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Lake Walcott State Park provides a destination for disc golfers

Lake Walcott State Park provides a destination for disc golfers

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, 2022-11-24 09:46:00,

Idaho Parks and Recreation has 27 state parks scattered across the Gem State providing multiple recreation opportunities and several of the state parks have disc golf courses.

I’ve always heard good things about the course at Lake Walcott that hosts the Idaho State Disc Golf Championship, I’m on vacation this week, but I brought along my discs and stopped at Lake Walcott to check out the course.

The course was built in the 90s and it has 21 holes with a good mix tight lanes to throw through, some open holes, an island hole and varying lengths of distance as baskets got put in back on 2017.

“We have almost every shot you can imagine,” said Colby Andersen, the tournament director for the state championship.

Andersen lives nearby in Rupert and he won the Lake Walcott Open earlier in July, but the state championship they hosted in August was one of three A-Tier tournaments in Idaho this past year.

“It brings in over 200 players and 400 people to the community,” said Andersen. “We get people nationwide coming we have had people from Canada… Alaska and Australia, we have had some top pros come to this tournament and Matt Bell has won this tournament.

The Professional Disc Golf Association ranks tournaments and A-Tier is one step down from the pro series and the major tournaments, to achieve this status it must be a regional tournament that has been successfully ran as a B-Tier tournament for several years.

Other requirements include needing a PDGA membership to compete, the tournament must go on for multiple days with a minimum of 54 holes and there must be 100 percent payout from the entry fees plus a minimum of $3,000 cash added to the pro purse.

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If I’m being honest I have played in a tournament for probably more than a decade, but I enjoy the game because it is affordable, it helps me get exercise and it is something that I can do with my family and friends.

Andersen has also tried to grow the game by raising money to give baskets and discs to local elementary schools, he says his initiative has been going well and he got a lot of help from the disc golf scene in the Treasure Valley including 208 discs.

“Oh man the disc golf scene in Idaho is phenomenal,” said Andersen. “I can go to Boise reach out and say hey I’m coming for a tournament, people will let me crash on their couch it is so awesome the community creates friendships for life.”

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Disc golf continues to grow in popularity in Idaho

Disc golf continues to grow in popularity in Idaho

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BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Parks & Recreation Department recently opened a brand new disc golf course at Niagara State Park west of Twin Falls along the Snake River. Now they have 11 courses with plans to build more.

In a recent survey on outdoor recreation, disc golf cracked the top 10 on amenities people would like to see more of.

Here is the survey:

  1. Camping 51.4%
  2. Fishing Docks 42.4%
  3. Mountain Bike Trails 30.9%
  4. Archery Range 29%
  5. OHV Areas 28.5%
  6. Hunting/Shooting Areas 26.5%
  7. Skateparks 22.8%
  8. Disc Golf 21.2%
  9. Equestrian Trails 17.7%

“It has taken off and it is a wonderful fit for what we do at State Parks, it’s not loud recreation, it is fun and it gets you out and about,” said Craig Quintana. “Respondents said they would like to see more disc golf facilities around the state.”

Idaho Parks and Recreation have courses all over the state including five at Farragut State Park. Lake Walcott State Park east of Twin Falls will host the Idaho State Championship, a PDGA sanctioned tournament at the end of August. The course at Massacre Rocks State Park is well-established and locally there is Eagle Island State Park, which hosted the first Tier-A tournament in the Treasure Valley last summer.

The course at Ann Morrison Park is typically busy, but there are plenty of disc golf courses throughout the Treasure Valley.

For a more strenuous course, the Army Corps of Engineers manages Lydle Gulch near Lucky Peak Reservoir. This area features two 20-hole courses with a bunch of elevation, it is usually pretty breezy with the wind blowing through the gorge, but these courses offer a different type of experience.

Disc golf is one of those sports anybody can do because it is affordable — Ann Morrison and Lydle Gulch are free — people can also access the State Parks for an annual fee of $10.

The equipment is also affordable, and most players have a bag full of discs they carry when they play. Those interested can even find discs locally at 208 Discs off Vista on the bench not too far from Ann Morrison.

Plus disc golf gives people a way to get outside and get some exercise — like hiking with a purpose.

“It’s an excuse to be out,” said Quintana, who also enjoys playing disc golf. “I think there is an old Mark Twain line golf is a good walk spoiled, it’s actually the other way around — it’s a good walk enhanced.”

People also need to be aware that it is tick season in Idaho. Ticks can be anywhere from Eagle Island to the foothills to Lydle Gulch. It is a good idea to check for them on yourself and on your dogs.

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