REVELSTOKE’S OFFICIAL DISC GOLF COURSE WILL SEE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS

Professional Redesign And Overhaul Happening This Summer

By Connor Arsenault

The disc golf course at the end of Powerhouse Road is about to undergo a huge makeover. This course, which has existed in one form or another for the past 10 years is finally being brought up to par. From beginning as a bit of a renegade course, with just metal and wooden signs on the ground, the transition to the baskets that are standard for disc golf courses is a welcome change for disc golf enthusiasts.

Disc golf is played by throwing these small and maneuverable discs around on a course and aiming for “holes,” similar to traditional golf. The discs are smaller and heavier than the frisbees that everyone is familiar with. This accessible sport has finally gained mainstream popularity, and the town of Revelstoke is riding the wave. Like with golf, in that there’s 18 “holes” to a course and you’re out in nature, that’s where the similarities end. There are no expensive fees to play and no heavy bags full of clubs to lug around. Just buy yourself a disc and you’re ready to go!

This course lies on City of Revelstoke land, and talks began last fall as to what the future of the park might look like. Disc golf enthusiasts in town became involved in these talks and this led to the formation of a non-profit in October, the Revelstoke Disc Golf Society (RDGS). After partnering with the city, funding for this course overhaul was secured from the Columbia Basin Trust and the Resort Municipality Initiative. While the course is already 18 holes, the new course will be greatly expanded, with seven new holes completely outside the existing land base of the course and maybe only two of the current holes left the same.

The Revelstoke Mountaineer spoke with Will Moores, the President of the RDGS about how the redesign and overhaul is going.

Moores is very excited about this course getting an upgrade and expresses that for Revelstoke to finally have a legitimate course will be a great benefit for the community. The other courses in Revelstoke include a beginner-friendly, nine hole course at the base of the resort and a course near the confluence of the Illecillewaet River and the Columbia River, which often gets flooded out and overgrown. To have a standardized course available for the entire season will give both locals and visitors another way to get out and have fun, according to Moores.

For the redesign of the course, the RDGS has contracted Kevin Farley of Fluent Disc Sport in Ontario to collaborate and finalize the design.

This course is being designed to accommodate people of all skill levels and Moores stresses that

“the essence of the sport is to get out, throw frisbees and have fun.”

While the holes at the redesigned course will generally be a bit longer than they are now, this course will continue to be a welcoming place for people of all abilities.

Plenty of progress has already been made on the work of rebuilding the course. They’ve completed bird and wildlife surveys, and a number of contractors have donated their time. Loki Tree completed adanger tree assessment and fire crews didchainsaw work and brushing.

The RDGS has a timeline that hopes to see the course completed by the end of the summer, with the goal of keeping the courseopen for the entire time the construction is underway. Once the course is finished, there will be some kind of event or celebration. Keep your ears to the ground. Moores also said RDGS is hoping to host some friendly tournaments, league nights and skills clinics for disc golfers looking to improve their skills.

When asked about the dynamic of working with the city, Moores cites this relationship as being one of the greatest aids to the project.

“Laurie Donato (Director of Parks and Recreation) has been super supportive,” he said. “Working with her and the city, it’s been great.”

One example of the benefit of this relationship was in securing funding. Having the support of the city was an extra assurance of the legitimacy of the project, Moores said.

Other elements included in the Park Plan, which was approved by council this June, are a fenced off-leash dog park and a community garden. There will also be a boathouse for the Revelstoke Paddlesport Association and a few different put-in spots in the river.

To find the park and the disc golf course, head to the end of Powerhouse Road and veer to the right at the end of the road. Alternatively, park at Bridge Creek and walk to the river and turn upstream. The first hole of the current disc golf course is located right beside the river at the downstream end of the park.

To get yourself a disc, either head to Free Spirit Sports or to R Gear at the hill if you want a Revelstoke Mountain Resort branded disc. A driver makes a good all-around disc if you plan on just getting one – just be careful to not lose it in the long grass!