About World Champion Disc Golf Design
Founded by 1987 Professional Disc Golf Association Men’s Pro Open World Champion Gregg Hosfeld, World Champion Disc Golf Design (WCDGD) is the premier disc golf course design firm in Florida and the Southeast. Gregg, a three-time world champion, brings over 40 years of dedication, unmatched expertise, and a player’s eye to every fairway he shapes. He was also the first disc golfer to play 1,000 unique courses worldwide.
WCDGD is a passionate team of disc golfers committed to increasing awareness and growing the player base of the game we love. From hidden gems nestled within Florida’s natural beauty to championship-level layouts that attract players from around the world, our courses are designed for everyone — from first-time throwers to elite pros. Each design respects and highlights the natural landscape, offering fun, fair, and safe play with versatile layouts that maximize any property’s potential.
Gregg’s design legacy includes several of Florida’s top-rated courses and the acclaimed Lake County Disc Golf Trail — a tourism success story demonstrating how well-designed courses can generate significant economic impact for communities. Four WCDGD-designed courses were featured in the 2021 PDGA World Amateur Championships. In 2026, all five courses on the Lake County Disc Golf Trail are expected to host the United States Masters Championship right here in Lake County, FL.
Whether you’re looking to evaluate land for disc golf, design a brand-new venue, enhance an existing course, or host clinics to grow the sport locally, WCDGD delivers courses that stand the test of time — and keep players coming back.
About the Designer-Gregg Hosfeld
Gregg Hosfeld isn’t just a disc golf course designer — he’s a 3× Pro World Champion, lifelong student, and pioneer of the sport. As the original road researcher for the PDGA’s early printed course directories, Gregg crisscrossed the country, documenting courses and shaping the early foundation of disc golf’s rapid growth. He also made history as the first person to play 1,000 different disc golf courses, alongside Ben Calhoun — a milestone that sparked a life’s work dedicated to understanding what makes a disc golf course truly stand out.
Today, Gregg has played over 20,000 individual disc golf fairways worldwide, experiencing the best and worst the sport has to offer. His core belief:
“As a course designer, it is every bit as important to understand what works as what doesn’t.”
Through his firm, World Champion Disc Golf Design (WCDGD), Hosfeld has designed or consulted on the last four #1-rated 18-hole courses in Florida, plus the last three #1-rated 9-hole courses, and 7 of Florida’s top 11. — as rated by the DiscGolfCourseReview.com community.*
Notable #1 Florida Designs Include:
- Olympus (Throw Down/Gran Canyon original layout)-Brooksville, FL.
- Green Gauntlet-Eustis, FL
- Picnic Island-Tampa, FL
- T2-’The Turkeynator’-Orlando, FL
- Alpha- DeBary, FL
- Nature Park (9)-Mount Dora, FL
- Alligator Lake (9)-Lake City, FL
- Heritage Park Gardens (9)-Live Oak, FL
- The Magnolia (Consulted & co-built)-Live Oak, FL
Design Philosophy
Gregg’s approach combines deep respect for the land with a player’s perspective for challenge and fun.
“A Pro course designer MUST see beyond their own skillset as a player”.
“My course designs are all about character. Every course has a different feel to it. It may sound like ‘hooey,’ but I let the mature trees tell me where to go. You begin to see through the trees and recognize fairway opportunities.”
“Before designing a course, you must understand the land, its surroundings and for whom and what the course is being built.”
Hosfeld believes great design should challenge a variety of strategies and skill sets — all on the same course. Using his signature dual/dual formula (multiple tees and basket placements per hole), Gregg creates layouts that offer at least four distinct ways to play every fairway — maximizing variety, replay value, space efficiency and the ability to learn & grow on the same venue.
With the proper designer, a limited space can host a versatile, world-class course that appeals to beginners and pros alike.
Our humble beginnings…
I held the record for “Most Disc Golf Courses Played” for 15 years. Sadly, too many of those courses fell far below any reasonable standard. That’s why I set out to elevate our standards, by example… one course at a time.
Every 18-hole course designed by WCDGD has ranked in the Top 10 in its respective State — proof that thoughtful design isn’t just possible, it’s what players expect and communities deserve.
About Disc Golf:
Disc Golf: The Sport on the Verge of Explosive Growth
Disc golf is not just growing — it’s exploding. Consider these remarkable facts:
- In 2017, PDGA membership reached approximately 100,000 after more than 40 years of steady growth (Professional Disc Golf Association).
- By December 2021, membership had doubled to roughly 200,000 (PDGA membership records).
- By early 2025, the PDGA reported over 300,000 members (PDGA membership records).
The fuse has been lit. The disc golf explosion is here. These numbers reflect PDGA members, who represent less than 7% of all disc golfers worldwide (industry estimates). This suggests the total player base exceeds 4 million globally — making disc golf one of the fastest-growing sports on the planet.
Why Does This Matter?
- In 2023 alone, the PDGA sanctioned over 10,000 events, fueling local, regional, and international growth (PDGA event data).
- According to UDisc, 1,165 new disc golf courses were installed worldwide in 2024.
- There are currently over 16,000 disc golf courses globally, a figure compiled from PDGA and UDisc user data as of early 2025. Many are designed by first~time designers who unintentionally commit ‘rookie’ mistakes to permanency.
How Does Disc Golf Compare to Other Sports Like Pickleball?
Pickleball has gained momentum partly because it can retrofit existing tennis courts. Disc golf, by contrast, requires entirely new venues, offering communities fresh recreational assets and economic opportunities.
That’s Where World Champion Disc Golf Design Shines…
Building a disc golf course that fits your space, budget, and community goals requires expertise. With decades of experience and championship-level insight, Gregg Hosfeld and World Champion Disc Golf Design guide you through planning, design, and construction — turning your vision into a premier, enduring destination.
“Invest in quality disc golf facilities, and you’re opening the door to serious community engagement and tourism revenue.”
Sources:
- Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) membership and event statistics
- UDisc course installation and mapping data
- Industry analysis from disc golf market experts
Case in point: The 2025 PDGA Pro World Championships in Tampere, Finland attracted over 25,000 spectators during the week, including 8,000 for the final round — with a purse exceeding $200,000. Events like this show disc golf’s rapid growth, economic impact, and tourism potential.
Right here in Florida, World Champion Disc Golf Design, working with the Florida Disc Golf Foundation, recently completed a five-course project around Lake County, partially funded by tourism “bed tax” dollars to put Heads in Beds. That investment is already paying off — the Lake County Disc Golf Club will host the 2026 United States Masters Championships this May, drawing players and visitors from across the country.
4 of the 9 courses played in the Central Florida based 2021 PDGA Amateur World Championships were WCDGD~designed courses.
Disc Golf Delivers Tourism
- 2025 PDGA Pro Worlds (Finland): 25,000+ fans, $200K+ purse
- Lake County, FL: 5-course project funded in part by ‘bed tax’.
- Result: Hosting the 2026 U.S. Masters Championships — bringing players & visitors nationwide.