The 2017 disc golf season was a successful one in the region, and continued growth is anticipated in the year ahead.
That was the general consensus coming out of the annual general meeting of the Parkland Association of Disc Golf held in Yorkton Sunday.
鈥淚t was a great year when we paused to look back at 2017,鈥� said PADG president Calvin Daniels who is embarking on the second year of a two-year term. 鈥淲e had really outstanding weather for all our tournament series events, including the Farrell Agencies Champions Challenge final in October, and we saw new courses and new players on our courses.鈥�
Daniels said with new courses installed at Kamsack and Saltcoats in 2017, and a temporary lay-out getting the sport off the ground in Wadena, there are now 23 courses being represented by the PADG.
鈥淎nd we have a member hard at work on trying to get a course installed in Balcarres this spring, so we expect more growth as the year rolls on,鈥� he said, adding, 鈥渢here are actually three, or four locations which are at least looking at a course moving forward.鈥�
Daniels said because disc golf courses are a relatively low cost to install, and the equipment is affordable so that people of all ages can enjoy an outdoor recreation activity, interest is high.
鈥淲e look around our region, (the PADG covers an area with a 125-kms radius of Yorkton), and we know a course would be an asset in communities such as Sturgis, Canora, Esterhazy or Grenfell,鈥� he said, 鈥淎nd we have courses in two provincial parks in our area, so why not at Duck Mountain too?
鈥淭here is no doubt in our mind the sport will continue to grow.鈥�
As part of the PADG鈥檚 mandate they are happy to meet with town councils, recreation boards, regional park boards etc. to discuss how a course might be developed.
So too will the PADG, which came out of Sunday鈥檚 meeting with the role of some directors more clearly defined. Duncan Holness of Percival, who along with Mark Kienle of Wadena were elected to two year terms on the Board, will be focusing on developing the sport among youth.
鈥淲e recognize the future of disc golf, like any sport, comes by getting youth involved,鈥� said Holness who is a teacher when not throwing discs. 鈥淕et kids playing, and they bring their parents to the course too. If they get hooked on the sport, disc golf is something they can play for life.鈥�
Holness is already working on a training module geared to youth which will allow for something as simple as an afternoon workshop, or can be used over several weeks in a school setting to teach the finer points of the sport.
鈥淚n Stockholm the school is right next to the disc golf course. In Melville it鈥檚 just across the street. In Balcarres a new course, if it goes forward would be on school property. In Yorkton several schools already take classes to the Patrick Park Course,鈥� said Holness. 鈥淚f we can build on that with some focused instruction it will be great for the sport鈥檚 future locally.鈥�
The AGM also heard about plans already taking shape for an expanded tournament series.
Last year there were 11 events in the series, with the championship which brought the top golfers from each of those events together going down to the 45th basket before Chris Hoyt of Regina edged 2016 champion Jack Talsma of Fort Qu鈥橝ppelle.
鈥淲e will have more events in the series this year,鈥� said Trevor Lyons Tournament Director with the PADG. 鈥淟iving Skies Realty Ltd. has already come on board to sponsor a new event at Carlton Trail Regional Park, and we are finalizing plans for a Yorkton Co-op Trilogy Cup which will have players earn points at events at Whitesand Regional Park, Kamsack and Yorkton, and two of those will be new to the tour.鈥�
The other big news in terms of tournaments is that the ladies will have their own one-of-a-kind jacket and trophy to pursue.
鈥淥ur first two years the Champions event was an 鈥極pen鈥� and ended up all guys,鈥� said Lyons. 鈥淲e wanted to get the ladies involved more with the sport, and Living Skies Realty Ltd. has come on as a finals event sponsor which will be held the same day as the open final. We hope it spurs a few more women to get involved in our tournaments.鈥�
There is also work by the PADG toward adding a 鈥楪rand Master鈥� Championship, open to players 50-plus in age.
鈥淲e have a lot of mature players, myself included come July, and we want to keep them involved,鈥� said Lyons. 鈥淲e just need to find the right sponsor partner to make it happen.鈥�
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If anyone is interested in disc golf they can find the PADG on Facebook, or email them at [email protected]
鈥� Submitted by the Parkland Association of Disc Golf
