Disc golf course drawing a lot of people to Dartmouth Commons
It was the great American author and humorist Mark Twain who said that “golf is a good walk spoiled,” but what about disc golf?
The sport that combines Frisbee and golf is also one of the fastest growing sports in North America and there's a new place to play in Dartmouth that is attracting disc golf players of all ages and calibre.
“It’s a good way to be outside and have some fun with family and friends,” said Jase Thistle, who was just finishing up a nine-hole round with his father.
The Dartmouth Commons disc golf course was created in July as part of a Halifax Recreation pilot project designed to get more people out and active in the community.
“I’ve actually lived in this city for over 25 years and I've never been through this park," said Darren Thistle, who was playing disc golf with his son. "It's an outstanding place and a really nice course layout."
There were dozens of people out playing Monday morning at the new course, which is strategically set up among the old-growth trees and shrubs, and along grassy areas that aren't usually ventured on.
“This is a great park for this project because it's an open park," said David Gillett, a disc golf instructor and course designer who is overseeing the disc golf pilot project. "There's a lot of space and it's a multi-use park, so there is many people doing many things and it's traditionally been viewed as an underused park in the city.”
The summer pilot project offers free drop-in disc golf workshops being offered Wednesday nights until September, which gives individuals an introduction to the sport and all the tools needed to play.
“There are already groups of regulars that will come out on their lunchtime and play two or three rounds," said Gillett. "As well as a number of new people that are always coming out and trying it for the first time.”
“It's a family activity everyone can play,” said Jen Caines who was out playing with her son.
“What I like most about it is how accessible it is," said Caines. "You can just grab a couple of discs and it's not very expensive and you get to spend time outside.”
Lyrik Wagstaff just returned from the World Junior Disc Golf Championships in Peioria, Illinois, last month and enjoys the chance to play a nine-hole course near his Dartmouth home.
The 16-year-old only began playing disc golf early on during the pandemic.
"It all started with COVID-19," said Wagstaff. "We were actually throwing discs around for my dog and she would just destroy the ultimate Frisbee discs and so we had some disc golf discs in the house and got out to Hammonds Plains to play.”
Wagstaff was playing Monday, fine-tuning some shots as he will be competing in the Canadian Junior Disc Golf National Championships in early September in Prince Edward Island.
“I'm excited to try and take down the junior title," said Wagstaff.
The popularity of the sport is growing as organizers say over the past month they’ll see anywhere from 80 to 120 people playing per day.
Discs are available to borrow at the Dartmouth Findlay Community Centre or can be reserved by contacting Halifax Parks and Recreation.
The Dartmouth Commons Course will remain in place until September 11th.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.