ChainLink Conservation Series

ChainLink Conservation Series

The ChainLink Conservation Series is a unique collaboration between ChainLink Disc Golf and Ontario Conservation Authorities to bring disc golf tournaments and events to courses built on conservation lands. These events focus on raising awareness and supporting conservation efforts to protect local ecosystems. The first event in this series took place on June 15-16, 2024 at Albion Hills Conservation Park in Palgrave, Ontario and the second event will take place September 21-22, 2024 at Kelso Conservation Park in Milton, Ontario.

Chainlink Disc Golf and Ontario Conservation Authoritiess

Jeff MacKeigan and Cara Hovius, of Chainlink Disc Golf, are disc golf designers, ambassadors and nature enthusiasts. Since 2020, they have been building relationships and working closely with Conservation Authorities to build disc golf courses on Ontario Conservation Lands. These courses have been specially designed to preserve native vegetation, remove or control invasive species of vegetation, minimize disruption to more naturalized areas, avoid areas inhabited by species-at-risk wildlife, and encourage participants to think about conservation, local wildlife, nature and the beauty of their surroundings. To date, they have collaborated with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Conservation Halton to build 4 disc golf courses.

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

• Albion Hills Conservation Park: the Birdie (family friendly 9-hole course) and the Albatross (advanced skill-level play 18-hole course)
• Bruce's Mill Conservation Park: family friendly 9-hole course

Conservation Halton

• Kelso Conservation Park: Course map for 18-hole course here

Ontario's Conservation Authorities

In Ontario, 36 Conservation Authorities are responsible for specific watershed regions in the province. A watershed is an area of land that catches rain and snow and drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, lake or groundwater. Their core mandate is to undertake programs to protect people and property from flooding and other natural hazards, and to conserve natural resources for economic, social and environmental benefits. Unique to Ontario, each authority is legislated under the Conservation Authorities Act (Ontario), which grants them the authority to regulate development in environmentally sensitive areas, issue permits for activities near water bodies, and enforce regulations to protect natural resources. They work in partnership with municipalities, government agencies, and community stakeholders to achieve their conservation goals.

Conservation Lands

Conservation Authorities are Ontario's second largest landowners! Collectively, they own and protect a total of 150,000 hectares, including forests, wetlands, areas of natural and scientific interest, recreational lands, natural heritage and cultural sites, as well as, land for flood and erosion control. Among these lands are approximately 500 Conservation Areas; about 300 Conservation Areas are publicly accessible and provide outdoor recreational activities.

Disc Golf on Conservation Lands

The future of disc golf on conservation lands looks bright. Thanks to the dedication and vision of MacKeigan and Hovius, they have proven that disc golf courses can be integrated into conservation areas without disrupting the local ecosystem. We believe their proof of concept will allow them to continue to introduce disc golf to the other Conservation Authorities. If you would like to support their endeavours, we encourage you to support ChainLink Conservation Series - Kelso by participating in the tournament, visiting the Kelso Trailhead Pro Shop, and/or supporting Conservation Halton Foundation.