Growing Together: Bringing Disc Golf to Christmas Hill Park
A community-led effort to bring accessible outdoor recreation, environmental stewardship, and a permanent disc golf course to Gilroy, California.
An initiative of the Happy GilMo Disc Golf Club
A New Way to Play in Gilroy
What if we could turn an underutilized portion of one of Gilroy's parks into a place where families spend time together, neighbors become friends, and people of all ages discover a new way to enjoy the outdoors?
That's what I was thinking as I strolled through the Ranch Site of Christmas Hill Park on a chilly February morning in 2022. That thought became the basis of my proposal for a permanent disc golf course in Gilroy.
Our goal is to create a welcoming recreational space that complements the park's existing uses, respects the natural environment, and gives our community another affordable way to get outside.
And the best part? You don't have to be good at disc golf to enjoy it. Trust us, we've been proving that for years.
What Is Disc Golf?
Disc golf is played much like traditional golf, except instead of hitting a ball into a hole, players throw specialized plastic discs toward elevated metal baskets.
It's easy to learn, challenging to master, and incredibly accessible.
You don't need expensive equipment, a team, or a reservation. With just a disc or two, you can enjoy a casual round with friends, get some exercise, or discover your new favorite outdoor hobby.
We envision a course that welcomes everyone, from first-time players and young families to experienced competitors.
Our Proposed Course
Our current vision focuses on the Ranch Side of Christmas Hill Park, where we've explored a layout featuring approximately 9–13 holes.
The proposed course would make use of existing park terrain and natural features while prioritizing pedestrian safety, environmental protection, and compatibility with other recreational activities.
We believe our thoughtfully designed course could provide:
Free or low-cost recreational opportunities for Gilroy residents.
Outdoor activity for children, families, adults, and seniors.
Beginner clinics and educational programming.
Community tournaments and organized events.
Volunteer opportunities and ongoing environmental stewardship.
Another reason for visitors to explore and enjoy Gilroy.
The course is still a proposal, not an approved permanent park installation. We're continuing to work with the City of Gilroy and community stakeholders as the project moves forward.
Our First Community Event: August 29, 2026
Rather than just asking people to imagine what a disc golf course could look like, we decided to show them.
On August 29, 2026, we organized a temporary 13-hole disc golf experience at Christmas Hill Park, welcoming beginners, families, experienced players, and curious residents. We had a great time and hosted an encouraging demonstration of what's possible when a community comes together.
By the Numbers
Community Play-Through | Results |
Community participants | Approximately 50 |
Temporary disc golf holes | 13 |
Families participating | Approximately 4–5 |
Recorded UDisc plays | 30 |
Combined recreational hours | 36 |
Recorded steps | 85,760 |
Reported incidents during event | 0 |
We also distributed 40 mini markers, 10 discs, and two disc golf bags, with additional prizes and giveaways made possible through community support.
The event offered something even more valuable than participation statistics: an opportunity to see residents enjoying a new recreational activity in a familiar public space.
It also gave us feedback about the proposed layout, including opportunities to improve pedestrian safety, signage, and course design.
We'd like to thank our supporters, including DGA and Elevation Discs, along with the volunteers and community members who helped make the day possible.
Planting Roots, Growing the Game
We've also secured over 50 native oak trees for potential planting and stewardship efforts in Gilroy. These trees represent an opportunity to improve local green spaces, support environmental education, and encourage residents to take an active role in caring for their parks.
We're working toward a volunteer-supported stewardship program that could include tree planting, watering, maintenance, educational activities, and community partnerships, subject to appropriate City approvals.
We believe recreation and conservation should go hand in hand. After all, there's no better reminder to respect nature than watching your favorite disc disappear into it.
Growing Together: Community Clinics and Education
One of our priorities is making sure cost and experience aren't barriers to participation.
Through our Growing Together initiative, we're developing opportunities to offer free introductory disc golf clinics for children, families, and other community members.
Our plans include beginner-friendly loaner equipment, instruction from local volunteers, and educational activities that introduce participants to environmental stewardship and responsible park use.
We're also pursuing grants and community support to help make these programs sustainable.
The idea is simple: give people an opportunity to try something new, make a few friends, and discover a reason to return to their local parks.
Building a Community-Led Project
The Christmas Hill Park Disc Golf Course proposal is being led by the Happy GilMo Disc Golf Club, a local community of disc golfers and volunteers dedicated to growing the sport in Gilroy.
We're working to build relationships with residents, community organizations, local businesses, parks officials, and other disc golf clubs throughout the region.
As the project develops, we're exploring equipment donations, fundraising opportunities, sponsorships, and grants that could help reduce the financial burden on the City.
We've already begun discussing possible donated baskets through our regional disc golf network. These arrangements are still being developed, but they represent a promising opportunity to make a permanent course more financially feasible.
Ultimately, we hope this becomes a project built with the community, not simply for the community.
Where Do Things Stand?
Our project is moving forward through community outreach, City conversations, and ongoing planning.
Completed milestones:
Developed an initial course concept for Christmas Hill Park's Ranch Side.
Organized a successful 13-hole community play-through.
Collected participation data and community feedback.
Engaged with City officials and parks planning discussions.
Secured 50 native oak trees for proposed community stewardship activities.
Began coordinating potential basket donations and other community partnerships.
Current priorities:
Continue discussions with the City regarding a pathway toward project approval.
Refine course design and safety considerations.
Secure equipment donations, sponsorships, and grant funding.
Develop free community clinics and volunteer opportunities.
Establish approved plans for tree stewardship.
Our hope is to see the course move forward as a near-term community improvement rather than waiting indefinitely for a larger park redevelopment.
How You Can Help
This project is about more than a new place to play disc golf. It's about bringing people together to create something lasting for Gilroy.
Whether you've played for years or have never thrown a disc in your life, there's a place for you in this effort.
Volunteer: Help with clinics, community events, outreach, cleanups, and future stewardship projects.
Support the Project: Local businesses, individuals, and organizations can help through equipment donations, sponsorships, supplies, and other forms of support.
Share Your Voice: Let local leaders know that accessible outdoor recreation matters to you. Participate in opportunities for community feedback about Gilroy's parks.
Stay Connected: Follow the Happy GilMo Disc Golf Club for project updates, community events, and ways to get involved.
Our Vision for the Future
Imagine a Saturday morning at Christmas Hill Park.
A family is learning to throw discs together. A few friends are challenging each other to a round. Volunteers are caring for young oak trees. Someone who has never played before makes their first putt and immediately asks, "Can we do that again?"
That's what we're working toward.
More than a disc golf course: a place where our community can gather, grow, and make memories.
Interested in volunteering, supporting the project, or learning more? Contact the Happy GilMo Disc Golf Club on Facebook and join us, or contact me at discgolf.malachi@gmail.com
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