How to Get Grants for a Disc Golf Course on Public Land
Disc golf courses are cheap.
Not “cheap” in the slightly apologetic sense. Cheap in the wonderfully persuasive sense that makes parks departments sit up, raise an eyebrow, and say something along the lines of:
“Hang on… we can build what for how much?”
Relative to almost any recreational facility a council might install, a disc golf course borders on absurdly affordable.
- A tennis court can easily cost £40,000 ($50,000)
- A skate park might push £200,000 ($250,000)
- A full 18-hole disc golf course with proper baskets and concrete tees usually lands between £14,000 and £25,000 ($18,000–$32,000)
Even better, a small nine-hole beginner course with natural tees can come in under £5,000 ($6,500).
Most people pitching a new course start by saying:
“Disc golf is a great sport.”
That may be true. But it is not the argument that persuades councils.
The persuasive argument is this:
Disc golf is one of the cheapest recreational facilities you can add to a public park, requires minimal maintenance, and works for almost every age group.
Lead with that. Funding comes later.
Why disc golf has a genuine funding advantage
The economics matter more than enthusiasts often realise.
A simple disc golf hole consisting of a natural tee, standard basket, and basic signage costs roughly £280–£350 ($350–$450) to install.
Upgrade to a concrete tee pad, professional basket, and proper signage and you’re looking at roughly £700–£800 ($900–$1,050) per hole.
Even a well-built 18-hole course rarely exceeds £15,000–£20,000 ($19,000–$26,000) unless land shaping or clearing is required.
That places disc golf in a completely different category from most park infrastructure.
Unlike tennis courts or bowling greens, disc golf does not require booking systems, staff supervision, resurfacing, or ongoing maintenance budgets.
Councils appreciate this.
In the United States, local governments have embraced disc golf partly because the return on investment is unusually high.
Another advantage is demographic reach.
Many facilities appeal to only one group:
- Skate parks attract teenagers
- Bowling greens attract older players
Disc golf sits in a rare middle ground.
You will see:
- teenagers
- families
- retirees
- casual walkers who decide to try throwing a disc
It is free, accessible, and remarkably low-conflict in public spaces.
Those are exactly the attributes funders look for.
Get the park on board before applying for funding
This is where many projects quietly collapse.
People apply for grants before they have land approval.
Most grant programmes require written confirmation that the landowner has approved the project. If you are proposing a course in a public park, that landowner will usually be your local council’s parks or leisure department.
Start there.
Contact the parks department and ask to speak to someone about proposing a new recreational facility. Many councils have a leisure development officer or parks manager responsible for projects like this.
Arrive prepared with:
- a suggested location within the park
- a rough course layout
- a realistic cost estimate
The Professional Disc Golf Association provides a helpful guide to course development that explains what councils typically expect to see:
https://www.pdga.com/course-development
Another useful starting point is the UDisc guide on how communities build new courses:
https://udisc.com/how-to-get-a-disc-golf-course
Once a parks department expresses interest in principle, you have something fundable.
Before that, you simply have a good idea.
Disc golf grant programmes in the United States
If you are based in the United States, several grant programmes exist specifically for disc golf.
Disc Golf Foundation Matching Baskets Program
The Disc Golf Foundation offers a matching equipment grant.
If an applicant purchases a set number of baskets at full retail price, the foundation donates additional baskets to the project.
This programme is open to parks departments and public facilities.
Applications typically require:
- a site map
- cost breakdown
- written land approval
Funding value can reach $10,000 in equipment.
More information:
https://discgolffoundation.org
PDGA grants and EDGE programmes
The PDGA EDGE programme (Every Disc Golf Experience) provides funding to organisations introducing disc golf to new communities.
There is also a Diversity and Outreach Grant supporting projects that increase participation among:
- women and girls
- BIPOC communities
- under-represented groups
These grants often support course installation alongside education programmes.
Learn more:
State parks and recreation grants
One of the biggest funding sources is often overlooked.
Many US states run local park infrastructure grants for cities and counties.
These programmes fund public recreation facilities including:
- trails
- playgrounds
- sports fields
- and increasingly, disc golf courses
A good example is the Texas Parks and Wildlife grant programme, which distributed more than $20 million in park funding in 2024.
Search your state parks website for:
“local park grant” or “recreation infrastructure funding”.
Community crowdfunding with matching grants
Some states operate programmes where public crowdfunding is matched by government funding.
A well-known example is Michigan’s Public Spaces Community Places programme delivered through Patronicity.
This approach allows communities to:
- raise funds locally
- unlock matching funds from government or foundations
Several disc golf courses have been built this way.
Disc golf funding routes in the United Kingdom
The UK does not currently have a dedicated disc golf grant programme.
At first glance that sounds like a disadvantage.
In reality it can work in your favour.
Disc golf proposals end up competing against the full range of community sports projects. Compared to football or cricket infrastructure, a disc golf course looks remarkably cost-effective.
That often makes it attractive to funders trying to stretch limited budgets.
Sport England Movement Fund
Sport England distributes more than £250 million ($320 million) each year through National Lottery and government funding.
One of the most relevant opportunities is the Movement Fund, which offers grants of up to £15,000 ($19,000) for community sport projects.
Projects are prioritised if they help:
- inactive communities become active
- reduce inequalities in sport
- increase access to physical activity
Disc golf fits these criteria surprisingly well.
It is free to play, beginner-friendly, and accessible to people who might find traditional sports intimidating.
Find out more:
https://www.sportengland.org/funding-and-campaigns/our-funding
National Lottery community funding
The National Lottery Community Fund supports projects that improve community wellbeing.
Funding programmes support initiatives that:
- increase participation in sport
- improve community facilities
- promote wellbeing and social connection
Grant sizes vary from small community awards to major infrastructure funding.
Search current opportunities here:
https://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/funding
Landfill Communities Fund
The Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) supports environmental and community projects located near landfill sites.
Projects usually need to be within 10 miles of a landfill site to qualify.
Disc golf projects that improve green spaces, outdoor recreation areas, or park infrastructure can qualify depending on the individual funder.
You can search for funders operating near your project location here: https://www.entrust.org.uk/
PDGA Europe Disc Golf Development Grant
PDGA Europe operates a Disc Golf Development Grant Programme that supports projects growing participation across Europe.
Funding can be used for:
- new course installations
- improvements to existing courses
- school or junior programmes
- community introduction initiatives
- projects encouraging participation from under-represented groups
Applications are open year-round.
Equipment purchased through the grant must become the property of a not-for-profit club or association.
Learn more:
https://www.pdga.com/europe/disc-golf-development-grant-program
PDGA Europe Competition Grant
PDGA Europe also offers a Competition Grant Programme supporting PDGA-sanctioned events.
The United Kingdom is eligible for these grants.
Funding focuses particularly on events involving:
- women’s divisions
- junior divisions
- masters divisions
- international participation
Applications must be submitted at least 14 days before the event and successful applicants must provide a short report afterwards.
More details:
https://www.pdga.com/europe/competition-grant
Combining multiple funding sources
In practice, most disc golf courses are funded by stacking several smaller grants.
A typical UK funding structure might look like this:
- Local council sports grant — £2,000–£5,000 ($2,600–$6,500)
- Sport England Movement Fund — up to £10,000 ($13,000)
- Community crowdfunding — £1,000–£3,000 ($1,300–$3,900)
- Volunteer labour and donated materials — £2,000–£4,000 ($2,600–$5,200) equivalent
Together that can comfortably fund a nine-hole starter course.
Once a smaller course exists and proves popular, funding for expansion becomes dramatically easier.
Funders prefer projects with evidence of use rather than theoretical enthusiasm.
What strong grant applications include
Most disc golf grant applications fail for three simple reasons.
They lack:
- a site map
- a budget
- evidence people will actually use the course
Address these three and you are already ahead of most applications.
Site map and course design
A clear map showing:
- hole layout
- tee locations
- basket positions
- hazards or walking paths
It does not need to be professionally drawn. It just needs to demonstrate that someone has actually walked the land and thought through the course design.
Itemised cost breakdown
Funders want to know where the money goes.
Typical costs include:
- baskets
- tee pads
- signage
- course design
- site preparation
- contingency
Supplier quotes strengthen your application.
Landowner approval
Without written landowner approval, the application is unlikely to succeed.
The letter should confirm:
- the site location
- approval for disc golf use
- maintenance responsibilities
Evidence of community demand
Demonstrate interest through:
- local club membership numbers
- petition signatures
- nearby course usage
- community group support
UDisc course statistics can help demonstrate local demand.
Maintenance plan
This question matters enormously to councils.
Who maintains the course?
Often the answer is a local disc golf club or volunteer group that commits to basic upkeep such as:
- litter checks
- occasional basket inspection
- simple course maintenance
Removing maintenance concerns often removes the final barrier to approval.
Getting started
The process looks intimidating from the outside, but the fundamentals are straightforward.
Disc golf has several structural advantages that funders actively look for:
- low cost per participant
- minimal maintenance
- wide age appeal
- free public access
The order of steps matters.
- Secure park approval
- Prepare a solid proposal
- Apply for grants
Build the case properly and the economics tend to work in your favour.
