For outdoor enthusiasts living in or near our luxury Chicago apartments, disc golf offers an accessible, affordable and engaging way to enjoy the city's green spaces. This growing sport combines the precision of golf with the casual approachability of frisbee, creating an activity that welcomes players of all skill levels.
Whether you're a seasoned pro looking to work on your technique or a newcomer curious about trying something new, Chicago's disc golf scene has something for everyone. From dynamic downtown-adjacent parks to quiet courses in the surrounding suburbs, here's a guide to some of the best places to play disc golf in and around the Windy City!
6 great disc golf courses around Chicago
Jackson Park Disc Golf Course
Situated in Chicago's historic Hyde Park, this 18-hole disc golf course offers all the perks of a full course experience while still within city limits. Just a short drive from the South Loop, the course offers a mix of open fairways and wooded technical shots that challenge players to use a variety of throwing techniques to get through the course.
The course difficulty falls in the intermediate range, with holes ranging anywhere from 200 to 450 feet. Several holes also incorporate the park's mature trees and rolling terrain, requiring strategic shot placement rather than pure distance and power. Metal baskets and clear tee markers make navigation easy for first-time visitors, so don’t feel intimidated by the challenge!
What distinguishes Jackson Park is its history and setting, since the course sits near the site of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and today's Museum of Science and Industry. The course design takes advantage of the park's existing landscape architecture, which was originally conceived by Frederick Law Olmsted (who also designed New York City’s Central Park!) for the Fair over 130 years ago! Then, after your round, you can explore the park's Japanese Garden or nearby lakefront attractions to finish up your day.
Katherine Legge Memorial Park
Located in Hinsdale in the Western Suburbs, the Katherine Legge Memorial Park houses one of the Chicago area's most well-maintained and beloved disc golf courses — an 18-hole course winding through a wooded park setting, providing a peaceful escape from urban life just 20 miles from downtown Chicago.
The course presents a moderate difficulty challenge, with a mix of open fairways and technical wooded holes to work around. Elevation changes throughout the course add a little extra complexity, requiring players to account for the slight uphill and downhill throws. Most holes range from 250 to 400 feet, with a few longer holes testing your distance skills along with the moderate obstacles.
What makes this park so special is its pristine maintenance and beautiful setting, which is particularly stunning in the fall when the park's mature trees showcase their vibrant autumn colors. The course also features concrete tee pads and detailed signage at each hole, adding that extra touch of thoughtfulness to the playing experience. The park also includes picnic areas and walking trails, making it suitable for a full day of outdoor recreation beyond your round of disc golf!
The Canyons at Dellwood Park
Though it requires a bit of a drive from downtown (about 35 miles southwest), The Canyons at Dellwood Park in Lockport is widely considered one of the premier disc golf destinations in the entire Midwest. This championship-level 27-hole course offers a truly unique playing experience that makes it worth the journey for serious disc golf enthusiasts.
As the name suggests, the course is built around a series of former quarry canyons, creating dramatic elevation changes unlike anything else in the Chicago area. The difficulty level is high, with many holes requiring precise shots over ravines and around dense foliage. Bring extra discs, because you’re almost sure to lose a few to the depths! Holes here range from technical short shots to challenging distance drives that will test almost every aspect of your game.
What makes The Canyons exceptional is its distinctive terrain and professional-level design — qualities that has led the course to host several major tournaments and which draw players from across the region.
Despite its challenging nature, multiple tee positions make it adaptable for intermediate players as well, so definitely visit this course if you’re looking for a memorable disc golf experience!
Sergeant Means Park
Located in Olympia Fields in Chicago's south suburbs, Sergeant Means Park offers an excellent 18-hole course that strikes a perfect balance between accessibility and challenge. About 30 miles from downtown, this well-designed course makes good use of the park's natural features in its hole layout.
The course offers a variety of shots through both open fields and wooded areas, with moderate elevation changes throughout. Most holes range from 250-400 feet, with a mix of straight shots and doglegs that reward technical accuracy over raw power. The course is well-marked with concrete tee pads and descriptive signage, so it’s great for any level of experience.
What distinguishes Sergeant Means is its thoughtful design that creates interesting challenges for experienced players while remaining approachable for beginners. The course rarely feels crowded, even on weekends, making for a peaceful round without the waiting times common at more central locations. The park also features other amenities including tennis courts and picnic areas for a complete recreational outing!
North Shore Channel Trail
One of Chicago's newer disc golf installations, the 9-hole course near Evanston offers North Side residents a convenient option for quick rounds and easy practice. Located within Lincolnwood Centennial Park along the North Shore Channel, this compact course makes clever use of limited urban space to create an accessible and approachable course in the heart of the suburbs.
The course falls on the easier side of the difficulty spectrum, with holes averaging 200-250 feet and minimal obstacles. While experienced players might find it too straightforward for their liking, the course is ideal for beginners learning the game or for more skilled players practicing specific shots; the flat terrain also makes for a physically accessible experience for players of all ages and abilities.
What makes this simple park special is its community atmosphere, with regular leagues and impromptu gatherings of players hosted here often. Its location near Loyola University also means you'll often find a youthful energy and welcoming attitude toward newcomers who want to give the sport a try!
Fairfield Park
Located in scenic Round Lake in Chicago's far northern suburbs, Fairfield Park offers an 18-hole experience that truly showcases the natural beauty of the region. Though a little on the far side from town (about 50 miles from downtown), this course provides a comprehensive disc golf experience that’s well worth the drive out of town.
The course features a mix of open and wooded holes with only moderate technical difficulty — water comes into play on several holes here, adding a strategic element to course management and strategy. Most holes range from 250-350 feet, making power less important than precision and course knowledge.
What distinguishes Fairfield is its natural setting and wildlife — it's not uncommon to spot deer, herons and other animals during your round, and the surrounding foliage changes drastically with the coming and going of seasons. The course is particularly beautiful in spring when wildflowers bloom throughout the park, and the golden fall colors offer their own set of challenges when it comes to finding your wayward discs. Well-maintained year-round, Fairfield offers concrete tee pads and clear navigation, making it welcoming for first-time visitors and pleasant for experienced ones. The course's layout also allows for quick play, with most rounds taking under two hours to complete.
For Chicago residents, disc golf offers an accessible way to enjoy outdoor recreation without traveling far from your city apartment. The sport's growing popularity also means new courses continue to develop, and existing ones frequently see improvements and expansions. Many locations will often host regular leagues and tournaments, providing opportunities to connect with fellow enthusiasts and improve your skills through friendly competition.
Most courses around Chicago are free to play, requiring only your own set of discs, making disc golf one of the most approachable recreational activities available. For newcomers curious about trying the sport, many local sports retailers offer starter sets with the essential discs needed to begin playing.
So, next time you're looking for a new outdoor activity, grab a few discs, download a course map and discover why disc golf has become one of Chicago's fastest-growing recreational pursuits!
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Featured, second and third photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
Fourth photo by Ted Johnsson on Unsplash
Colleen Ford is a South African who now lives on Oahu in Hawai'i. She loves to travel, camp, spearfish and hike. She's also part of a super cool canoe club and is pretty decent at it. Colleen enjoys Star Wars and also not being cold ever.
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