The popular sport Disc Golf takes another step forward in Te Anau, after the official opening of a further 9 holes on Saturday 29 September at Ivon Wilson Park, making it an 18-hole course.
John Steffens of Fiordland Lobster Company, officially cut the ribbon for the extra 9 holes.
Up to 30 people attended the celebrity throw off at No 1 hole at 11.00am, where conditions for the opening were overcast but turning to very wet conditions after the first hour of the Family Fun day.
There was great contingency support of professional players from Invercargill and all thoroughly enjoyed the course, including a great display on how to throw discs, with the closest to the pin competition on No 8.
This was won by Jonny Ferrari of Invercargill, with prize of an upmarket disc donated by Small Planet, Queenstown. They also donated ‘starters 3 disc kit’ for a beginner, won by Sarah McDonald of Destination Fiordland.
The first nine Disc Golf holes were officially opened by Southland District Councillor for Mararoa Waimea Ward, Ebel Kremer in September 2015. Baskets were sponsored by Fiordland Lobster Company and organisers had no idea how popular this fun sport would be nor did they know of the popularity of the sport worldwide.
Last year, the inaugural organisers were approached by interested people to open up a further nine baskets, making the Te Anau Disc Golf Course an 18-hole course. They initially sounded out Simon Torr with the idea, and he marked out the course and permission was required from Southland District Council. The idea was to make an Intermediate course which makes it more challenging than the 9-hole course. It was also imperative that the new course 10-18 had the PDGA approved baskets.
The organisers received amazing support from Dunedin, Queenstown and Invercargill Disc Golf Clubs, realising that the new course would be a great asset to Te Anau.
Sponsorship had to be obtained to make this course approved, with support coming from Southland District Council, Fiordland Lobster Company and Community Trust of Southland and Small Planet Disc Golf Queenstown.
Ivon Wilson Park is an amazing location for the Fiordland area with visitor and local families enjoying this fun sport provided within this great space. The benefit of the new course is that it's free for all to enjoy.
Holes 1-9 are named after the Marine reserves on the Fiordland Coast and in both English and Maori language. Holes 10-18 named after early tourism pioneers, with information of the pioneers at each throw-off pad.
Thank you to Ken Bradley for collating the information for these panels.
When throwing your disc from hole No 18 you are in a special place amongst the Redwood and Larches that were planted in 1966 in memory of Sir Winston Churchill, by Ivon Vernon Wilson, founder of Ivon Wilson Park.
The 5 local celebrities disc throw on No 1 was won by Alan Buckner – CEO Fiordland Lobster Company, 2nd John Steffens – Fiordland Lobster Company, 3rd Karyn Gamble –Te Anau School, 4th Sarah McDonald - Destination Fiordland, 5th Ken Adam - Fiordland Community House. Thanks to celebrities making it a fun day.
Thank you to Te Anau Cricket Club – Sausage Sizzle, Sandfly Café Coffe truck and Fiordland Multicultural Group.
Special thank you to Neil and Jocelyn Hodges, Dale Wairau, Mary Chartres, Ken Bradley and to all the helpers who worked hard to make it an 18-hole course.
From the Family Day there are some keen local players wanting to start up a social weekly competition night, watch this space- https://www.facebook.com/Disc-Golf-Te-Anau
- Julie Walls
