Blue Lake Disc Golf Course Now Open!

The new Blue Lake Regional Park disc golf course opened to the public after a ceremonial ribbon cutting on the 15^th of August. The Blue Lake Park disc golf course has been a project that has come to fruition with the hard work, cooperation and diligence by Metro, Next Adventure, and Stumptown disc golf. Initially the land was to host a traditional ball golf course, but because of all the interest and excitement from the local disc golf community Metro decided to go with something new, and try the disc golf course. The course was designed by World Champion disc golfer Dave Feldberg. A core group of volunteers worked in their spare time to clear the fairways, pour the cement tee pads, construct & install the tee signs, benches, and finally install the baskets the night before the grand opening. Next Adventure built the tee pads, tee signs, and benches with the help of Stumptown disc golf club volunteers, while KEEN funded & built the kiosk that sits near tee pad #1.

Some of the key volunteers who dedicated many hours to this project are:
Jeff Hagerty President of Stumptown Disc Golf
Bryan Knudsen of Next Adventure
Tyler Christensen
Carl Thorne
Kevin Mykelz
Murray Prictor
Josh Dearing
Jeremy Fancher

Metro Councilor Shirley Craddick

The ribbon cutting was attended by many notable politicians and leaders of the community in Fairview Oregon. As well as some of the people in the community that worked so hard to get this course in the ground. In addition there were many disc golfers in attendance eager to try out the new course after the grand opening ceremonies. Below are some of the Metro staff and visitors that were in attendance for the grand opening:

Metro Councilor Shirley Craddick
Martha Bennett, Chief Operating Officer
Scott Robinson, Deputy Chief Operating Officer
Paul Slyman, Parks and Environmental Services Director
Dan Kromer, Metro Parks Manager
Julie Cash, Communications project coordinator
Paul Warr-King, Gresham City Councilor
Brian Cooper, Gresham City Councilor
Ken Quinby, Fairview City Councilor
Bryan Knudsen, Next Adventure
Jeff Hagerty, President Stumptown Disc Golf
David Munk, Keen

The course has proved to be very popular in the first two weeks that it has been open. The 18 hole par 69 course is very challenging with some rough that tends to swallow up discs if a player happens to miss the fairway. The tee pads are very large, and the tee signs & benches look awesome thanks to Next Adventure & the many volunteers that helped install them. Soon there will be scorecards & maps available at the park for purchase for $1.

There is no charge to play the course, but it is $5 per car to park. Parking is located across the street from tee #1. No parking is allowed on the streets near the park. You may purchase a Metro annual parks pass for free parking at Oxbow and Blue Lake Regional Parks, Chinook Landing Marine Park and the M. James Gleason Boat Ramp. Use this link to Metro's secure online store http://store02.prostores.com/servlet/oregonmetro/C...rt_id=29337257). Regular passes are $40; senior passes are $30 and are good for the calendar year. Passes are not discounted depending on the time of year you purchase them or transferable to other vehicles. If you don’t plan on coming to any of Metro parks more than 8 times from now until the end of December 2012, you should wait until January 2013 when next year’s annual passes are for sale. No dogs or alcohol are allowed at Blue Lake Regional Park including the disc golf course.

There are also plans to hold some big disc golf tournaments at this course including the PDGA’s United States Women’s Disc Golf Championship September 20^th through the 22^nd of 2013. Along with the USWDGC there is sure to be many other events held at this course in the upcoming years challenging some of the best local & world class golfers.