An 18-hole disc golf course could be coming to Tudhope Park.
The Orillia Disc Golf Association (ODGA) wants to partner with the city’s parks, recreation and culture department to establish a “national level 18-hole disc golf course” in the most easterly 30-acre portion of the park that is, generally, only used by campers who attend the annual Mariposa Folk Festival.
“One of the issues (for disc golf) is finding parkland large enough and (a place where it won’t) negatively impact other park users,” John McMullen, manager of parks, told council committee Monday night. He said Tudhope Park is the only park in the city suitable to accommodate the proposed course.
However, he noted “neither our 2014 Parks and Recreation and Culture Master Plan or the 2016 Tudhope Design Plan Update are supportive of disc golf in Tudhope Park. Disc golf is not in the 2018 budget or the five-year capital plan at this time.”
Despite that, council committee liked the idea. They asked staff to explore a cost-sharing agreement with the ODGA and to bring the project to the 2019 budget deliberations. If it is endorsed there, the course could be built in the summer of 2020.
“I think it’s great to get (this) on the table for discussion,” said Coun. Mason Ainsworth, who was one of several councillors who participated in an exhibition of the sport, on the layout proposed, last summer. “I have probably been there 10,000 times, but until I went to play disc golf there, there were a lot of areas I had never walked through. I had never thought to go off the trail and go off into the woods.”
Mayor Steve Clarke also supports the idea. “I believe this is an activity timely for us to consider,” he said, noting disc golf “promotes passive physical activity.” He said creating an 18-hole course is “an opportunity for a higher level of competition (and has the) ability of attracting sports tourism.”
Clarke noted that area of Tudhope Park is not used much, adding disc golf is “an activity not incompatible with park environment. I think it’s one of most inexpensive activities to get up and going.”
In the light of concerns expressed by a Mariposa Folk Festival official, Clarke suggested a three-year trial run be pursued. “That will allow us to analyze compatibility with other uses and also allow grounds at 255 West St. (the site of the new recreation centre) to develop and mature and allow us to explore the possibility of moving it there.”
Ray Merkley, the director of parks, recreation and culture, said staff could bring an option for an interim course and a permanent course to budget deliberations. “The main difference is the type of pad you put in for tee areas,” he said, noting concrete pads would be used for a more permanent facility while “woodchip-type pads” could be used for a more temporary course.
Currently, there is a nine-hole disc golf course at Homewood Park. Players can borrow discs from the Orillia Public Library to use at the course. Coun. Rob Kloostra, who jokingly asked to be hired as the future facility’s superintendent, suggested discs be available from the Barnfield Point Recreation Centre if the course gets the green light at Tudhope Park.
“That is something we could look at,” said Merkley. “My speculation is that once people play, they’ll go out and buy their own series of three discs.”
To date, the ODGA has raised about $1,000 to help fund the project and appears willing to work with the city to share costs.
While the course got a tentative green light, Coun. Tim Lauer expressed concerns about how wet that part of the park is, while Coun. Ralph Cipolla was worried trees might be cut down.
“We did review the conditions with the group and the course designer and they indicated they are perfectly happy with that,” said McMullen, noting they stressed they are not ‘fair-weather’ golfers. “They were on the site in the spring.”
McMullen said ODGA officials noted only “limited pruning” might be required. He said if the project moves forward, staff “would work with them to minimize impact to trees.”
