by Brandon Marlow

The City of Adelaide is considering major changes to a popular sporting venue in your eastern Park Lands.

Since 2020, the sport of “disc golf” has enjoyed growing popularity on a 9-hole course in King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina (Park 15)

However some of the less-accomplished disc golfers find that their flying discs go off course and collide with one or more of the dozens of trees in that Park. The damage caused by the flying discs is easy to spot:

Arborist Craig Wadham, from 2nd Generation Trees, fears that the repeated impacts are causing “long-term stress for the trees” leaving them “vulnerable to disease of pests, particularly borers.”

Craig was optimistic that most of the affected trees would survive:

“Whilst it looks aesthetically displeasing, eucalyptus trees can withstand superficial damage to their bark and cambion, more so than other species of trees…. [and] most of the trees will survive ongoing impact.”

However he’s cautioned that:

“repeated impacts of this nature can lead to long-term stress for the trees, and potentially leave them vulnerable to disease or pests, particularly borers.”

A spokesperson from the City of Adelaide has confirmed that the Council is investigating the extent of the damage, and, subject to an expected report, would consider measures such as:

“realigning fairways, rotating baskets, removing baskets, and applying tree protection measures during disc golf events.”

Craig Wadham agrees there are three things that the Council could consider:

Re-evaluate the course layout - “Adjusting the positioning of the disc golf course to minimize direct contact with trees.”

Protective barriers - “Installing protective barriers around the most vulnerable trees could help shield them from further damage. These barriers would need to be resized as the tree grew.” –

Community awareness- “Educating the public, especially disc golf players, on how to enjoy the sport while minimizing environmental impact may also reduce the frequency of these incidents.”

The City Council spokesperson advised that the aim would be “to find a balance that enables disc golf to be enjoyed in the Park Lands whilst preserving our Park Lands greatest assets.”

In the meantime, the disc golf course will be in use on Sunday 13 October, from 10am, for a women-only tournament, called “Throw Pink”.

The author of this article, Brandon Marlow is a member of the APA Managing Committee and a student at Flinders University, studying a combined degree in Biodiversity and Conservation and International Relations and Political Science.