf's heartland. The Twin Cities alone have 30+ courses, and the state's emphasis on parks has produced one of the densest networks in America. Blue Ribbon Pines in East Bethel is a top-10 course nationally by most rankings: a beautifully manicured, challenging layout on a former tree farm. Kaposia Park in South St. Paul, Acorn Park, and Bryant Lake are all excellent Twin Cities options. The Minnesota Majestic and other annual events draw large fields. Winter rounds are a genuine tradition here, and the state has strong women's and youth programs. Browse all Minnesota courses.

4. California: 333 courses

California's geographic diversity means you can play a desert course in the morning and a redwood forest course in the afternoon. DeLaveaga in Santa Cruz is a bucket-list destination and a former Masters Cup venue: a steep, technical hillside course with a famous top-of-the-world hole. Oak Grove in Pasadena is the sport's first permanent course (1976). The Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego all have large communities. La Mirada, Golden Gate Park, and Morley Field are well-known. California's size means the courses are spread out, but the quality at the top is exceptional. Browse all California courses.

5. Michigan: 308 courses

Michigan combines excellent public land with a sports-obsessed culture, and two of its courses are on nearly every national top-10 list. Flip City in Shelby is a community-built masterpiece carved through northern Michigan forest, consistently rated among the best in the world. Toboggan at Kensington Metropark near Detroit is a championship layout that has hosted major events. Grand Rapids and western Michigan have dense clusters of quality courses. The state's two peninsulas offer dramatically different terrain. Michigan is also home to Discraft (Wixom) and MVP (Marlette), two of the three brands new players buy most. Browse all Michigan courses.

6. Iowa: 292 courses

Iowa is the most surprising entry on this list for people outside the sport. With 3.2 million residents and 292 courses, it has roughly 90 courses per million people, the highest per-capita density of any state on this list. Iowa's prairie courses play unlike anything else: open, windy, and long. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City have strong scenes. Pickard Park in Indianola and Ewing Park in Des Moines are among the best. The state hosts many PDGA events and has a well-organized club network. Browse all Iowa courses.

7. Illinois: 287 courses

Illinois is anchored by the Chicago metro, which has 18+ courses, but the state's course count is spread across 236 cities, making it one of the most geographically distributed disc golf states. The Canyons at Dellwood Park in Lockport is the signature course: a technical layout through a former quarry. Knoch Knolls in Naperville and Sunset Hills in Rockford are well regarded. Central and southern Illinois have many quality small-town courses. Winter is long, but the scene is committed. Browse all Illinois courses.

8. North Carolina: 279 courses

North Carolina has the strongest disc golf scene in the Southeast. Charlotte has 28+ courses and one of the fastest-growing communities in the country; Hornets Nest and Nevin Park are standouts. The Raleigh-Durham Triangle has 20+ courses with multiple weekly leagues. Asheville's mountain courses are unique. Winthrop Gold, just across the border in Rock Hill, South Carolina, hosts the USDGC, one of the sport's premier events, and Charlotte players consider it a home course. Year-round playability and dense population make NC a top-five state for community activity despite ranking eighth in course count. Browse all North Carolina courses.

9. Ohio: 270 courses

Ohio's tournament scene is among the most active in the Midwest. Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, and Akron all support multiple courses and regular events. Hoover Reservoir in Westerville and Alum Creek are Columbus favorites. Idlewild, just across the Kentucky border from Cincinnati, is a DGPT venue and one of the most respected courses in the country. Ohio's terrain is varied, from flat park courses to rolling wooded layouts in the southeast. Browse all Ohio courses.

10. Kansas: 266 courses

Kansas has fewer courses than the states above it, but it may be the most important state in disc golf culture. Emporia, a town of 25,000, is home to Dynamic Discs and hosts the Dynamic Discs Open (formerly Glass Blown Open), one of the largest disc golf events in the world by participant count. During DDO week, the entire town transforms into a disc golf festival. Emporia Country Club, Jones Park, and Peter Pan Park are the tournament courses. Wichita, Lawrence, Topeka, and Kansas City (Kansas side) all have solid scenes. For a disc golfer, Emporia is a pilgrimage. Browse all Kansas courses.

Which states are best per capita?

Per capita, the Plains and Upper Midwest dominate. Iowa and Kansas each have over 90 courses per million residents, more than four times the national average of 21. If you want the shortest drive to your next course, live in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, or Wisconsin. If you want the most total options in a large metro, Texas and California deliver. Smaller states also perform well per capita: Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine each have strong density relative to population. See the full state list for every state's count.