Basic Information
Course Location: Monte Sano State Park
Geographic Location: east of Huntsville, AL (34.74252, -86.51741)
Date Visited: March 2026
Number of Holes: 18
Course Length: 5476/4772 feet, par 55/54
Cost to Play: $5 park entrance fee
Difficulty Level: recreational, high
Difficulty Level: recreational, high
Carts: usable, but be ready for a few stairs and narrow bridges
Beginner Friendly? somewhat, if you don't mind heavily wooded courses
Potential to Lose Discs: low to medium, some dense woods
Park Information: https://www.alapark.com/parks/monte-sano-state-park
DG Course Review Page: https://www.dgcoursereview.com/courses/monte-sano-dgc.3182
Course Walkabout Video, Front 9: (coming May 7, 2027)
Course Walkabout Video, Back 9: (coming May 14, 2027)
Driving Directions: In downtown Huntsville, take I-565 to Washington St. (exit 19C). Exit onto Washington St., then almost immediately turn right on Pratt Ave. Pratt Ave. becomes first Bankhead Parkway and then Fearn Street as it climbs Monte Sano. Drive a total of 4.9 miles from I-565 to reach Nolen Street and turn left on Nolen St. Nolen St. dead-ends at the park entrance. Pay the park entrance fee, then turn right to enter the picnic area. Park near the entrance to the parking lot. #1 tee is behind the kiosk to the right (west) of the parking lot.
Course Constructions:
Tees: 1 per hole, some are pavers and some are carpet
Baskets: DisCatcher, 1 per hole, but some holes have 2 possible basket positions
Signage: course map at kiosk near parking lot, hole sign on each tee, signs pointing to next tee
Amenities: picnic area, hiking trails, scenic overlook, mini-disc golf course, other amenities including camping elsewhere in the park
Summary Review: 3.5 Stars (out of 5)
The disc golf course at Monte Sano State Park occupies a gently rolling heavily wooded plot of land around the main park road and some of the park's other facilities. The course is on the short side, and it is not persistently tight although there are some tighter and more technical holes. Thus, while most players will be challenged at least occassionally, this is not one of the harder courses near Huntsville, Alabama. This course could really benefit from adding a new set of longer tees, which would be possible on many holes. Also, the tees need more consistency in terms of size and material. The course is set in a beautiful park atop Monte Sano, which is known for its scenic overlooks and hiking trails. The park attracts a large number of visitors for its scenery, but I was the only player on the course when I came here on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon in late March. The course maintenance was fine; some holes had been closed the previous year due to the park's construction of a new Japanese garden. The signage is fine, and I had no trouble following the course's route. There is a $5 park entrance fee, and I can see why some players would take a pass on this course due to the entrance fee even though I was very willing to pay the fee to play here. If you come here to hike the park's trails, view the park's overlooks, or camp at the park's campground, then it is definitely worth playing a round while you are here.
Hole-by-Hole Review
Distances taken from hole signs. Picture sequence for each hole is 1) tee, 2) approach, 3) basket to tee.
Hole #1: 236 feet, par 3
Comments: a gentle opening hole that is a gradual dogleg right. The trees on the right just in front of the basket jut in more than you would like, but the fairway is generously wide. A good tee shot should lead to a birdie putt and a good start. #2 tee is back up the fairway and to the left/south.
Hole #2: 389/275 feet, par 3 (Basket in the long/left position)
Comments: The fairway is tighter than hole #1, but it's still not super tight. This hole is flat and fairly straight, so the main challenges are the distance and keeping your disc flying relatively straight for that long. This hole is a better test than hole #1. #3 tee is several hundred feet away; follow the trail to the right and behind the basket.
Hole #3: 266 feet, par 3
Comments: The next 2 holes are problematic: they play directly into and through a picnic area. If there are people using that picnic area, you will need to skip these holes. There is plenty of unused woods nearby, some of which include a small stream and some gentle elevation. Thus, these 2 holes are begging to be redesigned. As is, this hole is straight but tight; it is the tightest hole yet. There is some open room around the basket, so birdie is possible if you can successfully navigate the first 200 feet. #4 tee is behind the basket, across the picnic area.
Hole #4: 205 feet, par 3
Comments: more open than the previous hole and gradually downhill to boot, a trio of trees stand directly between the tee and the basket. There is plenty of room to go right of those trees, and a decent right-to-left throw under the somewhat low ceiling should yield a birdie putt. #5 tee is across the stream behind the basket.
Hole #5: 301/214 feet, par 3 (Basket in short position)
Comments: straight, fairly flat, and tight but not super tight for most of its distance. The short basket position is guarded by several trees. Throw it straight to get close to the basket and hope you have a clear birdie putt. #6 tee is behind the basket and to the right.
Hole #6: 350/220 feet, par 3 (Basket in short position)
Comments: similar to the previous hole but tighter and gradually uphill. Use your straightest throw and hope you miss the trees. #7 tee is across the park road to the right. #1 tee for the mini-disc golf course is in front of and to the right of #7 tee; it is marked only by a wooden post and a paver.
Hole #7: 342/273 feet, par 3 (Basket in short position)
Comments: fairly straight and somewhat tight but not as tight as some previous holes. It is probably best to go right of the trees that are in the middle of the fairway directly in front of the tee: that option gives a wider line further down the fairway. Any of holes #5 through #7 would be a decent bit harder if the basket was in the long position. #8 tee is to the right.
Hole #8: 279 feet, par 3
Comments: another hole with trees in the middle of the fairway. As with the previous hole, I prefer the option that goes right of those trees. The area around the basket is open enough that a throw with good distance and accuracy will yield a makeable birdie putt. #9 tee is across the park road behind the basket.
Hole #9: 499/380 feet, par 3 (Basket in short/A position)
Comments: a gradual dogleg left that plays down a power line corridor. The dogleg is about 300 feet from the tee, so most players will want to use a straight tee shot. The short basket is in a shallow ravine right in front of a small stream; the long basket is across the ravine. This hole is a standard power line corridor hole, but it is nice to play something more open after so many tight and heavily wooded holes. Personally, I think the basket should always be in the long position on this hole to create some more hole length variety: this hole is the closest thing this course has to a bomber hole. #10 tee is behind the basket.
Hole #10: 331/235 feet, par 3 (Basket in short/A position)
Comments: a second consecutive power line corridor hole. The short basket position is in the corridor, but the long basket position is into the woods to the left. Check which position the basket is in before you throw so that you know how to shape your disc flight. #11 tee is across the main park road to the left.
Hole #11: 244 feet, par 3
Comments: back into the woods we go more or less to stay. This hole is flat, relatively tight, and a gradual dogleg left if you use the most forgiving line. A good right-to-left throw should lead to a birdie putt. #12 tee is behind the basket and to the right.
Hole #12: 242 feet, par 3
Comments: another short but super tight hole. There are 2 possible lines of play, but the right line is more direct, straighter, and my personal preference. Throw it straight and hope you miss the trees. (Side note: the gravel trail to the left is for the Japanese garden, the construction of which closed these holes for a year.) #13 tee is to the left.
Hole #13: 272 feet, par 3
Comments: Another tight hole, this hole plays across a gradual ravine with the basket slightly lower than the tee. This hole is fairly straight, and the only strategy is to throw it straight and hope you miss the trees. #14 tee is to the right.
Hole #14: 401/320 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in short/left position)
Comments: This hole plays the opposite direction across the same gradual ravine. It is super tight at first, but it opens up a little once you get near and across the stream. The stream is about 200 feet from the tee, so a tee shot with decent distance that misses the trees will clear the stream. There are more trees near the basket, but there are also several wide lines to get a disc through. This hole adds some much-needed variety after so many short and super tight holes, and this hole plus the next hole are my 2 favorite holes on this course. #15 tee is behind the basket and to the left.
Hole #15: 349 feet, par 3
Comments: Playing from a slightly elevated tee, the key to this hole is a trio of large trees that cuts diagonally across the fairway from right to left starting about 150 feet from the tee. I prefer the line that goes right of those trees with a slight right-to-left disc flight, but there are other options. You'll be scrambling for par if you hit one of those trees, but otherwise this fairway is reasonably wide. This hole is a fun challenge. #16 tee is behind the basket.
Hole #16: 255 feet, par 3
Comments: a sweeping dogleg right, there are plenty of trees, but this isn't the tightest hole on this course. An accurate left-to-right throw will set up a birdie putt. #17 tee is to the left.
Hole #17: 287/279 feet, par 3 (Basket in left position)
Comments: This hole plays across a shallow ravine, and it has 2 fairways, 1 to each basket position. The right fairway is fairly straight, but the left fairway is a sweeping dogleg left. Both fairways are tight but not the tightest. Make sure you know where the basket is before you throw. #18 tee is behind the basket and across the main park road.
Hole #18: 228 feet, par 3
Comments: a slight dogleg left with a couple of trees in the middle of an otherwise rather generous fairway. Miss those trees and a finishing birdie awaits. The parking lot is behind the basket and to the left.
