Stewart Pond Disc Golf Course

Stewart Pond Disc Golf Course is BLM’s first 18-hole disc golf course in the Oregon/Washington region. Located in the West Eugene Wetlands, it opened in September 2016 through a multi-year collaboration between the Eugene Disc Golf Club and BLM Northwest Oregon District, with “hundreds of hours of donated volunteer time.”

Course features

• 18 holes with concrete tee pads
• Dual basket positions for variety
• Scalable layout: 9, 12, or 18 holes depending on seasonal conditions
• Kiosk with course map and rules
• Free and open dawn to dusk

Active BLM management

Stewart Pond demonstrates that BLM is not just tolerating disc golf — it’s actively managing it as a recreation use:

• July 2025: BLM implemented a 4-hour parking limit to ensure equitable access among disc golf, hiking, and birdwatching users
• September 2025: BLM hosted a volunteer service project to maintain the course
• Seasonal layout adjustments (reducing to 9 holes during wet conditions) show adaptive management in practice

Why this matters

Stewart Pond proves the volunteer-built, BLM-managed disc golf model works. The course has operated for nearly a decade with volunteer maintenance, zero ongoing BLM staff cost for course upkeep, and successful multi-use integration. BLM’s active management decisions — parking limits, volunteer events, seasonal adjustments — show the agency treats disc golf as a legitimate recreation program, not a temporary permit.

Lessons for new proposals

• Start with a strong local club. The Eugene Disc Golf Club built the relationship over years.
• Design for multi-use. Sharing wetland space with hikers and birdwatchers is a feature, not a problem.
• Plan for adaptive management. Seasonal modifications demonstrate environmental responsibility.
• Volunteer maintenance works. Nine years of volunteer upkeep is the strongest proof point available.