Courses Popping Up Like Acne On a 14-Year-Old

Bill Stewart · Post by **Bill Stewart** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 2:22 pm

Hartwell, you're gonna love this!

I just got an e-mail and had a conversation with a woman who runs the mandatory 14-day inpatient program for 2nd-time DUI offenders in Middlesex county.

Here's the gist: Her facility is a really small part of the HUGE campus of Tewksbury State Hospital. It was mentioned to her that they should consider a disc golf course as part of the recreational program that they offer their clients.

She made it sound like the general public uses the land--ball fields, people taking dogs for walks, etc.--pretty openly. Her bosses, who happen to be on vacation, will help answer the obvious questions (how much $$ do they have, what are the policies on open public usage) as we move forward.

I thought it sounded like a great mix--they have the land and some $$, we have the know-how, volunteers and folks just looking to install courses.

At this point, I'm looking for NEFA people near to Tewksbury to make themselves available should some of these questions start to point to a new course.

I think the larger hospital is a mental hospital, so at least we know the long-term tennants share common attributes with disc golfers.

More info as I learn more from the contact. Anyone out there familiar with the grounds?

Stew

Dave McHale · Post by **Dave McHale** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 2:46 pm

do they have a program for people who continually DISC Under the Influence? :lol:

slight threadjack: speaking of mental institutions, does anyone in the Hudson Valley know if the old mental ward across from Marist College is indeed abandoned yet? I heard a rumor it was, and there used to be an old par-3 ball golf course on the property... depending on the situation with the land there now (im guessing it's state owned) there may be an "in" to planting some baskets in poughkeepsie..............

disc golf: taking over mental institutions one patient at a time

Craig Smolin · Post by **Craig Smolin** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 4:52 pm

Dave - I'll get in touch with my friend Justin who used to live in Po-Town, and still has connections there. I'll get back to you on the status of the hospital...

JimSantoro · Post by **JimSantoro** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 6:11 pm

Dan Howard and I have coveted the golf course at the Mid Hudson Psych Center for a couple of years now (we live next to Poughkeepsie in Hyde Park). Unfortunately, the property (last i'd heard) is no longer state owned and there are plans for development. They're gonna have to dump a whole lot of cash into the place because all of the buildings are falling down. It's currently the creepiest place in Dutchess County, and the mental patients are all gone. Or are they?????