Town & Country

C M Y K WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 5 INGLIS Licensed Livestock Dealers Custom Order Buying Box 345 Roblin, MB R0L 1P0 (204) 247-0282 (204) 937-7688 HIGHWAY 10 NORTH SWAN RIVER, MB 204-734-6180 GAS BAR CONVENIENCE STORE CAR WASH P.O. Box 309 McCreary Mb. R0J 1B0 Telephone 204-835-2067 Fax 204-835-2426 R ick and Karen Goraluk are an ambitious couple. They bought the Asessippi Beach and Campground 11 years ago and it's been a labour of love ever since. "It was a real mess," recalls Rick Go- raluk, who hails from the Inglis area where the park sits. "It was owned by the chamber of commerce, then various other groups, then sat idle for five-plus years. The only thing they used was the baseball diamond for the local teams. We cleaned it up and we're building it up." Karen is from nearby Russell and she and her husband had both enjoyed the park before it went to seed, which is why they decided to purchase it. The park features cabin rentals, a camp - ground, a small beach on the Shell River, tubing, volleyball courts, and a horseshoe pitch, as well as the ball diamond. But five years ago, Goraluk was inspired to groom a new disc golf course on the property from scratch, and it has already gained popularity as one of the finest around for one of the fastest-growing sports in North America. Disc golf has the same basic rules as golf but is played with a frisbee-like disc instead of clubs and balls. Players throw the disc down the fairway, then "putt" the disc into a bas - ket, using the fewest throws as possible. There is already a professional circuit for the sport and pro disc golf players. "There were a couple of guys from Yorkton who visited the park and one of them, Calvin Daniels, suggested doing it," says Goraluk. "I didn't know anything about it at the time. I had to get them to explain it to us and how much the real estate would cost." But it turned out that they already had the property and Daniels designed the course without it affecting the park activi - ties or the campground. Goraluk built the baskets where the disc is thrown into for putts himself and bought some discs that are loaned to those who want to play. "The course is very scenic and very challenging with different elevations," he says. "There are some uphill and downhill holes with some holes bordering on the river." It is a par-58, 18-basket course that is 4,873 feet long and one of two in the Parkland area. "It's certainly a picturesque course, you walk beside the Shell River on one part of the course," says Daniels, who has been promoting the sport in the area and on the Parkland Association of Disc Golf (PADG) website. "And (you) can relax at a picnic table near another tee that over - looks the valley on another section of the course." There are no green fees charged for the sport, so the Goraluks ask for donations at the end of rounds, mainly to cover the cost of mowing it. "It brings awareness to the park," Go- raluk says. But he admits it took a while for it to catch on. "It got more and more popular after a girl from Brandon came down to do an Ace Race and asked if she could put the course on a U-disc app," he says. "The app tells where the courses are and maps each course out." An Ace Race is a version of disc golf where the holes are shortened and points are awarded for getting the disc into the basket in one (ace) or two shots. Prizes are then awarded for most points. "Almost every day, someone drops in to play disc golf, and 15 to 20 people on weekends," says Goraluk, who acknowl - edges that more money can be made by hosting disc golf tournaments. "I would love to hold a sanctioned tournament. If I could find some spon- sors, that would make it easier. Most courses are on public property and gov- ernment funded. I applied to the province for a grant but we're private owners, so we didn't get one." Goraluk does host a fun disc golf tour- ney at the start of each summer season. Because there's no charge to play, it is difficult to gauge the economic spinoff of the course. Some might come to play, then stay overnight. Some who are already camping or renting cabins may want to try it. Boasting to be "Parkland's Best Kept Secret" on its website, the park has a ca- pacity of about 150 people and has been quite busy since the sport became popular in the area. But that is not its only draw- ing card. The park hosts weddings, anni- versaries and reunions. The Goraluks also put on a very successful Ninja Warrior competition for kids two years ago and the park hosted its first musical festival to- wards the end of August. In addition, its food booth is now licensed. For more info, check its website at www.asessippi.beach.com. DISC GOLF COURSE Course breathing new life into old park BY JIM BENDER Asessippi Beach and Campground near Inglis recently added a par-58, 18-basket disc golf course and it has been a major drawing card since it opened. "The course is very scenic and very challenging with different elevations," he says. "There are some uphill and downhill holes with some holes bordering on the river." Every Saturday explore Manitoba's vibrant housing market. HOMES

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