Long Island Disc Golf

Disc golf is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. There are currently over 2,400 Disc Golf courses in the USA alone. There are zero on Long Island or in any of the 5 Boroughs. This group is dedicated to the growth and promotion of Disc Golf on Long Island and the surrounding areas.

We need members!!!!!! Have a family member or friend from the age of 5 to 90 that lives near Manhattan or on Long Island? Are they on Facebook? Have them join our group and support the call for Disc Golf on LI and NYC. Get frequent updates on new developments and the efforts to bring disc sports to the NY-metro area.

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The Latest in Long Island Disc News
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No decisions have been made as of yet with regard to the proposal. Where as the county budget passed in October, the election has slowed down the approval process. The current county park officials are part of County Executive Thomas Suozzi’s administration. The election was to close to call and requires a recount, which has been under way for the last three weeks. The vote count has gone back and forth but Suozzi is still a few votes behind. We hope to know the results soon.

Our hope is that the current administration stays in place to help us implement our plan. If it does not, we will re-submit our proposal to the new administration. If necessary we will employ fund-raising and letter-writing efforts to keep the momentum going and the spotlight on bringing the first proper disc golf course to the 5 boroughs and Long Island.

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In early July, I was contacted by Nassau County Department of Town Parks to talk about bringing a disc golf course to one of the Nassau County Parks. In a long meeting with Park administrators, we discussed Disc Golf and the resources needed to set up a course. We started looking at maps of the land available where course could thrive. We have narrowed down the selection and have another meeting scheduled to walk the land. Dan Doyle, one of the premier disc golf course designers in the world, will be joining us. He is responsible for the 2 courses on Sugarbush Ski Mountain, the world class Animal Course at Warwick Town Park and Campgaw in Bergen County, among others.

The two areas we will be walking are Eisenhower Park and Christopher Morley Park.

Please check back frequently as we will be updating websites, looking for volunteers and lobbying whoever can help us grow the sport on Long Island and the 5 Boroughs.

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As of 7/30/09

Wow!! Things are progressing faster than I ever could have imagined. As mentioned in our first update, I scheduled a meeting with administrators for the Nassau County Parks Department and Dan Doyle, the designer behind the Brakewell Steel/Warwick Town Park Disc Golf Course. The meeting took place last week and could not have gone any better.

We started at Christopher Morley Park and were joined by Deputy Commissioner Rocchio. It didn’t take long to realize we were standing on a great piece of land for an 18 hole course. By the end of the walk-through at Morley we were told by Town Parks that tee pads, signage, labor, PR and marketing could all be done in-house . We just needed to figure out a way to get funding for the baskets.

From there went down to Eisnehower Park and were given a proper tour of the land. Parks was eager to bring a course there, as well. Unfortunately, the land cannot support a proper 18-hole course. However, we all agreed that it would be a wonderful location for a nine-hole recreational course. By the end of the meeting, we were asked to submit a proposal for our grand vision.

Knowing everything Parks would able to contribute, we contacted Innova Disc Golf to see it they could help with the rest. They made good on an offer they made to me four years ago: they will donate the 18 baskets needed for the course at Christopher Morley Park. Check out there website www.innovadiscs.com

For those of you that aren’t familiar with Christopher Morley Park it is right off exit 36N on the LIE. Yeah that’s right, 30 minute train from NYC, 18 minute drive from the Midtown Tunnel (if you drive like a New Yorker).

Proposals are being drawn and we will be sure to let you know when they are submitted. If you know anyone who could benefit from disc golf, tell them about this group. If you know anyone in City or State Parks on Long Island tell them to be in touch as well.

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As of 8/19/2009

Well it is out there. We formally submitted the proposal for 27 disc golf holes in Nassau County Parks. This could not come at a more exciting time for the sport. Bringing disc golf to Long Island and the 5 Boroughs may just be the tipping point for the sport, which if you live in Oregon you can get college credit for….

ESPN Page 2 Article

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As of 10/1/2009

Just wanted to update those of you interested in the status of our proposal. We’re still anxiously awaiting the green light. But, I spoke to the Parks Department late last week. Everyone loved the proposal! It hit all the marks. Now we just have to sit tight and wait for the county budget to pass on 11/4. So, if you are a Nassau County resident, please get out there and vote on Election Day.