PORT ANGELES — Disc golf will not be allowed at Robin Hill Farm County Park, a formal decision made Tuesday ending a long battle over a proposal to include the recreational sport at the 195-acre park between Port Angeles and Sequim.
Clallam County commissioners voted 3-0 to add disc golf as an accepted use in the parks and recreation master plan — except at Robin Hill Farm.
Compromise
A compromise four years in the making, the county will find another park to build a course. That site will be determined next year.
The object of disc golf — also known as Frisbee golf — is to land the disc in raised basket “holes.”
A firestorm erupted in 2008 when a 20-acre, 18-hole disc golf course was added to Robin Hill Farm in the county’s parks plan.
Tranquility
Many horseback riders, hikers, dog walkers and cyclists said disc golf would harm the quiet tranquility of the scenic park. Some said the proposal was rubber-stamped by the county’s park advisory board.
More than 1,000 signatures were collected against the proposal, which was submitted by Michael Mc-Aleer of Sequim.
Joel Winborn, Clallam County parks, fair and facilities manager, recommended the resolution that the commissioners approved Tuesday.
Commissioner Mike Doherty said Winborn is actively looking for alternative sites, though it’s too early to make an announcement.
Meanwhile, disc golfers have a dedicated field at the city of Port Angeles’ Lincoln Park to play on.
Both speakers in a public hearing supported the county resolution.
‘Grateful’
Speaking on behalf of Friends of Robin Hill, a group that opposes disc golf at that particular park, John Benham said: “We’re grateful to the park advisory board and to the commissioners for a modification excluding Robin Hill Farm from future consideration as a disc golf site.”
Sharron Fogel thanked the commissioners and county staff for the “time and effort that’s gone into bringing about an agreeable conclusion to the disc golf proposal at Robin Hill park.”
As chairwoman of Friends of Robin Hill, Fogel has submitted many letters to the county on the matter.
“It’s taken many months of meetings, writing and rerunning policy changes, and finding an agreement not to interrupt the beauty and solitude of a place where many of us will go in the years to come for quiet moments and to communicate with nature,” she said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
