City OK's new Whitehorse disc golf course

Whitehorse disc golf enthusiasts are promising a new world-class course will open this summer, after city council gave its approval to the project.

Councilors gave their OK Monday night, allowing the Whitehorse Disc Golf Association to begin designing the course. It will be located on a plot of land near the McIntyre Creek pumphouse, close to Yukon College.

"What we've learned over the past few weeks is that there is a dedicated group of individuals involved with this organization that have brought a great opportunity for recreational pursuits within the city of Whitehorse, for an area that's under-utilized," said councilor Samson Hartland.

The Yukon Government has already approved a five year lease, with the condition that public access will be allowed through the site.

The new course will be professionally-designed by Finnish company DiscGolfPark, said Ryan Norquay, president of the Whitehorse Disc Golf Association. The City retains the right to approve the course design.

"We're going to be the first (DiscGolfPark) in Canada," he said. "I think it's a really awesome opportunity for us, and I think it's going to get a lot of recognition throughout Canada and throughout the world because of it."

"We're going to try and not change the terrain, and just work with the natural features, work with the trees that are there. There are some previously cleared trails and roadways that are in the woods, that make perfect fairways for us."

Disc golfers have set up makeshift courses in the area in recent years. Those courses have been repeatedly vandalized, and the golfers hope a new, permanent facility will deter would-be vandals.

Norquay said he hopes to be playing on the new course by June.

"It's going to be great to see it become a reality here, soon," he said.