Disc Golf in Waco: A Baylor Student's Complete Guide to Cameron Park, Brazos Park East & More
Disc golf is the fastest-growing sport in America, and Waco might be one of the best cities for it that nobody talks about. Three public courses, all free, ranging from a 4-hole beginner loop on Baylor's campus to one of the top-ranked competitive courses in the state of Texas. All you need to start is one disc ($10–15 from Academy Sports) and about 90 minutes.
If you live near campus and haven't tried it yet, you're sleeping on one of Waco's best free activities.
Why Disc Golf Makes Sense for Baylor Students
A round of disc golf costs nothing beyond the disc you throw. There's no membership, no reservation, no time limit — you show up and play. That makes it fundamentally different from golf, which costs $30–80 a round, or TopGolf, which bills by the hour.
It's also surprisingly social. You can go with 2–4 people, play at whatever pace you want, and talk freely between throws. Unlike bowling lanes or escape rooms, there's no countdown clock and no fee per person. A group of four can play a full 23-hole round at Cameron Park for whatever they spent on discs — usually $10–15 each, once.
For Baylor students specifically, the geography is ideal. The Baylor University DGC is a 5-minute walk from 19Eleven on S 8th Street — it's literally the easiest way to try disc golf without committing to anything. Four holes, flat, open, on-campus. If you like it, Cameron Park is a 15-minute drive.
The Courses: Where to Play and What to Expect
Baylor University DGC — Start Here
Location: McLane Student Life Center, 209 Speight Ave, Waco TX 76706 (~5-min walk from 19Eleven) Holes: 4 | Cost: Free with Baylor ID | Difficulty: Beginner
This is where you go the first time. Four holes, flat fairways, short distances — you can complete a round in 20 minutes and still have time for class. It's not a full course in the traditional sense, but that's the point: it's there to let you throw a disc without pressure, figure out your form, and decide if you want to invest in your own disc set.
Walk from 19Eleven down S 8th Street toward campus, turn toward the McLane SLC, and the course starts near the front. No sign-up, no reservation — just show up with a disc.
Cameron Park Disc Golf Course — The Main Event
Location: William Cameron Park, near the Redwood Shelter, 2601 Sturgis Road, Waco TX 76701 (~15-min drive from 19Eleven) Holes: 23 | Par: 71 | Length: 6,304 feet | Cost: Free | Open: 6am–midnight daily Rating: 4.5 stars, 3,300+ reviews on UDisc
This is Waco's disc golf destination, and it earns the reviews. Twenty-three holes across Cameron Park's signature terrain: hilly, wooded, rocky, with three elevated tees and eight open field holes. The park's natural topography — the same elevation changes that make the hiking trails interesting — turns disc golf into something you actually have to think about.
Cameron Park DGC is the right step up from the Baylor campus course. Plan for 2–2.5 hours your first time (the hills slow things down). Bring water. The course runs through areas of the park that see heavy foot traffic on weekends, so expect other visitors on the trail crossings.
Waco disc golf tip: Start early on Saturday mornings to avoid the main trail crowds. The course has concrete tee pads, public restrooms nearby, and dogs are welcome.
Brazos Park East (The BEast) — For When You're Ready
Location: Waco, TX Holes: 18 | Par: 64 | Length: 7,957 feet | Cost: Free | Difficulty: Expert Rating: 4.6 stars, 4,700+ reviews on UDisc | Rank: #4 disc golf course in Texas
This is a serious course. The BEast is ranked #4 in Texas for a reason: 7,957 feet of tight fairways, OB hazards on the front 9, and a heavily wooded back 9 where narrow lines punish any disc that drifts. This is the course that hosts the DGPT Waco Annual Charity Open — a professional disc golf circuit event that draws 100+ touring pros each year.
If you're new to disc golf, do not start here. You will lose multiple discs and have a frustrating experience. Come back after you've played Cameron Park five or six times and you understand how to shape shots around trees. When you're ready, Brazos Park East is genuinely one of the best free courses you'll ever play.
Pro tour note: The DGPT Waco Annual Charity Open ran in May 2026 at Brazos Park East, with 147 professional players competing for a $24,842 prize purse. The event is organized by Legit Disc Golf and Ryan Draper. If you're in Waco in May 2027, look up the dates — watching professional disc golf is free and oddly impressive once you understand what those throws actually require.
Hewitt Park — The Low-Key Alternative
Location: 801 S Hewitt Dr, Hewitt TX 76643 (~8 miles from 19Eleven) Holes: 18 | Cost: Free | Difficulty: Moderate (3.9 rating)
Hewitt Park offers trees, boulders, and some elevated putts at moderate difficulty. It's a reasonable option when Cameron Park feels routine but Brazos Park East still feels too difficult. The drive from campus takes about 15 minutes via I-35.
How to Get Into Disc Golf: A First-Timer's Guide
What to Buy
You don't need a full bag of discs to start. Get one disc: a putter. Putters are the most controllable disc type and work for beginners on any hole distance. A single putter from Academy Sports runs $12–18.
Once you've played a few rounds and want to add distance, add a mid-range disc next. Skip the driver until you understand disc flight — drivers go in unexpected directions when you don't yet have proper form, and you'll lose them.
Where to buy in Waco:
- Academy Sports + Outdoors — 210 N New Rd, Waco TX (~2 miles from 19Eleven); starter 3-disc sets available for $20–30
- Simply Discs Disc Golf Pro Shop — 6417 N 19th St, Waco TX; Wed–Sun 10am–6pm; full selection of discs from beginner to advanced
The Basics of Play
Disc golf follows the same scoring logic as ball golf: fewer throws is better. Each hole has a "par" number (typically 3, 4, or 5) representing the expected throws for a good player.
You start at the tee pad, throw toward the basket (a metal cage on a pole with hanging chains that catch the disc), and count every throw until the disc lands in the basket. Write down your score per hole. Lowest total at the end wins.
Disc types simplified:
- Putter — slowest, most controllable, for short distances and finishing holes
- Mid-range — medium distance, reliable flight, great for most holes at Cameron Park
- Fairway driver — longer distance, starts curving significantly
- Distance driver — maximum distance, requires technique to control
Beginners using only a putter and mid-range will cover everything at Baylor University DGC and most holes at Cameron Park without issue.
Disc Golf Etiquette
- The person farthest from the basket throws next (just like ball golf)
- Don't throw until the group ahead is clear of the landing area
- Let faster groups "play through" if you're taking a slower pace
- Discs landing in water or marked out-of-bounds areas (OB) typically add a one-throw penalty
- Retrieve your disc before others throw — be aware of what's downrange
From 19Eleven's Front Door
If you're living at 19Eleven on S 8th Street, your disc golf progression looks like this:
Week one: Walk 5 minutes to the Baylor University DGC. Throw a putter around the 4-hole course twice. Decide if you like it.
Month one: Pick up a starter disc set from Academy Sports. Drive 15 minutes to Cameron Park and play the full 23-hole course. Plan 2 hours. This is your main course all semester.
Eventually: Make a day trip to Brazos Park East. Bring extra discs. Learn what "The BEast" means.
All three courses are free. Cameron Park is the Cameron Park trail system destination for disc golf — the same park where Baylor students hike and run. It's worth pairing a morning trail run with an afternoon disc golf round if you have a free Saturday.
For a wider list of zero-cost activities near campus, 15 free and cheap things to do in Waco covers disc golf alongside the best no-spend options in the city. If you want more outdoor activity ideas beyond disc golf, our adventure guide to trampoline parks and axe throwing covers paid thrills. For staying active at home base, see what fitness options are inside 19Eleven — the sports court works well as a putting practice space before you head to the real course.
The Bottom Line on Waco Disc Golf
Waco disc golf is a genuinely excellent deal: three free public courses, a beginner loop walking distance from Baylor, and a nationally recognized competitive course for when you're ready to level up. The SERP for "waco disc golf" is dominated by professional tournament coverage and city parks listings with zero student-friendly editorial content — which means most Baylor students don't know any of this exists.
Now you do.
If you're looking for a spot near campus to practice your approach shots before heading to Cameron Park, 19Eleven's outdoor common areas give you space to throw in a low-stakes environment. And if you're thinking about making Waco your home base for all four years, tour a floor plan to see what living 0.5 miles from Baylor — and 15 minutes from the best free disc golf course in Central Texas — actually looks like.
