Explore Huntsville, the tourism-promotion entity of the Huntsville Municipal Accommodation Tax Association (HMATA), is pleased to support the 2024 Ontario Provincial Disc Golf Championships, being held October 18-20, 2024, with a $10,000 grant for the creation of a temporary disc golf course at Huntsville Downs Golf Club.
“Disc golf is a growing sport and one that aligns with our desire to increase opportunities for low-impact, year-round, outdoor activity,” says Kelly Haywood, executive director of Explore Huntsville / HMATA. “We are excited to support the 2024 Ontario Provincial Disc Golf Championships and look forward to seeing the sport grow in the Huntsville area.”
Funds granted by HMATA are generated by a portion of Huntsville’s Municipal Accommodation Tax and are earmarked for tourism promotion and product development.
Spencer Young, tournament director for this year’s event, says it’s been a multi-year process to bring the 2024 championships to Huntsville. The event is being held at three area disc golf courses — at Bondi Resort, Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve and Huntsville Downs — and is expected to draw between 200-300 players, including several world champions.
“We’ve been working to build a course repertoire that could challenge our top-level pros but also give our amateurs and age-protected players a very good chance to challenge their skill level as well,” he says. “All three courses complement each other in difficulty.”
Young, who has played the sport since 2021 and recently competed in the 2024 Canadian Nationals in Clearwater, B.C., notes that the Huntsville Downs course, despite being temporary, is currently one of his favourite courses in the province.
Sarah Sangster, general manager of Huntsville Downs and Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve, says staff at both properties are excited to be part of the event. “Disc golf is a growing sport and we hope the competitors have a great time on the course and enjoy the conditions that our team has been working so hard to create. We are happy to have them.”
Matt Stein, head of operations at Limberlost, adds that the “disc golf community has been really supportive of the work we have been doing at Limberlost. We recently expanded to an 18-hole course and the feedback has been so positive that we are even looking at a further course redesign to make it more of a championship-level course while still keeping it accessible for those new to the sport. Our goal is to take Limberlost from a really nice course to the best course in Ontario.”
Spectators are welcome at all three courses. As well, the pros will be featured in national-level coverage following the event on the Parked Pro YouTube channel.