The University of Richmond plans to open a disc golf course, which will spread across both the Richmond and Westhampton sides of the campus, next spring in an effort to promote leisurely activity.
Disc golf is a small but nationally growing sport. Players begin each hole at a tee — similar to golf — and try to get the Frisbee into the hole, a chain basket, in as few throws as possible.
"I don't think there are enough outdoor leisurely activities on campus, so this will just provide a chance to relieve a little stress, get outdoors and enjoy yourself," said Tom Roberts, director of Recreation and Wellness.
Students proposed the course about five years ago.
"At first it wasn't taken very seriously," Roberts said of the proposal.
But, during the spring of 2009, students submitted a proposal to build a course, which went through a reviewing process by President Edward Ayers and his cabinet last month, when it was approved.
"While it took some time to convince the administration, we were very persistent in getting this dics golf course approved," Suren Daryanani, president of RCSGA said.
The proposal fit into an initiative to add more outdoor leisure activity to campus. During the past three years, the university has added outdoor picnic tables and bikes to ride around campus, in addition to improving the intramural fields. The addition of a disc golf course on campus will contribute to student and university goals.
"While we have met some of the initiatives, we are looking to implement other changes to better the student experience," Daryanani said. "The Fun Initiative will continue to develop long term as well."
The benefits of disc golf include a small time commitment and the option of a leisurely or competitive game.
The university hired a consultant to plan the course to ensure that it would be environmentally friendly, have met the desired difficulty level and would not be an eyesore on campus. All of the tees will be removable and no trees would be cut down.
"It's been designed as an intermediate course where a novice can get out there and have a good time, but it's also challenging enough that some one with a lot of experience could do this," Roberts said.
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The first tee will be in between the president's house and the Jepson Alumni Center because there is a large parking lot for people coming to play from the Richmond community.
"One of the hopes is that it will open up the Westhampton side of campus and all of that nice green space that people don't go to as much," Steve Bisese, vice president for student development, said.
The course, which will be more heavily built on the Westhampton side of campus, will weave through the woods, approach the lake, then return toward the Alumni Center at the 18th hole.
"As of now, one of the main concerns is discs flying all over parking lots," said Ali Amaral, Westhampton College Government Association president.
But, Bisese confirmed that the consultant designed the course with safety in mind.
"Hopefully we've got the design right. The consultant was really helpful with that because you've got to keep it where people walking by don't get hit in the head by Frisbees," Bisese said.
The course, which is estimated to cost more than $22,000 in consultant fees, materials and supplies, will be built this winter, when vegetation is in its dormant stage.
"This semester our plan is to get the word out about what we're doing and if there is any more room for feedback, then get the feedback," said Roberts. "And so my hope is that by the spring of next year we'll have some sort of a grand opening and launch the program."
One of the main perks of the course is that almost anyone can play. But, Roberts believes that with the number of players on the ultimate Frisbee teams, there will be an intramural and club team within the first year of its opening.
"I want to applaud the hard work that my senators have done in the best interests of the student body as a whole," Daryanani said.
Contact reporter Julie Crandell at julie.crandell@richmond.edu
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