By John DeCoste
Don’t look now, Ken-Wo, but you’ve got competition – and right across the street.
New Minas recreation director John Ansara confirms The Links at Lockhart and Ryan Park - Nova Scotia’s first public 18-hole disc golf course - is now open.
Located on the grounds of Lockhart and Ryan Park, the course hosted its first open competition Nov. 12.
The fact it was a holiday for many may have contributed to the turnout of more than 25 people, including many from HRM, who were willing to give the new sport a try.
Ansara explained disc golf – or Frisbee golf, if you wish – “is played much like regular golf,” but instead of trying to hit a ball into a hole, competitors attempt to throw discs into a wire mesh basket, which completes play for the hole.
The discs are of different weights – which, according to Ansara, “allows for participants to use ‘drivers’, ‘mid-ranges’ and ’putters’.”
Most of the holes on the Lockhart and Ryan course are Par 3.
Participants in the tournament played two rounds of 18 holes each, with winners crowned and prizes awarded in four different categories – rookie, female, junior (under-18) and advanced.
The Links at Lockhart and Ryan Park is free to play; discs may be borrowed from New Minas Recreation. Ansara pointed out that his department partnered with Disc Nova Scotia to design the course and organize the tournament.
The course will remain open until the snow flies, then re-open in the spring. Anyone interested in the course, or more information, or wishing to book a ‘tee time’, is asked to contact John Ansara at 681-6577.
