Charlotte is growing as a disc golf mecca

Driving the news: Charlotte is hosting the Queen City Classic this weekend at Hornets Nest Park.

• The tournament features 164 pro players from around the world and 190 top amateurs.
• Organizers expect more than 1,000 spectators each day.

By the numbers: There are more than 100 courses in and around Charlotte, with about 25 courses within city limits — far more than what similarly sized cities have.

And the Charlotte region's course count keeps climbing, up by more than two dozen in less than five years.

Between the lines: That density is why players travel here.

• "Hornets Nest is one of the most traveled to courses in the country," says Ethan Durland, VP of the Charlotte Disc Golf Club. "Last year, about 60% of the people who played Hornets Nest were from over 50 miles outside of Charlotte."

Zoom in: What makes Charlotte special isn't just the pros; it's accessibility.

• Nearly all local courses are free and open to the public.
• You can get started with about $20 worth of discs.
• "Disc golf is a much easier sport to conceptualize than golf," Durland says.

What's next: Charlotte's ambitions go beyond hosting tournaments.

• Leaders are working to bring a permanent Disc Golf Pro Tour headquarters to the city, Durland says. There are also plans to relocate the Disc Golf Hall of Fame to Charlotte, along with a dedicated course and clubhouse.