Alton Baker Park, a swatch of wooded land criss-crossed by foot paths south of Autzen stadium, could soon become home to Eugene’s first 18-hole disc golf course.
The project would create a more advanced course near campus, allowing members of the University’s disc golf club, as well as other community members, easier access to a practice area.
“The more advanced players compete at Dexter or Cottage Grove right now,” Team Coordinator Jacob Rogers said. “This would be more local and help establish the club.”
Neil Bjorklund, planning manager for the City of Eugene, said the original plan was to have the course open this summer, but the Park and Open Space Division is continuing to hear public input and talk with stakeholders about the proposal.
“Eugene has only one disc golf course, a nine-basket course at Westmoreland Park. Many Eugene disc golfers are driving to Cottage Grove, Dexter and Corvallis to play disc golf,” Bjorklund said regarding the decision to build the 18-hole course at Alton Baker Park.
The proposed course would be more difficult to play because it has more trees and greenery obstructing the view of the players and creating obstacles on the course, in comparison to the course at Westmoreland Park.
The disc golf club practices every Tuesday, although it might start meeting more frequently as weather conditions improve.
While Rogers wasn’t able to come to all meetings on the Alton Baker Park disc golf course, club member Maggie Drews did make it to several meetings.
“I’ve attended both town hall meetings that were posted,” Drews said. “I also attended a design session earlier winter term that other prominent disc golf communities and the city and the parks department were at, to design the layouts of the course.”
When deciding on a location for the 18-hole course, Bjorklund said there were several factors to consider, such as existing parking and restroom facilities.
Park visitor Craig O’Bryant said of the proposed disc golf course, “That’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard.”
O’Bryant walks through the park every day, sometimes twice a day, and leaves food for the feral cats that live in the park.
“They’re part of the wildlife and this is their home. I love golfing, but I wouldn’t want a golf course here either. We need to respect the natural habitat of these animals,” O’Bryant said. “There’s also a family of foxes that lives around here. There (will) be little foxes soon.”
While O’Bryant is concerned about threats to the park’s natural habitat, others have raised concerns about allowing flying discs in a place that is frequented by runners and bicyclists alike.
Disc golfer Chris Manuel said the sport has certain unspoken rules — referred to as disc golf etiquette — which expect that disc golf players and other park visitors are able to enjoy the park simultaneously.
“Pedestrians always have the right of way,” Manuel said while playing at Westmoreland Park.
Drews said Alton Baker Park has been home to several tournaments, with the use of removable baskets, and she did not think this interfered with the wildlife or the other visitors at the park.
This weekend the University’s disc golf club is hosting a tournament to raise funds for the club.
Registration for the tournament starts at 9 a.m. in the EMU Amphitheater and will cost $10 per student and $15 for non-students.
The University’s disc golf club has around 15 members. Nine of the members will be leaving for North Augusta, S.C. on Monday to compete in the Collegiate Disc Golf National Championships from April 14-17.
“We definitely have some title contenders,” Rogers said.
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