Count the team behind
Detroit Disc Golf as one of the many curious to see what happens with Belle Isle once the near 1,000-acre island officially transitions from city park to state park Feb. 10. Since 2011, the group has been working to bring an
everyday disc golf course to the island. Currently limited to an events-only course, Detroit Disc Golf is hoping to have a daily insurance policy in place by spring, allowing for everyday play on the island. Much remains in the air, however, as the state has yet to decide the group's fate.
Chris Haag, co-founder of Detroit Disc Golf, says that with six disc golf courses already established on Michigan's state parks, it's not a stretch to believe that the state will want to continue disc golf operations on the island. Though nervous at first when hearing of the state's lease agreement, Haag and his partners are now optimistic that day-to-day operations will begin come spring.
Nothing has yet to be agreed upon but a few conversations with the state leads Haag to believe that the course will open. No one is sure, however, if DDG will continue to manage the site or if the state will take over. Just who runs it isn't a concern for Haag, saying that he just wants to see the project through and open to the public. The state takeover is just another challenge they've had to address.
"We've been working on this since 2011 so we've seen many ups and downs, lefts and rights, north, south, east, and west," says Haag.
While Haag waits on word from the Department of Natural Resources and the state, the group recently hosted the first Detroit Ice Bowl on Belle Isle. Held Jan. 26, the group accepted non-perishable food item donations and money was raised from tournament registration fees to benefit the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.
Source: Chris Haag, co-founder of Detroit Disc Golf
Writer: MJ Galbraith
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