Disc golf opens on golf course
An earthquake-wracked golf course in Christchurch left idle for nine years is back in use – but with a twist.
Christchurch’s third disc golf course opened on the former Ascot golf course near the Taiora QEII sport centre in Burwood.
The traditional golf club closed after it was walloped by the September 2010 earthquakes. The new 18-hole, par-57, 1620-metre Frisbee golf course is free to players. A fourth course is set to open before Christmas.
Ascot is the ‘‘first semi-serious disc golf course in Christchurch,’’ designer and disc golf entrepreneur Chris Davies said.
Davies didn’t follow the old layout because open fairways were ‘‘boring’’ for disc throwers. They preferred obstacles such as trees that increased the challenge as players had to curl discs around them.
The fourth disc golf course would have nine holes (baskets) on residential red zone land that Life in Vacant Spaces was activating around Brooker Ave in Burwood.
Davies and the Christchurch Disc Golf Club had ambitious plans to build disc golf
courses in every ward of the city. Like the existing courses, they wouldn’t require public money, Davies said. The club did not have a lot of money and sought donations.
‘‘Disc golf is arguably more of a social movement than a sport or a game. It’s perfect gentle exercise for sedentary adults and it gets everyone away from their devices.’’
The club estimated between 1500 and 2000 people played disc golf in Christchurch and wanted 3 per cent of the population – about 11,000 people – playing in the next 10 years.
Players spent years trying to get disc golf courses into the residential red zones. Those lands would have made Christchurch the
best-resourced disc golf community in the world, Davies said.
Like traditional golfers, disc golfers ‘‘tee off’’ from designated spots and count throws (strokes) while approaching a basket or pole (hole). It must be hit with the disc at least.
Keen players could carry 20 different discs, some weighted for long drives, others to turn. These players compete in national competitions. It can be played with a single beach Frisbee.
The other disc golf courses are at Jellie Park (18 baskets) and Queenspark (nine baskets). Course maps are available from the Christchurch Disc Golf social media page.