Over the years, Toboggan evolved into one of the most iconic competitive venues in U.S. disc golf. Beginning in 2002 it became the regular home of the United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship (USADGC). It also has been a stop on the pro tour circuit via the Great Lakes Open (DGLO). The layout’s extreme demands — launches from ridges, downhill bombs followed by uphill approaches, thick rough when you stray off-line — have earned it a reputation as “one of the most difficult courses on tour.”
The Toboggan course is located on the Maple Beach side of Kensington Metropark (Milford Township, Michigan) and was originally established in the year 2000 as a temporary, high-profile layout for the then-upcoming championships. What set it apart from the start was its sheer length — over 10,000 feet in its championship configuration — combined with major elevation changes and narrow fairways that reward distance, precision, and stamina.
Because of its event-centric nature, the course is seasonal: the baskets are installed for a limited window (often around major events) and removed afterward. This makes playing Toboggan something of a special treat rather than a casual, year-round round. When open to the public it still functions as a premium-level layout and draws serious players from across the region.
Looking ahead, Toboggan’s role will be elevated even further: for the 2026 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships (to be held in Milford/Kensington), this course is slated to serve as one of the championship venues (alongside Black Locust) and will see the kind of thorough “championship build-out” one expects: extended tees, difficult pin placements, and punishing rough to challenge the best players in the world. Originally designed and installed by Discraft owner James Kenner, the course has been modified over the years through the work of Kenner, Discraft General Manager Bob Julio and Tournament Director Nate Heinold.
Coming Soon
Round 1: B Pool
Round 2: A Pool
Round 3: B Pool
Round 4: A Pool
Final Round at Toboggan following a cut
Black Locust sits on the Martindale Beach side of Kensington Metropark and was originally conceived as the park’s everyday, year-round disc golf offering—something locals could play whenever Toboggan wasn’t in the ground. The Metroparks eventually developed it into two full 18-hole loops—the North/Blue and South/Green sides—so players could get 36 holes without leaving the parking lot. Both layouts mix rolling meadows with stretches of hardwoods, and they sit right across from the beach area, which is why the park’s own description calls out that the course is named for the black locust trees near Martindale Beach.
Fast-forward to Worlds: announcements in 2025 made it clear that the 2026 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships will use Black Locust as the second championship venue alongside Toboggan. But it won’t be the off-the-shelf version people play now. The South course is being lengthened to a 10,000-foot-plus championship layout, with new holes across the street near Martindale Beach on the grounds of the old Kensington course to stitch together a bigger, tougher track. The original Kensington course was located across the street from the two existing courses at Black Locust. Kensington locals who have been around for a long time will remember some of this land that will now house 7 holes on the World course as this area is being temporarily restored for this event.
2026 Pro Worlds will get a purpose-built “best of the Black Locust South Course + new beach holes” layout to match Toboggan’s difficulty. That’s how they get from today’s ~7,300-foot long layout to something worthy of Pro Worlds. The original Black Locust South course opened in 2018 and was designed by James Kenner, Bob Julio and Mike Wagner. The redesigned Worlds layout was taken on by Ledgestone Disc Golf and at the direction of Tournament Director Nate Heinold. The Black Locust course will feature extensive and punishing rough, similar to the Toboggan course, and will feature 2 1000’+ par 5’s, 7 par 4’s and 9 par 3’s, playing to a par 65.
Coming Soon
Round 1: A Pool
Round 2: B Pool
Round 3: A Pool
Round 4: B Pool
Final Round at Toboggan following a cut
