Disc golf vs. dogs
Players want course protected
NEW CANAAN — Volunteers asked the Parks and Recreation Commission to keep dogs without leashes away from the little-known amenity in New Canaan, an 18-hole disc golf course in the woods across from the the pool in Waveny Park.
Unleashed dogs can
swipe the discs needed to play the sport, which is increasing in popularity, volunteers told the Parks and Recreation Commission last week.
The goal of disc golf is to secure the discs in baskets hung in the woods rather than in holes in the ground like traditional golf, played on rolling greens. In New England, it is typically played in foresty areas. In places such as Florida, disc golf may be played on traditional golf greens.
Different colored discs designate the varying distances and trajectories that a disc is designed to be thrown, analogous to the use of different woods and irons in traditional golf.
The volunteers cautioned that the course on the west side of Lapham Road could see the same problem arise as they have experienced at Cranberry Disc Golf Course in Gallaher Mansion and Cranbury Park in Norwalk.
There, unleashed dogs are impacting the game negatively by taking the discs needed to play, the volunteers said.
“I had a dog on Sunday morning pick up my disc and walk away with it at Cranberry,” volunteer Tony Ferrara told the commission.
Discs can cost as much as $60, volunteer Chris Scofield added.
In Norwalk “it is sort of a dog park now,” Scofield said. He added that in New Canaan there is already a dog park across the street in Waveny Park.
Recreation Director Steve Benko said if people see dogs running off leashes in any town park they should call the police, because dogs running free are against park rules anyway. He agreed a sign prohibiting unleashed dogs was a feasible option.
Volunteer Tim Smith explained to the commission that a group of volunteers has done much of the work on the course that was established from 2007 to 2008. In 2020, the volunteers added six additional holes to make it an 18-hole course.
The volunteers also said that an allocation of $5,000 to $6,000 would also be helpful to spend for new baskets.
Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission Rona Siegel said she had visited the course recently and deemed it “magical.”
Players spoke of thorny issue
Hearst Connecticut Media caught up with disc golfers during a game in progress on Saturday.
The Stamford residents who were aiming down the basket did not think dogs were an issue at this time in New Canaan, but instead said the thorns on bushes are more of a problem. They would like to see them cleared out.
The players raved about the game. “It’s tons of fun,” Gordon Cooper said.
The sport suits everyone without limitation of age, level of fitness, physical strength or gender. It is not reliant on strength as much as traditional golf , the players said.
“Kids can do it as well as adults,” player Mike Friedman, who plays the game with his children, said.
In fact, children can sometimes be better, the players agreed as they laughed and chucked one more disc.