If Tulsa is the Mecca of disc golf, then Sand Springs is the western gateway to the Holy City. This bustling suburb is a growing tourism destination due to its quaint downtown shopping district and incredible recreation opportunities. From boating on Keystone Lake, to fishing in the Arkansas River, to hiking at the Keystone Ancient Forest, to ripping up the sand dunes at the White Water ORV Park – there is no shortage of fun to be had in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Disc golf is just one of a long list of exciting recreational activities that makes Sand Springs the ideal destination for any nature junkie looking for a weekend getaway.
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Sand Springs Disc Golf Courses
Whether you’re a new arrival to Sand Springs and wondering where you can play, or you’re new to disc golf altogether and just want to get started, Sand Springs has the course for you.
Case DiscGolfPark
2500 South River City Park Road, Sand Springs, OK 74063
Formerly known as the River City disc golf course, Case DiscGolfPark opened in April of 2021 after more than a year-long effort to make the existing grounds more attractive for tournaments and the greater regional community. It is the only active disc golf course in Sand Springs, and is located inside a public City-owned park.
Designed by 2009 PDGA World Champion Avery Jenkins, the new course features massive turf tee pads, new signage, benches, trash cans, new baskets, and 36 playable holes. All 18 tees feature a short and long basket at all times, so players can pick a more casual or challenging layout depending on their mood.
DiscGolfPark is a multinational corporation located in Tampere, Finland, and the Case Community Park disc golf course is the first DiscGolfPark in Oklahoma. DiscGolfPark provided the baskets and the tee signs, as well as a large info board.
In addition to the new infrastructure, the new course also features lots of improvements to the natural side of things as well. Parks staff planted dozens of trees to increase both difficulty and safety, and they cleared trees and brush in order to open up new areas of the park and expand the footprint of the course.
One exciting and unique feature is the three holes that play underneath the Highway 97 bridge over the Arkansas River. This area had never been utilized by the Parks Department before, and offers an urban feel unlike any other course in Oklahoma. There is also a new bridge created as part of a local Eagle Scout project to give golfers a convenient and safe way across the creek.
Sand Springs Disc Golf History
Ray Brown Park
Sand Springs disc golf can trace its roots back to Ray Brown Park at 401 East 6th Street next to Charles Page High School. From 2004 to 2012, this was the only disc golf course in Sand Springs. The nine-hole course featured dramatic elevation changes, beautiful scenery, mature trees, and a beginner-friendly but still challenging layout that was perfect for the neighboring high school students.
Although the course was beloved by its regular patrons, it was prone to vandalism and theft. For the last few years of its existence it was reduced to eight holes due to a stolen basket. In 2012 the decision was made to replace the missing basket and relocate the course to River City Park, marking the end of an era, and the beginning of another.
River City Park
In 2012 the former Ray Brown baskets were relocated to River City Park, the flagship of the Sand Springs Parks Department. The nine baskets featured two alternate natural tees to play as a full 18, resulting in a fun, if crowded layout along the road into the park.
The course initially started near the skate park and played down to the soccer fields. Bald Eagles could often be found nesting in the mature cottonwood trees of the course, which offered lots of challenging wooded lines, mild elevation changes, and a wet-weather creek.
In 2016 the City of Sand Springs invested more than $6 million into the park and renamed it Case Community Park as part of a full remodel. A new splash pad, parking lot, and concessions/restroom facility was constructed in the middle of the disc golf area, so the course was relocated to the deepest section of the park where it is today.
The course was expanded to 18 holes, but it was a beginner level course with sparse obstacles, few hazards, no out-of-bounds, and most holes were under 250 feet. Although it was very popular with locals, it never hosted a tournament or official mini due to its lack of difficulty, safety issues, etc.
Sand Springs Disc Golf Community
Whether you’re looking for new friends or just a guide to show you all the local routes while visiting Case Park, the Case DiscGolfPark group on Facebook is the place for you. Case Park is also home to weekly Monday minis during the spring and summer months, hosted by Taylor Dutto. These unsanctioned minis are NOT part of the neighboring Tulsa Disc Sports Association (TDSA) minis, but proceeds from the minis do go back into course maintenance. Be sure and join the Facebook group to keep up with tee times, cancellations, etc.
Other Things To Do In Sand Springs
If you’re planning a visit to Sand Springs, you’re likely going to want to check out more than just the disc golf course. We mentioned several recreational activities early in this page, but to really discover the town, we recommend visiting Sandite Pride News. This handy website can direct you to all the best restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, parks, etc. so that your visit is one you’ll remember for years to come. The Sand Springs Cultural & Historical Museum is a great place to visit, and the Sand Springs Herbal Affair & Festival should be on the bucket list of everyone in Oklahoma.
