Main photo: (From left) Seth Brooks, Madison McCague, Irwin principal Ian Patterson, Simon Jeffries, Shai Platts-Boyle, disc golfer Liam Coon, and Wil Sinclair at the eleventh-hole basket of the Irwin Eagles Disc Golf Course. They are holding special discs emblazoned with the course logo that was designed by one of the school’s teachers.
It’s a sport that’s growing in popularity, and now local players, as well as those who want to try it for the first time, have one more place to play.
Disc golf, which marries the concept of traditional golf with discs or Frisbees, was formally organized in the 1970s. Today, there are more than 8,000 courses worldwide, the bulk of them in the United States. The newest course was unveiled last week at Irwin Memorial Public School.
It’s a sport suitable for all ages, it’s easy to learn, and it’s inexpensive—all you need is a single disc to get started which will set you back less than $10 for a basic disc and most courses are free to use. In short, it’s a great activity for a school and its extended community. And even better when that community comes together to make it happen.
Irwin teacher Peter Yungblut spearheaded the project in conjunction with the school’s parent council, but at an assembly to celebrate the grand opening on September 18 he was quick to point out that there were many committed volunteers and generous sponsors that made the course possible.
Construction on the course began in the spring and word spread quickly. They even had a local disc golfer show up to play in mid-construction. Disc golfers are a passionate bunch, equally excited about building the sport as they are about playing it, so rather than just plan to come back after the course was complete, he stuck around for the day to help them build it.
And now that it’s finished, the Irwin Eagles Disc Golf Course is open to everyone to use for free. Students can use it any time; it’s available to the general public outside of school hours (school days after 3 p.m., weekends and holidays during the school year, and any time in the summer months).
“The goal was for the community to work together to build it and now just to share it,” says Yungblut.
There are 11 holes in total—four field holes and seven forest holes. Hole eleven has an extra tee pad on the field so that it can be used by students during recess as well as part of the regular course. To play a full 18 holes, disc golfers would play the four field holes and then circle through the seven forest holes twice.
A map of the Irwin Eagles Disc Golf Course (supplied)
The Irwin school community is grateful for the many people, businesses and organizations who helped with the project, including the sponsors listed below. The total cost of the project was $20,820, more than half of which was covered thanks to donations of materials and labour.
Platinum sponsors: The HOLD (Hillside, Oxtongue Lake, Dwight) Group, Dorset and Dwight Lions Club, Irwin Parent Council, Lake of Bays Townships, Ericka’s Bakery.
Gold sponsors: Muskoka Hydrovac, Arrowhead Camp, Gary Best and Sons.
Silver sponsors: Robinson’s General Store, In Memory of Ron Taylor, Station 30 Hillside Firefighters, Dwight Lumber.
Bronze sponsors: Acres Driving Range, Cedar Grove Lodge, Peggy Hurley, Blue Spruce Inn.
Donations in kind: Amaeus Carpentry Inc., Canadiana Earthworks and Landscaping, Andrew Chambers, Dwight Riverside Inn, Armour Excavation, Bradley Concrete, Barn Hill Contracting, Lakeview Design, Hypervision Signs.
Volunteers: The many Irwin families and local disc golfers who offered their time to help clear the course.
Some of the many sponsors and supporters who helped make the Irwin Eagles Disc Golf Course a reality
Students had the opportunity to try out the course with their classmates following the assembly, and with their families at that evening’s Meet the Staff night. Every Irwin student received a special Irwin Eagles disc for free. The discs may also be available for purchase from a few Dwight stores in the future, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet, says Yungblut.
Irwin hopes to host other area schools for a disc golf tournament in the spring.
Course designer Darrell Bankes explains the game to the Irwin grade 7/8 class
Disc golfer Tom Cowan on tee pad 4 with grade 7/8 students
Sarah Roberts (right) of Irwin’s parent council talks disc golf with school board trustee Bruce Reain (second from left) and parent council members Nancy Grant (left) and Nicole Bradley
Seven of the Irwin Eagles Disc Golf Course holes wind through a forest adjacent to the school. In the foreground is the tee pad of hole six. The basket is in the distance near the top of the photo.
Irwin Memorial installs disc golf course for students, community
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I can’t begin to express my admiration for Irwin Memorial P.S. (and Huntsville P.S.) for consistently being ahead of the curve. Public school is an incredibly important time for establishing values; and these two schools should be lauded for their various initiatives to incentivize their students’ to value both physical and mental activity, to use their imaginations, to work toward a goal, and to learn purely for the enjoyment of learning.
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Many thanks to all who contributed to this extremely worthwhile effort. And please note in the future where the discs will be available (Erika’s Bakery would be ideal).