Page 66 - Mighty Miramichi River Guide 2024

The Owl’s Rest Disc Golf Course

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How Disc Golf Came to Miramichi What is Disc Golf?
In September 2021, Chris McEvoy and brother-in-law Disc Golf is a sport played on a course, typically 9 or 18
Craig Gourley were preparing to head to PEI for a disc golf holes, from a starting point (tee pad) to a hole (basket). The
trip. The night before they left, Chris’s neighbors had a few object of the game is to complete each hole in the fewest
friends over for a bonfire. One of those friends was Jim number or throws possible. Similar to ball golf, disc golf uses
Wiltshire and as they talked, it was quickly realized there was discs to aim and throw towards a basket instead of a ball
a passion for disc golf among the three. Chris reached out to aiming towards a hole in the ground. A disc golf basket is a
Jim a few weeks later and a conversation began about metal structure with a chain assembly and a cage that the disc
possibly getting a course in the ground in the Miramichi area, is thrown into to complete the hole. Players start at hole 1
as they had to travel to Moncton or Ripples to play the nearest and play each hole, keeping track of how many times they
18-hole course. throw. The player with the lowest number of throws wins.
Jim, Chris and Craig quickly realized they made a great
team and in the fall of 2021, they approached the Miramichi Why play Disc Golf?
Cross Country Ski Club about building an 18-hole disc golf Disc golf is a fun, easy to learn, lifelong outdoor game,
course on the property for off-season use. This is a common and compared to mainstream sports it costs much less to
practice around the world; ski trails are used as disc golf begin playing. Disc golf is accessible to all demographics and
fairways and with the upgraded trail system at the MCCSC ability levels. Disc golf also is a great way to get outdoors,
it was a perfect match. With that, The Owl’s Rest Disc Golf enjoy the beautiful trails, enhance your health and challenge
Club (DGC) Inc., non-profit organization was born, and the yourself!
design process began. As of 2023 there were approximately 14,000 disc golf
With some very hard work by Jim, Chris and Craig, and courses around the globe and it is one of the fastest growing
support from the disc golf community, local business’s, RDC, sports in the world.
Sport NB, the Government of Canada, and the City of Atlantic Canada is widely seen as one of the best places
Miramichi community development program, it became a in the country to play disc golf and Miramichi is no
reality. The Miramichi Cross Country Ski Club executive exception! The Owl’s Rest Disc Golf Course is a beautiful
realized the potential of making the property a multi-use 18-hole, 5200 ft, par 60 course, built with superior quality
facility and gave The Owl’s Rest DGC Inc. the green light to Discmania DiscGolfPark baskets and signage, and Level Turf
build the course. On July 1st 2023 The Owl’s Rest Disc Golf tee pads. The course is designed to focus on shot placement
Course was officially opened to the public. and not power and distance. This levels the playing field and
beginners will see early success while still challenging
seasoned players to think about shot placement, creating a

66 Mighty Miramichi River Guide 2024/25 | www.riverguide.ca