Whanganui Disc Golf pushing for 18-basket course

Whanganui Disc Golf founder Darren Stephenson is happy with the way the sport is going locally.

A rapid rise in popularity for the sport of disc golf in Whanganui has encouraged progress towards an upgraded 18-basket course.

Darren Stephenson, with the help of Haydn Shore, installed a disc golf course in the Bason Botanic Gardens in October 2023.

However, they were only able to create a nine-basket course. Tournament standard typically requires 18- or 27-basket courses.

More than a year into the project, Stephenson was surprised by how well things was going.

“It’s going marvellous, it’s better than expected.

“[Players] really enjoy the walk, it’s situated in a nice setting — having them out in the gardens is the perfect place.

“People out in Bason reserve are pretty surprised with how popular the game is.”

Whanganui disc golf player Luke Kennedy started playing the sport during Covid-19 after videos popped up on his social media.

“I gave it a watch and thought, ‘this sounds kind of fun’. My partner then got me some discs and I found out there is a course in Palmy — but thankfully we now have a more conveniently placed one,” Kennedy said.

“Everyone I’ve taken out there to play invariably enjoys it.”

Kennedy and his partner were grateful for the opportunity to play in Whanganui, as they previously had to venture to Palmerston North or New Plymouth for a game, but they would love to see a local 18-basket course.

Stephenson said he hoped it would expand in future.

“We’re still slowly getting into it, it’s taken a while,” he said.

“We are trying to concentrate on getting more permanent, bigger nets but at the moment we’re doing two rounds of the current course.”

Kennedy said he was keen to see the course expanded.

“I like to think of the course as a work in progress. It is fantastic having what we have but there is definite room for improvement.

“I’m hoping that the feedback that has been received is enough to convince the council that it is worth having.

“Even talking to the staff at the Bason, they love having it there because the corners of the park that weren’t regularly trafficked before have people going there now and they’ve noticed a positive trend as a result.”

Whanganui disc golf player Luke Kennedy would like to see an upgraded course in Whanganui.

Stephenson said he was in contact with Sport Whanganui and was hopeful the opportunity to upgrade would be available in the near future.

Shore, who designed the course, was working on plans to hold an event in Whanganui.

Although they were yet to form a club, Stephenson estimated at least 150-200 players used the course, according to the disc golf app. However, he said the number was likely to be higher.

Kennedy said the demographic for the sport varied. He had seen families, older couples and seasoned veterans getting among the action.

There was a strong desire to host a tournament this year in Whanganui.

“There will be a competition. I know how to do it but I need a bit of help from the course designer, Haydn,” Stephenson said.

The sport is growing, with tournaments being played regularly across the country, over 700 courses and an estimated 39,000 players.

Tickets for the NZ National Disc Golf Championships in Christchurch in February have sold out.

Kennedy believed exposure would help increase interest in the game.

“Ultimately the biggest goal would be to get awareness of it out there.

“The recipe is there — people can’t give it a go if they don’t know it exists.”