Oakdale Disc Golf Course Issue Comes to a Halt

Oakdale will not be getting its own disc golf course. For now, anyways.

The Parks and Recreation Commission has been researching the possibility of providing a disc golf course in the city.

There are more than 30 disc golf courses in the Twin Cities, including in St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Cottage Grove and Roseville. Many cities disc golf courses are free, but some charge a fee.

"It's one of the fastest growing sports," Snelson said. "Minnesota is one of the premier disc golf hotbeds."

Courses are usually nine-hole courses or 18-hole courses.

The commission asked Mike Snelson of Fairway Flyerz, a full-service disc golf store, to look at city parks to see if any would be a good fit for a disc golf course. 

If the city were to install a disc golf course the price would range between $4,500 to $7,000 for the installation and necessary equipment. The cost of designing a course ranges between $800 to $1,300 for a nine-hole course and between $2,000 to $2,500 for an 18-hole course. 

Snelson visited several parks, but said most of Oakdale's parks are small and multi-use, much like . Other parks that were large enough did not have enough dry land to make a feasible option.

"I hate to say it, but you don't have the land," Snelson said. "You hav some very pretty parks, but they're little and for multi-use." 

City Councilman Stan Karwoski spoke during the meeting. He recently visited the disc golf course at Oakwood Park in Cottage Grove. He played 18 holes with his family.

"This place was packed, it was amazing," Karwoski said. "There must have been 40 people out on the course."

From his experience at Oakwood, Karwoski estimated Oakdale would need about 25 acres for a decent course.

"I think this would be a good sport," Karwoski said. "I wish we had the 25 acres, but until we identify some property it's somewhat of a dead issue."

The Parks and Recreation Commission tabled the issue to consider other potential land possibilities. 

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