Friday, April 04, 2003
Disc golf course at University of Southern Indiana to open April 14
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A disc golf clinic and tournament and a cross country meet will be among the activities planned on Monday, April 14 when a new disc golf course opens in the Screaming Eagles Valley Complex, a developed area on the west end of the University of Southern Indiana campus. The complex includes the cross country course. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 3 p.m., preceded by a disc golf clinic, conducted by course consultant Steve Madsen. A two-mile cross country meet begins at 2:30 p.m. The cross country meet is open to USI students, employees, and other interested runners; sign ups will be on the day of the race and there will be no entry fee. The disc golf tournament will begin at 3:30 p.m. and will be open to USI students, employees, hole sponsors, and disc golf enthusiasts. Applications for the tournament are available in the Recreation and Fitness Center on campus. There is no entry fee. Tournament winners will receive gift certificates to local restaurants, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and disc golf sets. Door prizes of gas coupons and other gift items will be presented. “The USI disc golf course is the first course in southern Indiana,” said Ruth Waller, USI director of intramurals, who established the course with the help of Madsen. Eighteen local businesses sponsored the individual holes. Disc golf, which offers the fresh air and green surroundings of golf, is the art of tossing Frisbee-like discs into metal baskets called targets. The object of disc golf is to complete the course with the lowest number of “strokes” or throws. The baskets have chains that work like the backboard of a basketball hoop to stop and guide the flight of the disc. The USI course consists of 18 such baskets or “holes” placed along the course. There is a front nine and a back nine. The shorter holes are under 300 feet in length and two holes are 400+ feet. Madsen said the USI course has a good mix of holes: short, long, up, down, right, left, open, and wooded. The course is designed with all skill levels in mind. Waller said the disc golf course will increase recreational opportunities for students and employees and offer great family entertainment. She said, “It provides an inexpensive, healthy, and challenging activity. And it will be a good practice course for individuals who want to advance to regional and national tournaments.” Nationwide there are more than 800 disc golf courses. About 20,000 players from 20 countries belong to the Professional Disc Golfers Association (PDGA). An estimated two million amateurs enjoy the sport. The Screaming Eagles Valley Complex is located behind the women’s softball field. Refreshments will be served during the opening ceremony and awards program. The course is open to the public. There is no fee to play. Parking for the opening ceremony and tournament is available by the women’s softball field. |
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