Desert Sands Park Disc Golf Course in Palmdale, CA

Basic Information

Course Location: Desert Sands Park

Geographic Location: Palmdale, CA (34.59219, -118.12677)

Date Visited: February 2024

Number of Holes: 10

Course Length: 2287 feet, par 40/32

Cost to Play: free
Difficulty Level: recreational, low

Carts: should be fine here

Potential to Lose Discs: low unless you throw your disc over the park boundary fence

Park Information: https://www.cityofpalmdaleca.gov/816/Desert-Sands-Park

DG Course Review Page: https://www.dgcoursereview.com/courses/desert-sands-park-dgc.2795

UDisc Page: https://udisc.com/courses/desert-sands-park-lfcZ

Course Walkabout Video: (coming November 8)

Driving Directions: From the intersection of SR 14 and SR 138 in Palmdale, take SR 138 east 1 block to Division Street and turn left on Division St.  Take Division St. north 3 blocks to Avenue Q and turn right on Avenue Q.  Drive Avenue Q east 3 blocks to 3rd Street and turn left on 3rd Street.  Desert Sands Park is 2 blocks ahead on the left.  Park in the parking lot along 3rd St.; #1 tee is at the south end of the parking lot.

Course Constructions:

Tees: 1 per hole, concrete pavers

Baskets: Discatcher, 1 per hole, in good shape on my visit

Signage: hole sign on each tee

Amenities: ballfields, tennis courts, restrooms, a few benches, walking trails, playground

Summary Review: 2 Stars (out of 5)

The disc golf course at Desert Sands Park is the quintessential example of a course that has been threaded around the park's other facilities and amenities.  Several holes play very close to the park's boundary, and almost every hole plays near or over one of the park's other amenities.  Thus, you don't want to play here on a Saturday in the park on the Fourth of July, so to speak.  Also, the pars are clearly designed for beginner/recreational play, and even at that level many of them are too high.  That said, if you ignore the pars and manage to come here when nobody else is here, a passable half-round plus 1 can be had.  There are plenty of trees and other obstacles, and most holes will force you to skillfully maneuver your disc.  Only 1 hole measures over 300 feet in length, so accuracy is preferred over power.  I had no trouble following the course route.  The course constructions were adequate except for some graffiti and 1 missing sign.  This course is the only course in the Palmdale/Lancaster area, so it serves an otherwise unserved local disc golf community.  If you are in the area, it makes sense to come here for a quick half-round plus 1, but avoid this course when the park is crowded due to safety issues.

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: 197 feet, par 3

Comments: I mentioned this course is threaded around the park's other amenities, so let the threading begin!  The opening hole plays across 2 concrete walking paths with a row of pine trees close on the left and a concrete structure close on the right.  A couple of other trees create a low ceiling, so you will need a low accurate throw on this short hole.  #2 tee is to the left, right beside the park boundary.

Hole #2: 182 feet, par 4/3

Comments: another short tight hole that plays between two rows of pine trees.  The park boundary fence is close on the left, and basketball courts are close on the right.  #3 tee is behind the basket, around the tennis courts.

Hole #3: 228 feet, par 4/4

Comments: that tee photo is not a mistake: there is a small tree 10 feet in front of the tee.  Other than that ridiculous tree, this fairway is slightly wider than the previous holes but still has a low ceiling, and this hole has the fewest safety hazards yet.  #4 tee is to the right.

Hole #4: 232 feet, par 4/3

Comments: now the course route turns 90 degrees right to play north along the park's west boundary fence.  The basket is behind the row of trees on the right side of the fairway, so a left-to-right disc flight is needed to get close to the basket in 1 throw.  #5 tee is behind the basket.

Hole #5: 160 feet, par 3

Comments: another short tight hole similar to holes #1 and #2.  That concrete walking path is very close to the right of and behind the basket, so check for pedestrians before you throw.  #6 tee is behind the basket and to the right.

Hole #6: 273 feet, par 5/4

Comments: the longest and most open hole yet, but several trees will still need to be negotiated.  The basket is in a small patch of dirt between a concrete walking path and an utility building.  If you throw over the fence that surrounds the utility building, you might have a hard time getting your disc back.  #7 tee is behind the basket.

Hole #7: 210 feet, par 4/3

Comments: not only is there a concrete walking path on this hole, but a faintly visible brick "border" around the basket creates an island.  If your tee shot does not land within the island, you must go to the drop zone on the walking path and rethrow with a 1 stroke penalty.  This hole has 2 things I hate: a safety hazard and contrived difficulty.  A left-to-right disc flight best avoids the trees, and I would like this hole better without the island.  #8 tee is behind the basket.

Hole #8: 229 feet, par 4/3

Comments: a short and mostly open hole, this is easily the most boring hole on this course.  #9 tee is in front of the basket and to the right, about 100 feet from #8 tee.

Hole #9: 346 feet, par 5/3

Comments: the longest hole on this course, a large tree on the left and tennis courts on the right pinch the fairway, and of course there is a concrete walking path right beside the fairway.  The parking lot is just behind the basket, and you might want to end your round here once you read about the next (and final) hole.  #10 tee is behind the basket and to the left.

Hole #10: 230 feet, par 4/3

Comments: a single tree stands between the tee and basket, which sits on a pole that is twice as tall as usual.  While it is nice to get an extra hole out of some extra land, this is not a great finishing hole, and it leads away from the loop formed by the first 9 holes.  Of course, if you really don't like this hole, you can just not play it.  The parking lot is to the right and around the playground.