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Hole No. 1 at Carly's Playground, a disc golf course built in 2011 and 2012 to honor murder victim Carly Jean Lewis. Mt. Holiday is removing the course this spring over concerns about proximity conflict with a new zip line.

(Courtesy | Todd Lewis)

TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- A disc golf course constructed as a memorial to a teenage murder victim is getting the boot from a northern Michigan ski hill, which said the free activity conflicts with a new paid zip line.

Carly's Playground at Mt. Holiday, a nonprofit 12-run ski hill near Traverse City, is being removed this spring against the wishes of course builder Todd Lewis, an avid disc golfer who created the course to honor his late daughter, Carly Jean Lewis.

Carly Jean Lewis.

The Mt. Holiday board of directors voted this week to remove the course due to "safety concerns" related to the ski hill's new zip line.

"There's a problem with their insurance company in regards to proximity and the possibility of someone being struck with a disc," said Lewis, a Traverse City-based AAA insurance agent who started the nonprofit CJL Playground after his daughter's death in 2011.

Ski hill board members hand-delivered a lease termination letter to Lewis this week. The course ouster severs what Lewis characterized as a deteriorating relationship between the two nonprofits over the past several years.

Construction crews plowed over teeboxes and removed multiple baskets last year while building the zip line without telling Lewis and his 12-person board, he said.

"We were never consulted last year during construction to work together, co-exist or move the course," Lewis said.

Carly's Playground was built in 2011 and 2012 using life insurance money Lewis received after the death of his 16-year-old daughter, who was murdered in June 2011 by teenage friend Robert Schwander, now serving 40-70 years in prison.

Lewis started the CJL Playground nonprofit in the tragedy's wake and co-designed the course at Mt. Holiday with world champion disc golfer Gregg Hosfeld. The nonprofit's mission is to promote the sport to families and disadvantaged kids though disc golf coaching, course design and tournament hosting.

On its Facebook page, Mt. Holiday wrote the decision was reached after "a long debate and deliberation over the safety concerns with insurance and summer construction schedule."

"The time has come for us to expand into other activities," read the post. The ski hill first installed a 9-hole course on the property in 2006.

A message left with staff at Mt. Holiday for president Mark Ray was not returned.

Lewis said the 30-some baskets from the 18-hole course -- which featured two teeboxes and basket positions on most holes -- likely will be used elsewhere in the area. Mt. Holiday is giving nine of those baskets to CJL Playground.

Marc Hamlin, president of the Northern Waters Disc Golf Series, said the brewing discord between Lewis and Mt. Holiday created an uncomfortable atmosphere for disc golfers at the ski hill, some of whom volunteered to help build the course.

The Northern Waters series hasn't scheduled a tournament at Mt. Holiday in recent years because the situation has "deteriorated so badly," he said.

"I think it's terrible we are losing a quality course on the east side of Traverse City, but I think those baskets would be better served somewhere else," Hamlin said.

"We already have suggestions coming in on where else we could put the baskets," he said. "It will be much more comfortable playing somewhere where we feel wanted."

Garret Ellison covers business, government and environment for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at gellison@mlive.com or follow on Twitter & Instagram