To the editor:

As the organizers of the disc golf course proposal at Battle Point Park, we are very excited at the prospect of bringing the sport to our community and establishing a great new recreational opportunity for island residents.

Disc golf is a fun and inexpensive activity that can be enjoyed by all. It is a rapidly growing sport enjoyed by millions of players on over 5,860 course worldwide. Disc golf is a great low impact exercise option that is easy to learn and can be enjoyed at all ages and skill levels. It provides an opportunity for families and friends to share time together; and for schools and kid’s clubs to include in their curriculum or as an after school extracurricular option.

We first met publicly with the parks board in December, again in March and presented the current proposal at the advertised public meeting on June 1. There were some concerns over park safety expressed by attendees at the last meeting. We have worked very closely with the park district staff and a professional disc course designer to prepare a preliminary course design that will be safely compatible with all other park uses. Holes have been identified with sufficient buffers and that orient the course away from pathways, playfields, play areas, picnic areas and roadways. The holes can be easily modified as needed. The current course layout focuses on pockets and stretches of the park that are considerably less traveled by park users. We have seen very few walkers in these areas. Course rules would require disc golfers to yield the right of way to other park users potentially within the flight path of their throw. Waiting a minute for a clear hole is not a problem.

Battle Point Park is the best location on the island for a disc golf course because it will not require intensive construction or re-development and because ancillary facilities such as parking and restrooms are already in place. The parking impact is estimated to be around eight to 12 cars per hour on average. During large scheduled events at the park, the course can be easily shut down by removing or covering the baskets.

We will volunteer with the park district on construction of the course and support half the costs with grants and fundraising efforts. The cost of construction is very inexpensive, roughly $700 per hole or about $13,000. It would be very nice to have an on-island course to play because the closest off-island courses take roughly an hour to an hour and a half driving round-trip to play an 18-hole round that takes typically an hour and a half to play.

To express your support of disc golf at Battle Point Park please contact the Parks Board prior to their next meeting on June 15.

If you would like to be included on our mailing list, volunteer, or become a member of the Bainbridge disc golf community, please can contact us at bainbridgediscgolf2017@gmail.com.

Greg Scharrer, John Papajani and Joe Tschida

Bainbridge Island