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Ken Reid Conservation neighbours launch petition over disc golf project

Ken Reid Conservation neighbours launch petition over disc golf project

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, 2022-11-22 11:04:29,

Ray Denure has launched a petition regarding the creation of a disc golf course at the Ken Reid Conservation Area taking issue with Kawartha Conservation for not consulting area residents and supporters of the agency before firing up their chainsaws.

When Ray and Judy Denure heard chainsaws at the Ken Reid Conservation Area near their home, they figured it was just some typical property maintenance.

They were surprised — and more than a little concerned — to learn the effort was to make way for a disc golf course.

“We had no idea it was happening. We don’t think cutting down trees is the right move … and it would have been nice to at least be notified that this was a project they were interested in pursuing,” said Ray.

Denure pointed out that conservation lands are not like personally owned lands because there are so many other people who aren’t owners yet are fully vested in what happens on the property.

“A consultation process might have helped those who are interested in conservation see why cutting the trees for alternative use is a good idea, or perhaps the process might have helped staff see that moving the course to another place on the property would have been better.”

Judy also pointed out that when the couple wanted to construct a small building on their property, they had to obtain a special variance from the municipality and pay a fee to the conservation authority.

“What they’re constructing seems to be much larger than what was proposed … and I don’t believe the environmental assessment was extensive enough,” added Judy.

Kawartha Conservation director of stewardship and conservation lands Kristie Virgoe said the project stems from a public consultation process held in 2019. With the endorsement of its board, staff successfully applied for funding from the federal Tourism Relief Fund and RTO8. The course is expected to be completed by the end of December.

Virgoe explained the area being developed is a “transitional meadow” — the conservation area was primarily used as livestock pasture before being purchased in 1981 — and the project will have no “significant impact.” The agency also hired a third-party consulting firm to conduct an environmental assessment. 

“We’re not cutting down any trees on the escarpment,” said Virgoe, adding trees are a part of the allure of disc golf. “In fact, 90 per cent of what is being removed is invasive Buckthorn. So it’s actually a positive.”

Although Virgoe appreciates the Denures strong connection to the Ken Reid — she and general manager Mark Marjowski recently met with the couple to address their concerns — it’s not the agency’s practice to consult with area residents on proposed projects….

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Kawartha Conservation adding disc golf course to Ken Reid Conservation Area in Lindsay

Kawartha Conservation adding disc golf course to Ken Reid Conservation Area in Lindsay

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, 2022-11-03 13:05:52,

As part of its four-year strategic plan, Kawartha Conservation is adding a new four-season, nine-hole disk golf course to Ken Reid park near Lindsay.

One of the fastest growing outdoor recreational activities is coming to the Ken Reid Conservation Area — a nine-hole disc golf course.

“When we started having conversations about Ken Reid and our conservation areas, it quickly became apparent that our local demographics were changing and regionally, peoples’ interests were changing,” explained director of stewardship and conservation authority lands Kristie Virgoe. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we saw a significant increase in visitors to our conservation areas, and as things have started to return to a more pre-pandemic normal, we wanted to look at ways to keep those individuals engaged and visiting our green spaces.”

The course, expected to open before the end of the year, connects to the agency’s evolving focus on engaged communities that “love, respect and appreciate our natural environment.”

“Those words mean something, and they mean something different to everyone,” said Virgoe. “We have a lot of visitors who enjoy the quiet and solitude or visiting the trails or the lookout, we have people who enjoy the off-leash dog park, or bringing their binoculars for birdwatching, school groups who learn about bugs and trees and climate, or people who love to walk, bike, hike or just sit and read a book … Being able to introduce people to nature in a way that is relevant to them and connects with them is critical, and that is how we decided upon the introduction of a nine-hole disc golf course.”

The Ken Reid disc golf course will be a four-season attraction that can be used for tournaments or for individual play. Designed by Fluent Disc Sport, the course will be integrated into parts of Ken Reid’s escarpment loop and grasslands area.

“With common goals like ‘Nature for All’ and the protection, preservation, and promotion of our natural resources, conservation areas and provincial parks can be ideal homes for disc golf courses,” explained Fluent disk sport designer Kevin Farley.

Although similar to traditional golf, it doesn’t need any of the things that play the biggest role in its environmental footprint, notes Farley. Rather, disc golf prefers landscapes that conservation areas and provincial parks try to promote, healthy natural surroundings.

As an added feature, each hole will provide information on a local bird species and connect golfers to the more than 170 species of birds that visit or live at Ken Reid.

For more information visit www.kawarthaconservation.com.

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St. Catharines’ Women’s Disc Golf Club gears up for Global Tournament

St. Catharines’ Women’s Disc Golf Club gears up for Global Tournament

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, 2022-07-25 08:33:36,

Members of the St. Catharines Women’s Disc Golf Club will be in Richard Pierpoint park on August 6 for the local chapter of a global disc golf tournament.

  • Sheila Deb (left) takes aim as Andrea Michaud tosses a disc into the basket at the St. Catharines Disc Golf Course in Centennial Gardens. The two women have started a women's disc golf club with the hope of growing the sport in the city.

When Andrea Michaud decided to hold a chapter of the Professional Disc Golf Association’s (PDGA) Women’s Global Event in St. Catharines, she didn’t realize quite what she had signed up for.

The co-founder of the St. Catharines Women’s Disc Golf Club thought it would be fun to host the tournament on Aug. 7.

What she learned was that becoming a tournament director is not the same as becoming a referee for hockey.

“When this opportunity came up to run this event, I foolishly bit off a little more than I could chew,” she said. “It’s not like hockey. You’re either an official tournament director for the PDGA and you can host national level events or you’re nothing. There’s no in between.”

Disc golf is a game where players throw a disc at metal baskets, trying to get it in with the lowest number of throws. The rules are similar to golf.

The newly named Richard Pierpoint Park features an 18-hole course that is free to use. That’s where the team practices and where the tournament will take place.

The tournament now has 37 members signed up to play and Michaud said they have women coming from as far as Pennsylvania to participate.

The tournament will be played in 77 countries around the globe between Aug. 6 and 7. Michaud explained that scores are recorded and compared with women in other countries in the same categories.

“The nice thing about this competition is that every category that the PDGA has must be offered,” she said, adding that they have categories for women over 70, 65, 60, 50 and 40. “Even if they don’t win locally, like some of the ladies that we have that are over 70, they might not do too great in our city competition, but when they’re compared to someone internationally. Realistically, how many women are over 70 playing disc golf in the world?”

Michaud said businesses in the Queenston area have stepped up to sponsor the tournament.

“In February, I started going around to businesses in the Queenstown area,” she said. “Well, within probably two months I had close to $4,000. I couldn’t believe it. They wanted to support the tournament.”

Michaud co-founded the women’s disc golf club about two years ago. St. Catharines already has a coed league, but Michaud wanted something that felt a little more welcoming for female beginners.

“I’d say there’s probably 30 to 40…

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‘Players are coming from all over’: Haute Goat Farm in Port Hope expands with 18-hole disc golf course

‘Players are coming from all over’: Haute Goat Farm in Port Hope expands with 18-hole disc golf course

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, 2022-07-20 16:11:15,

Haute Goat in Port Hope has expanded to include an 18-hole disc golf course at its picturesque 200-acre farm.

With help from one of the top disc golf designers in North America, Port Hope is now home to a top-tier 18-hole disc golf course at the scenic 200-acre Haute Goat Farm, says owner and goat herder Debbie Nightingale.

The addition of the 18-hole tract — with short and long layouts for all calibre of disc golf enthusiasts — marks the latest expansion at the picturesque farm, which also offers goat Shmurgles, Alpaca walks, horse cuddles, tranquil trails, farm-to-table freshness and more after several expansions and additions in recent years.

Haute Goat held an official grand opening celebration earlier this summer at the farm — and interest in the course is growing.

“ … The golf players are coming from all over the place and the word is getting out,” said Nightingale, noting the course was developed in partnership with Darrell Bankes, who’s considered one of the top disc golf designers in North America. He’s also “a real fun guy,” added Nightingale.

“People are saying it’s a really great course, and the reviews on the disc golf sites are very positive. And I don’t how to say it without tooting our own horn, but people are saying it’s one of the best disc golf courses they’ve played.”

“And it’s a huge course — it’s quite large.”

Disc golf is much like golf, except players use a flying disc while trying to complete holes in the fewest throws.

“We’re thrilled because it’s new and it’s sort of a really interesting added component for Haute Goat. It’s kind of unexpected in a way. On the other hand, it sits very nicely here because we are all about nature, farming, rural (and) country, so it really is a nice addition.”

For those who aren’t hardcore animal lovers, it’s also another option. Some are bringing their families to Shmurgle with the goats and then go off to disc golf, explained Nightingale.

For a lot of people, it’s also been an introduction to the sport, noted Nightingale, adding what’s cool about it, is it’s low-impact and accessible for all ages and abilities. It’s an easy way to exercise in the country air while enjoying the farm and scenery, said Nightingale.

Where the course is situated was an area people weren’t really using, despite trying to get more visitors to use some of the trails in this area over the years, explained Nightingale.

In addition to tournaments, Haute Goat…

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