Disc golf courses multiply around the Bay Area as the sport rises from the fringe

San Jose resident Jim Challas only needs three things to play his favorite outdoor game: a green space, a sunhat and — most important of all — a plastic disc.

On a recent windy May day, Challas pulls several of them out of the trunk of his car at Kelley Park in San Jose. He lines them up on a nearby picnic table, each sporting a different color and size, and describes their unique functions.

“This one’s just excellent for slicing through the air,” Challas says, holding a small, translucent disc in his hands.

But the 73-year-old isn’t going to aimlessly toss the disc into the park’s landscape or towards someone’s awaiting hand. Instead, his eyes fixate on an elevated metal basket stationed hundreds of feet away from the table. Challas carefully positions his body towards the target, pulls back his right wrist and then releases the frisbee with a mix of force and finesse.

His intention is simple: to score the frisbee into the basket in the smallest number of throws, while navigating through a prickly terrain of trees, dried grass and shrubs.

That’s the art of disc golf, a growing sport that’s sweeping through the Bay Area. It’s a unique twist on regular golf, except players use various types of colorful flying discs instead of clubs and balls to reach the hole. Disc golfers rely on a mix of frisbees, hand-throwing techniques and good weather conditions to help them land a solid shot.

There are formal disc golf clubs in the East Bay, South Bay and San Francisco — all of which boast hundreds of members and thousands of followers in their respective Facebook groups. San Jose is even ranked as the 20th best disc golf destination in the state by the sports app UDisc, while San Francisco is ranked 29th.

One of the biggest clubs in the area is Silicon Valley Disc Golf, which has more than 250 members, according to Challas, and more than 3,000 users in its Facebook group. Each week, enthusiasts post flyers on local disc golf fundraisers and tournaments, advice on how to improve their skills and videos of frisbee trick shots.

“We get hundreds and hundreds of people that play out there,” said Challas, who is also president of the club. “It’s a positive thing for the community, at a low cost.”

The first official disc golf course was created in Pasadena, California, in the 1970s. The sport quickly gained momentum across the U.S. — tournaments began popping up in major cities, locals formed recreational and competitive groups, and disc golf classes began appearing in school curriculums.

Now, an estimated eight to 12 million Americans have played disc golf, and more than half a million play regularly, according to the Professional Disc Golf Association, which oversees the rules of the game and monitors more than 300,000 members.

Disc golf data reveals that the sport is especially growing in popularity among millennials and Gen Zers. The 18-to-34 age group makes up 43% of all disc golfers, while those aged 35 to 54 account for 39%, according to Kansas-based disc golf business STM Disc Golf. The remaining 18% are over 55, like Challas.

He not only witnessed the rise of disc golf in the 70s, but also helped pioneer the sport in the Bay Area. The award-winning golfer has participated in championships and invitations hosted by PDGA, connected communities of players across California and spearheaded the creation and design of several South Bay disc golf courses.

His contributions have earned him a spot in the PDGA’s Hall of Fame — an honor only a handful of players across the nation can claim.

Although Challas doesn’t play much these days, he does organize events for the club and teaches a few classes in the area. His discs are always in his trunk, just in case Challas wants to explain why it’s one of the best games in the world to the uninitiated.

“I’m here to spread the gospel of the good name of disc golf,” Challas says with a laugh.

There are more than 9,000 disc golf courses in the U.S, most of which are free for players to use. California boasts 491 courses, the second-highest number in the nation. In 2021, the state also topped the list for having the most courses added in a year, with 107.

The South Bay has four main disc golf courses: Kelley Park near downtown San Jose, El Parque De La Raza De Paz and Hellyer Park in South San Jose and Villa Maria in Cupertino. Over in the East Bay, disc golfers can enjoy several local courses, including Southgate Park in Hayward, Osterbay in San Leandro and Aquatic Park in Berkeley.

On the same day Challas takes his frisbees to Kelley Park, dozens of players can be seen tossing discs from hole to hole, including his friends Don Savella, Evan Johnson and Craig Rawlings. Slung over their shoulders are specially designed disc golf backpacks that can hold dozens of brightly colored frisbees.

The trio briefly greet Challas — whom they recognize from attending various disc golf events — then take turns tossing discs towards the basket. They encourage each other and try to take advantage of the warm breeze that helps their discs fly further. When the initial toss is done, they’ll trek to wherever the disc ended up and prepare for their next shot.

“Has anyone seen my red disc?” Savella asks as he disappears behind a shrub. Upon retrieving it, the Burlingame resident then plants himself among the plants, searches for the basket again and takes aim.

With the courses spanning dozens of acres, and the baskets separated by various terrains, disc golfers utilize different types of frisbees during the game. There are distance drivers, which help players cover the most ground, and fairway drivers, which provide more control and accuracy. Midrange discs are also designed for precision for a wide variety of shots. Putt and approach discs, which are smaller in size, are designed for making shorter and more controlled shots.

The average disc golfer can bring around 15 to 20 discs to a game, according to Challas. Some are used for their unique functions, while others are brought as back-ups in case a frisbee or two goes missing in the landscape.

For players like Campbell resident Roderick Kast, disc golf is not just a fun way to stay in shape, but an opportunity to bond with other locals.

The 33-year-old got his first taste of the game during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when many regional sport facilities and activities closed down, the disc golf community was able to soldier on and play at several spacious outdoor courses. Kast, a Navy veteran, was experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and found the game was a good way to get out of the house.

“It was an activity that got me out of a dark room,” Kast said.

Nowadays, Kast can be found tossing discs multiple times a week with his fiancee and their dog at Kelley Park in San Jose, or at one of the six disc golf courses scattered across Santa Clara County.

Last year, Kast hosted a local disc golf doubles event to raise money for a charity that helped him during his service. More than 100 people showed up and donated discs and bags for a raffle. They ended up raising more than $1000.

“The community will come out and support other things than just disc golf,” Kast said. “There’s a lot of camaraderie in it.”