YORKTON - If you have been out disc golfing at Patrick Park Disc Golf Course on recent hot summer days you will note new trees have been planted.
The trees – located on the fairways on the two, three and four baskets – are there to enhance the course play in years to come, and were installed as something of a collaborative effort between the Parkland Association of Disc Golf and the City of Yorkton.
“Over the years we’ve often teed off on number three and discussed how a few trees on the fairway would make it more challenging and fun, but for ages it was just talk,” explained PADG spokesperson Trevor Lyons.
Then an idea came forward that was worth pursuing.
“We were talking one day and the fruit trees planted by Suncrest College came up. We thought it was a great idea that the trees were planted with the idea of just allowing the public to pick fruit when they finally produce,” said Lyons. “Why not do that at Patrick Park?”
Lyons said the idea of good security is one the community has been focused on with efforts such as the Community Fridge, and a small orchard on the disc golf course can now be part of that overall effort.
Lyons said they realized the trees would be good for the course, and close to the paved walking path, easy to access for fruit pickers.
“The PADG had some funds so we contacted the city to see if they’d let us plant some fruit trees,” said Lyons. “As it turned out they had trees to plant as part of the city’s annual efforts, and they took over and one day we had the trees.”
The trees include cherries, crab apples, and some maples.
Matt Charney, Parks Manager with the city said he liked the idea from the outset, and saw potential to place trees as he walked the course with Lyons.
Charney explained the city plants some trees every year, and the disc golfers request fit in with that annual effort.
“It was a plan for the future and future generations,” he said.
As for disc golf at the course, it will get a bit more challenging over time.
“Now with the fruit trees planted, I can design flight paths, mandatories for disc golfers, for our tournaments,” offered Lyons. “It will definitely make number three a bit more difficult than throwing just a straight shot.”
Now it’s just a matter of waiting for the trees to mature and produce fruit.
Charney said he would expect that it will take about four years for the just planted trees to produce.
“It’ll be fun to watching how the growing trees change how we need to throw, and grabbing a few cherries on a round – well that is just a bonus,” said Lyons.
