The Challenge at Goat Hill Park Welcomes You!
2023 will mark the 11th installation of The Challenge at Goat Hill Park – Driven by Innova, held in Oceanside, California. The A-tier tournament will be held on February 10-12, 2023 on the rolling terrain at the Goat Hill Park Golf Course, city park and open space property with views of the Pacific Ocean (and a hint of salt air in the steady breezes).
We are once again a qualifying event for the United States Disc Golf Championship, long viewed as the most prestigious event in disc golf! In fact, The Challenge is the kick off event on the “Road to the Championship”, the series of qualifiers for the USDGC. We expect to have a great field of players looking to lock in their USDGC berth early in the season. We’re currently expecting to add $5,000 in cash to the MPO/FPO payout. And of course, the coveted “Goat Trophies” for top finishers!
Players choosing to take on the Goat will get a chance to experience the Par 68, nearly 12,000-foot disc golf layout that winds around the golf course known as Goat Hill Park. The “Goat Hill” portion of the venue name tells you most of what you need to know about the course: it’s tough, ornery and features lots of hills to chew players up. What isn’t mentioned is the wind – a steady sea breeze coming off the Pacific Ocean (in view from several holes) that really picks up in the afternoon, just in time for lead cards. “Park” was add to the name to reflect the open, inviting, relaxing vibe that embraces the venue. Where else can you see ball golfers and disc golfers with their dogs on leash beside them as they play 18?
We’re planning on hosting a Friday evening Welcome and Players Party on-site at Goat Hill Park, similar to what we did in 2019 (in pre-COVID days…). Once again we hope to make use of the patio area to enjoy disc-themed games, snacks and a sampling of some of San Diego County’s best craft beers. We’re also looking at adding a Saturday evening FanFest with live music, disc-themed games and a long drive competition on the Goat Hill Park driving range. And of course, there’s some big football game happening on Sunday that we expect to watch on an ample number of TV screens after our tournament champions are crowned.
We are also partnering with the new Disc Golf Masters Tour by hosting some of the divisions playing in the Old Goats Challenge, the first stop on this new tour created for players in the PDGA’s age-protected divisions. Selected divisions of Old Goat players will fill the early tee times on Saturday and Sunday of tournament weekend, playing their remaining rounds at Reidy Creek Golf Course in Escondido. We’re excited to be a part of this new tour for “experienced” players (like us!)!
So as you’re planning your disc golf travel schedule for 2023, include a swing through sunny San Diego to Goat Hill Park. This year we are snuggled in between the La Mirada Open and the Wintertime Open at historic Oak Grove, providing a great 3-tournament So Cal swing before the DGPT season kicks off in Las Vegas.