Seeking funds for disc golf course, open to public

NORTH CANAAN — Name  a game that almost anyone can play, individually or in teams, that offers low-impact exercise in a natural, outdoor setting. Golf? Sure. But there’s a new variation on the sport coming to town (maybe).

Disc golf, to be exact, is what is proposed for the town’s Camp Brook Greenway trail.

Israel Fitch and Ronnie Lizana have been working for two years on the project.

The idea has its roots in a search for a Connecticut Arts Council project. Fitch, who lives in Torrington but is from Falls Village and owns Battle Hill Forge (now in Millerton), ended up at some meetings in North Canaan. He saw opportunity here to offer something to revitalize the town, where retailers struggle. 

“We started brainstorming about what would get people coming to North Canaan,” Fitch said. “Ronnie is big into disc golf, and it just seemed like the thing to do.”

The town has three greenways (urban trails) developed about 20 years ago. They see limited use today. 

About 5 acres is needed to  build an 18-hole course. The selectmen have approved the use of the northernmost portion of the trail, which runs parallel to and behind homes on North Elm Street between Granger Lane and (conveniently) to a trail head adjacent to the Caddie Shack, which features food and miniature golf.

The “holes” for disc golf are actually baskets, which can be mounted on poles or trees. The course will be laid out so that no clearing of brush or trees will be needed. 

People bring their own discs, or may be able to rent them from a nearby business. There will be no charge to use the course. 

There are various discs designed for distances and curving abilities that are appropriate for different holes, kind of like golf clubs, Fitch said.

There are even discs that can be tracked with a cell phone app.

“It will be very low impact,” Fitch said of developing the course. “It is something we hope will attract people to the area who will support businesses in all the towns. It’s family-oriented, and it won’t compete with anything that is already here. 

“You can’t fake community. You have to build it.”

All that is standing in their way is the $10,000 they need for the equipment, which they will install themselves. They’ve raised $271 so far on www.gofundme.com. The page has been getting some modest attention through Facebook shares.

A handful of disc golf course projects in other parts of the country have been successfully funded through the site, including an Eagle Scout project.

Fitch said he has some potential large donors who are interested, especially as the project heads toward potential completion this summer. A show of support with a lot of donations of any size is likely to spur the larger ones that could put them over the top.

Donate directly at www.gofundme.com/discgolfcanaan. For more information on the course contact BattleHillForge@gmail.com or send a message to Battle Hill Forge on Facebook.