Disc Golf at Morris Park| Disc Golf at Morris Park |
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MCPARC is pleased to announce that in 2004 we assisted with the creation of this area's first Disc Golf course. This first involved creating a course layout at Morris Park, weaving through the the gentle hills and massive trees of this quaint little park. The City of Fairmont has enthusiastically given their support for establishing the challenging and fun game, one that all ages can get involved in. The WVDGA has recently completed the 18-hole challenging woods course entitled “Orange Crush”. The 36-hole disc golf course complex offers multiple tee boxes and pin locations throughout. For updated tournament information and course activities check out the West Virginia Disc Golf Association.
Funding for course equipment (tees, baskets, markers, etc.) is by donations and the light upkeep of the course will be performed by the Fairmont Disc Golf Club.
What is Disc Golf?Disc golf is played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, however, players use a flying disc, or Frisbee®. The sport was formalized in the 1970s, and shares with "ball golf" the object of completing each hole in the fewest number of strokes (or, in the case of disc golf, fewest number of throws). A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target, which is the hole. The hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets; the most common is called a Pole Hole®, an elevated metal basket. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive shot from the spot where the previous throw has landed.The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the "putt" lands in the basket and the hole is completed. Disc golf shares the same joys and frustrations of traditional golf, whether its sinking a long putt or hitting a tree halfway down the fairway. There are a few differences, though. Disc golf rarely requires a greens fee, you probably won’t need to rent a cart, and you never get stuck with a bad "tee time". It is designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages, male and female, regardless of economic status. Who Plays Disc Golf?Disc golf can be played from school age to old age, making it one of the greatest lifetime fitness sports available. Specially-abled and disabled participate, giving them the opportunity to take part in a main stream activity. Because disc golf is so easy to learn, no one is excluded. Players merely match their pace to their capabilities, and proceed from there. The Professional Disc Golf Association, with over 20,000 members, is the governing body for the sport, and sanctions competitive events for men and women of every skill level from novice to professional. In 2001, there were 385 PDGA-sanctioned events across the world involving over 30,000 players and over $800,000 in professional player winnings. Today, there are over 1200 permanent disc golf courses around the world, with over 1000 of them in the United States. The annual rate of growth for disc golf courses is approximately 14%. Why Should I Play Disc Golf?The ongoing fitness boom finds more and more people taking up recreational activities in an effort to improve health and quality of life. Disc golf provides upper and lower body conditioning, aerobic exercise, and promotes a combination of physical and mental abilities that allow very little risk of physical injury. Concentration skills increase by mastering shots and negotiating obstacles. Players of limited fitness levels can start slowly and gradually increase their level of play as fitness improves. Scheduling is also flexible; a round takes one to two hours, and may be played alone, eliminating the difficulty of scheduling tee times. And as in traditional golf, disc golfers find themselves "hooked" and, thus, increasing the likelihood of frequent participation. Disc golf offers year-round fitness, even in rain or snow. Perhaps the greatest attribute of the sport is the expense — or rather, the lack of it. A professional quality disc costs less than $10, and it only takes one for basic play. And, of course, there’s the sheer fun of the game — no matter what your age or skill level! Play disc golf — the sport of the future! All directions, except hole #1, start at the previous hole's basket. Distances are in feet from the short tees.
Quick note about long tee placement:
Directions from I-79I-79; exit 135 (Pleasant Valley Rd.). Turn towards Pleasant Valley, 0.3 mile to a left at stop sign, 0.3 mile to a right into Morris Park (large blind curve). Park in entrance cul-de-sac or around park to the 2nd pavilion. 1st tee next to pavilion.
If you are interested in getting involved with Fairmont's Disc Golf Association please contact:
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