Laclede's Practice Course is a collection of 4 baskets on a couple small blocks of green space within the historic Laclede's Landing, a commercial and residential district on the St. Louis riverfront. While it isn't much, there's a decent amount of space to practice putts and even some long approaches with no obstacles to avoid.

Location of Laclede's Landing is in the heart of St. Louis, just north of the Gateway Arch park on the other side of the Ead's Bridge. Laclede's Landing is separated from downtown by the I-44 overpass, which has a jumble of streets and turns underneath, but exit 292 on I-44 East, coming across the Ead's Bridge, or down Washington Ave. will get you access to the area. I don't believe there's much in terms of public restrooms in Laclede's Landing, but if you're out looking around anyways, I'm sure there's some somewhere around the Gateway Arch National Park, or if you get some food in a nearby restaurant. This area is actually decently easy to get to via public transit as well with the Metrolink having a stop on both sides of the Ead's Bridge.

Practice Area Equipment is essentially just the four baskets right now, which are Gateway Titans since Dave McCormack is involved with this project. The baskets are permanently installed and look brand new.

Practice Area Design comprises of two areas. The first is three baskets that are located on a single block area directly south of the new Katherine Ward Burg Garden. These are far enough apart where plenty of folks can be practicing putting or approaches without getting in the way of each other. The fourth basket is actually two blocks away on the other way of the grass strip, and has a yellow top to help it pop a bit. This basket has nothing between it and the other three baskets except for a couple of streets that are blocked off anyways, and is actually about 450-475 feet from the others, making this a basket that you could actually make into your own longer hole to play from the other baskets. All in all, while it doesn't have much structure to it, there's enough variety to have some fun with a little creativity.

Location of this practice area isn't really the easiest to get to, and this course is honestly kind of hidden if you don't know its there. Laclede's Landing feels a bit cut off from the rest of downtown as it is, and the Casino next door has only made it harder to access Laclede's Landing with occasional barricades from what I've read. If you put the course or a business next door into GPS then you should be fine, but it's just not the easiest to access.

Safety is something that folks may also want to consider. While I think St. Louis gets a far worse reputation in the media than it deserves, it does have its rough spots. I don't think Laclede's Landing is one of those, but it's not a vibrant as it once was. Homeless Camps get moved around a lot by the police as well, and there have been some near Laclede's Landing recently. If that's something that makes you uncomfortable, just be aware.

Practice Area Design doesn't have anything to it at the moment to it other than the baskets themselves. What you see is what you get.

Dave mentioned in a recent post on a local page that the lots the baskets are on are leased by Pocket Parks and they plan to add some stations around the baskets, such as an around 9 game on the yellow basket and a horseshoe station. It seems this is meant to be a fun activity area for local residents and businesses, and will get some additional investment in the near future.

This practice area might not be much, but it's one of only two disc golf areas in all of St. Louis City. The greater St. Louis area has plenty of great and fun courses, but Willmore Park is the only full course within city limits, and it's right on the border to the county. So while it's not much, it's nice to see something downtown to expose people to the game.

Laclede's Landing used to be a vibrant area full of bars, clubs, and fun nightlife. Between the recession, Covid, and the Casino bearing down and getting greedy for more space, this area had seen better days. That being said, folks are really trying to get this area back to its former glory, and we are starting to see the results of those efforts. There are some new restaurants with more on the way, and plenty of lofts as well. Some businesses have also made their way in, include Abstrakt Marketing, that company with the CEO who recently got dragged through the coals for commenting on a recently let go employees post online looking for work. Overall, this area is much better than it was at its lowest, and hopefully it can get back to its highest.

If you're in the area or downtown/staying near a metrolink stop, this can be a fun quick stop to get some tossing in, and hopefully people check it out and lead to more development. Just be careful with the cobblestone roads in the district – they are so bumpy they could probably help you pass a baby or kidney stone if you're packing one.

Unique views and opportunities for creative play.
The Garden offers a great place to eat lunch.

Not the easiest place to find if you're driving and are not familiar with the area. Close to tent city.

I enjoy this space, it's weirdness cannot be denied.