SEBASTIAN — A year ago this month, disc golf appeared to be headed for a place on Sebastian’s recreation menu, with plans to make space on Schumann Island and a directive from the City Manager to “put it on the fast track.”
But that was then.
At its July 22, 2015, meeting, the City Council voted to table the plan indefinitely. At their May 15 meeting, Council had listened to vehement protests from a couple dozen citizens that the nationally popular, low-environmental-impact family sport did not fall into the island’s passive park category, would destroy the island’s serenity, that players might trash the island – and that there were no bathrooms.
The group had also presented a petition in opposition to the plan. The St. Johns River Water Management District, too, expressed reluctance to allow such a use in the Stormwater Park. City staff attempts to find a suitable location continued to meet with one roadblock after another until, after months of frustration, City Manager Joe Griffin and Recreation Superintendent Chris McCarthy concluded the proposal was doomed, at least for now.
The disc golf idea was first presented to the Parks and Recreation Committee in the spring of 2014, by Sebastian resident and professional disc golfer Bala Haesseler and was received with a good deal of enthusiasm. The committee liked the idea and asked McCarthy to research it further. A couple months later, he reported back to the committee.
Billed as “a new revenue generator for parks, camps, golf courses, schools and other venues,” and “an environmentally friendly sport that leaves a nominal footprint,” disc golf has similar rules to traditional golf, but uses “high-tech flying discs” (aka Frisbees) and above-ground baskets. There are an estimated 700,000 players currently, and the Professional Disc Golf Association has been around for 30 years, sanctioning more than 1,200 tournaments.
At the recent City Council meeting, it was noted that none of the original supporters had been in communication with any Council members in recent months. And none were present at the meeting as the proposal disappeared into the rough with a vote of 4-0.
