August 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 73

Jade Sewell, owner of Ridgeline
Architects, disc golf devotee and
president of Team Utah Open,
suggested the course to Parks and
Recreation Director Todd Ferrario. Sewell explains that disc
golf is one of the fastest-growing
recreational sports in the world
and loads of fun. " One thing that
makes disc golf so popular is its
affordability, " says Joe Chargualaf, executive director of the
Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), the sport's member
organization and governing body.
" You can begin with a $15 disc,
and most courses have no or very
low green fees. Anyone can play,
and players walk 2-3 miles on an
average 18-hole course. "
For these reasons, the number of
disc golf courses almost tripled between 2000 and 2018. Many courses are in city and county parks in
the United States.

Instead of hitting balls with clubs, disc
golfers throw high-tech discs into elevated metal baskets, such as this one.

ers into the area would let us reclaim the land for its intended use. "
Ferrario also wanted to dispel the
common misconception that disc
golfers are slackers. " My experience immediately put that to rest, "
he says. " Disc golf is a mature
sport with players of all ages and
walks of life. They have a strong
sense of community and are eager
to help if you do something for the
sport. " Chargualaf agrees: " This
was not an isolated incident. Local
disc golf clubs often support park
and recreation departments with
their disc golf courses, " he adds.
Ferrario applied for and received
a Recreation, Arts, Museums and
Parks (RAMP) Grant from Weber
County in the amount of $19,800,
which the agency matched.

" You can begin with a $15 disc, and most
courses have no or very low green fees. Anyone
can play, and players walk 2-3 miles on an
average 18-hole course. "
Reclaiming Parkland

A Labor of Love

Ferrario met with commissioners,
the CVB and members of the community; then filtered the advantages and disadvantage of the course.
He knew it would be popular with
the community, but also thought it
might help solve a problem. " The
park's 15-acre perimeter was not
being used, and transients were
camping on parts of the land that
bordered a railroad line, " Ferrario
explains. " While we sympathized
with them and referred them to social services, I thought getting play-

Local disc golfers shifted into high
gear, with members of Team Utah
Open donating thousands of hours
to help build the course. The team
even brought Will Schusterick, a
three-time PDGA U.S. Disc Golf
Championship winner, to Ogden
to give them a pro's perspective.
" Will stood in our tee boxes, discussed landing areas and gave us
some great suggestions, " Ferrario
relates. Sewell designed the Buenaventura course pro bono, modifying the plans hole by hole to reduce

Tips on Building a
Disc Golf Course
* Allow approximately 1 acre per hole
for the course. You may need less
land if the site is heavily wooded
and you build a shorter course.
* Find an experienced course designer. Visit www.pdga.com/
documents/choosing-a-coursedesigner.
* Team up with your local disc
golf club. It can help you decide
what kind of course the community needs and work with you
through the planning and building process. The club may also
promote the park and assist
with tournaments, communication and maintenance.
* Take advantage of the PDGA's resources. It does not design or build
courses but does offer guidelines
for building courses that may attract PDGA events. Visit www.
pdga.com/course-development.
* Bring your convention and visitors
bureau in up front. It can identify
tournaments on which it can bid
and build relationships with the
PDGA and other organizations.

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Parks & Recreation

August 2019 - Parks & Recreation

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