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Club History
Established in 1997, learn about Our History
When was "The Club" Founded?
The Silicon Valley Disc Golf Club (SVDGC) was formed in May, 1998, and is a California Public Benefit Non-Profit Corporation whose goal in life is to spread the gospel of the goodness of the game of disc golf. The SVDGC has acquired a 501(c)3 status with the IRS and as such your donations to the Club may reduce your taxable income.
The County of Santa Clara Park & Recreation Department administers an annual Use Permit and the Club must pay for and follow the requirements of the Permit in order for disc golf play to continue. The County of Santa Clara initially spent $10,000 for environmental reports and a public hearing to get disc golf established in 1997. After 1997 all expenses for the building and maintenance of the disc golf courses have come from donations by the disc golf community (no tax dollars since 1997).
What was the first course in Silicon Valley?
Hellyer Park (Santa Clara County Park) is located in south San Jose, CA. A 9 hole disc golf course was established in November, 1997, at the southeast corner of Hellyer Avenue and U.S. Highway #101. Co-designers of the original 9 hole course are Tom Schott and Jim Challas. In May, 2007, an additional nine hole disc golf course was established in the Parque de LaRaza area of Hellyer Park at the northeast corner of Coyote Road and the underpass of U.S. Highway #101. Designer of the “LaRaza” 9 hole course is Jim Challas. The 9 hole courses are on the east side of U.S. #101 and are separated by Coyote Creek. There is no pedestrian access between the courses!
Our Expansion
It took 10 years to get approval to expand for another 9 hole course at "La Raza". It took the SVDGC 10 days to raise $10,000 and 10 days to build the course!
The SVDGC annual budget is approximately $5,000 with insurance at about 20 to 25% of the expenditures. From 1997 through TODAY approximately $75,000+ has been raised by disc golfers and expended to acquire and keep disc golf available to the general public for “free play”. There are “no green fees” and “no tee times” required at either 9 hole course.
*Membership to the SVDGC is not required to play but we encourage you to support us today!!!
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