Disc golf is soaring into Brookings’ future, a group of enthusiasts told the city council at its meeting Monday night.
They were there to obtain approval for a disc golf course at Azalea Park. It would be the area’s fourth such course. The other three are at McVay State Park south of Harbor and two at Salmon Run golf course.
The sport, which involves tossing a small Frisbee-type disc at targets far away, is growing exponentially in Oregon.
The city council’s approval was unanimous and enthusiastic.
“I have two words for that group,” said City Manager Gary Milliman after the meeting. “Jack Nicklaus,” meaning he hopes disc golf here can become as popular as golf has been throughout the decades.
A grand opening for the courses at Salmon Run is this weekend.
“This is right on par,” Councilor Kelly McClain told the group that presented the proposal.
“This is really, really cool. I’d love to see this become a big champion course — the PGA of disc golf. I’m so happy you’ve made this a quest of yours.”
Councilor Jake Pieper said he wondered about the people traipsing around in the bushes when the sport was just becoming popular.
“I like that this is multi-use (of a venue),” he said. “I was hoping something like this would come up.”
City Parks Supervisor Tony Baron said Austin Dunn, an Americorps participant working on special projects for the city of Brookings, has evaluated a layout for the course, consulted locals and disc golf enthusiasts and spoke with botanists about azaleas in the area.
Brookings resident and disc golf enthusiast Jef Hatch said he was impressed with the layout Dunn has proposed.
“There are 5,000 disc golf courses in the United States, and its numbers continue to grow,” Dunn said. “Despite the fact we have no ‘official’ course, disc golf is alive and well here.”
Golf consultants from Colorado visited Curry County in 2012 to offer advice about the financial status of Salmon Run, a difficult course that requires a lot of maintenance and has yet to turn a profit. They noted that, despite the popularity of some places like Bandon Dunes, mainstream golf is declining in popularity, in part due to youth not replacing the ranks of aging golfers.
The youth, it was noted, are hurling discs at metal chain baskets these days, Dunn said. A local club has among its members an 87-year-old man and several 4 year olds.
Hatch said a recent tournament in which he participated attracted hundreds of participants, 95 percent of whom were from out of town.
“The five courses to play would bring people to this community,” he said. “It’s one more jewel in the crown of Brookings.
Originally Published in Curry Coastal Pilot
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