A disc golf course at Emerson Park in Owasco is now in the preliminary planning stages, thanks to a suggestion made to Cayuga County Parks Commissioner Gary Duckett.
But wait - disc golf? ... What the heck is that?
“I didn't even know what it was,” admitted Duckett, who has been investigating the possibility of adding a course at the park for about two months. At this week's meeting of the county Legislature's Public Works Committee, legislators gave him support to look into the issue further.
As it turns out, disc golf is an up-and-coming sport, Duckett said. There are regional disc golf organizations, including the Central New York Disc Golf Association. the national Professional Disc Golf Association has more than 16,000 members.
Its rules are similar to regular golf in that there are 18 holes, and the object is to get to the hole in as few strokes (or throws) as possible. Instead of using balls and clubs, however, participants throw discs toward large elevated baskets attached to poles.
Duckett has spoken with representatives of the central New York association, which is currently in the process of laying out a course for a 23-acre area of the park in Owasco south and east of the agriculture museum (Duckett's second choice is a piece of land in Fleming that is south of Auburn High School). The association is also compiling attendance data for other courses in the area.
Unlike regular golf courses, which can cost thousands or millions of dollars to construct, disc golf courses are relatively inexpensive to create. Duckett is confident that an 18-hole course can be constructed at Emerson Park for less than $10,000.
He is unsure of how the course will be funded but said that some money could come from the local association and hole sponsors.
“I think this could really be a draw for the park,” Duckett said, noting that any individuals currently involved in the sport now have to travel out of the county. “I look at it as opportunity to get one here before someone else around Auburn, and then we're competing with each other before we even start.”
There are currently three parks with disc golf courses listed on the central New York association's Web site: Jamesville Beach, Green Lakes and Oxbow Falls. Green Lakes currently has only nine holes, but Duckett wants a course with 18 so the park can host tournaments.
Expenses for participants are also limited. Discs run less than $10, and generally, the use of a course simply requires paying a park fee. Duckett's early proposal asks that golfers using the park's lots pay a $2 parking fee, but otherwise, the course would be free of charge.
“It's a more affordable kind of a golf, and yet you've basically got the same kind of competition,” Duckett said.
In addition to speaking with the parks commission and county Legislature, Duckett must also get permission for the park's construction from the state parks office and the town in which the course will be constructed.
He has already contacted the towns of Owasco and Fleming. The latter has said that it supports the course; he is still waiting to hear from Owasco.
If all goes well, the disc golf course could be complete for summer 2006. Construction of a course is minimal and would simply require digging holes and pouring concrete for the poles and setting up a tee site.
There would also be guides created for each hole.
Besides the clearing of some brush, the parks department would not have to remove trees for the course, Duckett noted, which offers both an environmental and athletic advantage.
“Disc golfers love trees because they serve as obstacles,” he said.
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net
“I didn't even know what it was,” admitted Duckett, who has been investigating the possibility of adding a course at the park for about two months. At this week's meeting of the county Legislature's Public Works Committee, legislators gave him support to look into the issue further.
As it turns out, disc golf is an up-and-coming sport, Duckett said. There are regional disc golf organizations, including the Central New York Disc Golf Association. the national Professional Disc Golf Association has more than 16,000 members.
Its rules are similar to regular golf in that there are 18 holes, and the object is to get to the hole in as few strokes (or throws) as possible. Instead of using balls and clubs, however, participants throw discs toward large elevated baskets attached to poles.
Duckett has spoken with representatives of the central New York association, which is currently in the process of laying out a course for a 23-acre area of the park in Owasco south and east of the agriculture museum (Duckett's second choice is a piece of land in Fleming that is south of Auburn High School). The association is also compiling attendance data for other courses in the area.
Unlike regular golf courses, which can cost thousands or millions of dollars to construct, disc golf courses are relatively inexpensive to create. Duckett is confident that an 18-hole course can be constructed at Emerson Park for less than $10,000.
He is unsure of how the course will be funded but said that some money could come from the local association and hole sponsors.
“I think this could really be a draw for the park,” Duckett said, noting that any individuals currently involved in the sport now have to travel out of the county. “I look at it as opportunity to get one here before someone else around Auburn, and then we're competing with each other before we even start.”
There are currently three parks with disc golf courses listed on the central New York association's Web site: Jamesville Beach, Green Lakes and Oxbow Falls. Green Lakes currently has only nine holes, but Duckett wants a course with 18 so the park can host tournaments.
Expenses for participants are also limited. Discs run less than $10, and generally, the use of a course simply requires paying a park fee. Duckett's early proposal asks that golfers using the park's lots pay a $2 parking fee, but otherwise, the course would be free of charge.
“It's a more affordable kind of a golf, and yet you've basically got the same kind of competition,” Duckett said.
In addition to speaking with the parks commission and county Legislature, Duckett must also get permission for the park's construction from the state parks office and the town in which the course will be constructed.
He has already contacted the towns of Owasco and Fleming. The latter has said that it supports the course; he is still waiting to hear from Owasco.
If all goes well, the disc golf course could be complete for summer 2006. Construction of a course is minimal and would simply require digging holes and pouring concrete for the poles and setting up a tee site.
There would also be guides created for each hole.
Besides the clearing of some brush, the parks department would not have to remove trees for the course, Duckett noted, which offers both an environmental and athletic advantage.
“Disc golfers love trees because they serve as obstacles,” he said.
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net
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