Neighbours feeling below par over disc golf at Whitnash park

Whitnash Town Council has agreed to fund a disc golf course at Washbourne Fields, but only after opposition from residents.

So concerned were some neighbours that wayward throws might break windows and bring traffic that they presented a petition at the town’s community forum.

But the course was the idea of Whitnash Pcso Steve Sample, who came up with the idea to reduce anti-social behaviour and encourage constructive use of the playing fields.

In a remarkable coincidence, Pcso Sample did not know the sport’s British director Neil Webber lived in the town until he met him while discussing the idea with park users.

Mr Webber, a player for ten years, said he was used to people not understanding the ‘minority sport’ but hoped careful design would prevent poorly aimed frisbees causing problems.

He said: “We’re hoping it will give young families around here something to do. It’s a great ‘whole of life’ sport. We have people who play on the national tour who are as young as ten and in their 60s.”

The aim of disc golf is to throw your frisbee into a metal basket mounted on a pole. Like golf, people start some distance away, aiming for a par of three. But instead of using grass and bunkers, disc golf uses trees and bushes as obstacles.

As with golf clubs, there are different discs for longer or shorter throws and wind conditions, and serious players have sets of up to 15.

It’s not a new sport in Leamington. There is a championship standard course at Quarry Park in Old Milverton, while fellow disc flingers the Leamington Lemmings play the American Football-derived Ultimate Frisbee at Newbold Comyn.

Whitnash’s course will have six baskets, each with a short and long tee, making a course of 12.

Whitnash Town Council has voted to support funding of £2,000 from Whitnash Community Forum, with a condition that it is reviewed after a year. The remaining £750 comes from Warwick District Council’s sports and physical activity group.