The Trollwood Park Disc Golf Course landed an exciting update thanks to a generous donation from the Cass Clay Disc Golf Club. The club purchased 18 disc golf baskets as a gift to Trollwood Park to update the existing 18-hole course.
According to club member Kalen Hogan the group chose Trollwood Park because it is a beautiful and well-maintained course but also the site of the league’s Summer Slam Tournament. A large portion of the funds used to purchase the new baskets were raised at tournaments like this one and so it felt like a natural choice to invest the funds back into the course itself. Funds were also raised from league dues, merchandise sales and private donations.
“Disc golf is rapidly growing as both a casual activity and as a serious professional sport that people can make a living out of. With this growth comes the need to invest in infrastructure in our area. We hope this donation encourages continued investment in disc golf in our community,” explains Hogan.
The former baskets still have a lot of life left in them and won’t go to waste! Trollwood’s former baskets have been donated to the Casselton Park District and will be installed at the Casselton Reservoir Disc Golf Course. The baskets will be used to update the current 9-hole course and assist in growing the course to 18-holes.
Jake Ansberry, a Casselton resident who plays with the Cass Clay Disc Golf Club, advocated for an update to the Casselton course. The Casselton Park District was in favor, but funding was an issue standing in the way. When Ansberry learned that the Cass Clay Disc Golf Club and the Fargo Park District were looking to donate baskets to a community near Fargo that had the space and the need for a course, he jumped at the opportunity.
According to Ansberry, the Casselton Park District agreed to take the donation of the baskets and fund the construction of tee pads and long-term maintenance of the course once installed. “The park is a beautiful location and has a ton of potential. I’ve always dreamed of designing a course and I am beyond excited by this opportunity,” says Ansberry. “I would love to see a league night out in Casselton as well as tournaments. We just hope to put Casselton on the map as a location for the sport.”
Beginning with the Cass Clay Disc Golf Club’s formation over 8 years ago, there has been a close relationship with the Fargo Park District. According to Hogan, “Whether it’s running a tournament, repairing course equipment or even grooming trails through the fairway so we can play in the winter, Fargo Parks has been a great partner over the years.”
Spurred by the overall rise in outdoor recreation after the COVID-19 pandemic, disc golf continues to grow and shows no signs of slowing down. Fargo Parks currently boasts five junior courses and three 18-hole courses including Trollwood, Oak Grove and Iwen Park – the community’s Championship course. All courses are free to use and if you’re new to the sport or don’t have a disc you can rent them for $5.00 for a full set (putter, mid-range, driver). Disc rentals can be picked up and dropped off at 701 Main Ave., Monday – Friday between 7:30 am and 4:30 pm.
Hogan recommends watching YouTube videos to learn the basics of disc golf and proper form and consider joining your local league or club. “There’s so much more to the sport and how discs can fly than people think, and it can be overwhelming. But that is also what gets people hooked!”
