Construction Update
The construction of the disc golf course is now underway with minor works happening in the designated part of the Seven Mile Beach pine forest to establish the fairways and linking pathways.
This work involves:
- remove fallen logs and branches, small shrubs (including roots), tree stumps and a small number of pine saplings
- pruning overhanging branches below 5 metres
- felling any dead trees which are still standing (for safety reasons).
No mature trees have been or will be cut down as part of the course's construction. The course has been designed to have a minimum impact on the forest and the existing walking trails. The fairways have been planned to fit within existing low canopy/treed areas to avoid having to remove any mature trees. The trees in the forest are an obstacle within the course to be played around.
Along the fairways, dead low-level branches and fallen limbs will be cleared to improve access to the area.
The course and fairways provide the additional benefit of creating new pathways and connections through the forest without altering the existing beauty and character of the area
The logs placed along the edges of the fairways are not trees which have not been felled but are trees which have already fallen and are being repurposed.
Update & Next Steps
Thank you to everyone who participated in the consultation for a trial for Disc Golf at Seven Mile Beach. We received 253 survey responses as well as individual submissions. The feedback will help with the decision on the trial and the consolidated feedback can be found in the document folder or click here.
Original Background
Council has been looking to trial a Disc Golf course in Clarence for several years. Over time we have considered a range of locations and the pine forest at Seven Mile Beach was identified as a feasible site for a trial period (see location and course details here or below).
The popularity of Disc (frisbee) Golf is growing in Australia and currently there is only one free public course in the greater Hobart area. Subsequently there has been growing interest in the development of a free course on the eastern shore, and Council has considered to trial a half course of nine baskets as a way to determine community popularity.
Our next step is to hear what the community thinks about the project and provide feedback about the location.
Share your thoughts
Please share your thoughts in writing or in person in any of the following ways until Friday, 15 December 2023:
1) Take our survey (below). The survey is a great way to have your say on the proposed trial and anything you think we should consider.
2) Visit us at the ‘Come and Play Day’ pop up disc golf course on site at Seven Mile Beach on Saturday 9 December from 10am until 1pm. Register here (https://events.humanitix.com/come-and-play-day-pop-up-disc-golf-course-on-site-at-seven-mile-beach) to be kept up to date on this activity. Ask questions and learn the basics of the game.
3) Written submissions can also be provided until close of business on Friday, 15 December 2023
- by email to yoursay@ccc.tas.gov.au or in person at Council chambers
- or by post to: Clarence City Council, PO Box 96, ROSNY PARK TAS 7018
The sport
Disc golf is a sport where players must traverse a playing course by throwing a disc (Frisbee) from a Tee to a Basket. Similar to the rules of golf the aim of the game is to complete each basket in the fewest number of throws possible. The player must play each shot from where their disc has landed and the play is only complete once the disc has landed in the basket.
The course (proposed layout)
The fairways for the Seven Mile Beach course have been planned so as not to disturb the existing pathways within the forest. The fairways do not cross any existing paths but will create additional walking routes for walkers to explore. There is no need for tree felling as the trees, shrubs and the shape of each fairway provide challenges for the players as they move through the course. So, unlike traditional Golf, disc golf courses have very little impact on the existing environment.
A key outcome of the design is that there will be no change to the forest aesthetically or environmentally. No grasses or plants will be added, and fairways will only be marked by fallen tree limbs already on site. The baskets are unobtrusive and will be mostly invisible except when viewed directly from a fairway.
Proposed course layout.
General benefits that are proposed
- Disc Golf is an equitable and accessible sport needing only minimal equipment to participate (disc/ frisbee).
- The installation of the baskets - which make up the course - will not impact existing uses or users of the pine forest and will not require the removal of any trees.
- The sport can be played and enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. It can be played by families, friends, social and school groups, for fun or competition.
- Having a free, unstructured and low impact sport in Seven Mile Beach can bring social, health and economic benefits to the community.
- The fairways and linking tracks of the disc golf course will also provide additional pathways and loop options for walkers and runners who use the forest.
What are the next steps?
Council will consider all the feedback received on the proposed trial and determine if and how it should proceed. If there are no significant changes required to the proposed design, we will aim to begin works in early 2024 (pending the decision).
If the trial goes ahead, we will have a second survey open for the duration of the trial to capture ongoing feedback from the community using the success criteria developed using community feedback. Further information will be provided on this page as decisions are made.
Where can I find out more about disc golf?
Australian Disc Golf (ADG) provide detailed information on their website that provides answers to many of the questions you may have.
Australian Disc Golf - The definitive site for Disc Golf information in Australia
The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) also contains information with a focus on the professional competition and growth of the sport.
Professional Disc Golf Association (pdga.com)
The Australian Disc Golf Championships are being held in Hobart at the Poimena Reserve on the weekends of the 18-20 & 24-26 November. Come and see the best players in the country compete and get a better understanding of what the sport is all about.
