This past Saturday, Oct. 8, a brand new, 18-hole disc golf course opened up at Covington’s Devou Park. Now, just days later, someone has stolen 12 of the 18 holes, and destroyed another. The stolen disc golf baskets are worth over $5,000.
Police are looking for any information related to the theft.
“The theft required tools that cut through locks and heavy-gauge bolts, plus a truck(s) and/or trailer(s) to cart off the baskets, which are about 6-feet tall and 3-feet around,” said an Oct. 12 press release from the City of Covington.
One local resident started a thread in the Cincinnati subreddit to help alert people to the theft. As they pointed out, “Someone hauling around 15 baskets would be hard to miss. Please keep an eye out.”
According to Parks & Rec Manager Ben Oldiges, over 700 people had a chance to play a full round of disc golf at the Devou course between the opening ceremonies on Saturday and the theft. “People were lined up this morning to play when the park opened, shortly after the theft was discovered,” said the release.
Disc golf is a fast-growing sport. UDisc, an app for disc golfers, says there are around 9,000 disc golf courses in the United States. The Professional Disc Golf Association estimates that 8 to 12 million Americans have played disc golf, and that over half a million play the game regularly. In 2021, Ohio had the sixth highest number of PDGA membership, according to the PDGA.
Many local Redditors are lamenting that they missed their chance to play the new course.
“Woah, had plans to come down from Dayton and go there prior to [sic] blink. I guess I’ll just go to Osage then blink! Was really looking forward to the view,” commented Doublesteamed.
“This is awful news. This new coarse [sic] has been anxious [sic] awaited by thousands of area disc golfers. New top of the line baskets like this can cost over $500 each. This is a serious crime,” said NsideProp.
Most disc golf courses are free. It’s an affordable sport that’s easy to pick up and great for all ages.
“These were immensely popular, and this theft has just stolen a lot of joy from the community,” Oldiges said in the release.
While Covington police continue to investigate this felony theft, Covington Parks & Rec is looking for used baskets to create a temporary fix at the Devou Park course.
If you know anything, or have security cameras that caught images overnight of trucks and/or trailers in and around Devou, please contact Detective Gregg Andrews of the Covington Police Department at (859) 292-2271.
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