Disc golf a great game for county

Columbia County has long been known for its prowess in baseball and its thriving soccer program at Patriots Park. And local girls have been dominant in fastpitch softball.

So it should be no surprise that Columbia County could soon be known for yet another sport: Disc golf.

To the uninitiated, disc golf may sound like one of those hokey sports that pad phys-ed schedules in college. But its growing nationwide, and pulling in local converts.

Already, Columbia County has a great course at Patriots Park, with three more planned for Wildwood Park. Those join other area courses in Augusta and North Augusta, attracting traveling players who, like their club-and-ball counterparts, like to visit new venues.

Columbia County is attracting not just players; it also has the attention of the Professional Disc Golf Association. That organization is working with county officials to relocate the PDGAs world headquarters from Toronto, Canada to Wildwood, along with the organizations Hall of Fame and museum.

We were looking for a place in the South where we could play year-round, says Brian Graham, the PDGAs regional coordinator. If Columbia County doesnt grab this, someone will.

The price tag is pretty cheap - around $50,000 from sales tax funds to help the PDGA move into a renovated building at Wildwood. In return, the PDGA would attract tournaments with an annual impact of nearly $2 million.

Columbia County should indeed grab this one. Its a hole in one.