Disc Golf Flourishes in Goshen: A Growing Community and New Developments

Photo byGavin Johnson

Goshen, Ind. — What started as a passion project for Jason Samuel, associate professor of communication at Goshen College and general manager of 91.1 The Globe, has blossomed into a revitalized disc golf scene that’s bringing people together. Samuel spent the summer overseeing a major renovation at Ox Bow County Park, transforming the disc golf course into a facility professional enough to host high-level tournaments. Though the park may not see the return of the Professional Disc Golf World Championships (PDGWC), the upgraded course is drawing in crowds and reinvigorating local interest in the sport.

Back in April, excitement was already brewing as renovations were underway, and by mid-August, over 300 disc golf enthusiasts—from seasoned pros to first-time players—participated in the grand reopening weekend. The event, complete with live music and food trucks, exceeded Samuel’s expectations. “Originally, I was planning on 72 people for Friday, 96 for Saturday, and 96 for Sunday,” Samuel shared. “In the end, we had 301 people play over the weekend.”

The course’s $19,000 transformation included new tee pads, baskets, expanded signage, a putting green, an auxiliary parking lot, and even six additional holes. Elkhart County Parks officials, including interpretive naturalist Krista Daniels, lauded the improvements, noting both practical enhancements and environmental benefits. “The new tee pads have been needed for a while, and the signage is amazing now,” Daniels said. “A bonus benefit of the renovations is it got rid of a bunch of invasive species.”

Samuel’s leadership and dedication were celebrated during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, where he was honored with a lifetime disc golf pass. Elkhart County Parks Director Declaire commended his passion for the sport, saying, “Jason has spent hundreds of hours at Ox Bow Park leading tournaments, leagues, and fundraising for the renovations. His hard work, passion, and dedication were much appreciated.”

While the PDGWC may not return to Ox Bow due to modern regulations, the local disc golf community continues to thrive. Samuel, determined to foster even more enthusiasm, has been organizing disc golf events at Goshen College, including campus-wide tournaments in May and September. Both events exceeded participation goals, with over 50 students joining in, and Samuel has plans to expand the sport even further with unique events like a glow-in-the-dark tournament scheduled for October.

“It’s supposed to be fun,” Samuel emphasized. “Even me standing by the Union Building and throwing a disc all the way across the yard to the Administration Building is awesome. You can’t beat it. I’m throwing a disc right across the heart of campus.”

For participants like Zachary Shields, a peace, justice, and conflict studies major, these events have been a hit. “Disc golf was really fun,” Shields said. “I am excited and expecting great things from future disc golf events.”

With growing enthusiasm and a vibrant community, disc golf’s future in Goshen is brighter than ever.