Disc Golf Pro Tour stops in Austin this weekend, showcases popular local sport

Oh, yeah, and it also has arguably the most difficult hole on the pro tour with the par-5 No. 18. The hole drew controversy over the past couple of seasons’ from both the men’s and women’s players for its punishing out-of-bounds and sky-high scores. For those more familiar with ball golf than disc golf, think of ending a round with No. 18 on the TPC Sawgrass.

“Hole 18 is the signature Par 5 now infamously known as the hardest hole in the history of the Disc Golf Pro Tour,” Jansen said. “The final shot of this hole is an obstructed island green where players have one last chance to show they are good enough to compete here. Players know it can make or break their entire weekend. It’s something you have to think about for the entire round; did I do enough before hole 18?”

This entire week also serves as a celebration of sorts for Austin’s disc golf scene, which has long been one of the best in the country. UDisc recently ranked Austin and it’s nearly three dozen area courses as the best disc-golf city in the nation, and the city-owned course at Bartholomew Park is the oldest disc-golf course in Austin.

Heck, even Zilker Park in the heart of Austin has an 18-hole course that’s popular with everyone from beginners drying off from a dip in Barton Springs to visiting pros walking off a two-meat plate from nearby Terry Black’s Barbecue.

“We never stop playing disc golf here in Austin,” Jansen said. “It’s a 365-day activity for the local disc golf community.”

MORE: Growth of disc golf on display as Austin hosts amateur national championship

Disc Golf Pro Tour, Austin: What to know

What: 2026 Barbosal Open

When: Thursday-Sunday

Where: Sprinkle Valley (Thursday and Friday) and Harvey Penick (Saturday and Sunday)

Tickets and information: dgpt.com

Disc Golf Pro Tour, Austin: Players to watch

For the men’s tour, Niklas Anttila returns to Austin after winning last year’s event by showing 34-under par and beating Kyle Klein in a playoff and earning $11,650. Anttila, from Finland, is the highest-ranked non-American in the world at No. 4. Gannon Buhr, a 6-foot-6 Californian who will celebrate his 21st birthday Thursday, is the world’s top-ranked men’s player and the favorite in any tournament he enters. Klein ranks No. 8 in the world but looked comfortable on the Austin courses last season, and fellow veterans Richard Wysocki and Calvin Heimberg rank No. 2 and No. 3 in the world, respectively.

The women’s tour looks wide open. Holyn Handley, who currently ranks No. 2 in the world, won last year’s event in Austin with a 1-under par. She’ll be pushed by a strong overseas contingent that includes No. 1 Silva Saarinen of Finland and No. 4 Kristin Lätt of Estonia. Third-ranked Missy Gannon and No. 5 popular veteran Ohn Scoggins should also place near the top of the leaderboard.