County may get disc golf headquarters

Columbia County is edging closer to becoming an international destination for disc golf.

Professional Disc Golf Association Regional Coordinator Brian Graham is working with county leaders to relocate the world headquarters of the association from Toronto to Wildwood Park.

"I'm negotiating with (Columbia County) right now on a contract," he said. "More than likely, the PDGA will be moving here next year."

Aside from the headquarters, organizers also hope to locate a Hall of Fame and possibly a frisbee museum in Wildwood Park, along with three championship courses. Those courses will eventually host the organization's professional and amateur tournaments each year that could mean tourism gold for Columbia County.

"We were looking for a place in the South we could play year round," said Graham, who has already helped build a disc golf course at Patriots Park. "If Columbia County doesn't grab this, someone will."

With those championships, the area could see a $1.8 million annual economic impact - and that does not include the people who'll come to the courses to practice and train, Graham said.

"I think this is a great fit for Wildwood Park," said County Commission Chairman Jim Whitehead.

Mr. Graham said part of the work at Wildwood Park has already been completed. A Columbia County archery club built an archery course at the park a couple of years ago. That course has since been abandoned, but the lanes remain.

"We'll use those existing lanes as the fairways on the first course," he said.