An end to disc golf at Pease Park

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Time is limited for those who want to play a round of disc golf at one Austin’s oldest disc golf courses.

The City of Austin plans to rip out the chain baskets and shut down the Pease Park disc golf course at the end of the day on Dec. 31.

“This is one of those difficult decisions,” said Austin Parks and Recreation’s Park development coordinator Marty Stump.

Disc golfers mourned the loss of the course, saying they've had some great times there.

“It’s one of the most challenging courses around. It’s got some of the most picturesque holes you’re going to see. It’s just a place I've got a lot of memories,” said golfer Dustin Beck.

“It’s the first course I ever played," said Cody Thomas.

Thomas, with his dog in tow, has been playing the course located along Shoal Creek in Central Austin more than usual lately, trying to take full advantage before it shuts down.

“I come out here pretty much every chance I get to get it in before they take out the baskets,” Thomas said.

The City said it's closing the course because the park simply can’t handle the number of golfers who use it, and the floodwaters of Shoal Creek constantly beat up the course even worse.

“We’re asking the disc golf community to work with us as we develop new facilities on other park land,” Stumps said.

One of those new courses will be located in East Austin at the Roy Guerrero Colorado River Park .

City officials said they are still developing the new course, and it won’t be open for at least another six months.

In the meantime, golfers will continue playing at Pease Park as long as they can.

“I understand the erosion and all that kind of stuff but it’s been an icon in this place for 30 years. It’s sad to see it close, for sure,” said Beck. “I’m glad I got to play before it closed down.”

The City will hold a public meeting, during which staff will show off a conceptual design and get feedback from the disc golf community on the new course in East Austin.

That meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Nov. 29 at the Ruiz Library located at 1600 Grove Blvd .