DETROIT — The thud of rubber throwing discs colliding with stationary wooden posts at Detroit Belle Isle's defunct 9-hole golf course may soon be replaced with the soothing chime-swish of linked metal.

Disc golf — baskets and all — is coming to Belle Isle, says 30-year-old Chris Haag, a member of

, the organization that spearhead the effort to bring the increasingly popular sport to the Detroit island.

People are already playing on the island, improvising wooden stakes for the proposed locations of elevated chain disc golf baskets, the equivalent of a "hole" in traditional golf.

An effort to build the course was underway last year, but with with the uncertainty of Belle Isle's future, not knowing if it would be state- or city-managed, led park overseers to put off any permanent installation.

Haag said the makeshift course has drawn up to an average of 50 participants since February for each of its weekly Sunday tournaments that begin at noon.

"We ask every now and then if we can start doing things and we had an opportunity from the"

, said Haag."They offered us two (free) baskets as part of what they call their Plant a Basket Program, which is meant to get new courses up and running.

"We went to the park and said, 'We’ve got this opportunity... do you guys mind if we start installing them?' and they just said, 'Sure, no problem.'"

Haag says the wait has given planners some insight as to hole placement, where it floods during the spring thaw, what players like and don't.

He hopes to have all 18 holes installed by the end of this summer and said concrete tee-pads will be installed in the future.

Although organizers anticipate the possibility of a small maintenance fee to play the course down the road, "right now it's totally free and I don't foresee it being pay-to-play this year," said Haag.

Organizers are working on finding a nonprofit to partner with so that donations may be accepted without tax obligations and have begun officially accepting hole sponsorships.

"It's $450 a basket," said Haag, and they get "a custom clay brick as a tee-pad sign which will also include the hole number and the name of the business that sponsors that hole.

"That's something that's going to be in the ground with the course for as long as it's there."

It's expected to cost about $10,000 to purchase the baskets, materials and equipment for the first phase of installation. Haag said the additional cost of concrete for the future tee-pads and maintenance may be up to $20,000.

An interactive map of disc golf courses on the

lists about 30 courses in Metro Detroit, yet only one of those appears in Detroit.

The sole course within the city limits is a 9-hole course at Jayne/Lasky Park, 12800 Fenelon, which is located to the north of Hamtramck; and the reviews of that course are not flattering.

Most disc golf players are currently forced to drive to outlying Detroit suburbs if they hope to find an adequate course, something that Haag is pleased should soon change.

"I think the biggest thing for us right now is we're thankful for all the support that we've gotten from the public," Haag said. "We're in great shape and happy to be here."

To help planners raise funds for the course, Haag is urging supporters to attend

this Sunday.

For $5, attendees receive a soup dinner and a chance to cast a vote for their favorite nonprofit or start-up business. To the winner goes the spoils, usually $1,000 or more.

This month's

dinner takes place at 6 p.m. Sunday in the Jam Handy building, located at 2900 E. Grand in Detroit's New Center.

Anyone interested in making a financial contribution to Detroit Disc Golf, or to inquire about sponsorship, should contact Chris Haag, 313-451-4224 or crhaag@gmail.com

Detroit Disc Golf is an informal group connected to