Ft. Leonard Wood

Hanna Hills Disc Golf Course Review

Nestled in the Ozark Mountains just a few minutes off I-44 in South Central Missouri, you will find a must-play course, Hanna Hills. Overall, this is a technical course that will put your skills to the challenge, yet not so technical that new players will be frustrated.

Getting There

Getting off I-44 at the Buckhorn exit just at the eastern edge of Waynesville, you head south on 17 until you reach county road NN. Take a left and follow the road until the end of the pavement. Where the pavement ends, head to your right and you will be on the property and will see the signs. Follow the gravel road in and around to your left to find the first hole.

Before you Start your Game

After parking, you will see a bulletin board with some information, maps, and supplies. You are asked to register so they know who is there and basically, that’s it. However, since this is a privately owned course, they do accept donations and it is worth it to support the owners. I mentioned supplies. Of course, there are score sheets, but also a supply of pencils and bug spray! I loved that as tromping around the Ozarks, you will encounter bugs, just a fact of life around these parts. A lost and found box rounds out the bulletin board.

During my first time playing the course, the temperature was approaching 100 °F. The owners had water stations in a few places throughout the course which was so nice. Speaking of the owners, they appear to have hospitality down to a science, welcoming folks onto their property and making them feel welcomed. I only spoke to the owner for a few minutes, but it felt like I was talking to a friend I have known for years.

The Course

There are two major sections of the course, the first part zig-zags up a ridge that rewards you with amazing views of the valley below then leads you back down to the parking area. This section of the course is rocky and gains a fair amount of elevations, so make sure you got good shoes and plan on a bit of a hike. For the holes up on the ridge, you need to watch your shots as there is a good-sized cliff where you can easily lose your disc.

Moving to the second part of the course, you shoot over a pond (if you are brave enough) or you can walk around to a drop area. The pond had a croc near the tee, looked dead or concrete but my son said he saw another one swimming in the middle? Who knows, but I am not planning to go swimming there!

Once past the pond, you work your way uphill and away from the barn. These holes are more of a working your way through a forest feel than the first part which had a more mountainous feel to it. Looping back on this part of the course, you will find your distance holes with the 18^th being over 700ft. You still need to watch your throws and stay on the fairway or you will spend your outing trying to find shots to get out into the open so you can progress down the hill. The sign had it as a par 5, I shot a 12, lol.

A couple of other course-related items. The course is very well marked. I’ve been on courses where if you did not have a map on your phone, you would be lost. Not the case here, easy to follow signs throughout. Tees are artificial grass and tee signage is easy enough to figure out where the hole maybe if it is out of sight. There are trash cans, cigarette butt cans, and benches throughout the course. A lot of effort has gone into making this a very player-friendly course. Probably the only downside is because of the terrain, it is not a cart friend course.

Final Thoughts

What a gem! If you are in the area, it is worth a visit. And if you happen to be stationed a Ft Leonard Wood, the on-site course is Ok for a quick round, but for a real round of disc that will satisfy and challenge you, you must take the 15-minute drive over to Hanna Hills. And let’s face it, where else can you find a course with the sound of A-10s firing their Gatling gun in the background?

Quick recap – Great technical course, plan on a bit of a hike and perhaps a bit of time for searching for discs if you get off the fairway. Awesome hosts, please donate to help make a great course even better, and be sure to play every chance you can, it is the best course in Missouri that I have played.

Jay Fernandez is a long-time disc golfer having played for over 35 years and experienced courses in dozens of states. He writes for Disc Golf Fans as a contributing author.