“This course is a tremendous asset to the community,” said Fairborn Parks & Recreation Superintendant Pete Bales. “It will provide a wonderful recreational amenity as well as provide positive economic impact to the community.
“I believe we will see players not only from Fairborn and the region, but from around the country. People will come to stay and dine in Fairborn and play the course.”
Disc golf is similar to golf in that there are 18 holes, a tee and a finishing area, in this case a basket into which a person has to propel a flying disc in order to complete the hole. Playing disc golf courses is free and only requires participants to bring their own set of discs.
Bales said three volunteers worked every weekend to set up the course. After work days were advertised on the Dayton Disc Golf website, many more volunteers helped support the construction.
Bales said most of the heavy clearing of honeysuckle was done by Parks and Recreation staff and volunteers.
The course proposal came nearly a year ago to the Fairborn Parks Foundation. The first corporate sponsor was Handyman Ace Hardware. Within six weeks, sponsors raised $22,500. The course was named by Handyman owner Dave Grimes in honor of his grandfather, Earl, and father, Ed.
Bales said the course is a championship-level facility. Most holes have a pro-level tee and an amateur-level tee and two pin placements. The terrain is wooded and rolling, along with creeks and ponds that come into play on multiple holes.
Course designers are Carl Chiles, Mike Ray, Matt Henderson and Josh Nelson. The daytondiscgolf.org website acknowledged Chiles and Ray and said “HAH Fairborn should be a premier spot to play disc golf!”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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