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Residents and recreation group pitch disc-golf courses near Dutch John; commissioners ask staff to map sites
Summary
A resident-led proposal to build one or more public disc-golf courses around Dutch John drew support and questions about land ownership, costs and permitting; commissioners asked staff to update GIS and return with site options — no formal action was taken.
Speaker 1, a resident and meeting attendee, urged the Daggett County Commission to consider reserving land for disc golf near Dutch John, saying the sport “would be a great thing for the community, the kids, families that go there and have a good activity” and could attract visitors if multiple courses were developed.
The proposal, introduced as a community recreation and tourism idea, came from local volunteers and representatives of outdoor recreation groups. Speaker 3, who described experience working with outdoor-recreation financing programs in Utah, said such groups could help design and partly fund a course and connect organizers with contractors to install baskets and tee boxes.
Why it matters: Commissioners and residents framed the idea as a low-maintenance park amenity that could broaden Dutch John’s summer offerings and support local businesses. Supporters pointed to examples of high-usage amenities elsewhere that drew visitors and volunteers for upkeep.
Key details: Speakers discussed several siting and cost issues. Early estimates discussed in the meeting included a full 18-hole equipment set costing in the order of $9,000–$10,000 and the possibility of running a modest 9-hole course on as little as about 5 acres. One resident said a regional tournament nearby draws roughly 300 participants, illustrating potential event demand. Participants also noted heavier “pro” discs travel far and that routes must avoid adjacent roads and traffic for safety.
Land and legal considerations dominated the discussion. Multiple speakers noted most land near Dutch John is owned or encumbered by the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) rather than county taxpayers; RDA property is typically intended for monetization, which complicates setting aside large parcels for permanent public parks. The group discussed alternative approaches: (1) partner with developers to incorporate small park pockets into subdivisions, (2) use school or existing park sites for temporary, removable courses, or (3) work with the Forest Service or state parks (Antelope Flats was named) on public-ground installations — though speakers cautioned federal partners lack construction funding and NEPA reviews could delay projects.
Funding options and maintenance: Speakers proposed a mixed approach — grants from outdoor-recreation programs, private sponsorship (hole or equipment sponsors), and volunteer maintenance modeled after local successful amenities such as the pickleball courts. The meeting noted that removable baskets and painted tee pads can serve as a low-cost starter solution while longer-term, permanent posts require digging and more investment.
Outcome and next steps: No formal motion or vote was taken. Speaker 6 recommended mapping available parcels and postponing a decision until staff can present GIS-updated maps and possible developer partners. Commissioners asked staff to identify county-owned, RDA, Forest Service and trust parcels that might work for a course and to return with options at a future meeting.
The item closed without action; the commission took a short recess and agreed to continue exploring the idea at a later date.
