FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John’s disc golf season is well underway after starting a fair bit early.

Like traditional golf, the sport involves throwing discs aimed at a specific target.  Scoring follows the same pattern with the highest score being the lowest under par.

With two local courses to serve potential participants, at Toboggan Hill and Chuck’s Puddle, located in Charlie Lake provincial park near Mile 54, there has been a lot of during the early season, according to Fort St. John Disc Sport Club vice-president Josh Stockmans.

Stockmans said the Toboggan Hill course, originally nine holes, was expanded to 18 last year when the city undertook the removal of trees in the park.

Cement pads were installed, with the original tee pads repurposed as boxes for the new holes, he said. 

While the course is now measured at 5,987 feet, there are targets for holes and baskets.

Stockmans says the growth of disc golf exploded during the COVID pandemic, when many options for socializing were limited to outdoor activities.

He estimates that 13,000 disc golf courses were built during the pandemic. 

“It’s definitely getting busy,” said Stockmans.  “We had an early spring due to the weather, and there will be more people on the course when the weather is nice.”

League play on Toboggan Hill, located at 8631 96th Avenue in Fort St. John, begins on June 26th. It is sponsored by Mustang Rentals, a local equipment rental store.

Play is split into three divisions: with mixed amateur levels for one (advanced), two (intermediate), and three (casual).  The league will run until mid-September.

All skill levels are welcome and membership to the Disc Sport Club is $35 for the year.

There are also Canada Day festivities planned, sponsored by running chains at Toboggan Hill, which will include prizes, according to Stockmans.

August will see a Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) event come to town.  The All-Joe Classic will be held on August 17th and 18th.

Stockmans says the tournament began in 2019 and was shut down during the pandemic years. He will serve as the tournament director for the second straight year.

“Anyone can come enter,” said Stockmans. It’s still early. Registration may pick up as the date approaches.”

“There will be different divisions similar to league play, with men’s women’s, and mixed.”

For more information on the Fort St. John Disc Sport Club, visit their Facebook page.