Andrew Apperson, Nathan Kane, and Elizabeth Sherry hosted a disc golf clinic for families and local residents who look to learn more about the rising popularity of the sport as well as try their hand at throwing some discs at Old Rochester Regional’s new nine-hole disc golf course around the school campus.
Apperson and Kane both teach at ORR and coach the school’s new disc golf club. Sherry, the director at the Elizabeth Taber Library, is married to Apperson, and the two fell in love with the sport during Covid-related lockdowns and have since strove to facilitate its play in the Tri-Town.
Apperson said the new nine-hole course is a “work in progress,” though its layout is generally finalized. The course is now open to the public, as of the date of the clinic, with the first hole beginning near the front entrance to the school and heading down towards the tennis facility, into the woods, up across the track, out into the athletic fields, and back around towards the school. Using grants, Apperson and Kane have gotten six out of the nine holes to be permanent, concreted-in baskets, with adding the final three holes being Andrew’s current focus. Each basket costs around $450, with the funds being secured entirely from grants.
Present at the clinic were the two coaches and Sherry offering guidance. Three members of the school club were also present, showing their skills and familiarity with the course. Others trickled in as the group made their way through the course. As we made our way around, Apperson told me of the difficulties of mapping out the course, saying “the trick is to set this up in a way the public can access it.” He added, “Because the course is on a school campus, it can be challenging at times,” referring to the trees in the way of some holes, parents’ cars picking up students, and even passing active athletic areas. All things make the course a lively and unique addition to both the campus and the Tri-Town.
“We try to use underutilized spaces,” Apperson said. The course takes advantage of the cross-country team’s woodland track as well as the discus-throwing circle. In doing so, the disc golf course allows these areas to be used year-round. Sherry also said there is one hole in front of the Taber Library, “if you want to practice your putting.”
In recent years, disc golf or frisbee golf has exploded in popularity. This can be attributed to the ease with which beginners can play and the general accessibility of the sport. According to UDisc, the largest directory and scorekeeping application, there are over 10,000 courses nationwide, with most (90%) being free to use, including ORR’s new course. To get going, all you need is a disc set, which contains a putter, midrange, and driver discs.
ORRHS Family Disc Golf Clinic
By Sam Bishop