By Katie Scrivano | Photo by Holly Leitner
Move over pickleball, there’s another fast-rising sport in town: disc golf. Often called “Frisbee golf,” the sport is similar to traditional golf, substituting specialized, Frisbee-like discs in place of golf balls and clubs. Players “drive” from a tee pad, “approach” from the fairway and “putt” into metal chain baskets — competing to finish the course in the fewest throws.
While the game dates back to the late 1960s, local enthusiasts say its popularity spiked during the pandemic when area courses offered safe and often free outdoor exercise spaces. And with five local courses in the Geneva Lake area, it’s easier than ever to find a place to play.
AJ Steadman, Assistant Director of Ski Operations at Grand Geneva Resort and resident disc-golf expert, has been playing the game since high school. He says the sport draws interest because it’s not age-restrictive — it’s simply based on skill. “I’m hyped about the growth of the sport,” Steadman says. “The sport is getting bigger thanks to YouTube channels and professional sponsorship contracts. While many pros today are in their 40s, you’re now seeing 18-year-olds winning tournaments.”
Steadman is excitedly exploring a redesign to the Grand Geneva’s Mountain Top course, hoping to someday host professional disc golf tournaments. But, in the meantime, he enjoys introducing visitors and resort guests to the sport. The course at Grand Geneva is open to the public for a $5 fee (or $10 with rented discs), and Steadman describes it as a “safari-style” course, with grass tees and a hole that sits atop the ski hill, offering “the best view of Lake Geneva,” where you can see for miles.
“Our course is relatively easy [right now],” he says. “I want to create a wooded course which will allow for more challenging tree hazards. The amount of acreage here lends itself to a more professional-level course.”
Nate Holden, another local disc golf enthusiast, co-founded a disc golf club called the White River Rippers in hopes of getting more people to utilize the White River Disc Golf course, which opened in 2014 on the former Hillmoor golf course property. The Rippers now host around 25-45 players at their weekly round on Tuesdays.
Holden has been playing for years but recently embraced a more serious passion for disc golf. He says most members of the group, who range in age from 13 to 65, have joined after seeing them playing on the course.
“A lot of our growth is from word-of-mouth playing around the area,” he explains. “I just enjoy playing so much that I want others to know how much fun it is.”
The White River Disc Golf course is relatively open, with scenic rolling hills and unique river and pond water hazards. It’s considered beginner- friendly and offers both long and short tee pads. But, according to Holden, it’s good enough to host pro tournaments. “I want to co-host a tournament here and in Silver Lake — a two-round tournament would really determine who’s the best area all-around player,” he says.
For now, though, Holden says he’s focused growing the club and sport through community engagement and sponsorships from local businesses, including the Next Door Pub and Xtreme Games of Antioch. “We’re actively looking for sponsors and would love to get new baskets and tee signs,” he explains.
Holden recommends that beginners learn how to play via YouTube tutorials and focus on form before distance. He adds that you can even “check out” a set of discs from the Lake Geneva Public Library to play at the nearby White River course, thanks to donations made by the White River Rippers.
Local Disc Golf Courses
Try these area disc golf courses and visit Udisc.com for course maps with GPS and score-tracking.
- The Abbey Resort | 9-hole, 158 Fontana Blvd., Fontana
- Alpine Valley Resort Disc Golf | 18-hole, W2501 Cty. Rd. D, Elkhorn
- Duck Pond Recreation Area | 9-hole, 300 Wild Duck Rd., Fontana
- The Mountain Top Course at Grand Geneva | 18-hole, 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva
- White River Disc Golf Course | 18-hole, 349 Sage St., Lake Geneva
