Airdrie City council has approved the implementation of a nine-hole disc golf course in Fletcher Park, following a presentation at their July 5 meeting.
Located north of Airdrie’s downtown, Fletcher Park is also home to three ball diamonds, a BMX track, outdoor basketball hoops and a playground.
The idea to bring a disc golf course to Airdrie was initially presented during the March 1 meeting by Adam Martin, a member of the Airdrie Disc Golf Club. Martin spoke to council about the benefits of disc golf and rise in popularity of the sport in recent years.
The sport of disc golf is similar to traditional golf, but involves throwing a frisbee or disc from a tee pad into a chained basket, with the objective of landing the disc in the basket in as few throws as possible. Courses typically include nine or 18 baskets, with each “hole” ranging in difficulty and length.
Three possible locations for an Airdrie course were proposed – East Lake Regional Park, Chinook Winds Regional Park and Nose Creek Regional Park. Following walk-throughs and reviews by City staff, Chinook Winds and Nose Creek were deemed unsuitable due to the proposed installation’s proximity to natural areas and potential conflicts with other park users, according to Kevin Brinson, team leader for City parks.
Following those tours, Brinson said staff looked at East Lake Regional Park and Fletcher Park as possible alternatives, with the latter preferred due to its accessibility and playability for users of all ages. He said Fletcher Park would also provide a minimal level of potential conflict among users of other park amenities.
“Disc golf can actually be played in all seasons,” said Brinson. “So this is a seasonable site – this is something that would be beneficial in the winter.”
After the presentation, council was quite pleased with the rapid timeline of the project. Mayor Peter Brown noted that sometimes “it takes people years” to compile the information required to successfully approve these types of projects. Other councillors agreed.
“I’m so glad to see this has happened so fast,” Coun. Kelly Hegg said.
Tom Byrne, president of the Airdrie Disc Golf Club, echoed the sentiment of council.
“Thrilled is an understatement,” he said, when asked what he thought about the course’s approval following the council meeting.
“It feels like a whole lot of good for [the disc golf community]. We’ve been working so hard and now finally to see some results and to have something proposed and [in the future] ready to go, is very exciting for us as a community.”
The baskets and tee-off pads for each hole will be placed temporarily throughout the park for now, at no cost to the City. Coun. Tina Petrow suggested the course initially be operated as a pilot project to ensure there is no negative feedback from the public before deciding whether or not to make the course permanent.
All materials for the temporary course belong to the Airdrie Disc Golf Club. Should the City choose to develop the course into a more permanent offering, the cost would be approximately $1,000 per hole, according to Brinson.
Although there were questions surrounding parking, signage and safety from Mayor Brown, Couns. Al Jones, Petrow and others, council unanimously approved the addition to Fletcher Park.
Byrne said the club is waiting for the go-ahead from the City’s parks department to get a start on installing the baskets and tee-off pads in the park but they should be up and fully functional within the next few weeks.
