Development on Rocky Mountain House’s disc golf course is moving ahead in earnest this summer, but it’s still unclear whether it’ll be a nine- or 18-hole course.

Amid the uncertainty, the town has still been pushing forward with developing a nine-hole course near West Central High School, with mulching, tree clearing and setting up the holes.

Director of Recreation and Community Services, Wes Amendt, says the disc golf baskets have arrived and are expected to be installed late this summer.

“The Central Alberta Disc Golf Association (CADGA) has gone in and played the course,” he says. “It’ll be a challenging course — it’s through the trees.”

The original plan called for a joint venture between the town and Wild Rose School Division (WRSD) to create an 18-hole course on both municipal and school land.

However, back in May, late-stage negotiations hit a snag, forcing the town to decide to forge ahead with a scaled-back version of the plan— entirely on municipal land.

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Since then, councillors have expressed concern that the town may be settling for a half-measure, as 18-hole courses are seen as essential for hosting tournaments and maximizing economic impact. In May, Councillor Dave Auld called the situation “absurd.”

However, there may be hope. At an informal meeting this month, Acting Mayor Len Phillips spoke with new WRSD superintendent Jodie Mattia, who indicated a willingness to continue the conversation.

In an interview with 94.5 Rewind Radio, Mattia indicated it was indeed a topic of conversation during WRSD’s Aug. 19 board meeting.

“The Town of Rocky and WRSD have been in discussions regarding the use of WRSD’s land for the portion of the town’s disc golf course,” she says. “However, we’re still working through that as there’s no agreement that has been reached to date.”

WRSD superintendent Jodie Mattia speaks of ongoing negotiations to include part of Rocky’s disc golf course on school property.

She adds, the two entities are working collaboratively to work toward a solution “in the best interest of the community.”

In the meantime, those excited to try the course can download the disc golf app UDisc, which helps players track scores, view amenities and leaderboards, and find courses — including the new one in Rocky.