Making the Case: Why Disc Golf Fits BLM Land
Data-driven arguments for disc golf on public lands — cost efficiency, growth statistics, environmental profile, and BLM priority alignment.
The right pitch
The most persuasive pitch to BLM is not “disc golf deserves a course because it’s popular.” The best pitch is:
“Disc golf is a low-cost, low-footprint, family-friendly, stewardship-ready recreation option that can help your office advance accessible recreation, youth and veteran engagement, underutilized day-use sites, shoulder-season visitation, and organized-group recreation management under authorities you are already implementing.”
That framing matches the statute much better than a pure sports pitch. It aligns with BLM’s early implementation emphasis on accessibility, permits, visitor information, local coordination, and recreation infrastructure.
Cost-per-recreation-hour case
Disc golf delivers more recreation hours per dollar invested than nearly any comparable facility:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| 9-hole course build cost | $9,000–$18,000 |
| 18-hole volunteer-built course | $15,000–$25,000 |
| 18-hole professional install | $30,000–$50,000+ |
| Comparable pickleball court | $28,000–$37,500 |
| Daily capacity (9-hole) | 432 player-slots |
| Annual maintenance | $1,000–$5,000 (primarily volunteer) |
| Creekside DGC (Lehi, UT) | 59,142 recreation-hours on ~$200K |
| Individual consumer surplus | ~$68 per trip (peer-reviewed) |
| Average round | 93 minutes outdoors, 3,800 steps |
Growth data
- 11,165 courses in the United States
- 21.2 million rounds logged on UDisc in 2025; 32.8 million player-hours
- 1,650 new U.S. courses built 2022–2024
- 89% of courses are free to play
- 3 new courses opened per day in 2025
- Two USDGC/CDGNC events in York County, SC generated $4.5 million in economic activity
Environmental profile
An 18-hole course occupies 15–25 acres with only tee pads, 18 metal basket targets, signage, and existing natural terrain. No irrigation, no chemical treatment, no mowing, no motorized equipment in operation. Courses are designed around existing vegetation and topography.
Standard mitigation includes concrete tee pads (eliminating tee-area erosion), dual pin placements (distributing wear), mulching around high-traffic zones, and seasonal course modifications. 97% of disc golfers are willing to modify behavior to offset environmental impacts (peer-reviewed).
Best near-term concepts
- Accessible or beginner-friendly day-use layouts near existing recreation nodes
- Youth or veteran clinic series
- Event and tournament proposals using early SRP coordination
- Retrofits or stewardship upgrades at existing BLM disc golf sites
- Projects bundled with parking, signs, restrooms, trail links, and volunteer maintenance
Weakest pitches
Remote, high-conflict, infrastructure-heavy projects with no maintenance plan, no local support, and no explanation of compatibility with existing land-use plans. The Act itself requires compatibility with applicable plans and minimizing conflicts with existing uses.