There is a new place in Jefferson County for disc golf players and people interested in learning the game.
Knight’s Flight Disc Golf Club, sponsored by and located outside Knights of Columbus Hall 1185, 13225 Hwy. E, in De Soto, is billed as the first-of-its-kind disc golf country club and course in the St. Louis region.
The idea for an 18-hole disc golf course on the Knights of Columbus campus came up while Cory Sprous and his father, David, were playing in a tournament in St. Charles.
Cory Sprous, who lives in De Soto and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, looked at the land and saw potential for an 18-hole course with onsite concessions and restrooms.
Sprous, a lineman by trade, said the Knights of Columbus Hall sits on 15 acres but most of the land is taken up by the building, the parking lot and softball fields.
He drew a map and talked the Knights of Columbus members – most of whom hadn’t heard of disc golf -- into letting him cut a few paths to “see if my design was doable in real life.” He was given the go-ahead but was cautioned the hall membership didn’t want to spend any money on a course.
Halfway through his exploration, Sprous realized the space would work, and he adopted the theory “it’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.” He made a social media announcement that a new course would be opening that spring.
After a year of planning and getting a group of volunteers to help him clear untamed cedar thicket and trees, and create a small footbridge and steps, the club hosted an event on a temporary course Cory designed.
Sprous said about 100 players showed up for the inaugural event last March. With proceeds from that event, other donations and 23 sponsorships, he raised enough money to put in permanently installed baskets.
“I found out baskets are expensive,” he said.
Slightly a year after its inaugural event, Knight’s Flight will hold an official grand opening on Saturday, April 25. In addition, an Ace Race will be held April 24 and a Birthday Bash Doubles will be held April 25.
Unlike most disc golf courses in the St. Louis region, this course is a pay to play with available restrooms, concessions (such as hamburgers, soda and beer) and a shop to rent discs. He hopes people will come for the experience.
The course is open to the public on the weekends with day-long play available for $5 for the public; $2 for Knights of Columbus members and free for youth 16 and younger. Hours are 3-9 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Disc rental is available for $3.
The club offers annual memberships. A 2026 membership (through March 1, 2027) includes everyday access to the course (during daylight hours); access to member-only events; and early registration for Knight’s Flight events. Membership ranges from $30 (for the public) and $15 for Knights of Columbus members.
“We had a membership drive in February,” Sprous said. “We started the season off with 64 members. Last year, we had 50 paid memberships all year long, so the word is getting out.”
For more information on Knight’s Flight or to book a time, find the club on Facebook, visit desotokofc.org/disc-golf-club or call 636-586-2594.
“We host three to four leagues a week,” Sprous said. “We hold seven events a year.”
A Disco De Mayo event will be held May 5. There are fun themed events for Octoberfest and Halloween. He said they are doing a PDGA-sanctioned Knight’s Cup and Queen’s Cup in July.
He said the disc golf club hosts and participates in charity events. In October, the club raised $1,300 for Hope 4 Autism.
Proceeds from club events help support Knights of Columbus and local parish programs.
Sprous said the great thing about disc golf is you can’t play it wrong. He said you don’t have to know all the rules when you first start playing; you will catch on along the way.
He said Ed Headrick, known as the creator of disc golf, believed “whoever has the most fun, wins.”
Sprous had no previous experience designing a disc golf course.
“It was a learning process,” he said.
The big challenge was making something that was “challenging for good players but not so hard that newer players don’t want to do it anymore.”
Sprous said he was lucky that some of the terrain was perfect for disc golf.
“There were a couple holes we didn’t have to do anything with,” he said.