Club submits proposal for public disc golf course

Club, city identify Hoffman Park as possible site

* Full proposal (PDF)
* Allegany County Disc Golf Club on Facebook

FROSTBURG — The Allegany County Disc Golf Club submitted early Tuesday morning a proposal to the City of Frostburg Recreation Commission a proposal for a public disc golf course within city limits.

The nine-page proposal supports an “Ace Place,” or pocket park concept, to be located at Hoffman Park in Frostburg. Members of the Recreation Commission are scheduled to take up the issue at their regular public meeting scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2. If recommended for approval by Recreation Commission members, the proposal will go before the Mayor and City Council for consideration.

If approved, it would be only the second public disc golf course in Maryland located west of Hagerstown. The Allegany County Disc Golf Club is hoping for a design and construct build date sometime in 2023.

This Google Maps image shows the location of Hoffman Park in proximity to New George’s Creek Road (Route 36).

The Ace Place concept, driven by Innova, would offer nine holes. Each hole would likely be 80 to 100 feet, and no more than 200 feet except where circumstances permit. The course would be designed by Brad Lescalleet of the 717 Flying Disc Club. Lescalleet (PDGA # 27920) has designed or collaborated in the design of several popular, well-liked courses in the region, including Ditto Farms at Washington County Regional Park in Hagerstown.

If approved, a course at Hoffman Park would be built apart from existing park components, including the ball field, amphitheater and playground. The course would also become the first public disc golf course in Allegany County. Currently, there are two courses in the county, both on private land. The closest public course is The Glades at Meshach Run near Accident in Garrett County.

An Ace Place, said Lescalleet, “is a great option. This is beneficial for a multitude of reasons. It’s accessible for all levels of play (and) requires far less land than a larger course … The general idea is a course that is (roughly) 100 (to) 200 foot holes as a place to introduce new players, keep learning players engaged, and provide experienced players a place to hone their short game.”

Lescalleet said not every new course needs to be a championship-level course.

“In reality, the shorter and ‘easier’ courses are the ones that the vast majority of players gravitate towards. Why? It’s more fun! Sure, it’s fun to get ‘beat up’ once in a while (on a more challenging course), but most people want to feel some level of accomplishment or success, and an Ace Place product provides just that.”

This Google Maps image shows the boundaries of Hoffman Park in Frostburg.

According to information on uDisc, more than half of the more than 13,000 disc golf courses in the world have nine holes. Groups that offer league play and desire an 18-hole f0rmat can simply complete nine holes twice. There is a chance that the Ace Place at Hoffman Park, if approved, could eventually offer multiple tee pads.

The cost of the project is approximately $8,500, half of which the Allegany County Disc Golf Club pledged to acquire through personal and corporate contributions and event proceeds. The cost includes Lescalleet’s time as designer, nine Innova DISCatcher baskets, nine tee signs, eight “next hole” signs, course designer’s time and consultation, as well as assistance in getting the course page set up on social media and popular disc golf-centric websites.

Lescalleet visited Hoffman Park in July and said it would be an ideal location for an Ace Place. While Lescalleet would design the course and choose optimal placement for the baskets, the task of clearing any vegetation and installing baskets would fall to volunteers from the Allegany County Disc Golf Club with assistance from City of Frostburg personnel.

The Allegany County Disc Golf Club is currently on a three-week break from competition. The first season of Youth League ended Oct. 1. Fall Doubles League begins Oct. 23 and runs through Dec. 18. Winter Doubles League begins Jan. 1, 2023, and runs through Feb. 26. The club plans to host its first tournament — dubbed the Allegany County Disc Golf Doubles Championships — on Saturday, March 4.

Filed in: Latest Headlines, Outdoors, Sports

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