Disc Golf in Utah: A Decade of Growth and Community (2015–2025)

Introduction

Over the past ten years, disc golf in Utah has transformed from a fringe pastime into a thriving outdoor sport embraced by thousands. Once perceived as a casual “hippie” hobby, it is now a mainstream activity in Utah’s parks, schools, and ski resorts. Utah has experienced surging participation—especially among casual players—accompanied by a boom in new courses across the state. This report examines Utah’s disc golf growth since the mid-2010s, focusing on participation trends (favoring casual play over competitions), the estimated number of players, the explosion of courses, comparisons with national trends, and the cultural embrace of the sport through community initiatives and events.

Rising Participation Trends: Casual Play on the Rise

Disc golf participation in Utah has climbed steadily for most of the past decade, then skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, the growth has been driven largely by casual, non-tournament play. Nationwide, disc golf was already seeing 15%–30% annual growth in casual players pre-2020, but when pandemic lockdowns eased, the sport exploded as people sought a socially distanced activity. UDisc's Disc Golf Growth Report, the leading authority on disc golf stats, recorded a 250% increase in rounds played from Jan 2020 to Jan 2021—a trend reflected strongly in Utah, where local courses saw unprecedented traffic.

One prime example: Creekside Park, Salt Lake County’s busiest course, saw a jump from 19,334 rounds in 2023 to 29,686 in 2024, tracked via UDisc. And that’s just the logged rounds—actual play is likely even higher. The casual nature of disc golf—free to play at 95% of courses and welcoming to all skill levels—makes it especially attractive in Utah’s outdoor-loving culture.

Organized play (leagues and tournaments) has grown as well, though more modestly. In 2022, 86% of disc golfers introduced someone new to the sport, showing how casual play fuels grassroots growth. And while PDGA membershiphit record highs, it’s clear that Utah’s scene is mostly driven by friends, families, and weekend warriors.

How Many Utahns Play Disc Golf?

It’s hard to pin down an exact number, but the signs are strong. Utah leads the nation in PDGA members per capita, with over 2,210 Utahns signed up as of the early 2020s. But most disc golfers don’t bother with memberships—they just play.

UDisc had 1.26 million global users in 2022. A conservative estimate suggests Utah has 10,000–15,000 users logging rounds, and many more playing without digital scorekeeping. Utah’s UDisc course directory lists 87 active leaguesacross the state, and 23 retail shops that sell disc golf gear.

Most Played Courses in Utah (UDisc tracked rounds)

• Creekside Park (Millcreek): 135,300+ rounds

• Art Dye Park (American Fork): 87,800+

• Roots DGC (Salt Lake City): 87,500+

Each of these courses sees tens of thousands of plays a year—and those are just the rounds people bother to record.

Proliferation of Courses: Ten Years of Explosive Growth

Around 2013, Utah had roughly 35 disc golf courses. By 2024, that number surpassed 120, with 47 of those being full 18-hole layouts. That’s triple the course count in just a decade.

In 2016, Utah had 1.16 courses per 100,000 residents. By 2024? About 3.5 per 100,000. Cities like Draper, Herriman, Lehi, and West Jordan are adding courses at a steady pace. Rural and resort areas have joined the party too—see Solitude Mountain Resort, Brighton, or the desert gem in Moab.

A standout example: Creekside’s 2023 renovation resulted in a 54% jump in recorded rounds the following year.

And yes, Utah State Parks are in on the action too. Green River State Park saw increased tourism after installing a championship-level course in 2015. Resorts like Brighton have even turned ski lifts into summertime disc golf infrastructure.

Perhaps most notably, the state has invested in the sport's growth through grant funding. In 2024, the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation awarded a UORG grant to support improvements at The Wasatch Wunder—a flagship course at Wasatch Mountain State Park.

According to UDisc’s site data, the course drew 2,043 plays and 857 unique playersover the past year, with visitors hailing from 35 states and 4 countries. It’s a clear sign the state sees disc golf not just as recreation—but as tourism.

Spotlight: The Arena (Opening August 11, 2025)

On April 10, 2025, ElevateUT Disc Golf and the City of West Jordan broke ground on The Arena, a 50-acre championship disc golf facility in the Sycamores Open Space. It’s slated to open August 11, 2025, and it’s a big deal.

Backed by a $200,000 grant from the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, The Arena will feature:

• Red layout: ~5,000 ft, par 60 (beginner-friendly)

• Blue layout: ~8,500 ft, par 64 (advanced)

• Gold layout: ~9,500 ft, par 62 (championship level—the longest in Utah)

Designed by Philip Romney and built by JDS Construction, it’s not just long—it’s scenic. Expect elevation changes, signature views, and interpretive signage highlighting native bird species. A shaded structure between holes 12 and 13 has already been called the best view in West Jordan.

Utah vs. the Nation: How Does It Compare?

Nationally, Utah ranks 27th for courses per capita—about 1 per 28,000 people. Not bad, not elite. But when it comes to enthusiasm? Utah leads. No state has more PDGA members per capita.

Courses like Creekside rank among the most-played in the world, and cities keep adding new layouts. Utah’s urban footprint doesn’t allow the course-per-mile density of, say, Iowa—but in terms of rounds played, volunteers engaged, and courses maintained? Utah’s punching way above its weight.

Cultural Embrace: Utah’s Disc Golf Community

Disc golf in Utah isn’t just a hobby—it’s a lifestyle. Here's what that looks like:

Clubs and Leagues

• 87 leagues statewide

• Inclusive events like Luv Dubs (Utah’s only co-ed mixed doubles)

• Women’s leagues like Ladies Night @ Roots

• 12 leagues running weekly at ElevateUT Leagues

Nonprofits and Partnerships

• ElevateUT Disc Golf: A 501(c)(3) powering course installations and city partnerships

• Sports Salt Lake: Helping land major events and fund infrastructure

• Team Thunderpuss: Buying women into disc golf tournaments.

Major Events

• Hosted the 2021 PDGA Pro World Championship in Ogden (remember the "Holy Shot"?)

• Hosting the 2026 US Women’s Disc Golf Championship at Brighton Resort

Community Culture

• Utah’s first disc golf + taproom hybrid: Another Round Disc Golf in Murray (we're still waiting on the beer, Ben!)

• Volunteer stewards maintain most courses

• Annual charity tournaments are part of the state’s disc golf DNA

Disc golf shows up in Salt Lake Magazine, in city master plans, and in local parks and rec fitness brochures. It’s part of life in Utah now.

Conclusion

Utah’s disc golf scene has gone from underground to unstoppable. With The Arena opening soon, PDGA Majors on the calendar, and thousands of casual players hitting the fairways every week, the next decade looks even brighter.

Utah isn’t just keeping pace—it’s carving fairways into the future of the sport.