(Dec. 15, 2016) While it’s still a bit early for the Worcester County Commissioners’ budget season, one proposal that made it into the Recreation and Parks department’s request is ready to hit the ground running and features a relatively low cost: expanding the existing disc golf course at John Walter Smith Park in Snow Hill from nine to 18 holes.
The project, jointly proposed by players’ group Mid-Delmarva Disc Golf Alliance and county staff, would up the challenge of the existing course by adding new obstacles and effectively double the size of the existing course for less than $10,000.
Neither the county staff nor the alliance are waiting for approval, which comes in June as the county commissioners set the budget, because the money isn’t the most important factor in the expansion.
“In the next couple of weeks, we’re going to install poles where the baskets will eventually go, so while you won’t have a basket, you’ll have a target, and will be able to see what we’re shooting for,” Neil Stegman, the Mid-Delmarva Disc Golf Alliance member spearheading the project, said.
The money will be used for things such as baskets, which are used like the pins in traditional golf, and for landscaping.
And while $10,000 is more than loose change, in terms of parks and recreation equipment, it’s practically free.
“You could spend $100,000 on one of those composite playground systems. This project is the equivalent of redoing a fence on a baseball field. It’s a really minimal cost, and no long-term maintenance cost,” Parks Superintendent Bill Rodriguez said. “Once it’s set up, it’s a mowing situation, not something we’ll be replacing in 20 years.”
The course can also be used for different activities even while in use by golfers. Rodriguez said there is a network of trails near and throughout the area, and the proposed area is practically unused under normal circumstances.
“As our population ages, we need more passive recreation projects,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said the department plans to add more plantings to offer more challenge to the wide-open existing course, and so-called “volunteer trees” that have sprouted up in some areas will be left to grow.
Volunteer trees are those that have taken root outside of landscaped areas in places like parks.
Disc golf is played much like traditional golf, except the only equipment requirement is a flying disc like a Frisbee. Though the game can be played with standard discs, specialized ones, similar to different clubs, are available for purchase and come in three main types: distance, mid-range and putter.
Like golfers, disc golfers often have a selection of discs to use in different situations. Obstacles such as trees and water hazards play an increased role in adding difficulty to the game, because throwing a disc towards a desired destination is easier than driving a small ball hundreds of yards towards a hole.
“We know that people will travel to go to an area where different courses are clustered together,” Stegman said.
The lower shore has full courses at Schumaker Park in Salisbury, Trappe Pond State Park in Laurel, Delaware, and at the Horse Bridge Golf Course near the Salisbury-Wicomico airport.
“In this particular situation, we had something that wasn’t used for anything, and now it’s going to be a full disc golf course with trails integrated within it,” Rodriguez said.
The project, jointly proposed by players’ group Mid-Delmarva Disc Golf Alliance and county staff, would up the challenge of the existing course by adding new obstacles and effectively double the size of the existing course for less than $10,000.
Neither the county staff nor the alliance are waiting for approval, which comes in June as the county commissioners set the budget, because the money isn’t the most important factor in the expansion.
“In the next couple of weeks, we’re going to install poles where the baskets will eventually go, so while you won’t have a basket, you’ll have a target, and will be able to see what we’re shooting for,” Neil Stegman, the Mid-Delmarva Disc Golf Alliance member spearheading the project, said.
The money will be used for things such as baskets, which are used like the pins in traditional golf, and for landscaping.
And while $10,000 is more than loose change, in terms of parks and recreation equipment, it’s practically free.
“You could spend $100,000 on one of those composite playground systems. This project is the equivalent of redoing a fence on a baseball field. It’s a really minimal cost, and no long-term maintenance cost,” Parks Superintendent Bill Rodriguez said. “Once it’s set up, it’s a mowing situation, not something we’ll be replacing in 20 years.”
The course can also be used for different activities even while in use by golfers. Rodriguez said there is a network of trails near and throughout the area, and the proposed area is practically unused under normal circumstances.
“As our population ages, we need more passive recreation projects,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said the department plans to add more plantings to offer more challenge to the wide-open existing course, and so-called “volunteer trees” that have sprouted up in some areas will be left to grow.
Volunteer trees are those that have taken root outside of landscaped areas in places like parks.
Disc golf is played much like traditional golf, except the only equipment requirement is a flying disc like a Frisbee. Though the game can be played with standard discs, specialized ones, similar to different clubs, are available for purchase and come in three main types: distance, mid-range and putter.
Like golfers, disc golfers often have a selection of discs to use in different situations. Obstacles such as trees and water hazards play an increased role in adding difficulty to the game, because throwing a disc towards a desired destination is easier than driving a small ball hundreds of yards towards a hole.
“We know that people will travel to go to an area where different courses are clustered together,” Stegman said.
The lower shore has full courses at Schumaker Park in Salisbury, Trappe Pond State Park in Laurel, Delaware, and at the Horse Bridge Golf Course near the Salisbury-Wicomico airport.
“In this particular situation, we had something that wasn’t used for anything, and now it’s going to be a full disc golf course with trails integrated within it,” Rodriguez said.