Over the years we have seen a growing interest in creating a disc golf course in the city of Buffalo. Attempts have been made to create proposals for Delaware Park, the Outer Harbor and other urban public parks. The most current effort underway is by disc golfer William Weigold Jr, who believes that he has found the perfect spot for just such a course. In July, William sent a document to the Buffalo Common Council. Following is the letter that he forwarded:
I am a buffalo resident residing in the South district near Cazenovia Park. I recently became infatuated with Disk Golf after playing a few rounds at Beaver Island with my son who recently returned home from active military duty in the Middle East. I have also talked with other residents that stroll the park who also enjoy playing Disk Golf. Each has mentioned that there is no course local to the South Buffalo area, even though there is an ample sized park for a course.
Many children on my street also enjoy playing Disk Golf but can not play locally unless their parents have the time to commute to one of the area courses in Tonawanda, Grand Island, Lancaster or any of the many suburbs of Buffalo. The commute is difficult for working parents and I feel a local park is a good step in the direction of allowing children to remain busy with constructive activities while keeping them “off the streets,” and out of mischief.
I have included a preliminary proposal for a Disk Golf course at Cazenovia Park that, in my estimation, would cost between $10,000 and $20,000 dollars to complete.
With current renovations of the basketball and tennis courts, it would only stand to reason to continue to upgrade the park by installing a Disk Golf course there.
I appreciate the time and consideration involved in viewing this proposal, and I would like to say “thank you” for a job well done in the many projects the Buffalo Common Counsel has realized and brought to fruition during your term.
At this point there is another group that is in the process of attempting to get a disc golf course established at Red Jacket Park (along the Buffalo River – see Facebook). As for a possible course at Cazenovia Park, ultimately that will be up to the Olmsted Parks Conservancy to decide, along with The City.
All told, the good news is that the interest in creating an urban disc golf course is growing. Hopefully, through social media, the proponents of establishing an urban course can unite and create a strong front for the cause. Following is the breakdown for the Cazenovia Park proposal:
Cazenovia Park Disk Golf Project
Disk golf is a growing sport and there are a number of courses that are sanctioned by the PGDA (Professional Disk Golf Association) in the WNY area. Most all of the state parks include an area for disk golfing but there is significant travel involved from the South Buffalo area to play, and there is a parking cost to enter the park. Most municipalities also include Disk Golf courses in their parks that are free to the public. I would like to propose that South Buffalo include one such Disk Golf course at Cazenovia Park for residents to practice their game without the timely commute.
The course is an eighteen hole design with two sets of tees (possibly three sets – depending on budget restraints). The blue tees are the longest yardage and suitable for professional players and PDGA sanctioned tournaments. The white tees are distanced for amateur players while the red tees are best suited for children and casual players. The blue and white tees can be combined in some instances on the par 3 and short par 4 holes. The tees are marked on each side in the same way as a standard golf course. An alternative to the standard grass or dirt tee is a concrete slab 5′ wide by 12′ long for the blue/white tees on professional courses. Each hole of the eighteen hole course requires a disk catcher or basket.
