The Fort at Fort Buenaventura
The Story
The Fort sits within the historic Fort Buenaventura State Park in Ogden, on Weber County property that was previously known for illicit activity. Disc golf cleaned it up.
Development began in late 2017 when Jade Sewell and Rob Bullen met with Weber County officials. The county initially tried to steer them toward an old garbage dump property (now Observation Park, which has its own course), but the pair held firm on the Fort Buenaventura site. Jade designed the course starting from Hole 18 backwards, envisioning the world championship finish — playoff holes 16, 17, and 18, plus gallery areas, were planned from day one. The land required massive clearing with a brush hog ("the beast") provided by the county; Jade wore skin off his hands from the work.
The course secured the PDGA Professional World Championships bid in 2018. The event was pushed from 2020 to 2021 due to the pandemic. COVID restrictions limited spectators to 2,000 passes. On the final day, James Conrad threw in from distance on Hole 18 in a playoff against Paul McBeth — the "Holy Shot" — widely considered the greatest moment in professional disc golf history. Calvin Heimburg's stunned reaction became iconic. Katrina Allen won the women's division with a comeback. Rob Bullen's brother-in-law designed train bell trophies for the event.
In spring 2023, flooding affected multiple holes. Weber County invested in rehabilitation, and the course came back stronger with new MVP Black Hole Portal V2 baskets, new red tee pads, and continued infrastructure improvements. The course now hosts the DGPT Q-Series event The Beehive Classic, with $10,000 added cash, reinforcing Weber County's role as a model for county-supported disc golf development in Utah.
Cody Nebeker and Disctracted, the on-site disc golf shop, have been pivotal in shaping the course and driving its continued enhancement. The "Flex at the Fort" leagues introduce new layouts weekly by rotating among Red, Blue, and Gold tee pads, stimulating continuous course development.
Layouts
UDisc
What Players Say
This course is beyond epic! Even having watched the 2021 Pro Worlds multiple times, I spent a lot of time in my round soaking in the beautiful scenery. Hole 16 and Hole 18 may be the most unforgettable holes yet. All of the fairways are clearly defined, but be careful; any imprecision is punished with touch scrambles and high scores. This is exactly the Championship-caliber course that high-level Amateurs and top Pros will love! There's nothing like seeing the site of The Holy Shot.
Always a pleasure playing the Fort! Hands down the most challenging course in the area. Beautiful course with tons of obstacles to navigate through. The golds give you a great perspective as to what the pros play on tour. You can be under par for 10 holes and still finish over par in a single hole. Great test for your physical and mental game.
Very nice course. Many different tee pad options to choose from. Good mix of shot shapes & distances. Water comes into play on a handful of holes. Worth a visit if you're in the area or looking to take a trip! Lived up to the hype.
This is a historically famous course with the so-called 'holy shot' by James Conrad that got him into a playoff and ultimate win over Paul McBeth in the 2021 PDGA Worlds. This is still a top course in the world.
This was such an amazing experience. After the first two holes, this property is amazing. Recognizing almost every hole was a true delight. Cannot rate this high enough.
Maintenance
Weber County handles property-level maintenance. A $4/round donation system funds ongoing course improvements — baskets, tee pads, and essential upkeep. Cody Nebeker and Disctracted contribute through lease dollars and community-driven stewardship. The course recovered from significant spring 2023 flooding with county support.