Disc Golf Takes Root in Costa Rica with Help from Marco Polo Grant
Date Published
In 2011, the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) launched the Marco Polo Program to promote the growth of disc golf internationally. The program provides funding for innovative projects that introduce disc golf to new countries and strengthen its development in existing ones. One such project has successfully taken root in Costa Rica, a country renowned for its eco-tourism and outdoor enthusiasts.
Costa Rica offers an ideal environment for adventure-seekers, with activities like rafting, zip lining, and sport fishing drawing nearly half of all tourists to the country. However, despite the emphasis on outdoor pursuits, disc golf had been relatively absent in Costa Rica until recently. The first attempt at establishing a course was made in 2009 by a local who installed a nine-hole course in his backyard. Unfortunately, when he moved away, so did the course.
Fast forward to 2014, and Justin Dolan, an American expat living in Costa Rica, revived disc golf in the country with the installation of a permanent nine-hole course at The Permaculture Country Club (PCC) of Costa Rica at St. Michael's Sustainable Community. Justin had initially moved to Costa Rica in 2010 with a vision of creating a self-sustaining community focused on working with nature.
It was through a client, Don Bainbridge, an avid disc golfer, that Justin first learned about the sport. Don introduced Justin to the game and gifted him his first discs for Christmas in 2013. From then on, Justin was hooked. When Sam Cann, a fellow disc golfer and PDGA member, contacted Justin about visiting PCC to play the course in early 2015, it marked the beginning of a new chapter for disc golf in Costa Rica.
Sam, who had experience designing courses and was fluent in Spanish, applied for the Marco Polo grant to help improve and expand the PCC course. With the funding, Sam traveled to Costa Rica and worked with the local staff and community to upgrade the course. They installed new tee signs, widened fairways by clearing rainforest vegetation, made hole redesigns, added benches and stairs, and even created "next tee" signs for better navigation.
As a result of the Marco Polo grant, PCC now has a solid foundation for future growth, including plans to install an additional 18-36 holes. The newly formed Costa Rica Disc Golf Association (CRDGA) is also working tirelessly to promote disc golf education and bring the sport to local schools and churches. With its eco-tourism-friendly environment and the support of organizations like PDGA, Costa Rica is poised to become a hub for disc golf enthusiasts from around the world.
For those interested in exploring this beautiful Central American country, PCC offers an unparalleled experience, with the possibility of even meeting Justin Dolan, the pioneer behind the rebirth of disc golf in Costa Rica. The next time you find yourself in Costa Rica, make sure to stop by PCC and say hello – and who knows, maybe you'll even join a game or two amidst the lush rainforest surroundings.
To learn more about the Costa Rica project and other international initiatives supported by the PDGA Marco Polo Program, visit the PDGA website.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/disc-golf-rainforest