http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2011/02/19/chatham_courier/news/doc4d5e98402522d349356446.txt
CHATHAM COURIER > NEWS
NEW: Town hears proposal for new recreational venture — Disc Golf
By Paul Crossman
Published: Friday, February 18, 2011 5:50 PM EST
CHATHAM — After a proposal was presented at the Chatham Town Board meeting Feb. 17, the town must now consider hosting a relatively new, but popular form of recreation — Disc Golf. Disc Golf is much like traditional golf, except that instead of hitting a ball into a hole, you throw a more streamlined looking Frisbee disc into a supported metal basket. The goal remains the same — to complete the course in the fewest number of shots.
Stephen Vardin from Malden Bridge and Gene Gierka from Stuyvesant presented the board a proposal from the Schenectady Disc Golf Club and DisCap for a disc golf course to be built on the land surrounding the Town Hall. DisCap would raise all the necessary funds for the project, do the designs and surveys and provide the labor from the project — all they need from the town is permission to use the land.
After hearing the presentation, the Town Board said they generally felt favorably about the project, but opted to wait another month for more information from Town Recreation Director Shari Franks before making a final decision.
"I think from the sound of it, it's a great idea," said town Supervisor Jesse DeGroodt. "I've walked through that land and it's just begging to be used for something."
Vardin told the board that the course would be a good addition to the town, since it is great for people of all ages, does not require a great level of physical fitness and will get people out into nature and enjoy the surroundings Chatham has to offer. He also said that unlike a real golf course, only a thin path of trees needs to be cleared for the fairway of each hole and the course itself can be built on 30-40 acres. An added benefit to regular golf is that an entire 18 holes can be played in about two hours, rather than the better half of a day.
The course would be clearly marked, have tee off positions for both experts and beginners and be open to the public during regular hours.
Franks told the board that she had checked with the town's insurance company and that since it was a low impact sport, there would be no increase in the town's liability insurance. She also said she had spoken with Scott Steltz, the athletic director at Chatham, who felt that the course seemed like a good idea and had discussed the possibility of starting a disc golf team or after-school program.
Dr. Jeff Arp-Sandel, a physician in Chatham and a disc golf player himself, also spoke to the board about how people of any level of physical fitness could play the sport and that although it isn't physically strenuous, it is a good source of cardio for people of all ages.
According to the proposal, there are now more than 2,000 disc golf courses in the United States and Canada, nearly all of which are installed by city and county parks departments. It also states that the installation of a disc golf course would be consistent with the town goals, allowing the emphasis of the natural attributes of the town, meeting diversified recreational needs and offering opportunities not available elsewhere in the town.
DisCap will also hold introductory clinics, weekly leagues and tournaments at the course, which will bring people into town and potentially be a large benefit to local businesses.
The course would be open to the public and discs to play generally cost between $8 and $15 each.
Discussion about the possible course will continue at the next Town Board meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, March 17 at the Town Hall.
