Disc Golf

An ultimate high Disc golf in the High Country

BY DAVID ROGERS

There was a time in the late 1960s and 1970s, when throwing a Frisbee among friends at a city park was almost synonymous with those days of peace, love, and rock and roll.

Of course, the origins of the flying disc dated way back in history, to the late 1800s when the Frisbie Pie Company of Bridgeport, Conn,. used round metal tins for serving up their food products. Once empty, the pie tins were hurled by creative university students, spinning through the air to each other as casual entertainment.

In 1948, a couple of post-war designers engineered a plastic version, then in 1955 introduced an upgraded model that made it more aerodynamic. They promptly sold the product to a new toy company, Wham-O, as the “Pluto Platter,” reports History. com, trying to capitalize on the spreading craze about unidentified flying objects, or UFOs.

Later, in 1967, a WhamO designer filed a patent for what we have come to know as the modern Frisbee, with raised ridges or rings on the surface of the disc for greater stability in the air.

And the rest is history. Wham-O, which brought such toys as the HulaHoop, Super Ball, and Water Wiggle to market, sold more than 100 million of the flying discs by 1977.

It may have started out as a an entertaining pastime of the “hippie”

SEE DISC GOLF ON PAGE 73 PHOTO BY COLIN TATE Zach Morgan aims his disc earlier in 2021. Morgan finished first in Division A in the Ice Bowl Disc Golf Tournament.

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crowd, but human nature often dictates and the Frisbee soon became the centerpiece of competitions. There was Frisbee Ultimate, a game combining elements of football, basketball, and soccer, and then for a less vigorous endeavor there evolved “disc golf.”

In the early 1970s, descendants of the earlier university students proved just as creative in designing informal “courses” on college campuses. Today, both public and private disc golf courses have been created all over the USA, as well as around the world.

Navigating the courses are adventuresome endeavors, great exercise as well as an opportunity to demonstrate throwing skills for distance and accuracy over and around lakes, bushes, rocks and trees.

ASHE COUNTY PARK

In Jefferson, Ashe County Park features pro and amateur pads. Free wifi. The course is located in a beautiful county park. The front 9 is mainly open with an epic water hole on #3. The back 9 is mainly wooded with some crazy elevation changes. Beautifully maintained with some long range mountain views. Bring your fitness. First tee is located past the basketball courts by the covered picnic areas.

Review on UDisc: “One of my absolute favorite course in NC. This was my home course growing up in Ashe and I still love to get out here and rip some plastic every year when I visit. Beautiful, scenic shots; tight, technical fairways; what else could you ask for? Will always recommend for beginners and advanced players alike!”

For more information about High Country Disc Golf Course in Ashe County Park, call (336) 982-6185 or visit www. thehighcountrydiscgolfclub.com.

NEW RIVER @ WAHOO’S ADVENTURES

Another course that’s great for players who are learning the sport is located at Wahoo’s Adventures at the New River Outpost at 3380 Big Hill Road in Todd.

PHOTO SUBMITTED Martin Tate Jones prepares to throw at Hole 13 at the Chings and Strings disc golf tournament.

The course’s nine holes each feature both long- and short-starting tees, and a warm-up hole is provided for people to prep their throwing arm. The course itself is a nice hike for disc golf players, which features a catwalk bridge over the creek, perfect for a hot summer’s day.

The course is $5 to use per player and is free for anybody tubing at Wahoo’s, with all costs going to maintain the course.

For more information on the course at Wahoo’s Adventures, call (828) 262-5774 or visit www.wahoosadentures.com.

BEECH MOUNTAIN RESORT

Beech Mountain Resort’s Disc Golf Course is open with 18 holes, featuring panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The course features Innova Discatcher Pro Targets, framed Disconcepts Launch pads, and custom tee signs. Holes 1-9 play from the summit down to the base of the mountain. Holes 10-18 play around the resort village. The course is walkable fore free, or you can access the summit with a scenic lift ride. Scenic lift rides are available for $12.

During the month of June, Watauga and Avery residents can receive complimentary scenic lift rides. Lift tickets, printed maps, and variety of discs and disc golf accessories are available for purchase in Ski Beech Sports, located in the resort village. Disc rental packages are available for $10. The course is challenging with rugged terrain.

For more information, call (800) 4382093 or visit the resort website at www. beechmountainresort.com.

CHETOLA RESORT

Short and scenic Green level course wrapping around two ponds and adjacent to a stream. Water in play on holes 1-8. You must be staying at Chetola to play here. The Rec center has free loaner discs.

Review from UDisc: “Beautifully maintained, picturesque 9-hole course. Short but technical enough to make you choose wisely. Clearly marked signage and red Innovation tee pad markers in the grass beside each sign. Staff are incredibly friendly!”

For more information, call (828) 2955535 or visit the resort website at www. chetola.com.

HERITAGE FARM DISC GOLF COURSE

Heritage Farm is a private, reservations-only course on the outskirts of Boone, covering about 40 acres. It is very popular with locals, who also have contributed to the course’s development, as well as its maintenance. Part of the hilly course is a challenging route around a scenic lake. The owner-managers frequently host tournament-style events.

For more information, call Jonathan Davis at (828) 406 0895.

ROLLING PINES DISC GOLF COURSE

Moderately hilly Moderately wooded Gold level course on a town-owned park, featuring over 70 acres of maintained landscaping. The course was designed and built with the professional disc golfer in mind. There are two sets of tees: white (5,095 feet) and gold (7,380 feet). Gold rates at 1000. White rates at 900. The course is closed to disc golf three weeks per year: the week prior to Merlefest, the week of and the week after.

Town of Wilkesboro: https://wilkesboronorthcarolina.com/visitors/disc-golf.

PINNACLE INN

This course plays in and around Pinnacle Inn’s outdoor park in Beech Mountain. There are 3 baskets in play (and 1 separate practice basket). For each of the 3 baskets, there are 2 different natural tee pads; therefore, 2 holes per basket. These tee pads are marked by metal poles, in which you can choose to throw from either side. Each hole is a Par 3 and relatively short distance-wise. This course was designed with families and new players in mind. Please be sure to watch out for people and vehicles when throwing, as the grounds are multipurpose. Clean up and leave the course as you found. If you don’t have your own discs, stop by the office and borrow some.

LEES-MCRAE COLLEGE

In Banner Elk, this is a mostly flat, lightly wooded, water-in-play on 4 holes, short, beginner course located around the Mill Pond area and Williams Gymnasium at Lees McRae College.

SUGAREE

Adventure disc golf with cliffs, boulders and ledges. Designed for experienced, skilled players who can control their discs.

Contact: Richminford@ gmail.com; facebook.com/Sugareedgc-194072860692613

RACCOON HOLLAR CAMPGROUND

Located in Jefferson, N.C., this course is a free amenity to everyone camping at Raccoon Holler Campground.

Raccoon Holler Campground: (336) 982-2706, www.raccoonholler.com.

FORT HAMBY

Wooded 18 hole course in Wilkesboro, N.C., with a decent amount of elevation change. Blue tees offer most technical course in the area.

Review on UDisc website: “No surprise the Army Corp of Engineers has designed and maintained a great course. Great variance in difficulty between blue and white tees. This ones a work out, and a bit more on the advanced side. Definitely worth the yearly pass for 40 dollars. Beautiful holes around the lake.”

Location Type: Park; 1534 Recreation Road, Wilkesboro, NC 28697.