UNC Charlotte Disc Golf Course Proposal

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1 UNC Charlotte Disc Golf Course Proposal The UNC Charlotte Disc Golf Club Respectfully Submitted by: Bryan Hoffman President

2 Table of Contents Abstract... 2 Motivation... 2 Introduction to Disc Golf... 3 Disc Golf Popularity Course Design and Requirements Support Conclusion Appendix A

3 Abstract The construction of a disc golf course on campus would be a great boon to the university s promotion of recreation and wellness. Given the university s resources, the internal and external support for the course s creation, and the growing popularity of the sport among college students, the components for a successful, new recreational facility are present. Across the USA, there are over 2,500 disc golf courses and about 180 in North Carolina. 1 Many of these courses are being constructed on university campuses and are established as a relatively low-maintenance, low-cost amenity to provide students. The cost estimate for a high-quality, 18-hole course is $14,500; a value about half the cost of a single basketball or tennis court. Land appropriations obey a rule of thumb of about one acre per hole, so a flexible quantity of 18 acres is requested. Depending on the university s capabilities, a 9-hole course may be a viable alternative. Overall, the project would be a worthwhile addition to the advancement of many values that the university has laid out in its Master Plan 2 such as social interaction and student life/recreation. Motivation According to the University s Master Plan, expanding opportunities for athletics and recreation is a guiding principle for UNC Charlotte s future. Recreational activity is an integral part of UNC Charlotte s mission to optimize student life on campus. Disc golf is becoming a very recognizable activity for its appeal to college students. Not only does the sport allow students to participate individually, as a group, casually, and even competitively, but it is also typically free to play with about $10 in equipment. Furthermore, players are able to enjoy the game on their own schedule, perhaps between classes, and are exposed to the community of other players. Some other guiding principles to which a disc golf course can contribute include: abilities to bind identity to the natural beauty of the land, to partner and collaborate with our neighbors, and to integrate greenway construction. Disc golf courses are created using the natural landscape, so forested areas could be utilized - not compromised - by its presence. A course could likely be developed off of or around the greenway area, so this feature of the university could be strengthened, as well. Finally, construction of a course would allow organizations such as Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation and the Charlotte (local area) Disc Golf Club (CDGC) to work together with the university to promote the site. A public course on university property would certainly increase exposure among local Charlotte residents and encourage more greenway usage Page 5, 2

4 Introduction to Disc Golf A well-written, short description of the game is described by the San Francisco Disc Golf Club on the Professional Disc Golf Association s (PDGA) website: 3 Disc Golf is played much like traditional golf. Instead of hitting a ball into a hole, you throw a more streamlined looking Frisbee disc into a supported metal basket. The goal is the same: to complete the course in the fewest number of shots. A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to each basket, which is the "hole." As players progress down the fairway, they must make each consecutive shot from the spot where the previous throw has landed. The trees, shrubs and terrain changes in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the "putt" lands in the basket and the hole is completed. The simplicity of the game s rules, the low equipment cost, and the public interest in disc sports (like ultimate Frisbee ) make the game enjoyable to all. Although the course would mostly consist of student players, disc golf attracts people of all skill levels and ages and is a great place for families and friends to spend time together. Regarding who can play the sport, the PDGA states in a 2009 document: 4 The simple answer is everyone can. In studies measuring annual recreational activities, "throwing a Frisbee " has consistently been a Top Ten activity. A disc golf course serves a broader portion of your community than many narrower interest activities with higher cost, skill or fitness levels required to participate. Disc golf has one of the most diverse demographics of any sport. The physical benefits of disc golf are a great way to promote an active lifestyle on campus, as well. In a study by Dr. Justin Menickelli, Associate Professor of Health and Recreation at Western Carolina University, a single round on an 18-hole course resulted in walking about three miles. 5 Couple this aspect with the inexpensive nature of the sport and an extremely cheap, healthy, and fun, outdoor sport is created. It is easy to understand how this combination would be appealing to university-age students. Disc Golf Popularity Disc golf is one of America's fastest growing sports and, in addition to its growing popularity in Charlotte, 6 it has been growing quickly among colleges. Some colleges offer disc golf as elective credit (e.g. Clemson and Oregon) and there is even a class on disc golf at South Piedmont Community College in Monroe. Courses are quickly sprouting up on campuses everywhere. As seen in Table 1, the quantity of campuses in NC and the surrounding regions with courses is impressive, and is, by no means, an exhaustive list. The courses in the list range in size from nine holes, like Wingate and Catawba College, up to over 20 holes at the Winthrop Gold course, the site of the United States Disc Golf Championship ( 3 February February November

5 Table 1: Campus Courses in NC and the Surrounding Area Examples of Regional Universities with Campus Courses University Name Location # Holes on Course Year Installed UNC-Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Winthrop Rock Hill, SC Brevard College Brevard, NC Mars Hill College Mars Hill, NC Davidson College Davidson, NC Western Carolina Cullowhee, NC Mount Olive College Mt. Olive, NC Wingate Wingate, NC UNC-Asheville Asheville, NC Wofford College Spartanburg, SC Haywood CC Clyde, NC Campbell Buies Creek, NC NC State Centennial Raleigh, NC East Carolina Greenville, NC Liberty Lynchburg, VA South Piedmont CC Monroe, NC Guilford College Greensboro, NC Catawba College Salisbury, NC Nash CC Rocky Mount, NC East Tennessee State Johnson City, TN Tennessee Tech Cookeville, TN Testimonies from university representatives are persuasive, too. In a course proposal submitted to the University of Richmond in 2008, the following quotes were obtained from faculty at colleges with campus courses: 7 One of the best things we have done for very little money (relatively speaking). Students love it as well as the community members, young and old. Generally speaking you get a different crowd playing than your normal athletic students that play football, basketball, softball which is great. But you get your share of families, traditional athletic people, women, and others playing. We would do it again in second. It is very popular. (Garry Greenlee, Associate Director of Student Recreation at Iowa State University) It has been a very positive addition to our campus. It is used heavily by both students and the community. We usually host at least one tournament a year that brings lots of people to our campus that generally would not have been exposed to our campus from around the Midwest. I would highly recommend it. (DeAnn Possehl, Director of Student Life at UW-Parkside) 7 June

6 On the competitive side, the PDGA, disc golf s governing body, reports a growth of 15% per year in active golfers in tournaments, as shown in Figure 1. The National Collegiate Disc Golf Championship ( has grown from six teams in 2006 to over 60 in Figure 1: Tournament Competitors in PDGA Sanctioned Events The UNC Charlotte Disc Golf Club ( has seen a similar type of growth since its inception just two years ago. At the Club s first event in 2011, UNC Charlotte fielded a team of only three members. In the spring of 2013, nine members attended the trip to the National Championship in Augusta, GA. Additional highlights of the Club s success involve designing a temporary campus course and hosting two tournaments on it as well as leading a national qualifier consisting of eight other teams from three states. Course Design and Requirements Design and development of a disc golf course requires the identification of natural features as obstacles, the labor to clear paths and provide maintenance, and the acquisition or creation of several key components. The clearing of unwanted natural objects depends on the density of trees and underbrush in the allocated area. Many estimates in subsequent sections for component prices were derived from a couple sources. One was through communication with Mark Huether, a designer and the developer of courses at Nevin Community Park, Bailey Road Park, and the 8 Allthingsdiscgolf.com/ncdgc-2013-national-collegiate-disc-golf-championship-preview. April

7 new, Westmoreland Athletic Park. The other source was the Disc Golf Association s (DGA) course design resource. 9 Tees Figure 2: UNCC Club Members Assisting Concrete Tee Pouring at Nevin Community Park Stable footing at the beginning of each hole is typically provided with the presence of concrete pads. Where applicable, existing asphalt pathways could be marked with paint and used for tees. On the rest, concrete tees 4 inches thick measuring approximately 5 feet by 12 feet would be built flush with the ground or bounded to avoid effects of erosion, depicted in Figure 2. One tee pad per hole would be required. However, having multiple sets of tee pads, like in traditional golf, would make attracting all skills levels even easier. Since concrete pads are permanent, alternative materials like rubber pads, astro-turf, and natural ground may be more desirable. The cost of the concrete (34x60lbf bags) and production of the molds would cost about $1500. Baskets The target on each hole would be an official basket mounted on a pipe that slides inside an anchor pipe, shown in Figure 3. The anchor pipe is cemented into a hole measuring approximately 8 inches in diameter with a depth of inches. The basket and anchor pipes are secured together with a padlock. Some courses have multiple anchor locations on each hole which aid in the prevention of compacting and erosion. Multiple anchor locations also provide a

8 fresh appearance for common players of the course. However, we request that only one anchor hole be implemented for each hole on the course. An 18-hole course of reliable targets will cost around $5800. Concrete for 18 anchor holes would cost $75. Figure 3: DisCatcher Pro Target from Innova Champion Discs

9 Signs Tee signs are critical components in simplifying navigation through a course. Tee signs contain information indicating the hole number, distance, intended disc path and par value. For instructional purposes, a rules sign and information board is commonly placed before the first hole. Commercial signs are available for purchase, but they may also be produced with natural resources. One recommendation was even having UNCC artwork put into the course signs and rotating them every six months or so. Given that professional level signs can cost upwards of $100 each, an estimate of $1500 would be allotted for the signs, information board, and the required concrete. Maintenance Post-installation, typical maintenance of a disc golf course includes primarily mowing in the fairways (if necessary) every two to three weeks, trash pickup, and the occasional attention to walking pathways to prevent erosion and compacting. The University s Club would be willing to offer its services in routine trash pickup, pathway erosion, and miscellaneous upkeep. In the event of vandalism or theft of a target, one could be replaced for about $350. Trash cans, valued at $100 each, would be placed every few holes along the course for a total of $600. Labor Installation of baskets, tee pads, and signs can absorb a significant number of labor hours. In total, roughly 250 hours would be needed for these elements. At $20 an hour, this comes to $5000. Moreover, the usage of an auger for drilling holes and removal of foliage obstructing paths to holes bears a labor cost. However, between the efforts of the University s Club and the local area club, a vast majority of the labor would be volunteer work. Therefore, an estimate of $2500 would be set aside for this aspect of the project. Land Area As part of the Club s fundraiser to attend the National Championship in 2013, a temporary course (Appendix A) for a one-day tournament was set up around the University s athletic complex. Though this is not a practical location for a permanent course, there were many lessons learned from its establishment. One is the general amount of land required. The fundraiser course enclosed about 25 acres on campus, largely due to the need to use areas that were already open and defined. A rule of thumb is that one acre is needed for every hole in place. Therefore, though not required, a goal of 18 acres would be ideal for a full, permanent course. Another lesson learned from the temporary course is that the land does not have to be exclusive to just disc golf. Many of the holes weaved around existing athletic fields, fitness trails, the greenway path, and behind parking decks, being sure to keep safety of pedestrians in mind. Not only that, but the course also benefitted from land features not suited for other activities such as 8

10 large elevation changes and Toby Creek. As a result, disc golf courses are able to be very economical with any land that is available for use. In my opinion, the most logical places for a course are locations with the following considerations. Areas providing some parking, even just a gravel lot, for visitors and commuters are preferred. Integration around Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation s (MCPR) Toby Creek Greenway would provide ease of access. MCPR has approved over a dozen courses in Charlotte and works closely with the CDGC. Given all of the specified requirements, it seems that reasonable land areas for use would be between the University and Mallard Creek Church Road as well as Alumni Way on the other side of campus. Total Costs The DGA resource estimated a new course build at $14,500, including labor. The 9-hole layout at Westmoreland Athletic Park has totaled around $11,000, but includes $2000 in labor, $1000 in design, and $1000 in back-fill and retaining walls around tee pads. The cost estimates for a campus course place the construction about the same as the DGA estimation. The cost breakdown is shown in Table 2. Miscellaneous fees refer to the cost of padlocks, gravel, extra lumber, fasteners, sign posts, and more. Support Table 2: Predicted Cost Itemization for Construction Name Quantity Cost Tees 18 $1,500 Baskets 18 $5,800 Signs 18 $1,500 Labor 1 $2,500 Machine Rental 1 $500 Trash Cans 6 $600 Wood Benches 18 $500 Miscellaneous 1 $1,500 Total Cost $14,400 Through discussion with experienced area disc golfers, the idea of a campus course has been around for a long time. In fact, the first disc golf course in Charlotte was an object course on UNC Charlotte s property in the late 1970s which employed buildings and light poles as the targets. 11 The players of that object course went on to form the Charlotte Disc Golf Club. The

11 officers of that club, like Sam Nicholson, Tournament Director for the 2012 PDGA World Championships, are still expressing their desire to see a permanent course in place: 12 The Charlotte Disc Golf Club would LOVE to assist in getting a course on campus and we work with MCPR [Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation] who owns adjacent land to campus and with UNCC getting on board, could be the tipping point to making it happen. With the football stadium being built, and the frequency of use, some of the surrounding land could be perfect for a portion of a proposed course. We need a student advocate to push the administration, and contact the CDGC to assist. Sam, who has served as Vice President of the CDGC, has been a great asset to our University s Club since its inception and has conveyed his espousal of the course on many occasions. He believes that the development of a course at UNC Charlotte would alleviate a lot of the stress put on one of the oldest and most utilized courses in Charlotte at Reedy Creek Park. The location is very close to campus and much of the traffic comes from Charlotte students seeking a cheap, relaxed outdoor activity. In the same way, one of the most renowned figures in the sport, Stan McDaniel, has advocated for a campus course in a discussion with me. The three-time, PDGA Masters World Champion and Hall of Fame inductee has designed some of the country s most recognizable courses at Hornet s Nest and Renaissance parks. He has also seen his children graduate from UNC Charlotte and is passionate about growing the sport in this city. He stated: 13 As always, you have my support in any role you would like for me to play in your quest for a course there on campus. Another notable course advocate, leader of the installment of the second object course in Charlotte at Latta Park in 1980, includes Hall of Fame inductee and PDGA Masters World champion, Alan Beaver. In an conversation, he stated: I remember playing and being there [UNCC] vividly. I have to credit UNCC with starting disc sports in Charlotte and laying the foundation for where disc golf is today in Charlotte. Student support for a course is also quite extant. In addition to the aforementioned growth of the UNC Charlotte Club since , its Facebook group has garnered over 100 members. Factor in the evidence from other colleges offering disc golf as a recreational option and the popularity of Reedy Creek Park and it is easy to understand why students would enjoy having this amenity available right on campus. Conclusion Disc golf is an extremely economical method of providing UNC Charlotte students of all athletic abilities with an inexpensive, pleasurable, and healthy recreational activity. Benefits of a campus course align with many of the University s guiding principles in its future plans. The course 12 June conversation with Stan McDaniel. February

12 would attract visitors to campus, increasing exposure, improve student life and relations with the community, and display the natural beauty of land. The cost-to-benefit ratio outperforms many alternative recreational endeavors. The existing expenses would be greatly diminished with volunteerism in course design from experienced developers, like McDaniel and Huether, and labor from the Club and the CDGC. An 18-hole course would be the preferred establishment, but a 9-hole course is commonly a campus solution when land is at a premium. The cost could be cut proportionally, in that case. Multiple locations on campus appear capable of accommodating the proposed facility. Integration around the greenway could be a promising way to not only institute public accessibility or entrance to the course, but also to display the grandeur that is created by the MCPR pathway. Internal and external backing ensures the build would be a welcomed tribute to the origin of disc sports in Charlotte. 11

13 Appendix A Temporary Course for Annual Fundraiser 12

McLaren Park. Disc Golf Meeting. April 20, 2010

McLaren Park. Disc Golf Meeting. April 20, 2010 McLaren Park Disc Golf Meeting April 20, 2010 Welcome! Introductions Ground Rules Review Questions and Topics to Cover Background Presentation by the San Francisco Disc Golf Club Questions and Answers