Chris McTaggart, lead for the Palmer Park Disc Golf Course was invited to make a presentation at the May 2020 PFPP Board meeting to convince our organization that this was a worthwhile cause we could support and advocate to the City of Detroit. They even hosted a successful Field Day July 31, 2021 to demonstrate the sport and build interest in the community.
We are excited to announce that after many months of planning, fundraising by the disc golf supporters, course adjustments with the City due to the future placement of the historic State Fairgrounds' bandshell and many volunteer hours to install the baskets and prepare the area, the Palmer Park Disc Golf Course is now officially in place.
On December 3, 2021, 18 disc golf baskets, temporary signage and temporary natural tee boxes were installed and play began for many eager groups over the weekend. Formal tees will be installed in concrete by the summer of 2022.
WHAT IS DISC GOLF?
Disc golf is played much like golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, though, players use a flying disc or Frisbee®. The sport was formalized in the 1970s and shares with golf the object of completing each hole in the fewest strokes (or, in the case of disc golf, fewest throws).
A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target, which is the "hole." The hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets; the most common is an elevated metal basket. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive throw from the spot where the previous throw landed. The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the "putt" lands in the basket and the hole is completed. (1)
For more information on the Palmer Park Disc Golf Course, follow their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PalmerParkDiscGolf
Sources:
(1) Professional Disc Golf Association website: https://www.pdga.com/introduction