The Best U.S. Disc Golf Courses With Total Eclipse Views On April 8

On Monday, April 8, 2024, the moon will pass between the earth and the sun in perfect alignment and cast a 115-mile/185-kilometer wide shadow known as the path of totality. The closer you are to the center of that line, the longer you'll be in darkness, with a max time of around 4 minutes and 28 seconds. It's estimated as many as 3.7 million people will travel for a view of the total eclipse. 

While they're in for a truly special four minutes, travelers are sure to need some additional activities to make the most out of their trips, so we've put together a look at the best U.S. disc golf courses along the path of totality.

As luck would have it, although the totality line is only about 4% the width of the United States, the top 10 courses along it are all within the top 150 courses on the planet based on the same math behind our World's Best Disc Golf Courses rankings. Put another way, they're all within the top 1% of the over 15,000 disc golf courses on Earth.

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• Top 10 disc golf courses in the path of totality
• Great disc golf courses in regions not near a top 10 course
• Eclipse viewing safety tips

The 10 Best Disc Golf Courses in Line of the Total Eclipse

In total, there are over 1,000 open courses in the path of totality stretching across 18 states and provinces from Uvalde, Texas, to Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. You can find the 10 best below.

Click or tap any course to learn more about it and keep in mind that all times mentioned refer to the time zone of the related course.

Notably, we had to leave out two world top 10 courses in the path of totality – Brewster Ridge and Fox Run Meadows at Smugglers' Notch Resort in Vermont – because they don't open until May.

1. Persimmon Ridge Disc Golf Course – Greenbrier, Arkansas

Persimmon Ridge in Greenbrier, Arkansas, is the best course in the path of totality. Accurately proclaiming their course Disc Golf Eclipse Headquarters, Kim and Steve Jones are the owners and proprietors of Persimmon Ridge. Along with the Eclipse Disc Golf Fest on Monday, April 8, they are hosting an A-Tier tournament over the three days prior – though it wasn't initially planned that way.

"We've had this Persimmon Ridge Retreat now for five years and we were ready to request an A-tier from the PDGA," said Kim Jones. "And we were just asking for the weekend before Jonesboro Open to make it convenient for people. And lo and behold we got that weekend and that's when we realized it was the eclipse weekend."

Much like the alignment of the earth, moon, and sun, the events fell into place. It wasn't long afterward that Luke Humphries called Jones and asked her if GK Pro could host a skins match on the day of the eclipse.

"From there, we just kind of started having meetings with companies to figure out what we could do to create a whole event around the A-Tier and around the eclipse," said Jones. "And it just kind of evolved."

Kim and Steve then worked with MVP to bring together their "Eclipse-A-Doozy" player pack filled with the fittingly-named eclipse plastic as well as with House of Discs to create their Let's Go Throw Glow pack.

The A-Tier kicks off April 5th and runs through the 7th with many of the top touring professionals making the stop and sticking around for the eclipse event. Sunday night will have a DJ set from pro disc golfer Kevin Jones (no relation to Kim and Steve) and the morning of the eclipse they will host a Beat the Pros event where disc golfers can battle their favorite players for a chance at $10,000. After the eclipse, the skins match will commence.

Eclipse glasses will be given out for free to all spectators. You can learn more about the festivities and order tickets on the course's site.

2. The Hideaway DGR: Roadrunner – Terrell, Texas

The Hideaway DGR Roadrunner course takes spot number two. The top-ranked course in Texas, they, like Persimmon Ridge, are holding an event to commemorate the celestial occasion. Called the Total Solar Eclipse Flex, the event offers both open and amateur divisions. 

3. BC3 Disc Golf Course – Nashville, Indiana

The top disc golf course in Indiana with nearly four minutes of totality, BC3 Disc Golf Course is a fantastic option for those around Indianapolis. The site of the annual Indiana State Championships, Brown County Country Club has two layouts along with a nine-hole beginner's course if you're traveling with less-seasoned players. There is a fee of $10 per day per player.

4. Echo Valley Disc Golf Course – Waynesville, Ohio 

While it has the shortest totality on our list, Echo Valley is the best disc golf course in Ohio and #50 in the world. You've got two layouts to choose from with long, wooded fairways and gorgeous scenery. If you finish your round before the main event, you can drive an hour east and add several minutes to your eclipse duration.

5. Dino Hills Disc Golf Farm: Carnivore Valley – Walnut Springs, Texas

Carnivore Valley is the highest-ranked dinosaur-themed disc golf course (yes, there's more than one) in the path of totality and a great option for those west of Fort Worth. While this ranking applies to Carnivore Valley, it's worth knowing that Dino Hills offers two additional courses on the property – a putt putt course and a longer, technical course – as well as a $10 camping option for those who would like to stay the night. There is a $20 fee per day per player to play all three courses and reservations are required.

6. Bond Lake Disc Golf Course – Ransomville, New York

With gorgeous views of Bond Lake, this disc golf course 30 minutes north of Buffalo, New York, offers an idyllic setting to view the eclipse. There are three layouts to choose from, and you can expect a lot of elevation change, shaded greens, and wildlife. The course is free to play.  

7. Cold Hollow Disc Golf – Enosburg, Vermont

A fantastic mix of field and wooded holes, Cold Hollow offers lovely views of the picturesque Green Mountains. Team On The Fly Disc Golf is hosting an event during the eclipse — the Total Eclipse Classic. To play Cold Hollow, it's $10 for an all-day pass.

8. Brazos Park East (The BEast) – Waco, Texas

A course that needs no introduction for pro dis golf fans, Brazos Park East lies very close to the center of the path of totality with 4:15 minutes of darkness. A championship-level course alongside the Brazos river and jagged limestone cliffs would make the perfect backdrop for a solar eclipse. Make sure to bring your A-game as its nickname, "The BEast" was not given lightly. Free to play.

9. Harry Myers Disc Golf Course – Rockwall, Texas

Designed by Disc Golf Hall of Famer John Houck, Harry Myers Disc Golf Course is just east of Dallas, Texas, and offers a classic disc golf experience. Situated in a large public park, you'll have a mix of open holes, wooded shots, water features, and mandos. Free to play.

10. Boylan Acres: Arduous – Monrovia, Indiana

At number 10, Boylan Acres' Arduous course rounds out our top ten. So named due to its 10-12 floors of elevation change and technical wooded holes, Arduous is an ideal spot for those west of Indianapolis. It costs $10 per day to play, but that includes its more mountainous cousin, Boylan Acres: Extreme, too.

Other Great Disc Golf Courses in the Path of the Totality

If you can't make it to a course in the top 10, don't despair! There are still plenty of very good courses in the path of totality. We looked for the best courses within an hour's drive of popular eclipse cities on a list put out by NASA that don't have a top 10 course nearby. Here they are from south to north:

Again, all times mentioned refer to the time zone of the related course.

These should help fill in the gaps from the top 10 for travelers or those living near or going to other popular cities along the path of totality. If you still haven't found quite the right fit for your trip, UDisc Places can help.

Stay Safe and Enjoy the Spectacle! 

We spoke with a few travelers about their plans. One of them was Nick Turney, who didn't get to see the 2017 solar eclipse and is making sure not to miss this one.

"Since we are going to make a five-hour drive from northern Illinois, I figured why not see where a good disc golf course is in relation to towns that fall on the center of the path of totality?" said Turney.

They settled on Fox Prairie in McLeansboro, Illinois, where he and his son plan on an early round followed by grilling and the eclipse. 

"My son is probably more excited than I am," Turney said, "He has a countdown set on his phone! It's a once in a lifetime experience and we do not want to miss it!"

As with any solar-staring event, make sure to bring appropriate glasses to view the eclipse. You want them to be ISO and CE certified. If they're sold out in your area, NASA has a great guide on how to fashion your own from household items.

And if you're on the fence about making the trek to the path of totality, know that the next full solar eclipse that will be viewable in the contiguous United States won't occur until 2044. So make hay while the sun shines or, in this case, doesn't.