Disc golf will soon be flying into Sisters

One Sisters mom wants to bring the family fun of disc golf (commonly called Frisbee golf) to the community.

Kathy Kemper-Green has researched course design and received approval from Sisters High School to use its land. She also has Sisters Organization for Activities & Recreation (SOAR) onboard to help. Kemper-Green is planning the course on high school land that curves around behind the SOAR building.

Now all she needs are individuals or nonprofit organizations to sponsor the nine holes she has planned for the course.

“I would love to get it up and running for the summer,” said Kemper-Green.

Eurosports is sponsoring the first hole. Each costs $450 and consists of a metal basket on a pole. Kemper-Green will provide recognition for sponsors by putting their names on signage at each hole.

“It’s a good thing for the kids,” said Eurosports owner Brad Boyd. He said he’s happy to support a healthy activity that is good for the whole community.

Disc golf is played much like traditional golf only without a club and balls. Instead, players throw discs for par to a tee down the fairway. A successful throw or putt sends the disc into an above-ground metal basket rather than a hole. Trees and terrain provide challenges to the disc thrower, just as with traditional golf.

“People can play as serious as they want, or come out and make it a family fun time,” said Kemper-Green.

Kemper-Green is known to many Sisters families as a former physical education teacher at Sisters Elementary School. As a former PE teacher, she taught the basics of the sport to her middle grade students and thinks there is excitement for the sport.

With an active family, Kemper-Green has enjoyed disc golf at many family get-togethers. She said one advantage is that disc golf is fun for “anyone from four to 104” and players don’t have to be skilled or fit to have fun. She will post the simple rules on a sign at the beginning of the course. However, she adds, “you don’t even have to keep score.”

Kemper-Green said some serious disc golf players use a variety of discs for different situations such as distance or “putting.”

“You can also play with a $1.99 Frisbee,” she said.

Kemper-Green is planning to get the other eight holes sponsored in the next month or two, to find donated supplies including concrete and pressure-treated wood and to find donated labor.

“I’m going to have a big work weekend,” said Kemper-Green.

She expects the entire cost of the course to total $5,500. SOAR is offering maintenance for a port-a-potty and trash can.

Kemper-Green is looking forward to adding a fun resource to the Sisters community for both locals and visitors. Disc golf courses already exist in other Central Oregon towns including Bend, Prineville and Madras.

Kathy Kemper-Green can be reached during business hours at Community Mortgage Services at 549-0344.