I’m Sexyand I throw it Disc golf courses a ‘hole’ better way to throw a frisbee

by Cameron Rasmussen

While sports like pickleball are making a splash and generating headlines with their exploding popularity, it’s easy to forget the ever-reliable disc golf.

Still among the fastest-growing sports in the world, disc golf has a thriving community in Sandpoint. Baldfoot Disc Golf Course, located off Baldy Mountain Road just west of the intersection with Great Northern Road, continues to grow year to year, and as of November 2018, players have a new, world-class course: Caliber Disc Golf Course about 10 minutes north of Sandpoint.

“I ran across a great piece of land, and the more I looked at it, the more I figured it was a special place that’d be great for disc golf,” said Caliber owner Paul Stiller.

But with the growth in interest comes some concern for future stability. For Baldfoot officials, that means ironing out an agreement with the city of Sandpoint for long-term use of the public property the course is built on.

“Because this property could never be replaced due to its size and close proximity to downtown Sandpoint, it’s our opinion (and the opinion of city poll takers) that keeping this property open for public use far exceeds the small amount that the property would fetch if sold,” reads a statement from the board of Great Northern Disc Golf, which manages Baldfoot.

Let’s start with the good news: disc golf has never been more popular in Sandpoint. To support the community, the GNDG request that players contribute a user fee of $1 per round, and each year, the amount of money collected increases. Likewise, interest in tournaments and organized activities jumps from year to year.

“The Baldfoot league nights continue to grow each year, so regulars are using the course not just for leisure play, but also for competitive play,” read the board’s statement. “And our Facebook page now has over 1,200 followers, so all of these are good signs of support for the Baldfoot Disc Golf Course.

“We’re just seeing more players from a wider range of skill levels and ages coming out to play the sport,” they added.

The creation of Caliber Disc Golf Course several years ago adds to Sandpoint’s appeal as a disc golf destination. It was rated No. 8 in the world by users of the app UDisc last year. According to Stiller, they logged visitors from 47 states last year, and groups from Oregon and Washington come up monthly to enjoy disc golf without the crowds typical of the Pacific Northwest city courses. Stiller said the course is just starting to show a return on the investment, and he has plans in place to add a second course, Motherlode, that they hope to annex to the existing Caliber permit.

“We’d also like to establish a better clubhouse with better food offerings,” he said. “And we want to just add more amenities generally.”

It’s no secret why disc golf is enduringly popular. It’s a great social activity made for hanging out with friends, easy to learn, one of the most affordable sports around, and fun for people of all ages and fitness levels. And thanks to the community building GNDG provides, it’s a great way to meet new friends through local tournaments, clinics, and league events.

To continue their part in building that community, the GNDG board hopes to reach an agreement with the city soon.

“It’s our hope that the Parks and Rec department would take over the property since the purchase price is so reasonable and the land is being maintained at no cost by Great Northern Disc Golf and thousands of hours of volunteer time,” read the communication from the board. “If that’s not possible, Great Northern Disc Golf hopes to raise funds through donations and grants to help pay for the property with the city’s help.”

Given that the local disc golf community members have already had to move once—their initial home was at the former University of Idaho property which has since been sold for housing development—they aim to do everything in their power to stay right where they are.

The board statement shared, “Our hope is that the Baldfoot course is in its permanent home for the area to enjoy. We also have plans to improve the course aesthetics and functionality, but we’re on pause until we have a commitment.”