PADG Chairman’s Report 2017

Submitted by Calvin Daniels

 

I must start this report with a big thank you to all those who have helped the Association through its first humble year. Without the support of players at tournaments, volunteers organizing events, and general feedback on ideas, we would not have attained all that we did.

 

And the PADG did obtain a lot through 2016.

 

As you will hear in Tournament Chair Trevor Lyons’ Report we had an active season of tournaments, something I believe we can build on this year with more events, more sponsorships and more players,

 

Certainly we are beginning to see sponsors coming on board once asked. There is an awareness that disc golf is growing in the region, and we can take advantage of that awareness by forging new partnerships.

 

We have already arranged partnerships with Farrell Agencies (the Champions Event), Grain Millers (Yorkton Tourney and a youth initiative), Joe Beevers (a tourney winner bonus), Painted Hand Casino (Ace Award), Crusader Drilling (in tourney Ace Award), and the sponsors of the three year-end trophies to be handed out later today.

 

We are also working on several others for programs and events.

 

Without such sponsorships we won’t be able to grow events and programming, so I do encourage each of you to think of local partners for courses.

 

Courses are obviously at the core of what we do as an Association. From three in the PADG area in May 2015, to 18 today is phenomenal growth.

 

Ahead lies more as we are anticipating installs in Kelvington and Wynyard in the spring, with Good Spirit Provincial Park, Duck Mountain and several other communities showing interest.

 

In the past 12months, myself, or others have met with Councils in Stockholm, Neudorf, Sturgis, the then Mayor in Kelvington, the Chief of Starblanket First Nation at Lebret and others to tell the story of how low cost a recreation disc golf can be.

 

We gain with each new course. Unlike ball golf which consumes hours to play 18, disc golf is a quicker game, allowing one to travel and play two, three, or four courses in a single day. That is great for players and a boon to local tourism.

 

Of course once a course is created there is need for ‘care and feeding’ and that is where local course people are critical. They are the front line supporters to host ‘how-to-play’ nights, or to kickstart regular golf nights.

 

The PADG can then offer help where possible, and we have done so in the past year holding clinics with the Rotary in Yorkton, Lions at Lemberg, and the then Mayor in Stockholm.

 

The work has not all been out on the courses, or talking to municipal councils either.

 

On behalf of the PADG I wrote articles which appeared in The Amateur Sports News and Direction News Magazine for SPRA.

 

And last October I put together a slide presentation at the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association's Conference held in Regina.

 

We made an order of shirts, towels and hats to promote the PADG.

 

The PADG also has a rather active Facebook page most of you are familiar with.

 

 

And while far from an expert, my humble efforts have created a website for the Association.

 

Looking back I am proud of what we collectively achieved in 2016.

 

But the work is never done.

 

There are things I believe we need to work toward achieving in 2017.

 

The first of those is to grow membership. It is only $20, and I believe that is reasonable to support all the PADG does. Certainly the funds would be welcome as it would be nice to grow the PADG to the point it can cover the costs of doing workshops and meeting with local authorities about the potential of disc golf.

 

So hopefully each of you will help attract new members.

 

With new members we gain more than their $20. We have access to new ideas, (fundraisers as an example), and more volunteers, both important to a vibrant Association.

 

It would also be great to see more women and youth playing disc golf, and involved with the PADG, and that too needs to be something worked on moving forward. How do we get schools to see disc golf as a viable sport? How do we get ladies on course more?

 

We have accomplished much, and I am proud to have been part of the team.

 

But, I look forward to more. I see the future as bright for disc golf in our region, we all just have to work as a team to see that future realized.