Rhode Island Course Development

T.M.DYER · Post by **T.M.DYER** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:19 pm

Hey Guys,

I agree that you need to have your ducks in a row when you speak... You need to understand the implications of your answers to questions and what questions that you are asking...

I read a bunch of the info on the website... it appears that a long range plan is in place... not sure exactly what the plan says.. but they alluded to its contents on the website info...

It suggests that they have some property with frontage along the road that could be developed for recreation... ball fields, picnic areas, etc...

Most of the rest of the property is to remain as is...

Does not mean that this cannot be changed...

The person that you should talk with is in control of all the R.I. state parks...

When you approach this person you need to be ready to talk about generalities not specifics...

IMO any piece of land can be used for disc golf....

You are asking for an entity to give over to you exclusive use of +/- 25 acres of land...

IMO surveying a piece of property to see what you like is ...

In the Mass State park system...some one is putting together a MOU(Memorandum of Understanding)...

I would suggest that it might be an idea to wait and see what they come up with and try and mimic the MOU for RI State Parks...

I was contacted in 1998 by a park supervisor about disc golf in Colt State Park...

I ran the R.I. State Overall Flying Disc Championships at Colt State Park in 1998...Two rnds of Disc Golf on 18 poleholes...MTA...and Freestyle...

I have been overloaded with my commitments to Ninigret to go back and approach them...

I made available to the supervisor a bunch of info for him to present to his superiors...

So these people have had a non-disc player present to them ten years ago...

At that time they were not interested in pursuing this additional recreational opportunity for the parks system...

That was ten years ago...how many people are still there???

Disc Golf is at a different point now as well...

The Town of Johnston would have nothing to say about what happens in the State Park...

Please take my comments as food for thought...

Not a down on your efforts...

Joe, Hope that you can break free on Sunday...understand family comes first...

Thanks,
T.M.DYER

T.M.DYER · Post by **T.M.DYER** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:26 pm

Hey Joe,

If Sunday is not good for you...my Monday is very flexible...

What works for You???

Look forward to speaking with you soon...til then take care and be safe...

Thanks,
T.M.DYER

Kevin Silvia · Post by **Kevin Silvia** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:05 pm

How about Lincoln Woods State Park? I realize Northern RI is probably less appealing because we've got Buffumville, West Thompson Lake, Borderland etc, all reasonably close ... but without knowing any of what goes into building a course, and without the real ability to help out, I just thought I'd at least throw a location into the discussion.

Every time I go near that place lately, it just feels somehow inevitable, that God will look down upon this beautiful bit of land and smile, and wave his magic God wand and it'll be Lincoln Woods Disc Golf Course. And then he'll look all bemused, and kinda wonder where this weird little wand came from all of a sudden. Didn't have to use that before.

Wait, that's weird, isn't it?

Buzzkill · Post by **Buzzkill** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:30 pm

What's weird is we were talking about the same thing today. Not talking to God, just Matty Brier.

Matt DeAngelis · Post by **Matt DeAngelis** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:08 pm

Did Southwick choose a new sign on name?

Buzzkill · Post by **Buzzkill** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:05 pm

Buttering me up with sweet talk is not getting you off the 1 month ignore.

Kevin Silvia · Post by **Kevin Silvia** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:45 pm

I was saying Lincoln Woods, but the place I mean is called Butterfly Farm, the land that's calling out to me in the deep and mysterious night.

Not Lincoln Woods.

Although I don't know whether Lincoln Woods would make a nice spot or not. I'm not actually familiar with it.

But man, this Butterfly Farm place is wicked.

I'm still using the North Smithfield High School course ... it's totally crippled, that place, but I play what's left of it, managing to pull together a nine hole game. I'd love to see something else in RI.

Todd C · Post by **Todd C** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:00 am

Kevin, where is Butterfly Farm?

As far as Lincoln Woods, that place gets so much traffic when the weather turns nice.

Mike Dussault · Post by **Mike Dussault** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:41 pm

I googled it, it is in Lincoln.

Todd??!! have not heard from you in a minute.

Kevin Silvia · Post by **Kevin Silvia** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:41 pm

Butterfly Farm is at:

Butterfly Farm
679 Great Road
Lincoln, RI
401-723-5464

as per Google from the interweb.

I guess it used to be a big farm, but now is mainly a place that people walk their dogs, take a jog, whatever. I dunno, maybe they plant butterflies. You just gotta see it though; I'm afraid to describe it.

I know someone who's a neighbor to this farmpark, whatever it is ... I guess I can ask them for more info about it. I got the impression the place is privately owned.

T.M.DYER · Post by **T.M.DYER** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:15 pm

Hey Kevin,
It is a shame what has happened to the nine hole course at N.Smithfield High School...

It seems that a project of that size was well in the works when this course was installed...

Last time I drove by it looked as if there may only be two or three pole holes still in the ground...???

Hey... the Butterfly Farm thing...if you can find out if it is a private piece of land or owned by a land trust...or...

I would like to help with any efforts to install more disc golf in R.I.

Thanks,
T.M.DYER

T.M.DYER · Post by **T.M.DYER** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:23 pm

Hey Joe Vaughn,

I am still very interested in talking with you about stuff...

If you are interested in playing what is set up at Ninigret...the buds are just starting to break and the course is still very playable...

This will all change in the next couple of weeks...

I hope to be on the agenda for the Rec. Com. Mtg. on this Tues (5/6/08)...

Hope to work out what we can do with the course...

I appreciate the offer of labor to help with the completion of construction...

Look forward to speaking with you soon,
Thanks,
T.M.DYER

Kevin Silvia · Post by **Kevin Silvia** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:38 pm

T.M.DYER wrote:Hey Kevin,
It is a shame what has happened to the nine hole course at N.Smithfield High School...

It seems that a project of that size was well in the works when this course was installed...

Last time I drove by it looked as if there may only be two or three pole holes still in the ground...???

Hey... the Butterfly Farm thing...if you can find out if it is a private piece of land or owned by a land trust...or...

I would like to help with any efforts to install more disc golf in R.I.

Thanks,
T.M.DYER

Hi

Yeah, too bad about North Smithfield. Tell you what though, not only do I have hope for its future (I spoke to a policeman I know in town who tells me that they'll "have to" put it back somehow since it's an Eagle Scout project ... does that sound weird to anyone else?) ... but I played that course TWICE today. In fact, I'm gonna make a whole 'nother post about it.

I think when the construction's completed they could put the three baskets back (1, 2 & 9), which last I heard are still at the school. When I play, I start at hole four and play the existing five holes, then I play them in reverse in order to make a complete nine, get me right back to my car.

As far as Butterfly Farm goes, I talked to the guy I know today who lives near there, and he told me it's owned by the town, and that it's protected in some way. I'm sorry I can't be more specific, but I don't know the specifics. Maybe it's just protected against commercial development, I dunno.

There's definitely parking. And I've definitely taken my kids and dog there to play. And there are definitely other people hanging around there, walking their dogs, looking like they too would love to see a disc golf course there, if only they knew what that even was.

T.M.DYER · Post by **T.M.DYER** » Thu May 01, 2008 9:57 am

Hey Kevin,

I have eagle scout projects on the properties that I help manage...

An eagle scout project is a donation of there time and talents..

What they do for there project is a gift to whom ever...

The school dept owns the pole holes and they can do anything they want on their property...

I would think that who is in charge of the School Committee would be the person who could say what the possible plans for the poleholes could be...

Glad to hear there are still six in the ground and you are allowed to play them... There is an Audubon refuge up the street from this course...
We should get together and shoot the baskets a few times before they go away...

Let me know what works for you... my schedule is pretty flexible...

The butterfly farm(planting butterflys...very funny)...what town specifically owns it???Smithfield????Lincoln???

Might still be a town land trust that owns it...can you find out some more???

Thanks,
T.M.DYER

Todd C · Post by **Todd C** » Thu May 01, 2008 11:07 am

Hey Mike

It has been awhile.

Are you stil kicking Matt D's butt out there?

Pete Tolvanen · Post by **Pete Tolvanen** » Thu May 01, 2008 1:45 pm

Is it the Chase Farm (and butterfly garden) that you are talking about?

I think the Butterfly farm is a working farm adjacent to the Town of Lincoln owned Chase farm on Great Road. The Chase farm is open green space where they do the summer concert series, the Civil War encampment, and where the butterfly garden is located.

At one time the Chase family owned the adjacent Butterfly farm but I don't know what land went to what when the property was donated to the Town of Lincoln in 1979.

Kevin Silvia · Post by **Kevin Silvia** » Thu May 01, 2008 2:29 pm

T.M.DYER wrote:Hey Kevin,

I have eagle scout projects on the properties that I help manage...

An eagle scout project is a donation of there time and talents..

What they do for there project is a gift to whom ever...

The school dept owns the pole holes and they can do anything they want on their property...

I would think that who is in charge of the School Committee would be the person who could say what the possible plans for the poleholes could be...

Glad to hear there are still six in the ground and you are allowed to play them... There is an Audubon refuge up the street from this course...
We should get together and shoot the baskets a few times before they go away...

Let me know what works for you... my schedule is pretty flexible...

The butterfly farm(planting butterflys...very funny)...what town specifically owns it???Smithfield????Lincoln???

Might still be a town land trust that owns it...can you find out some more???

Thanks,
T.M.DYER

I'm thinking of going to the NS high school tonight around 6:30/6:45. Should be just enough time to play a round. I just made a big fat post in an old North Smithfield thread.

The Butterfly Farm place is in Lincoln, and according to one of its neighbors, is town-owned. He says there's some sort of federal protection on it, but that's all I know. I did a search on it, kept getting Chase Farm info.

Joe Vaughan · Post by **Joe Vaughan** » Thu May 08, 2008 12:07 pm

TM,

Sorry for the radio silence ... I've got a metal rod holding my right hip together and driving was starting to aggravate it, so I'm holding off on playing until my next round of x-rays in early June. I've been avoiding all things disc golf in a bid to not get depressed about it.

How did the rec. com. meeting go?

- Joe

T.M.DYER · Post by **T.M.DYER** » Thu May 08, 2008 5:49 pm

Hey Joe,

Thats a bummer about the hip...can't imagine having to deal with a bum wheel...

The Rec Com Mtg was really good...the soil remediation continues...

I got permission to work on Holes #6 & #7... we are making mulch beds around the trees that we planted along these fairways...

They will meet again in June...hope to have a written proposal of what needs to be done to complete the installation of the course to them before that...Hope the remediation is finished so we can talk about digging in the dirt...

The coolest thing did happen...the Rec Com accepted the Long Range Plan proposed for the entire 225 acre park...the disc golf course is listed and drawn into the pictures with this document...VERY COOL!!!

This document and its intentions still have to be ratified by the town council...at the June mtg of the council this will be voted on...

I have been to busy to post a long detailed post... but I will soon and bring the RI threads to the top...
Thanks,
T.M.DYER

Kevin Silvia · Post by **Kevin Silvia** » Thu May 08, 2008 11:36 pm

Awesome news on the meeting TM ... looking forward to giving Ninigret another try.

Matt DeAngelis · Post by **Matt DeAngelis** » Fri May 09, 2008 7:47 am

T.M.DYER wrote: The coolest thing did happen...the Rec Com accepted the Long Range Plan proposed for the entire 225 acre park...the disc golf course is listed and drawn into the pictures with this document...VERY COOL!!!

That is great news. Nice work TM, keep it up. Was the entire course drawn into the plan or just the current front 9 (err front 5)? While that is still great news, it would be bittersweet if the back 9 wasn't included. Those holes back there are necessary.

T.M.DYER · Post by **T.M.DYER** » Fri May 09, 2008 3:29 pm

Hey Matt,

The entire 18 hole layout is part of the drawings etc...

We are still in a major holding pattern til the ACOE finishes with the remediation...

I was only given permission to work on holes number six and seven...

Still no digging of anything any where...I want to make mulch beds with chips along the trees that have been planted along the fair ways...need to trim the Wysteria on the arbor... want to chip the logs stood up along the fairways...

Still need to get to the table to talk about more...

I have a great map over the top of a satilite pic of the course...

I could send it to you to put for the map in your nini website...

Thanks,
T.M.DYER

Matt DeAngelis · Post by **Matt DeAngelis** » Fri May 09, 2008 3:31 pm

Sure, send it my way. I'll post it up there...if I can remember the password. That is good news that the whole 18 holes are in their drawings. Sounds like it is finally making some headway.

T.M.DYER · Post by **T.M.DYER** » Fri May 09, 2008 5:06 pm

Hey Matt,

Send me an e-mail at ... dyer_tm@yahoo ... and with my limited computer skills.. I think I can send it to you in an electronic format...

Probably some way to actually post it here...just NO skills...

Thanks,
T.M.DYER

Matt DeAngelis · Post by **Matt DeAngelis** » Fri May 09, 2008 5:12 pm

It's not as easy as you might think to get an image posted. It first has to be placed on a server first. There is no way to cut and paste an image into a thread. I'll send you a message.

Kevin Silvia · Post by **Kevin Silvia** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:23 pm

My beloved bride pointed me to this article today:

http://www.projo.com/ri/northsmithfield ... ed10a.html

The North Smithfield High School has been under construction for some time now, maybe a couple years ... and as a Rhode Island disc golfer, I've been wondering about the fate of this course. So this article talks about how they're finishing the construction right now, and it actually addresses the restoration of the course!

Here's the relevant text:

There is one restoration job left for the contractors, Roberts said: reinstalling some of the “holes” in a flying disc golf course set up in 2005 as an Eagle Scout project by then-high school student Billy Hargreaves.

The course involved a series of metal baskets mounted on poles that players throw the discs into in the least number of throws. Roberts said one day he saw what he thought were trespassers on the property, but it was a couple of disc golfers come to play the local course.

“They were from Hawaii,” Roberts said. “They said they’d come to Rhode Island to get extra points, You apparently get points for playing different courses. They said ‘Please let us play so we can get our points.’ ”

Norm Fitzgerald · Post by **Norm Fitzgerald** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:31 am

From reasearch that I've done and people from D.E.M.(spoken personally to the head director) the state wants to use Snake Den for some type of recreational purpose,if there was any chance of getting the state involved with Disc-golf this is the place.

Matt DeAngelis · Post by **Matt DeAngelis** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:33 am

Agreed! Snake Den would be good.

T.M.DYER · Post by **T.M.DYER** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:26 pm

Hey Norm,

What is the DEM guys name??? Do they have any money in the budget for the recreational expansion???

Are you putting a proposal together to present the recreational opportunities of Disc Golf in the RI State Parks system???

I want to help any way I can...

Good Luck Norm...

Thanks,
T.M.DYER

T.M.DYER · Post by **T.M.DYER** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:56 pm

Hey Kevin,

Drove by the N.Smithfield High School...the two pole holes at the edge just out of the woods are gone... the tee signs look to still be there...

I stopped back by later and went into the parking area behind the bleachers...with some binoculars I could see that the one by the big rock is still there and the next pole hole after that is still in the trees...

Looked like the one behind the small bldg is still there. but the next one back from there seems to be missing...

I used binoculars to scope out the pole holes because there is a sign on the new field complex that says pretty clearly that JOHN Q. PUBLIC was NOT INVITED...

Any ideas... what is up???

Short Notice but I will be working at the Fort Refuge just up the street tommorrow(sat 10/4/2008)... maybe we could try to get caught tresspassing on what is left... I will be there later til the end of the day...

Cell # 401-255-3747 give me a shout maybe we can work something out

Thanks,
T.M.DYER

NEFA DISCussion

Rhode Island Course Development

worthwhile longshot!!