David Dew (Masterton Rotary), Tom Ward (Henley Trust) and Marc Clement (disc golfer and specialist advisEr) try out the new course at the Henley Wetlands. PHOTO/ERIN KAVANAGH-HALL

Erin Kavanagh-Hall
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Sportsman Marc Clement has a dream: to play in an international disc golf competition, held at Masterton’s Henley Lake complex.

Clement is one of the visionaries behind the brand new 18-hole disc golf course at the Henley Wetlands – attracting both young and old, locals and travellers in their droves.

The 4km course was established as a partnership among Henley Trust, Masterton Rotary, and Masterton District Council – to help develop the “previously under-utilised” space and attract more people to the area.

Designed with expert guidance from Clement, a competitive disc golfer for close to 20 years, the course was mostly completed in January, with additional funding and support from Trust House and the Masterton Host Waipoua Lions Club.

The course was originally the brainchild of Rotarian David Dew and Henley Trust chairman Tom Ward – whose sons are both actively involved in disc sports and had previously “bent [their fathers’] ears” about introducing disc golf to Wairarapa.

The sport, first developed in Canada in the early 20th century, is played with similar rules to golf: players complete a hole by throwing a disc from a tee pad towards a wire basket, with hanging chains designed to catch the incoming discs.

Players win the game by landing their disc in each basket with the fewest number of throws.

Disc golf is now played in 40 countries on more than 9000 courses worldwide – about 50 of those within New Zealand, frequented by close to 20,000 recreational golfers and 18 competitive clubs.

With the sport rapidly…