Warren is getting its first disc golf course after the Lumber Heritage Region has been awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

An 18-hole course, blending into an existing conservation area, is a nice addition to the area and enhanced an already beautiful area of the 350-acre Hatch Run Conservation Area.

Disc golf is new here in Warren County, but courses have proliferated in neighboring Chautauqua County with courses in Jamestown, South Dayton, Falconer as well as the Dunkirk area. Since 2015 there has been a disc golf association with leagues that play at various courses.

Those leagues don’t rival the softball action we’ve seen over the years here in Warren County, but softball certainly provides a model for how to make the best use of disc golf – especially if the Hatch Run course is the first disc golf course rather than the only one in the county. We have plenty of space, and disc golf courses don’t have to be overly expensive to provide a fun challenge. It’s entirely possible that Warren County could be home to a few courses over time.

We should learn a lesson, though. At first disc golf courses are an attraction unto themselves. They don’t need a ton of promotion in the early months to bring people out.

But as is the case with any amenity, over time we will have to get creative to bring people to the Hatch Run disc golf course. Someone will need to plan tournaments or charitable endeavors that help draw people to the course. Courses in Chautauqua County were used regularly when they were first installed, but usage waned a little over time. And, while disc golf is a growing sport, it’s not yet a sport that draws like hunting, fishing, hiking and biking do for Warren County. Disc golf will take some time to grow.

It’s good news that Warren County is getting this DCNR grant to build a disc golf course. It should prove to be a good addition to what we have here – especially if we put in the work to grow disc golf in the region.