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Disc Golfing in the Badlands

Disc Golfing in the Badlands

Monday, November 16, 2015 - 13:30

Photo Credit: Mark Halliday, Moonrider Productions

When you first hear about the Badlands Disc Golf Course in Wayne, Alberta, Canada, the first thought that comes to mind is how intimidating it sounds based solely on the name alone. Google “Badlands Alberta” and you'll find that the area is nothing short of dinosaur country. In fact, the course itself is just a short car ride away from Dinosaur Provincial Park, one of the richest dinosaur fossil locales in the world.

Badlands are a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. They are characterized by steep slopes, minimal vegetation, lack of a substantial regolith, and high drainage density. They can resemble malpaís, a terrain of volcanic rock. Canyons, ravines, gullies, buttes, mesas, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in badlands. 1

The layout, originally discovered in 1986 by Craig Burrows-Johnson #10658, uses the elevation brilliantly to give you a course that is as challenging as it is breathtaking. Rather than installing baskets, Burrows-Johnson installed tone pole targets, due to the frequent chance of a putt hitting the chains and rolling down one of the steep and often dangerous or unplayable slopes. There has been talk about having basket targets installed, but for many of the local players they say that tone poles fit the course and work well with the undisturbed natural landscape.

Tone pole targets are more than just a pole in the ground. They are constructed in a way that, when struck by a disc, they produce a loud and resonating tone that fills the air. In most cases, the sound produced can even be heard from the tee in the event of an ace.

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Tone pole target at the Alberta Badlands DGC. Photo Credit: Mark Halliday, Moonrider Productions

On a calm day, the course is difficult enough with every tee shot taking advantage of the natural elevation to give you an uphill or downhill throw. The elevation creates the opportunity for huge roll-aways, which could take your score on any hole from an easy birdie to a challenging bogey-save.

When the wind picks up, the course plays completely differently. Learning to control your throws takes on a whole new meaning when players are carding 8’s and 9’s on relatively "easy" holes. Getting to the green from an extremely elevated tee shot with gusting winds is an incredibly difficult task.

Recently, the Badlands course hosted the 15th Annual Lost Egg Disc Golf Tournament, featuring 60+ players over two days of competition. Mark Halliday of Moonrider Productions put together a beautiful video showcasing this unique and beautiful course, seen below, as well as a full photo album showcasing the event.

Plan Your Trip to the Badlands DGC

The Alberta Badlands DGC is certainly a gem waiting to be discovered. We recommend flying to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. After spending a day or two playing the course, travel to Canmore, Alberta to enjoy the beautiful mountains and to check out another challenging course at the Canmore Nordic Centre, host of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games.

The course is free to play, but be sure to check the weather conditions before planning a trip. The course becomes dangerous and unplayable when the ground gets wet, so it's best to head out when there hasn't been any precipitation recently, and when there isn't any in the forecast.

Rob McLeod #49897, AKA "Frisbee Rob" is a 6X Guinness World Record holder, a motivational speaker, and the WFDF Director of Communications and Global Media.

1. Badlands, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badlands

Comments

Submitted by Rosslander on

Great story, great video.
A couple of years ago, a bunch of us from the Kootenays in BC visited the area to attend a wedding (the daughter of one of the DG'ers) and played Badlands. It was spectacular! With an ancient and historic wild west saloon 100 metres from the last hole, for well deserved frosty beverages it was a great set-up.
The story reminded us that we have to return