What’s new with SIDGS?

Well friends, we are almost there, with restrictions easing and numbers dropping it feels like we are nearing a return to some kind of normal. SIDGS is extremely excited to resume hosting tournaments, pop-up events, and leagues. We’d like to acknowledge the effort put forward by individuals in the community this past year and half to keep things moving forward with disc golf locally and acknowledge all that Tania and Owen and Mary’s Farm have done for the local disc golf scene. Although much of the work SIDGS has done during COVID has been behind closed doors, we’re hoping to give some insight and share what we can at this time. We’re planning to put out a Bi-monthly Newsletter to update on what the SIDGS Board has been working on, what’s coming up, spotlighting local players, and to engage with the community. Here’s what we’ve been working on!  

  • We remain in constant communication with Saanich and at present have 3 new proposals submitted and will hopefully have news to share in the near future.
  • We have been in communication with several other landowners, submitted one course proposal and continue to pursue new course opportunities.
  • We completed a federal funding application for course upgrades and society funding.
  • We implemented and are having ongoing discussion around the Women’s Tag program and a dedicated Women’s community disc golf night. We hope to have an announcement soon on this as it hinges on further easing of restrictions.
  • We have been having meetings and discussion with Bear Mountain and District of Highlands over issues arising from the Millstream Course and working towards solutions and ways forward.
  • We’ve coordinated and launched a Members Benefit Program.
  • Stay tuned for more announcements coming soon — more course design, logistics, and planning for a new course!

With the incredible growth disc golf has seen during the pandemic and the role SIDGS hopes to take moving forward, we are excited to announce an update to our brand:

A huge thanks to Kathryn Mullis for her hard work on a design that we feel encompasses all that disc golf on the Island has to offer. 

As the BC Disc Sports return to play guidelines change our plans will as well. In the meantime, here’s what we’re looking forward too and planning for:

  • Monthly Tag Battles
  • Winter/Fall Indoor Putting League 
  • A return to the Spring (Frozen) Chicken Tournament this fall
  • Pop-up events in parks with Cloth Baskets
  • Course upgrades and builds, we look forward to engaging with you all on this and hope to have some announcements very soon
  • Women’s Community Disc Golf Nights
  • Community Engagement
  • Submission of an application to the City of Victoria 2021 Participatory Budget
  • Winter Flex League 2.0

Local Disc Golfer Spotlight: Kathryn Mullis 


(Photo courtesy of Kathryn Mullis)

1. When and how did you start playing disc golf?

I had played the occasional round at Bowen, Pender and the old Malahat course in the early 2000s but I started playing more regularly in 2012 when I met my husband Chris, who is pretty passionate about the game. We didn’t have a lot of mutual hobbies and I was pretty terrible at Magic the Gathering. 

2. What were your very first discs? What do you throw now? In other words, what’s in your bag now? 

The first disc I ever owned was an Innova Aero. I putted with it, drove with it, beat the crap out of it. It was great but I quickly needed some drivers so I started using a DX Viking and a Discraft Slipstream GT with a weird thumb track. I dare you to look that up. The real game changer for me was a Latitude 64 Fuse. I used to be able to throw that disc so straight! I still carry it but I mostly use it for under stable shots.

These days my go to driver is a lightweight Star Tern alongside a Blizzard Krait and very beat up Beast. For fairway drivers I LOVE my Latitude Saint Pro but I also carry a Sapphire and a Diamond. The disc I use the most is my R-Pro Rhyno but I love my R-Pro PIG for stability and Dynamic Discs Fierce for tight under stable shots. I putt with a Dynamic Discs Deputy. Other random discs include a Compass, Mace, Buzz SS and a Champ Viking for the occasional overhand. Wow, I am all over the place!

3. What is your favourite disc golf memory?

This is a hard one. I have so many. I guess I really found a love of the sport in 2013 when I tagged along on Chris’ disc golf road trip across the US. We had only just met but for three weeks we camped and golfed every day. I think we played more than 20 courses. I had a 100 ft. throw-in for birdie at Anderson River Park in California. From then on, I was hooked. 



https://udisc.com/courses/anderson-river-park-ayeK

4. What would be your advice to new players?

My advice is HAVE FUN. For me, playing relaxed is key. I am most relaxed when I can laugh at the mistakes and enjoy the moments that keep you coming back. That and don’t try to take in too much advice at once; pick one thing to work on at a time. There will always be things to work on.

5. Your new logo is so fantastic! Can you tell us a little bit about what went into designing it? What were you focusing on? What did you hope to achieve with the new design?

Thanks! I had a lot of fun working on this project. It’s not often I get to design something for a sport that I love. I had been thinking about working on a SIDGS logo for years. There were a number of concepts developed but for this one I really wanted to incorporate something about the scenery and outdoors in Greater Victoria. I wanted the logo to be about disc golf but also give the viewer a sense of place. A few of us were doing some field practice at Beacon Hill Park and I stood there looking up at the Olympic mountains with the trees and water in the foreground and I thought to myself this is the South Island. The other two elements that were really important to convey were a bit of whimsy and a certain level of professionalism. I want SIDGS to put their best foot forward and be taken seriously in their advocacy efforts. I wanted it to be something the community was excited to wear and promote!

Upcoming Events

  • July 10th Island Series event at Mary’s Farm. Despite not being directly hosted by SIDGS, we will be there! 
  • Work Parties – They are coming, and we will need all of your help.
  • Disc Golf at Royal Athletic Park (Weekends throughout the summer – City of Victoria is finalizing details)
  • Community Engagement and Course Usership Study Day – Saturday July 17th

This course usership study day comes based on requests from several local municipalities and our own interest to assess the number of disc golfers currently playing on the South Island on a given Saturday. SIDGS plans to collect general age group data and usage numbers from all the courses locally during a 2 hour window from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. We will also be set up at Layritz DGC that day 12:00 – 4:00 pm to engage with local golfers and have some fun. We look forward to seeing you on the course that day. If more volunteers are required to cover additional courses we will post a request.

Membership Update

As of July 1, 2021 SIDGS currently has 138 members which is absolutely amazing and speaks to the growth and popularity of disc golf. Based on the surge in players, an unseen level of  pressure for new courses has arisen. The increase in visibility in the local communities also can’t be understated. For this reason, we ask all members to continue putting their best foot forward and to kindly educate poor etiquette and behaviour should they see it. The legacy issues and stigma around disc golf are still incredibly prevalent and continue to be one our biggest barriers in breaking though with local governments, especially the CRD. Working together to have a clear and cohesive voice has never been more important. SIDGS wants to extend support in any way we can to those in the community looking to push initiatives forward.

Please reach out by email ([email protected]) if you hear of opportunities, are chatting with a landowner, or have some leads since we may have resources to help support you, contacts, or background information we can provide. Also, for those looking to get more involved with upcoming events or initiatives, please reach out and find out how you can get involved. Our disc golf community is truly incredible and we want to foster growth and enthusiasm in any way we can. 

Other News

With our awesome new logo, we are excited to announce new SIDGS Merchandise. We hope to use this logo and these items as something we can rally around as a community and identify ourselves and South Island Disc Golfers while playing elsewhere and while out in the community. Our intent is to use proceeds from this merch to support our goal of purchasing a set of 18 baskets for hosting events, tournaments, and course pop-ups at parks around the South Island. The shirts are performance tee with moisture wicking technology and the hats are quality mesh snapback. 5 panel hats are on their way as well!

To start, they will be available for purchase on July 10th at Mary’s Farm and July 17th at Layritz Park 12:00 – 4:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing more with you in the near future. For questions about what we are up to or to get involved please email [email protected] and we will get back to you!

Sincerely,

The SIDGS Board of Directors