Photo Credit: Courtesy of Isabella County Parks
“Looks like he’s going with a driver on this one … “It’s a beautiful drive … Wait … (crashing chains) It’s in … A hole in one!” This is disc golf, a sport taking the nation by storm, bringing flying discs and the sound of ringing chains to a park near you. Haven’t you heard the chains? Then now is the time to consider bringing this activity into your community.
From college campuses to local parks, there are more than 3,000 disc-golf courses and an estimated 500,000 regular players. What sets disc apart from its older brother, golf, is that it is cheap to install (approximately $350 per target), has low equipment costs ($8-15 per disc), and is accessible to all demographics. It is also considered a “greener” recreation alternative because courses are integrated into available space and played around natural objects.
With the economic constraints that many parks and recreation providers are experiencing, disc golf is a great answer to budget woes. Now is the time to get your park and community involved in this sport revolution! To ensure the biggest benefits for the community, the process involves three main steps: planning, design and installation, and sustainability and maintenance.