DISC GOLF
BY AIDAN KNIGHT
CHURCHILL’S Mathison Park is the new home of Latrobe’s first disc golf course.
Already drawing strong community interest, following its official opening late last year and a successful come-and-try day in January, the 18-hole course is one of two east of Melbourne (the other being Warburton), and one of the biggest in Victoria.
Disc golf, which is played by throwing specialised flying discs towards metal basket targets, follows similar principles to traditional golf, with players aiming to complete each hole in the fewest throws possible.
The sport is known for being family-friendly, low-cost and accessible to players of all ages and abilities.
Locals can participate by picking up discs from the adjacent leisure centre every day of the week, or bring-your-own frisbee.
The course begins near the recently completed playground, forming part of a broader upgrade to the park, which now includes picnic facilities, barbecues, shelters, toilets and walking paths surrounding Lake Hyland.
The come-and-try day ran in conjunction with the Inaugural Churchill Tournament, allowing locals and families to see just how high-performance the sport can get, taking the chance to watch 40 players battle it out on a competitive level. However, the selling point of disc golf is that it doesn’t have to be that serious. There is no dress code, and as long as you can throw a frisbee, you can participate. Around 20 people participated on the day.
The course was developed in partnership with Kurnai College, who collected community feedback for a co-designing session in 2022 with Latrobe City Council, with some funding granted via VicHealth’s local government partnership.
Latrobe City Council Deputy Mayor, Dale Harriman, spoke at the opening in November, stating, “Having a disc golf course in Latrobe City will provide many opportunities for our local community, whether it’s through competitions, casual games, or simply enjoying time outdoors with friends.”
The park has already been a drawcard for Churchill, with a group of locals organising an Australia Day match after the come-and-try event, as a friendly meeting to enjoy ones new hobby.
The timing of the new course is significant: this year marks the 50th anniversary of disc golf in Australia, one of the first countries in the world to embrace the sport after Sweden.
National celebrations are being planned, and Mathison Park is already being considered as a potential host for local anniversary events, possibly including demonstrations by elite ultimate frisbee players.
Local player Paul Tyndall has launched the ‘Mathison Park Disc Golf’ Facebook page, which is already sharing videos of the course and attracting a growing following online.
Local organisers are now exploring forming an incorporated disc golf club in Churchill, which would allow them to apply for community grants and affiliate with Australian Disc Golf for insurance and support, paving the way for more events at Mathison Park.
