Take a step back into history for a moment, back to 1975 when “Steady” Ed Headrick was first drawing up his ideas for a disc golf pole hole, what we now know today as the disc golf basket. Southern California was a hub of disc golf activity, and it was in this year that the world’s first permanent disc golf course was installed.

Sunny Pasadena is the home to Oak Grove, an infamous course found at Hahamongna Watershed Park. Although the initial iteration of the course included Ed’s poles, Oak Grove has grown and changed over the last handful of decades to include DISCatcher baskets and multiple hole configurations.

The Stats At Oak Grove

Since it’s the oldest permanent disc golf course, you can imagine that players have had fun creating new holes over the years. Oak Grove currently has a ton of layouts to choose from with bonus holes galore. The consensus seems to vary on how many holes there actually are – some say 18, while others note 20 and 21 holes.

The local disc golf community has a great deal of pride for the course, as they rightfully should, and aim to run weekly and monthly leagues as often as possible. Thankfully the Pasadena weather allows them to play nearly year-round without having to brave the elements.

Here’s more about Oak Grove at a glance:

• The course measures at 5,115 feet with a score of 58 earning you a 1000 rated round
• One of the alternate layouts adds more than an extra 1000 feet, bringing the total to 6,261
• Most holes are under 300 feet across slightly hilly terrain
• Beautiful trees are sprinkled across the fairways, making for challenging putts and nice scenery

The Wintertime Open

You can’t have a course with so much history without having a tournament that’s on the top of everyone’s list each year. One of the first events of each touring season, the Wintertime Open at Oak Grove will be occurring for the 40th time in 2018. Viewed as a “can’t miss” warm-up event just before the tour kicks off in Las Vegas, it brings well-known names from around the nation.  Mark and Susie Horn are true stewards of the Disc Golf and Frisbee Love and longtime promoters with the Winter Time Open.

Current reigning champion Paul McBeth’s winning streak extends as far back as 2011, and it’s always a race to see who can dethrone McBeast. Previous winners of the Wintertime Open include:

• Steve Rico
• Philo Brathwaite
• Scott Stokely
• Cam Todd
• Geoff Lissaman

A Slice Of Heaven

When you combine the pristine weather, fun yet challenging course layout, and the chance to see any number of professional competitors at any given time, visiting Oak Grove should be on the top of everyone’s must-play list. If you’re able to be in Southern California during the first part of the year, take your shot at the Wintertime Open to see how you rank and to get a taste of the strongly knit disc golf community in Pasadena.

Have you played Oak Grove before? What did you love about it? Let us know about your favorite memories at the world’s first disc golf course in the comments below!