Disc golf coming to Ken Reid Conservation Area

November 2, 2022 – One of the fastest growing outdoor recreational activities is coming to Ken Reid Conservation Area with the launch of the regions latest 9-hole disc golf course later this year.

“When we started having conversations about Ken Reid and our conservation areas, it quickly became apparent that our local demographics were changing and regionally, peoples’ interests were changing,” explained Kristie Virgoe, Director, Stewardship and CA Lands. “Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic we saw a significant increase in visitors to our conservation areas, and as things have started to return to a more pre-pandemic normal, we wanted to look at ways to keep those individuals engaged and visiting our green spaces.”

Through Kawartha Conservation’s Board-approved 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, the Vision became simply ‘Engaged communities that love, respect and appreciate our natural environment’.

“Those words mean something, and they mean something different to everyone,” said Virgoe. “We have a lot of visitors who enjoy the quiet and solitude or visiting the trails or the lookout, we have people who enjoy the off-leash dog park, or bringing their binoculars for birdwatching, school groups who learn about bugs and trees and climate, or people who love to walk, bike, hike or just sit and read a book.

“That is the beauty of nature, and the importance of our conservation areas,” Virgoe continued. “Being able to introduce people to nature in a way that is relevant to them and connects with them is critical, and that is how we decided upon the introduction of a 9-hole disc golf course.

The Ken Reid Disc Golf course will be a four-season attraction that will provide a unique disc golf experience. Working with Fluent disk sport, the design and installation of the new 9-hole course, that can be used in local tournaments or for individual play, is being constructed and integrated into parts of the Escarpment Loop and grasslands area at Ken Reid Conservation Area.

“With common goals like ‘Nature for All’ and the protection, preservation, and promotion of our natural resources, Conservation Areas and Provincial Parks can be ideal homes for Disc Golf courses,” explained Kevin Farley, Fluent disk sport Designer. “While there are many similarities to traditional golf, it's the differences that really shine a spotlight on why this is true of disc golf. 

“Golf is played on the ground; disc golf is played above it.  This may not sound like a big concept, but in practice it makes a world of difference,” Farley continued. “Because we're playing with flying discs and aren't concerned with the need for a smooth ground surface. Disc golf doesn't require manicured fairways, it doesn't need perfectly maintained greens, it doesn't need cart paths, it doesn't need any of the things that play the biggest role in golfs environmental footprint.  Rather, disc golf prefers everything in a landscape that conservation areas and provincial parks are trying to promote, healthy natural surroundings.”

Integrating the 9-hole disk golf course into the unique value of Ken Reid Conservation Area, each hole will provide information on a local bird species and connect golfers to the more than 170 species of birds that visit or live at Ken Reid.

“It was important to all of us that the disc-golf course was more than just a recreational opportunity,” said Virgoe. “We also wanted to make sure it was an opportunity to connect, engage and educate new and existing Ken Reid visitors.”

The new 9-hole disc golf course is expected to open before the end of the year.