Saturday morning, under a hazy summer sky, the grassy field beside Signal Hill Community Centre turned into a disc golf course. Coaches Eva and Samantha from Alberta Youth Disc Golf brought everything: stacks of colourful discs, ground targets, and a proper chain basket that got assembled right there on the grass while the kids watched like it was a magic trick.

The morning ran as two hour-long sessions, 9:00 and 10:00, free for kids aged 6 to 10. About ten kids came through, some barely bigger than the discs they were throwing, and every one of them left having sunk a shot.

First, learn to throw

Each session started the same way: discs handed out, a quick demo, and then a circle to warm up. Backhand, step, release. Easier said than done when you are six, but the coaches kept it patient and playful, and the throws got straighter fast.

A coach handing out colourful discs to young participants at the start of the session Kids and coaches in a warm-up circle on the field, practising their first throws

Then, the games

Once the throws were working, out came the targets. Rings on the grass to aim for, then the real thing: the chain basket. Every kid took turn after turn, and the sound of a disc hitting those chains never stopped being satisfying.

Kids playing a target game with rings spread across the field Kids lining up shots at the chain basket while a coach steadies it A young player mid-throw aiming at the disc golf basket

Here is a little of what it looked like in motion:

New discs and proud faces

Here is the part nobody saw coming: at the end of the session, every kid went home with a real, professional disc golf disc of their own, a generous gift from Alberta Youth Disc Golf. Not a toy, the real thing, the kind the coaches throw. Judging by how tightly those discs were being held in the group photo, they went straight into the permanent collection.

The 9:00 group posing with their coaches on the field

Thank you

Thank you to our two wonderful coaches, Eva and Samantha, who ran both sessions with endless energy and made every kid feel like a pro. Thank you to Eric Anderson, Executive Director of the Alberta Youth Disc Golf Society, the non-profit that brought the coaches, the gear, and the know-how to our field, for making this morning possible, and for the generosity of sending every kid home with a disc of their own. Thank you to Gary, who drove all the way from Red Deer to help out on the day and keep everything running smoothly. Thank you to the parents who came out, stayed, and cheered from the sidelines. And thank you to the kids, who showed up ready to try something new and threw themselves into it, sometimes literally.

We are doing it again on August 15

The verdict from the field was unanimous: more please. So we are doing it again on Saturday, August 15, this time in the evening: two free one-hour sessions at 6 PM and 7 PM, and this round is open to ages 6 to 12 so older siblings can join. Same coaches, same gear provided, 16 spots per session.

Reserve a spot for August 15 →

If your kids missed the first one, this is their chance.

Questions, or want to help out at the next one? Email the Signal Hill Community Association at [email protected].