Disco golf has a great future
By Letter to the Editor on May 14, 2021.
Editor:I wanted to express my thoughts related to the ongoing conversation of disc golf at different parks and developing parks in our community.
I was first introduced to one of the fastest growing professional sports in Canada, that is frisbee golf (disc golf) about four years ago by a friend.
Since then content creators such as Central Coast Disc Golf and JomezProductions (YouTube + Patreon) have been creating high quality videos that explain what the sport looks like at a professional level. With commentators and ambassadors such as Nathan Sexton pdga # 18824 being leading voices for the growth of the sport.
I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in the 2020 Las Vegas Challenge presented by Innova Champion Discs. This event was world class having three separate, 18-hole disc golf courses on the property of the “Wildhorse Golf Club.” This event brought huge revenue to the area and was incredible to see the skill of many of the top professionals of the sport. Using temporary baskets the Las Vegas challenge could remove the baskets after the event was finished.
As new disc golf courses pop up all over the province of Alberta, this gives Lethbridge a unique opportunity to be leaders in the development of disc golf.
A well designed and safe disc golf course, temporary or with permanent baskets will pull people to use an otherwise infrequently visited area.
My dream is one day we will be able to increase our quality and quantity of disc golf parks. Just as Whistler Alberta uses mountain biking to draw more tourism and revenue. Disc golf provides the same opportunity from surrounding towns and cities. Building relationships and the opportunity to host a world class tournament potentially in 2023.
Visit https://www.discgolfscene.com/tournaments/Alberta to see how many tournaments are running in Alberta alone. Last year there were over 140,000 PDGA (Professional Disc Golf Association members) and over 4.5 million dollars in tournament earnings for players.
This is the standings of the tournament I went to https://www.pdga.com/tour/event/43105 where Nathan Sexton took first and was one of the major wins of his life.
If you feel like watching disc golf check out this coverage from Sundry Alberta through CCDG (Central Coast Disc Golf) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAqbJsGC5aI
Nicholas Sheran disc golf course has existed for around 20 years and I’ve seen a surge in people using the course this year from years previous. Which means the future for players and new persons to the sport is great.
Erik Fast
Lethbridge
3-2
And what “otherwise infrequently used area” do you have in mind?