Disc golf coming to Manchester this summer

Disc golf is a popular sport that may soon be coming to Manchester!

The Manchester Village Parks Commission has tossed around the idea of a disc golf course in one of the village parks for several years. It seems like this year, that idea may finally come to fruition.

“We decided to jump on it quickly, before the opportunity was gone!” said Jeff Wallace, Village Manager.

Commissioners had secured $64,000 in funding for the $106,000 project when the “opportunity” to which Wallace referred arose for a donation of the target baskets from Grass Lake, who had received funding for the equipment from 5 Healthy Towns Foundation, but as it turned out, the community was unable to use them. Matt Pegouskie, Regional Planning Manager for 5 Healthy Towns, asked if any other of the 5HT (Stockbridge, Chelsea, Dexter, or Manchester) were able to use the equipment. And that’s when Wallace decided to “jump.”

Disc golf is a flying disc sport in which players throw a disc, similar to a frisbee at a target; it is played using rules similar to golf. The course in Manchester will be located on the south side of Chi-Bro Park and a designer is currently working on the layout of the nine-hole course.

There are no other nearby disc golf courses; the closest are Hudson Mills Metropark north of Dexter and at Heritage Park north of Adrian, off M-52, so this would be an excellent draw to the community.

Other improvements included in the $100,000+ project will include refurbishing the basketball court at Chi-Bro and also creating a pickleball court, so a variety of additional recreational opportunities will become available to residents and visitors this summer. In addition, a Phase II upgrade to the park may be possible if the Parks Commission is successful in applying for a Passport Grant in February 2023, which could include permanent bathrooms, canoe and kayak storage, a changing area, and other potential amenities.

Watch for more information on these exciting developments. If you or your organization are interested in making a donation to help fund the remainder of Phase 1, please contact the Village Office at 734-428-7877.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.