Disc golf is coming to the Lake of the Prairies resort area.

 

A new Par 58, 18 basket course has been installed at Asessippi Beach and Campground, and is now ready for disc golfers to explore.

 

“We had been looking at how we might enhance the recreation opportunities at the campground for a while when we first came across disc golf and thought it might be a good fit, but we weren’t just sure how we might go about it,” said site owner Rick Goraluk.

 

“Then as sometime happens, things just fell into place. Calvin Daniels contacted us. He has been actively promoting the sport across the region, and he agreed to help us.”

 

Daniels is an avid disc golfer who has helped several communities and park areas start courses.

 

“I was introduced to the sport when the course was officially opened in Yorkton several years ago, and I quickly picked up some discs, fell in love with the sport, and the next thing I knew I was promoting the sport, and that included contacting the Goraluks,” he said.

 

Earlier this year Daniels visited the campground.

 

“It was pretty obvious right from the start we could design a course,” he said.

 

From there Goraluk got to work.

 

“I saw a homemade golf basket online made out of a plastic barrel and decided ‘hey I can do that’,” he said, adding it was a lower cost way to introduce the sport. “It took a lot more chain than I expected, I think I went back to the hardware section three times, but they weren’t really that hard to make, and the 18 baskets look pretty darned good if I may say so myself.”

 

Daniels, who is also interim-chair of the new formed Parkland Association of Disc Golf, and his golf bud Trevor Lyons were back at the campground the last week of April.

 

“We were invited to design a course for the campground, and while we aren’t pros, we’ve done a few designs, and were more than happy to lend a hand,” said Daniels. “It’s certainly a picturesque course, you walk beside the Shell River on one part of the course, and can then relax at a picnic table near a tee that overlooks the valley on another section of the course.”

 

Goraluk said it was an interesting experience being involved in the design.

 

“They had me going all over the property, and while I haven’t played a round yet, it sure looks like it will be a fun course,” he said. “I was pretty excited by the time they left to get the tees and baskets installed.”

 

The course covers 4,873-feet and while be accessible to golf carts for those wanting some luxury on a round.

 

For those unfamiliar with disc golf the game plays much like ball golf.

 

There are marked tees, players throw within eight-feet of the right of the tee-post, usually throwing a driver disc. As might be expected drivers, which can be thrown forehand or backhand, are designed to fly farther than other discs.

 

A midrange disc is thrown from the fairway. You simply throw again from behind the position where your driver landed.

 

Once close to the tonal target / basket you choose a putter. Throw it so it hits the target and you have completed the ‘hole’.

 

However, unlike ball golf, where clubs and course fees can both be quite expensive, disc golf is low cost for players making it ideal for family involvement, and it can be played by families with young children, to those past 55.

 

A basic three-disc starter set of driver/mid-range/putter, more about the specific discs later, is $30 - $40. The best discs available are about $40 each. 

 

“It’s great outdoor exercise, but not so strenuous that it limits who can play,” said Daniels. “We see families out on local courses, and there are lots of players with greying temples like myself too.”

 

Goraluk said he plans to host at least one ‘learn-to-play’ evening at the course for anyone in the Roblin, Inglis and Russell area.

 

“And we will be contacting area schools. We are really excited to get youth involved,” he said.

 

To further promote the course, and sport, the Asessippi Campground Course, ( www.asessippibeach.com ), will host a ‘Canada Day Tournament’.

 

“It seemed like an ideal day to have an event,” said Goraluk.

 

The tournament will be part of a new PADG Tournament Series.

 

“A tourney series was part of the reason for creating the regional association last November,” said Lyons who it the PDGA Tournament Chair.

 

“And we are more than pleased the Goraluks have agreed to an event on our country’s birthday.”

 

The winners at the Asessippi Tournament will not only earn prizes that day, but will be invited to participate in a ‘Champions Challenge Tournament’ in October.

 

“It should be a great event to wrap up the PADG series,” said Lyons.

 

“And of course we hope someone from our Canada Day event captures the champion’s jacket,” added Goraluk.