John started playing disc sports around 1975 and has devoted his whole life to disc sports. He has worked in this industry continuously since 1982 full time. His contributions to disc golf are listed below, and he is considered by many as the premier disc golf course designer in the world, not just by sheer volume, but mainly by the quality and innovative designs which set the bar higher with each course he creates. No one living today has designed more Championship courses than John, and he is known as a "living legend" for his contributions. He is best known for creating designs that create strategy within the fairways that fairly test all levels of skill. He continues to passionately design and consult regularly.
Total Designs:
120+ Solo Designs-more than anyone living today
100+ Co-Designs, Reviews, & Consultations
John Houck Courses:
At the beginning of 2021, John’s course in Hillcrest Farms was ranked #2 in the world on Udisc.com. He had multiple courses in the top 25.
At the beginning of 2020, John’s course was ranked #1 in the world on DGCourseReview. John had 2 courses in the top 10 on Udisc.
At the beginning of 2019 John's courses were rated #1, #2, and #7, making him the first designer to ever have three courses in the Top 10). He also became the first designer to ever have four courses in the Top Twenty.
#1-Rated Course in the World for 8 years (Selah Lakeside in Talco, Texas from 2012-2016, Harmony Bends in Columbia, Missouri 2019 )
#2-Rated Course in the World (Selah Lakeside in Talco, Texas 2020)
#7-Rated Course in the World (Selah Creekside, Talco, Texas 2019)
#1-Rated Course in Canada (Hillcrest Farm, Prince Edward Island – site of 2018 Canadian Nationals 2018-2021)
#1, #2, #3, and #4-Rated Courses in Texas (Selah Ranch and Trey Deuce Ranch)
#1-Rated Course in Missouri (Harmony Bends in Columbia)
#1 Ranked Course in Louisana
#1 and #2-Rated Courses in Georgia (Hobbs Farm in Carrollton and WR Jackson Memorial in Augusta)
#1-Rated Course in Alabama (the Admiral in Semmes)
#2-Rated Course in Massachusetts (Nantucket Disc Golf Course)
Top 10-Rated Courses in Washington State, New York State, and North Carolina
Coming soon: Top Tier Courses in Kentucky and New York
*All data based on player reviews at dgcoursereview.com & UDisc.com
Design Distinctions:
2020 #2 Ranked course in the World, UDisc. HillCrest Farms, Prince Edward Island
2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2013 & 2012 - #1 & #2 courses in the world on DGCourseReview.com;
2017, 2016 - #1 Course in the world by Player Reviews on DGCourseReview.com
18+ Solo Designs for PDGA Majors, NT, National & World Championships, more than anyone living today
First Tournament-Level Course in a 550+Acre Multi-Use Business Park
#1 Ranked course in Canada and #1 Ranked courses in multiple states around the USA
Head of Course Design at International Disc Golf Center (IDGC) 2005 to Grand Opening
50+ Articles published on disc golf course design in the PDGA Magazine and other magazines
Owned and operated 5 Private Championship-level courses starting with 2 in 1999
Achievements:
Commissioner (PDGA Board), Professional Disc Golf Association, 1995, 1996
Founding President, Disc Golf Foundation from inception 2004 through 2014
Elected to Disc Golf Hall of Fame, 1998, Freestyle Frisbee Hall of Fame, 2020
Emcee of National Frisbee Festival, World Freestyle Championships, US Open
Star of "Learn To Play Disc Golf" videotape, the first instructional video tape ever made for the sport
Two-Time World Champion, Freestyle Frisbee
Co-host of PDGA World Championships videotape/DVD,
Narrator for PDGA National Tour DVD
Pro Player in over 100 tournaments in disc sports including non-sanctioned tournaments and overall competitions
Co-founder, Millennium Golf Discs 1995: Became 3rd leading brand of discs by 2009. Sold Company to focus on HouckDesign 2011
Tournament Director & Producer:
200+ Disc Sports Tournaments Directed; 30+ World & National Disc Golf Championships Directed
Creator & Host of World's Biggest Disc Golf Weekend (an international event that introduces the sport around the world) 1991-2014
Creator & Host of PDGA Amateur World Doubles Championships, a PDGA Major 2003-2019
Creator & Host of Texas Teams, the largest team tournament in the world from 2001 - 2014
Director of World Disc Golf Championships, 1994-1995; Director of World Junior/Collegiate Overall Championships, 2001
Creator of National Doubles Championships 1991 - 2003
Creator of Circular Skies Tour, one of the largest tour in the country from 1989; Currently host of all HouckDesign Course Openings
Current Positions:
Co-Creator, The Art & Business of Disc Golf Course Design, A Course Design Workshop 2015
Creator, Circular Productions, 1984; Co-Creator & Co-founder, Circular Productions, LLC, 2008
Writer, PDGA Disc Golfer Magazine, Disc Golf World, Flying Disc Magazine, 1998-2019
Co-founder & Partner, HouckDesign 2008
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