Hangar 18 - The Fort

## The Fort Disc Golf Course Research Summary **Basic Information:** - **Location:** Ogden, Utah, USA (Fort Buenaventura Park) - **PDGA_URL:** [https://www.pdga.com/course-directory/course/the-fort-buenaventura](https://www.pdga.com/course-directory/course/the-fort-buenaventura) - **COORDINATES:** 41.215446, -111.988702 - **Rating:** 4.7/5.0 (based on ~3,900 UDisc reviews) - **Holes & Par:** 18 holes (Championship par ~63; standard par 58) - **Established:** 2018 - **Designer:** Jade Sewell (Team Utah Open) with input from Will Schusterick --- ### Course History - **Origins:** The Fort was developed in 2018 through collaboration between **Weber County Parks**, **Visit Ogden**, and **Team Utah Open**. Jade Sewell, a local course designer and tournament director, proposed converting unused wooded acreage in Fort Buenaventura Park into a championship-level course. The site, once frequented by transients, was transformed into a safe, premier recreation area. - **Funding & Build:** Weber County provided ~$20,000, matched with volunteer and sponsor contributions, to fund construction. Hundreds of hours of volunteer labor went into clearing fairways, installing **Prodigy T1 baskets**, and pouring **concrete tee pads**. The design carefully preserved the park’s dense cottonwood trees while introducing strategic lanes and pin positions. - **Milestones:** - **2019 Utah Open:** Hosted a Disc Golf Pro Tour stop as a test event. - **2021 PDGA Pro World Championships:** The Fort gained global attention when James Conrad hit the legendary “Holy Shot” on Hole 18 to force a playoff, one of the most iconic moments in disc golf history. - Since then, The Fort has hosted multiple PDGA B- and C-Tier events and local leagues. - **Legacy:** The Fort has become Utah’s signature disc golf course—praised for its professional-level design, beautiful wooded environment, and contribution to the local tourism economy. The 2021 Worlds generated an estimated $2 million in economic impact for Ogden. --- ### Course Experience - **Layout & Terrain:** The Fort winds through **dense cottonwoods** and **riverside wetlands** along the Weber River. Terrain is mostly flat, but its **technical wooded fairways**, **OB lines**, and **tight gaps** create a world-class challenge. Players must prioritize **precision and control** over distance. - **Play Style:** - 18-hole permanent layout (with 21-hole extended option). - Short “Blue” and long “Gold” tees accommodate varying skill levels. - Championship layout (~8,300 ft) features 8 par-4s and 1 par-5 (Par 63). - Mix of controlled tunnel shots, placement drives, and risk/reward approaches near the river. - **Signature Holes:** - **Hole 5:** Iconic par 4 through a tight wooded tunnel—requires perfect placement and touch. - **Hole 12:** Reworked into a demanding par 4 that punishes overpowered throws. - **Hole 16–18:** Scenic and dramatic finishing stretch; Hole 18 (site of Conrad’s 2021 Worlds throw-in) features a water carry into a guarded green surrounded by wooden fencing. - **Player Impressions:** Pros describe The Fort as one of the most technical and fair wooded layouts on tour—rewarding accuracy and punishing mistakes. Kristin Tattar called it “a course that truly demands discipline and placement.” Amateurs love its immersive natural beauty but warn of thick rough and high lost-disc potential. The Fort is routinely listed among **Utah’s top 5 courses** and a “bucket-list” destination for serious players. --- ### Amenities & Features - **Tee Pads:** Full-size **concrete tees** for primary layouts; some alternate tees use turf or pavement extensions. - **Baskets:** 18 permanent **Prodigy T1** targets (high-visibility yellow, championship-grade). - **Signage:** Professional tee signs on all holes with distance, par, and map; directional arrows and a course map kiosk near Hole 1. - **Facilities:** - Restrooms and water available seasonally at the park’s visitor area. - Benches and trash bins throughout the course. - Ample parking near the main entrance (2550 A Avenue). - Practice basket near Hole 1. - **Accessibility:** - Flat and mostly **cart-friendly** (some sandy areas along the river). - **Dogs allowed** on leash. - Not wheelchair accessible due to uneven surfaces and narrow trails. - **Additional Amenities:** - On-site camping and picnic areas (reservable through Weber County). - Visitor center with discs, merch, and day passes. - Daily play fee: **$4** (pay box or QR code). --- ### Tournament & Cultural Significance - **Major Events:** - *2019 Utah Open (DGPT)* - *2021 PDGA Pro Worlds* – Hosted the most-watched disc golf moment in history (James Conrad’s throw-in). - *Annual Hucktoberfest* (PDGA B-tier) - *NUDGA Leagues* (Northern Utah Disc Golf Association) - **Impact:** The Fort’s combination of elite-level design, accessibility, and natural beauty has made it a central piece of Utah’s disc golf identity. It remains the **benchmark course** for championship play in the region and a training ground for Utah’s best players. --- ### Official References - [PDGA Course Directory – The Fort Buenaventura](https://www.pdga.com/course-directory/course/the-fort-buenaventura) - [UDisc – The Fort (Ogden, Utah)](https://udisc.com/courses/the-fort-buenaventura-1qAm) - [DGCourseReview – The Fort](https://www.dgcoursereview.com/courses/the-fort.9830/) - [UDisc Blog – “Extraordinary Courses: The Fort in Ogden”](https://udisc.com/blog/post/the-fort-ogden-utah) - [Ultiworld Disc Golf – 2021 Worlds Preview](https://discgolf.ultiworld.com/2021/06/21/2021-pro-worlds-course-preview-the-fort-and-mulligans/) - [Weber County Parks – Fort Buenaventura](https://www.webercountyutah.gov/parks/fort-buenaventura.php)

The Fort Buenaventura disc golf course is a heavily wooded championship-level course set in a beautiful park in Ogden, Utah. The lush, dense forest envelops the fairways, creating tight tunnels and challenging lines through the trees. Sunlight filters through the canopy, dappling the ground with patches of light and shadow. The terrain is mostly flat, with the occasional gentle slope. A tranquil river winds through the course, adding a serene blue ribbon to the rich green landscape. The water comes into play on several holes, creating risk-reward opportunities and punishing errant shots. Signature hole 16 offers a breathtaking view, with the basket perched on an elevated platform surrounded by foliage. The overall atmosphere is one of natural beauty and peaceful seclusion, punctuated by the intense focus and fierce competition found on a championship course. Warm earthy tones of brown and green dominate the color palette, with pops of brighter hues from wildflowers and the glinting river. Playing The Fort Buenaventura is an immersive experience that engages all the senses in the glory of Utah's stunning wilderness.