Would disc golf fly on city land behind Park Place?
Barrie councillors, sitting in infrastructure and community investment on March 6, passed a motion to have city staff investigate the feasibility of developing new disc golf infrastructure, including on the city-owned land at Park Place and at other city properties, with related costing and consultation with the broader disc golf community. They would then report back.
Coun. Jim Harris, who brought the idea to committee, noted disc golf has become popular.
“It’s a very accessible sport as far as availability to different abilities, and it’s really affordable,” he said.
Committee also passed a motion to investigate the feasibility of updating the parks strategic plan in 2025, with related costing, and report back on the results of the investigation.
These motions still require general committee and city council approval before any action is taken.
Disc golf is played much like golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc which is to be thrown into an elevated basket. Players with the fewest throws win each hole, or the game.
Barrie’s Sandy Hollow site on Ferndale Drive North is among the most used courses in Canada, Harris said, but it may need to be used in the future for the city’s landfill needs.
“The Sandy Hollow course … is beside an area that we may have to sacrifice because of being by the landfill, so its lifespan isn’t infinite,” he said. “It leaves a zero, a net zero, for the disc golf community if we don’t get something else done.”
Harris describes the Park Place site in question as having a quasi-walking path, with some sensitive environmental conditions, that could be used as an introductory nine-hole disc golf course. The Ward 8 councillor also said it’s not large enough for a soccer field or ball park.
If approved as a new disc golf site, Harris said his community project fund could pay some of the cost. Each councillor has this fund, with $25,000 for the term of council (2022-26), for projects within their ward.
In a memo to committee members, parks planning manager Kevin Bradley said city staff support the need for this study when considering the proposed timing of the closure of the existing disc golf course at Sandy Hollow.
“However, staff recommend that the city should not continue to undertake standalone studies on an individual sport-by-sport basis," such as pickleball, cricket and disc golf, "but should consider advancing a parks strategic plan that will provide community-driven, sustainable and city-wide direction for all aspects of the city’s investment, service delivery and strategic initiatives guiding the future planning, design, acquisition, improvement, management, operations, programming and use of city parks, natural heritage lands, and open spaces,” he said in the memo.
Dave Kelly is with the Barrie Disc Golf Club, which operates at the Sandy Hollow course, and says the sport has a quick learning curve.
“Disc golf is very easy to learn, and the game can be adapted and modified to fit all different skill and ability levels,” he told BarrieToday, noting the competition level goes from recreational to highly competitive.
Kelly said his club saw approximately 200 players last season at its various weekly events, although many more casual players visit the Sandy Hollow property.
“Some play nearly every day, others are far more casual,” he said. “One thing that’s certain, nothing stops the die-hard players. We have people that play all winter. I’ve seen pictures of people waist deep in snow in a blizzard at Sandy Hollow.”
Kelly said the Sandy Hollow course is 20 holes spread across approximately 15 acres in the buffer zone between Barrie’s landfill and the surrounding community.
Does Barrie Disc Golf Club need larger and more permanent facilities?
"Not necessarily larger, but having more facilities in and around the city would allow the game of disc golf to continue to grow,” Kelly said. “While the community has grown rapidly, the infrastructure in Barrie has not. To continue to offer the benefits of disc golf … it's necessary to start expanding the infrastructure of the sport.”
General committee is next scheduled to meet March 20, while city council convenes on March 27.
