Paul McBeth Foundation and Ethiopian Disc Golf Association to Open New Disc Golf Course in Addis Ababa

The Paul McBeth Foundation, in partnership with the Ethiopian Disc Golf Association, will travel to Addis Ababa this month to install a new 18-hole disc golf course at Gulele Botanical Gardens.

Project 6.3 - Ethiopia will bring together an international installation team consisting of four Americans, three Ethiopians, three Ugandans, one Kenyan, and one Zambian. The team will arrive in Addis Ababa on July 27 and begin designing the course that same day.

Course installation will take place from Tuesday, July 28, through Saturday, August 1. The completed Gulele Botanical Gardens Disc Golf Course will include 18 holes, concrete tee pads, tee signs, and permanent disc golf baskets.

The course will officially open to the public during a free grand opening celebration on Sunday, August 2, at 2:00 p.m. at Gulele Botanical Gardens. Community members of all ages and experience levels are invited to attend, learn how to play disc golf, and explore the new course.

Discs will be provided for participants, and members of the project team will be available to teach the basics of the sport.

“Gulele Botanical Gardens is an incredible setting for a disc golf course, and we are excited to work alongside leaders from Ethiopia and across East Africa to bring this project to life,” said Zachary Smith, Executive Director of the Paul McBeth Foundation. “Our goal is not only to install a course, but to help create a sustainable resource that the local community can enjoy and continue developing for years to come.”

The Ethiopian Disc Golf Association, led by Yohannes Desalegn, is serving as the project’s local partner and is assisting with community organization, course installation, and the long-term development of disc golf in Addis Ababa.

“This course will provide a new opportunity for people in Addis Ababa to gather, be active, and experience disc golf,” said Desalegn. “We are excited to welcome the community to the grand opening and introduce more people to a sport that can be enjoyed by players of many ages and skill levels.”

The Professional Disc Golf Association is the Gold Sponsor of Project 6.3 - Ethiopia. Through its financial support of the Paul McBeth Foundation, the PDGA helps make international projects such as this possible.

Following the completion of the Gulele Botanical Gardens Disc Golf Course, a smaller team will travel to Assosa University in western Ethiopia. The team will refurbish the university’s previously installed disc golf course and help strengthen the existing local disc golf program.

Grand Opening Information

What: Grand Opening of Gulele Botanical Gardens Disc Golf Course
When: Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Gulele Botanical Gardens, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Cost: Free and open to the public
Activities: Disc golf instruction, course demonstrations, and opportunities to play
Equipment: Discs will be provided

About the Paul McBeth Foundation

The Paul McBeth Foundation develops and introduces sustainable disc golf experiences in underserved locations with limited or no access to the sport. The Foundation works with local partners to install courses, provide equipment, offer instruction, and support the long-term growth of disc golf communities around the world.

About the Ethiopian Disc Golf Association

The Ethiopian Disc Golf Association supports the growth of flying disc sports throughout Ethiopia through community engagement, instruction, events, and the development of sustainable local programs.

Media Contacts

United States and International Media
Zachary Smith
Executive Director
Paul McBeth Foundation
Email: zach@paulmcbethfoundation.org
Website: paulmcbethfoundation.org

Ethiopian Media and Local Information
Yohannes Desalegn
Ethiopian Disc Golf Association
Email: jone.desalegn@yahoo.com
Phone: +251 91 171 2538