Disc golf enthusiasts can now head to Kings Park in Carman for a nine-hole game.
The game and disc golf course were introduced to the public at a disc golf demonstration and BBQ at Kings Park last Thursday.
The game is similar to traditional golf, but instead of using clubs to hit a ball into a hole, a disc is thrown towards a basket. The goal is to get the disc into the basket in the fewest tosses or ‘strokes’ possible. The player with the lowest total strokes for the entire course wins. Players can easily keep score by downloading the UDisc App.
Disc golf is a lifelong sport, that children and adults can enjoy at their leisure, playing for fun or at a professional level.
The sports is growing here in Canada and Manitoba is no exception. Disc Golf Manitoba now has approximately 35 courses around the province, with varying degrees of difficulty.
The new Kings Park course features nine baskets and 18 holes.
The U-Disc app helps navigate where you are on the course as well as keep score and compete. Listing the course on U-disc may entice players from the city to travel to Carman and could improve the potential for future tournaments to happen in the park.
Spearheading the project in Carman was Jeremy McGill and Joel VanKoughnet, who designed the course a year ago. Nine businesses each purchased signage through sponsorship for $900 to display their logos on the baskets.
“Joel VanKoughnet and I have both been playing disc golf for a bit over two years,” said McGill. “We both grew up in Carman and have family out there. Over a year ago, we started discussing how Carman would be a great place for a disc golf course. We thought about Kings Park and realized that it’s a similar-sized area to some other courses around the province, and the mature tree canopy creates a lot of options for interesting holes. Last Fall, we walked around the park with a portable basket and came up with a rough layout; then in the spring, we brought some friends out to help polish the layout a bit.”
The pair then presented their plan to Carman Dufferin Recreation, who was extremely enthusiastic about it. They were then put in touch with Jodi Winkler at the Carman and Area Chamber of Commerce to discuss having some local businesses sponsor the course.
“Jodi sent out a request for sponsors, and within about two weeks, we had funding secured for the course,” said McGill. “Then it was just a matter of ordering the baskets and waiting for them to arrive and working with Kevin Dyck at the town and his amazing crew to get them installed.”
The entire project took one year from start to finish.
Last Thursday, the course opened at Kings Park with a Disc Golf Demonstration and BBQ sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. It was a chance for anyone to come out and try the course with some instruction from McGill and VanKoughnet.
“It went pretty well. We didn’t have a very big turnout because of the bad weather, but a handful of people came to check it out and were enthusiastic about it, and we got to teach a few people how to play and show off the course.”
McGill notes that the course is looking really great and in wonderful shape for anyone to get some games in this fall before the snow comes.
“We’ve had really positive feedback from everyone who’s played it so far. We don’t have anything firm scheduled for spring, but there has been some interest around starting a league, and we’re hoping to host some kind of ‘Learn to Disc Golf’ afternoon for people in the community who are interested but have never played before and want to learn.”
In addition to Kings Park, there is an 18-hole course in Morden’s Stanley Park with summer leagues operating. Other Pembina Valley courses are located in Winkler and Altona.
Standard photo by Brett Mitchell
