Plans for disc golf course moving ahead for Holiday Beach
- Ron Giofu
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Disc golf looks to be the latest amenity coming to Holiday Beach Conservation Area.
The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) board of directors agreed to move forward with a nine-hole course within Holiday Beach with a private donor covering $10,000 of the cost.
Kevin Money, the director of conservation services with ERCA, believed it will be a good addition for seasonal and day campers to the site. Noting the rules are similar to golf, the player has to complete a course in the fewest throws of the disc.
Money said ERCA was approached by members of the Windsor Essex Disc Golf Club to consider installing a course at Holiday Beach Conservation Area.
Meetings have been held with interested parties regarding the disc golf course, with the Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO) having representatives at a meeting earlier in the day last Thursday and at the ERCA board meeting that evening.
“Like traditional golf, play on each hole begins at the tee and ends at the basket (hole). After the player has thrown from the tee, each successive throw is made from where the previous throw came to rest. Upon completing a hole, the player proceeds to the tee area of the next hole, until all holes have been played,” Money stated in his report to the board. “Disc Golf courses are normally laid out in and around wooded areas with diverse terrain to provide natural obstacles to the flight of the disc. The course must not be altered by the player in any way to decrease the difficulty of a hole. Players must play the course as they find it and play the disc where it lies unless otherwise allowed by these rules.”
In a press release sent Monday afternoon, ERCA announced an open house will be held May 6 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Libro Centre.
“The course is intended to be installed within existing mowed areas that are currently underutilized, and used by some dog walkers or picnickers on weekends.,” Money explained in the press release. “Creating the course will mean the addition of 9 baskets and tee-signs through the already manicured section of the park that is identified as a recreational area within the management plan and compatible with existing activities. It is intended to provide another activity for park users to enjoy and would not restrict other park activities.”
The public meeting will be held to gain additional feedback.
“While adding this recreational amenity to the park already aligns with the Board-approved Holiday Beach Management Plan, we want to provide clarity about the scope of what this means for the conservation area,” Money adds. “We want to ensure that the public has the opportunity to receive information first-hand and to provide feedback.”
ERCA CAO Tim Byrne said last Thursday that a “very good meeting” was held with HBMO representatives.
An issue raised during that meeting was regarding placement of fairways and their proposed location near an east-west roadway within the conservation area. An area for natural regeneration is located in that area and that was an issue the parties are attempting to work around.
“The course design is still somewhat fluid,” Byrne told the board.
There are two other public disc golf courses in the region, an 18-hole course at Lakewood Park in Tecumseh and a smaller six-hole course at Beaudoin Park in Amherstburg.
A private disc golf course is also located in Lakeshore called Patillo Orchards Disc Golf. The only other disc golf course west of London is a nine-hole course in Chatham-Kent.
“Scott White, a founder of the local Windsor Essex Disc Golf association, has volunteered his guidance and expertise in designing the proposed Disc Golf course at Holiday Beach Conservation Area. Scott is a certified member of the Disc Golf Course Designers group. He designed the 18-hole Lakewood Disc Golf course in Tecumseh in 2015-2016, then expanded the course in 2023. Lakewood is now one of the highest rated courses in Ontario,” Money stated in his report. “Scott also helped to design the Beaudoin Park course in Amherstburg in 2021. In 2007-2008, he was the lead designer for one of the now top-rated courses in Michigan-Independence Lake Disc Golf Course in Whitmore Lake, Michigan where there are 36 holes split into two courses.”
Money indicated there would be extra baskets provided if there was the ability to expand for a weekend disc golf tournament. Byrne stated there would be no additional infrastructure required.
Money added, in response to a question from Amherstburg Councillor Peter Courtney, tee boxes would be lines indicating where the disc could be thrown from.
“We’ve come up with low cost ways to do it,” said Money.
Leamington Councillor Bill Dunn asked about charges, assuming the only one would be the admission into the park, and also about whether equipment such as discs could be rented.
Money confirmed the activity would be free once a person is inside the park and that discs could be rented for those who don’t have any.
“We’ll have a small stock of those,” he said.
Money noted in his report campers at Holiday Beach Conservation Area have been looking for additional things to do. He stated in his report most of the course is routed through mowed grass areas that are shaded through mature trees with a few holes weaving through a former campground area. He said grass will require mowing and removal of fast-growing invasive species like White Mulberry will have to be removed from holes four through eight as a result of construction.
“Consultation with ornithological groups/individuals will occur to ensure that there is no negative impact on bird populations, most importantly, species-at-risk birds nesting in the park,” his report added. “If the course requires adjustments based on feedback received, these adjustments to the course design will be made to ensure that there is no harm to wildlife. Over the past few years, grass maintenance was intentionally minimized in underutilized day use areas. In the location of the proposed disc golf course, maintenance will need to be restored in some areas again, but overall, there is still a net decrease in manicured grass areas within the park.”
Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers was pleased a private donation of $10,000 was secured.
“I think this is a project that will have a lot of value for the residents,” said Rogers.
ERCA Chair Molly Allaire was thrilled with the addition of a disc golf course, describing herself as “an avid frisbee player.” The sport brings family and friends together, she said, noting it was through playing frisbee that she met her husband Dan. Allaire, an Amherstburg town councillor, said volunteers helped bring the issue before the ERCA board and believed it will help the sport grow and offer something new at Holiday Beach.
“It will help the conservation area flourish even more,” she said.
UPDATE: The HBMO issued a statement April 9 objecting to the proposed disc golf course. The story can be found here: https://www.rivertowntimes.com/post/hbmo-objects-to-proposed-disc-golf-course-at-holiday-beach.
Plans for disc golf course moving ahead for Holiday Beach
By Ron Giofu