The Outsiders Recreation Newsletter

 

 

Issue 38

June 2011

 

 


Quick Links


The Outsiders web page

  
Facebook Group

Peregrine Point wet weather status


Support Disc Golf

 

purchase a fundraising disc or T-shirt 

make a donation

become a member


Other Stuff

 

Chico Area Trail Stewardship

email the Park Commission

Park Dept. Phone
530-896-7800

The Outsiders are required to pay for monitoring studies and liability insurance in order for the public to use Peregrine Point.  This month we'll owe about $4,500.

We know that people often don't value things until they're gone.  But you can help keep disc golf in our park by donating the equivalent of $1 a week.  Forgo a couple of pizzas this year and become a member of the Outsiders so we can keep moving disc golf forward.

We're still trying to convince the city to honor its committment to replace the short course.  After selecting a site the city decided it didn't want to do the environmental studies necessary to allow the installation of disc golf equipment.

We're doing our part to get things back on track and have submitted a proposal to expand the Sherwood Forest disc golf course to 18 holes (a copy was given to the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission and CARD yesterday).

You can see the proposal here.
Sherwood Forest Expansion / Short Course Replacement
 
I would also suggest you take a look at the slideshow linked below under the article on the wet weather policy.  Opponents of disc golf, and even the city, have expressed concern over the environmental impact of disc golf.  But after just 9 months nature has wiped away many of the traces of disc golf at the old short course at highway 32.

If 20+ years of all-weather impacts can disappear in less than a year why is the city closing the park so often?
   

Lon Glazner - President
Chico Outsiders

president@chico-outsiders.com 

 

News Briefs: 
 

Congrats to Juniper
Juniper Scheler took first place at the first disc golf tournament at Peregrine Point on May 21st.  He shot 8 under par over two rounds to take the #1 bag tag.  Bill Parnell holds the course record at 7 under par for his first round at the tourny.


Steven, Todd, Josh, and Jeremy rounded out the winners circle with some awesome play.  We're still sitting on 10 bag tags for people that would like to join in the annual competition. 

 

New Stamp and Discs:

We're working on a new fundraising stamp and disc order from Innova.  If you've got a disc you'd like to see us stock send us an email and we'll get it in the order.

North Rim Adventure Sports to Carry Outsiders' Gear:
Shawn Hughes, one of our board members, is working out a relationship with North Rim Adventure Sports in downtown Chico.  They should be carrying our custom products as well as other disc golf equipment in the near future.  Any other businesses interested in supporting our efforts to keep disc golf in the park should feel free to contact us.

Disc Golf Camp for Kids:
On June 20th the Sherwood Forest disc golf camp for kids opens up.  There are about 10 spots open and you can sign up through CARD (see our calendar below for details).  This is probably CARD's least expensive camp, gets your kid(s) outside for the morning, and the profits go directly to our non-profit.
 

 

 

$1 A Week:

The Chico Outsiders surpassed 65 full members this month.  We estimate that in order to keep Peregrine Point open we need at least 100 full members.

Membership is $50 annually.  That's an average of less than $1 per week.  You can pay all at once, or if you sign up online you can choose to pay $10 every-other-month for 10 months ($50 for 12 months of membership).

Is it worth $1 a week to have a course in Chico to play on?  We think so.  Sign up today and do your part to support recreation.  Don't be a freeloader, we need your help.

Sign up online here.

Instructions on setting up a monthly membership.

Membership policy for 2011

Bag tag holders can convert to full members for $25 up until the final fall tournament (likely in October).  This converted full membership will expire at the end of March 2012 (when the new bag tags will be issued). 
 

 

Wet Weather Wonderment:

Earlier this week the trails in Upper Bidwell Park were open to horses and mountain bikes, but the city kept the disc golf course closed because of wet weather.  So you could ride your bike through Peregrine Point, but couldn't throw a disc there.  That's ridiculous.

The wet weather policy has been implemented based on the theory that people playing disc golf when the ground is wet cause erosion.  If that's the case you would expect the old short course at highway 32 to show massive signs of erosion.

The short course was used for 20 years in all-weather conditions.  It always had more people and more concentrated play than the long course that became Peregrine Point.

After just 9 months of no use the fairways of the old short course have mostly disappeared.  Tee pad and pin placements are probably a year or two away from being overgrown by vegetation.  There are virtually no examples of erosion caused by wet weather play at this site.

We've put together the online slideshow below that compares the short course fairway photos taken in May 2005 (15 years of use) to some taken last week (20 years of use, 9 months of no use).

See for yourself what the impacts of 20 years of all-weather disc golf use looks like when a site is left alone for less than a year.

Slideshow-  
http://outsiders09.jalbum.net/Shortcourse/

We hope the city and Park Commission base their policy on facts and real-world examples.  But when you have to bring a mountain bike to Peregrine Point to keep from being kicked out you have to wonder at the logic being applied.   

 

Volunteers:
 If any members would like to help run a fundraising booth this Saturday send us an email.  We need people after 12PM, up until 5PM. 

 

 

Girl Power:
 CARD is holding their annual Girl Power Sports Camp.  They are looking for women disc golfers that can help show 20-30 girls how to play.  They need you on July 15th between 9AM-12PM.

You don't need to be a superstar disc golfer to be a role model for these girls.  If you play, and enjoy getting outdoors please consider donating some time to show these young woman some basics of disc golf.

Send us an email if you're interested in helping out.

 

Outsiders Calendar: Here are some upcoming events of interest.  Check out web site for last minute changes (www.chico-outsiders.com), or email us any questions (info@chico-outsiders.com).

 

June:

June 11th - CARD's Community Campout:
CARD cancelled the campout because few families signed up this year (it has been pretty cold).


June 11th - Monthly Bag Tag Game / Fundraising Booth:
 9AM at Peregrine Point.  Come out and play, you don't need a bag tag to play, there's no cost, and it's open to the public.  We'll have a fundraising booth to sell discs and t-shirts during the morning.

June 20-24th - Sherwood Forest Disc Golf Camp:
 This class teaches the fundamentals including disc control, strategy, and rules. All in a stress free and relaxed outdoor environment. Instructor: Lon Glazner. The cost is $75, runs 8AM-12PM each day, and proceeds benefit local disc golf facilities.  Sign up at CARD, or online
 

July:

July 16th - Exclusive Use Day:
We're planning a fundraising tournament to raise some money for the course on this Saturday in July. 

July 30th-31st - 4th Annual Summer Solstice Slam:
Play 4 disc golf courses in 2 days.  This year's Slam will play Chico, Toney's Mountain Golf, Grass Valley, and Penn Valley.  Overnight camping will be at Toney's.  Full members only and no kids. There are about 4 spots left. Sign up before June 15th.