Rocky Mountain House’s proposed disc golf course is being scaled back after negotiations with Wild Rose School Division (WRSD) hit an unexpected snag.

Town council voted this week to move ahead with a scaled-down nine-hole disc golf course on municipal land, after the WRSD added late-stage conditions to a previously positive agreement.

The original plan was to build an 18-hole course with several holes situated on school property adjacent to West Central High School — the location favoured by more than 70 per cent of residents who responded to a community survey earlier this year.

But at the final stage of talks, the school division requested the town assume maintenance of an adjacent school parking lot and formally sever an existing maintenance agreement for Curtis Field. According to town administration, those new conditions would add $46,000 a year to the municipal budget — equivalent to a half per cent property tax increase.

“The town just doesn’t have the capacity with our current levels of staffing and equipment to take that on,” said CAO Dean Krause.

While the school division has not opposed the idea of the disc golf course itself, the added conditions were a tipping point.

Councillor Dave Auld expressed frustration with the school board’s move, calling it “absurd.”

“To me it sounds like they are looking for additional money and figured this is going to be an easy way out because this is something the community wants,” said Auld. “I definitely think we need to redo this joint use agreement, or they need to follow the spirit of the agreement.”

Council ultimately passed a motion directing administration to proceed with a nine-hole course entirely on town land, adjacent to the school property. The site was identified in preliminary plans and does not require school board approval.

Council also voted to send a letter to the Wild Rose School Board, requesting reconsideration and a return to a joint-use agreement similar to those already in place for the town’s skatepark and spray park.

Several councillors expressed concern that the town may be settling for a half-measure, with no guarantee the full 18-hole course — seen as essential for hosting tournaments and maximizing economic impact — will come to fruition.

“I just want to make sure we have certainty moving forward,” said Councillor Dale Shippelt. “It’d be unfortunate to put in nine and not ever get access to the school property.”

Shippelt asked whether it would be worthwhile to explore another location for an 18-hole course. Auld agreed, pointing out that disc golf infrastructure is relatively easy to move.

“As long as we’re not doing a bunch of work to build to nine-hole, and then that money’s wasted once we move somewhere else,” said Auld.

The town has been exploring the idea of a disc golf course since fall 2024, working with the Central Alberta Disc Golf Association (CADGA) to identify and assess potential locations using GIS technology. After community consultation, council opted to pursue a full 18-hole layout to maximize recreational and tourism potential.

Auld had previously said tournaments held at an 18-hole course could attract more than 100 players and generate up to $80,000 in economic activity over a single weekend.

Council made a further motion to send a letter to WRSD requesting a joint land use agreement — akin to the existing one regarding the spray park and Curtis Field — be explored for the disc golf course.

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