Pattee will be closing for the season this Sunday, Nov 1. Below is the Forest Service press release.
PATTEE CANYON FOLF COURSE TO CLOSE NOVEMBER 1
MISSOULA, MONTANA October 19, 2009: The 18-hole Pattee Canyon folf (disc golf) course will close for the season on November 1 as part of an ongoing effort to protect soil and vegetation during wet conditions. The course was opened for the summer on July 1.
The Missoula District has worked collaboratively in recent years to provide a folfing opportunity at Pattee Canyon and at the same time repair the resource damage that was occurring from roughly 20 years of year round unmanaged folfing. According to Missoula District Ranger Paul Matter, “The Forest Service, the Friends of Pattee Canyon, the Garden City Flyers, the Montana Conservation Corps and area folfers teamed up over the last couple years to develop innovative solutions to the resource impacts of folfing at Pattee Canyon.”
Several projects were completed this spring and summer to protect the soil and vegetation and still provide a folfing season. “This season’s actions and improvements helped reverse the downward resource trend we’ve seen at the Pattee Canyon folf course over the last two decades,” said Andy Kulla, Missoula Ranger District Resource Staff Officer. Kulla said a combination of actions have allowed continued recovery of the area, including: seasonal rest, fencing to allow damaged areas to recover, trail relocation, a new foot bridge over a wetland, seeding and mulching, realignment of some holes, addition of three new holes, on the ground Forest Service presence and enforcement of regulations, signage and placement of rubber T pads and removable baskets. A roadside parking area was also eliminated to reduce impacts to neighboring landowners and vehicle encroachment into the driving lanes.
“It’s very satisfying to see how these diverse groups came together to find practical solutions to competing needs and work toward common goals.” said Matter, the Missoula District Ranger. “Folfers can thank Brian Bjortomt and the Garden City Flyers for stepping up to the plate and making many of these projects happen,” Kulla said. “The Garden City Flyers’ help has been an important part of the rehab work at the Pattee Canyon folf course.”
According to Kulla, “These changes at the Pattee Canyon Folf Course are yet another response and attempt to managing the impacts of population growth in the Missoula area. We’re trying to determine the capacity of the resource to sustain this use by balancing recreation use with rest, revegetation, active management and structural improvements. We want to ensure quality recreation experiences for decades to come at Pattee Canyon for not only folfers, but for hikers, mountain bikers, cross country skiers, picnickers, runners, nature watchers, and the new recreation uses that will develop as the Missoula Valley continues to grow and expand out into the neighboring Lolo National Forest lands.”
All the baskets are pulled and put away for the winter. A huge thanks to Ben Huss, Jon Graff, and Dave Spencer for helping out with this sad task which only took about 3 hrs.
but hey, its ready for next year and won't take much.
We will be meeting at the gate at 11:00 this Sunday to pull the baskets. I have been temporarily given a key to unlock the gate, so be there before 11:00 or you'll have to walk in.
I'll have a couple of handtrucks, but a couple more would come in handy as we'll be carrying all of them out to the parking lot.
Should give people time to play their morning round and still get the baskets pulled before the Viking/Packer game.