This sport is booming in Lexington County. Several places to play have been built over the last 10 years. There’s a growing interest in getting out and having a leisurely time spent with friends.
And it’s not pickleball. It’s disc golf, a sport that mimics golfing by using a Frisbee.
In disc golf, players aim to land their disc in metal baskets stationed across various terrains, combining the precision of the traditional game with the laid-back fun of tossing a disc through open fields or dense woods. What makes disc golf particularly appealing is its accessibility — anyone can play, regardless of age or athletic background, and courses are often free or low-cost to use.
Communities throughout Lexington County are embracing this pastime, with local clubs organizing casual rounds, tournaments, and even family-friendly league nights. For newcomers, most courses offer clear signage and beginner-friendly layouts, while seasoned players can challenge themselves with tricky doglegs, narrow fairways, and unpredictable breezes.
The social aspect is just as important as the game itself; friends gather for friendly competition, laughter echoes through the trees, and it’s not uncommon to spot families with children learning to throw their first disc.
“It’s you against the course,” said professional player Alan Beaver of Chapin. “You can start out with one frisbee, or disc, as we call them. It doesn’t take a lot of time just to go out and play with your friends or by yourself. It can grow from there.”
Charlotte, NC, is considered an epicenter for disc golf in the Southeast, but Lexington County has several courses created near schools, churches, and other popular places.
The newest is Blessed Creeks at Northside Baptist Church with 18 holes, a few with a water hazard, placed over rolling wooded hills and meandering creeks. It was created this year as part of Northside’s mission to connect with the community.
Northside Family Pastor Stephen McNeill said there are still some parts under construction, but both church members and the public have been using it. “What’s beautiful about our property was the way it was sloped,” McNeill said, adding that trees, a creek, and trails through the woods made it ideal and just challenging enough.
The idea for the church-adjacent course came from member Gordon Moore, a disc golf player who had an idea to start a course behind the church grounds, McNeill said.
“The first time I walked the course with (Moore), it had rained for like, three days in a row, and we were trapping through mud and all that. And I was like, ‘Gordon, I don’t know, this is going to be a challenge.’ And he said,’ No, Steven, we can do it.’ And man, here it is.” Now he sees weekly games played out there. Beaver, who has been playing disc golf for 45 years, calls it the hardest course in Lexington County.
At Pisgah Park, 1350 Pisgah Road in Lexington, there are 18 holes in a mostly wooded area, with a walking trail along 20 acres behind Pisgah Church. It was established in 2020 and is considered one of the hardest courses in the area, with some challenging holds.
Beaver designed the course at Red Bank Elementary School in 2018. It is a course with a variety of holes, only open after school hours and closed at sunset.
Crooked Creek Park at 1098 Old Lexington Highway in Chapin is heavily wooded with 27 holes and has some holes accessible to those with limited mobility.
Grace Point Church, 11241 Broad River Road in Irmo, is challenging with a heavily wooded area, built in 2024. It’s only closed on Sundays during church services.
Meadow Glen Middle School, 440 Ginny Lane in Lexington, has a nine-hole course created on the school campus used to introduce students to disc golf. Built in 2022, it is designed to be beginner friendly. It is closed during school hours.
Deerfield Elementary School, 638 Long Ponds Road in Lexington, has nine holes and is open daily after 3 pm and on weekends.
The Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission operates Seven Oaks Disc Golf Course at 200 Leisure Lane at the intersection of St. Andrews and Piney Grove roads.
Saluda Shoals has 18 holes and was built in 2022 near Saluda Shoals Park near Bush River Road.
How to start disc golf
Beaver, who has been playing professionally for 45 years, says it’s easy to begin playing. He suggests not using a regular Frisbee, which is too lightweight for throwing. He said a starter pack of three discs is all you need to begin. They consist of a driver, putter, and mid-range disc. One disc is all you need to begin, but the three give you a chance to figure out what’s best for each hole.
You can play alone or as part of a team. “You can just go out and play and laugh and have fun,” Weaver said. Disc golf has tournaments in the fall, including one on October 4 at Blessed Creek, featuring both pro and amateur divisions.
Resources: Check udisc.com to find local courses; visit pdga.com for rules and additional information. Lexington Frisbee Golf has a group on Facebook.