New Canaan - The Wave needs 18 holes!

Adam Goodman · Post by **Adam Goodman** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:40 pm

Finally the New Canaan Park and Recreation Commission heard our pitch tonight. We presented a proposal for a 9-hole course. And we think it went fairly well. They were receptive to the idea, but were cautious about cutting any trees down...understandably.

So, they have agreed in principle for the installation of a temporary 6-9 hole course that will occupy a partially wooded/open area of Waveny Park. Over the next few weeks we will present the area and course design to the Commission for approval. Then we believe we will have 6-9 holes in the ground...with baskets by April!!!!

Eventhough this isn't a true course yet, we feel that this is HUGE because our foot is in the door. And with positive feedback from local citizens and other disc golfers that come to play this course...maybe one day we can have something more permanent.

This temporary course will probably be open for a couple months after which hopefully the Commission will better understand how disc golf and other recreation activities at Waveny can co-exist. We'll need your help with this. Once up and running: come play our course, show gratitude, and be polite. Maybe we'll even have a weekly doubles event...how's Thursday?

Shane Peters · Post by **Shane Peters** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 8:53 am

I'll be there.

Bill Dunne · Post by **Bill Dunne** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:01 am

We need another course in Fairfield County Badly! This is fantastic news.

John DeBois · Post by **John DeBois** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:58 am

Nice job! Congrats!
Only a few exits from work - I'll be there for dubs

S sjfoop · Post by **S sjfoop** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 5:29 pm

If this is approved, it'll be the closest course to my house. I will gladly help out however I can. Please let me know what I can do.

Dave Mourad · Post by **Dave Mourad** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:21 pm

'Gratz on the approval on a fabulous piece of land. You guys have been persistent and worked your butts off to see this one through. The course will be a true asset to the park no doubt!

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:28 pm

Dave, you are right it took over 3 years before we could get any kind of commitment from the town. We will continue to push foward.

matt jackson · Post by **matt jackson** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:45 pm

Just saw this, congrats, great work, psyched, etc.

I got married here. Now maybe i can make something POSTIVE happen on these grounds!!. (just kidding mary, kidding)

Oh and Bill Dunne I have your KC pro roc , found at fairfield .

I'll try and shoot you a private message ...

Bill Dunne · Post by **Bill Dunne** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:53 pm

matt jackson wrote:Oh and Bill Dunne I have your KC pro roc , found at fairfield .

Thanks Matt! Actually it's Billy's. We'll be at Cranbury on Wednesday for League. Will you?

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:07 pm

Matt, I have $20 for you from FDR FOOLS FEST....
We will be showing the Parks & Recs Comm. the area where the proposed Temp Holes will be placed, this month. It should be a Six to Seven hole loop.
We will let every one know when everything is set to go!

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:07 pm

It is starting to get interesting............
End of April will be the walk through with Town Officials.
The "Hands off Waveny" group has emerged and started to ruffle some feathers! This group is against everything!!!!!!!
Following last weeks article, another article will appear in the other local paper this week, so it should make everyone crazy. We will keep climbing the Disc Golf Mountain, summit or bust.

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:12 pm

Good luck and keep chugging away. I can relate. It takes time but it'll be worth it in the end!

Jeff LaGrassa · Post by **Jeff LaGrassa** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:11 pm

There's an article in the New Canaan Advertiser about the course.

From: http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/newcanaan/p1%20disc%20golf%204-12.shtml

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Apr 12, 2007
Disc golf to get a fling in test at Waveny Park
By Laura Kenyon

Don’t expect a round by Tiger Woods, but Waveny Park is a few steps away from becoming home to a cutting edge golf course.

The catch? There are no clubs, caddies or dimpled white golf balls involved.

The Park & Recreation Commission recently gave former member Tim Smith and colleague Adam Goodman a partial green light to construct a seven-hole disc golf course somewhere in the 250-acre park. The commission has yet to approve the exact location, but Mr. Smith has mapped a course in the area between Waveny House and the Merritt Parkway that he is “pretty confident” the commission will approve.

Mr. Smith, who first submitted a proposal for an 18-hole course in December but revised it to fit nine holes last month, told the Advertiser he hopes to get the final go-ahead by the end of April.

Disc or Frisbee golf is similar to traditional golf, only rather than hit a ball with a club, players fling discs into elevated metal baskets. The object is to get the disc into a chain basket in as few throws as possible.

Consider it part golf, part Frisbee, and part basketball.

As in golf, there are various sizes of discs suitable for various distances. Unlike golf, discs cost roughly $8 each, rounds on most courses are free of charge, and the sport is geared toward people of all ages, including families with small children.

No trees must be cut for the course, according to the proposal, as it “fits into the existing flora of the park. The course should provide minimal disturbance to other activities, as it can be constructed in “areas that are not very desirable or usable for other activities, such as dense woods, rocky areas and slopes.”

In a conversation with the Advertiser last week, Park & Rec Chairman Jeb Walker characterized the temporary course as an “experiment,” but Mr. Smith said he hopes the commission will approve a permanent course after the “trial period” is over.

Although the temporary course simply involves putting up baskets Mr. Smith and Mr. Goodman already own, the proposal states that a year-round nine-hole course may be installed for between $4,201 and $5,641. That includes poles set in cement holes, tee pads approximately six- by 12-feet in area, and signs. Maintenance requirements would be limited to mowing grass, trimming trees and seeding, and could be done on “volunteer work days.”

“The course just blended into the park the two times I did it,” he told the Advertiser back in December. “Typically most courses are just made of a spot in the earth. The baskets are pretty well hidden.”

A nine-hole course could accommodate 45 people at any given time all year round, according to the duo, for less than the cost of installing a single paddle tennis court.

After organizing two prior disc golf days that attracted a total of 60 people, Mr. Smith is optimistic that the sport will be a welcome addition to New Canaan. The project has already received a great amount of interest from various groups, particularly New Canaan High School’s Ultimate Frisbee Club.

“We’re going to do as much as possible to promote the sport,” he said. “It’s a good outdoor activity for everybody.”

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:26 am

Jeff, Thanks for posting the article!!!!!
I spent most of yesterday dealing with reactions that the article created.
The next step is a tour with town officials and showing people how the course will just blend in. It is to bad the word golf is in Disc Golf, most people think creating a course will mean the removal of trees and the use of earthmovers, ect.
Tim

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 8:34 pm

The tour date is set for the end of this month!
The "Hands Off Waveny", group sent thier negative emails!
Talked to the Park & Rec Commissioner today and he was not to worried, just have to let the dust settle.
He was in Ohio and was out for a run when he came upon a Disc Golf course and hung out with the group for a few holes. After his trip he called his son and asked him if he ever heard of Disc Golf? He lives in Mass. and says he plays often. Last name is Walker and is about 42.
Keep the good disc vibes going!!!!
Tim

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:42 pm

Tour set for this Sunday for town officials and public! There should be an article letting people know about it.
Setting up three example holes for them, an open hole, a woods hole and a hole with a green just in the trees.

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:19 pm

Two big articles in todays local papers!! We hope to have turnout!
We will let you know what happens!

S sjfoop · Post by **S sjfoop** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 11:38 am

What time on Sunday?

Matt Buono · Post by **Matt Buono** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:06 pm

sounds great

good luck tim

David Hoey · Post by **David Hoey** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:10 pm

TimS wrote:Two big articles in todays local papers!! We hope to have turnout!
We will let you know what happens!

Good luck,
great articles.

http://www.newcanaannews-review.com/ci_5756358

http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/newcanaan/17164.shtml

oops didn't realize one got posted above, but hey, here's the other one.

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:31 pm

We had a very GOOD day today!!! We had well over 30 people show up and we were only set-up for an 1 & 1/2 hours.
The Park & Rec commission members came away with a positive perspective about disc golf.
Our next step is to get approval for a temp. course. We hope to be on the Park & Rec agenda this Wed.
Thanks to Gregg and his crew for showing up!
BIG THANKS to Adam and Mickey for all there help!!!!
Watch out for Waveny!!!!

Matt Buono · Post by **Matt Buono** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:55 am

sweeeeeettttt

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Wed May 02, 2007 11:18 pm

We have been given the go ahead to present plans for location of a temp. course. We stated that the location of the temp holes would be where we would want to establish a permanent course. In three weeks we present our course layouts and locations.
The Park & rec commission was very positive about the whole disc golf experience this past Sunday. It is just going to take many steps and alot of walking people through those steps.

The good thing is that we continue to move foward!!!!
The bad thing is that it does not allow for any time to play disc golf.

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Thu May 03, 2007 11:23 am

Get used to the not playing thing, Tim! I've only played about 2 tourneys in two years since starting work on Devens. It's worth it though - not many people get to design their own course!

Most times I'd rather go put a few hours in working on the course rather than play. Why? I don't know. It just controls my brain! Once you mark your first tee location, working on your course may consume your every thought! Beware! (and have fun too!)

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Thu May 03, 2007 9:04 pm

We had a front page picture today in the News Review.....and it was not Adam....It was some old Grand Master crushing an even older first time player... Just kidding we had a great day and I did make that putt.
We continue to move foward with a proactive approach.

On the side...Go Golden State, kick Dallas in the Donkey!

S sjfoop · Post by **S sjfoop** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:24 am

Keep the good news coming! I'm looking forward to getting out there on a work day and seeing exactly what space there is to work with. Great job guys

Shane Steinert-Threlkeld · Sun May 13, 2007 2:11 pm

TimS wrote:On the side...Go Golden State, kick Dallas in the Donkey!

I was getting pretty pumped about Waveny until you said this...

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Mon May 21, 2007 6:59 am

I gave a tour of the three potential areas for the location of the temp/permanent course layout this weekend. We hope to get the OK to move foward at the next Park & Rec meeting at the end of this month.
Things remain very positive!

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:43 pm

Well, we continue to move foward even if it is at a snails pace! At last Wed. Park & Recs meeting they agreed to vote on the following...
How many holes we will be able to set up for the temp course.
How long the temp course will be set up.
Where the temp course will be set up.
There are three locations they are considering but it seems like we will have a temp course in one form or the other. So at the end of June we will know where, when and how long.
If there are any other New Canaan Disc Golfes out there, you need to speak up!
Tim

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:01 pm

UPDATE!!!
We are a week away from the final vote..Where, When and How Long the temp course will be set up.

Adam G. & I have mapped out the holes and can't wait to get started and let everyone know when they can play at Waveny Park.

We continue to move foward, Tim

NEFA DISCussion

New Canaan - The Wave needs 18 holes!

New Canaan - The Wave needs 18 holes!

Waveny Park - tentative course approval