North Smithfield Grand Opening

wth0512 · Post by **wth0512** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:07 am

Calling All Players,

Billy Hargreaves would like to announce the grand opening ceremony of The North Smithfield Disc Golf course at the North Smithfield High School this Sunday September 25 at 1:00. He is planning to arrange a foursome of new players and would like to have an experienced player assigned to each group so that they may teach the newbies proper throwing techniques as well as course etiquette and general education about the sport. For those that would like to participate, please contact us through this board or through rubberducky721@cox.net and bhargreaves@robertallendesign.com. Thank you in advance for your help and support and we hope to see you there!!!

Dr. Doug Ertman · Post by **Dr. Doug Ertman** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 1:06 pm

Wow! This sounds great!!! I can hardly wait.

Oh, yeah, where the %#@%* is N. Smithfield and why should I really want to go there?

details, details, details

Mike Laterreur · Post by **Mike Laterreur** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:20 pm

Dr Doug,

Go straight down 95 until you get to 146. If I remember correctly thats the best way to N. Smithfield from Maine. :shock:

Dr. Doug Ertman · Post by **Dr. Doug Ertman** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:10 pm

OK, that's a start.

Now if my memory serves correct, 95 goes a long way so here goes....

146. Is that NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, DE, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, or FL?

Then where from there?

Not that I'm really going to attend. I'm just trying to make a point ( for those who hadn't yet figured that out) that if you're trying to publicize an event just giving the name of the town and assuming that everyone knows what you mean...... You get the picture, I hope.

Have a great time, wherever you are playing, I guess.

wth0512 · Post by **wth0512** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:53 pm

Directions to North Smithfield High School are as follows:

From the south take 95N to rt 146N at exit 23
travel 12 miles to rt 104 off ramp
at end of ramp turn right and travel 1.7 miles to 1st stop light
turn left at light and turn left at school parking lot...you're there!!

from the north, travel down 146 southbound to rt 104 off ramp
at end of ramp turn right and travel 1.7 miles to 1st stop light
turn left at light and turn left at school parking lot...you're there!!

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Mike Laterreur · Post by **Mike Laterreur** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:43 pm

WOO HOO

Still had the directions right. Those years of playing in a Providence based band and dating a girl at Bryant finally paid off. HAHAHA :lol:

Davis Johnson · Post by **Davis Johnson** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 4:04 pm

And yet, there may be some unschooled ones who are not sure in which state is North Smithfield. Rhode Island, to venture a wild guess?

Gary Cyr · Post by **Gary Cyr** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 4:37 pm

I met Billy today along with his Dad and many other supporters of this project. Congratulations to Billy on a great job. It’s not easy to get through all the facets to installing a disc golf course on Public School grounds. In a relatively small area, Billy has given all of us a nice challenge. This is a 9 hole course that allows you to throw “driver” often! Brand new Innova baskets on every hole!

RI needs more places to play and I hope the local community gets out and enjoys the present that was installed for them. The long hole is about 650' and the short hole is about 190'. It's well distributed between righthanded and lefthanded holes. If you're in the area,...don't miss it!
I’m gonna say I’m the new course record holder at 23,..but Tim Walsh and Mikey D might have something to say about that.

Thank you to Billy, the town, and anybody that helped push this project through.

Gary Cyr

Mike Dussault · Post by **Mike Dussault** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:56 pm

If I coulda hit a putt, and I didn't take a four on the 665 hole, that record would be mine alone. As it is I share the course record with Gary and Timmmmay! A 23 will not be all that difficult to top, I will have to try again soon. :rambo:

wth0512 · Post by **wth0512** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 8:07 am

Subscribers to the Woonsocket Call were treated to an article on the Disc Golf course grand opening and a half page photograph of Mike D in the midst of a throw, complete with an intense grimace that the photographer captured during his initial drive. This appeared on the front page of the weekend section this past Friday. Congratulations Mike and thank you for your help!

slugwater · Post by **slugwater** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 11:56 am

i shot a 23 yesterday at the north smithfield 9 hole course. i think that ties the course record. I almost had a 22, but missed my putt on the 9th. it was my first day using an innova moster driver. It is a kick ass disc.

slugwater · Post by **slugwater** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 1:05 pm

I shot a 21 a few days ago at the NS course. my arm was en fuego! Has anyone shot lower than a 21 on this course? Am I the new course champ? :wink:

- Ian

Gary Cyr · Post by **Gary Cyr** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:34 pm

Ian ,

i went back once about a month ago to play the course. I went around twice and shot 24-23. I can see 20 or even 19 being shot on a calm day. I birdied every hole that day with the exception of the one behind the baseball field. I just didn't get them all in the same round.

slugwater · Post by **slugwater** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 12:18 pm

The NS course is all about getting 2s.

Scott Selders · Post by **Scott Selders** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 5:59 pm

I'm staying in Franklin for a few days, getting ready for Barre Falls 5. The first course I played when I got here was North Smithfield high school. I really love the course, nice use of the school property. I played everything as a par 3, though hole 7 is questionable for a par 4. On a pro level definetly a par 3. I birdied 4 holes over 2 rounds. I have a couple questions-1. Is there a Tee for Pin 1? Where do you tee off? 2. Is it a Mando on hole 6 to go to the left, around the bush's?

It would not be hard to add a second set of tee's even if it was small markers.

I can't wait to go back.

Does anyone know if DG has become a part of the athletic curriculum?

Thanks alot Scott

Mike Dussault · Post by **Mike Dussault** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:39 pm

Scott,
Good to hear the course getting played. I advised on the installation. Hole #1 tees off behind the first base dugout. As far as I know, there is no mando on hole 6, although that is how the designer intended it to be. He was surprised at the time that anyone could throw over the trees.

Eric Connolly · Post by **Eric Connolly** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:02 am

I finally got around to checking out this course, and I must say great job Billy. You made very good use of the land. I'm going to be exicted to see how many good young kids are going to come out of high school playing better than most of us did in our 20's.

Anyway, I overdrove 5 in the woods behind the hole and into a pile where they dump everything (branches, leaves, 3-4 foot snakes). Yeah that's right, as I'm hunting for my Valk (which remains there), I see this black thing vibrating in this brush pile. I think to myself, "That's odd". As I follow the vibration, it's attached to at least 3 feet of black snake. Monty chased him away before I could look at him much more for markings, but the disc was left (I wish I could say it was because my son was with me, but...). So if anyone sees a black snake playing with a tye-dyed valk, make sure he hasn't crossed out the name. Rattlesnake or not, there is no room for disc thievery. Okay but seriously, I didn't hear a rattle, but this thing's tail certainly seemed like that of a rattlesnake. Someone out in NEFA land must know about local snakes. Is this a timber rattler?

Also, at the field it says no animals on the fields. Does this mean that Monty (a dog) isn't allowed on the course, or just has to stay off the fields. Someone should let the snake know about that, too, although he wasn't on a field when I saw him (but he had to get there some how).

Seriously though, watch out, unless someone more educated tells us it is some harmless snake (making me a wuss).

And congrats to Billy on a sweet little course.

Scott Selders · Post by **Scott Selders** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:17 pm

I remember seeing a large snake in the grass by hole 5. When I walked up to my discs, this 2-3' snake slithered off into the bush's. I thought that was very odd. Definetly one of the largest snakes I've ever seen not in a cage. Why didn't it slither away after my discs landed? Maybe the snake is drawn to the sound of the disc landing. Good luck getting your disc back.

Scoontar

Josh Zielinski · Post by **Josh Zielinski** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:14 am

I recently played this course for the first time. Shot a 24 and 25. Hole #3 has a nasty root sticking up in the tee box and there needs to be a better clearing at the end of the fairway before the field, and the last 2 holes are a little too close to the school when it's in session. The kids where outside for gym class so it was weird teeing off on hole 9 with a school 30 feet to my right and 30 kids 50 feet to my left. Other than those 2 things this is a great little course.

Josh Zielinski · Post by **Josh Zielinski** » Thu May 03, 2007 12:00 pm

I tried to play here today but there was lots of construction. The first few holes are not playable and there are fences and no tresspassing signs everywhere. Kinda sucks since this is the closest course to me.

slugwater · Post by **slugwater** » Tue May 15, 2007 11:38 am

yeh, the North Smithfield course is a mess. Baskets 1 and 2 are out of the ground. The woods between holes 2 and 3 has been completely clear cut. Hole 9 is not playable because of a temporary fence that was added. Uhg! However, Holes 4 - 8 are playable. The only parking lot open is the one near the tennis courts. I really hope they put the course back after the construction is done.

slugwater · Post by **slugwater** » Tue May 15, 2007 12:37 pm

Here is a little map I put together of the North Smithfield course. enjoy!

Kevin Silvia · Post by **Kevin Silvia** » Thu May 01, 2008 2:22 pm

I've played this course about four times this week. I just wanted to share with whomever's interested just how it is I get nine holes out of this place.

First of all, there's a new parking lot where the fairway for hole #3 used to be. I park there, except for school hours (which are also construction hours!), when I park on the street instead. I haven't seen any 'No Trespassing' signs (perhaps there are some in the corner lot, where the new building is now standing?). And even though I played yesterday morning and again this morning, and I was clearly seen by a few construction guys, nobody told me to go away. So while I'm not clear about whether I'm allowed to play there, I've been playing, and mostly in the evenings. It's perfect for a quick game after work.

Okay, so holes 1, 2 & 9 are completely gone. I think the basket for #2 is actually still standing, but there's no fairway or teebox. So only two pins are actually gone. Hole three doesn't have its original fairway or teebox either, but I do use this basket as the final hole.

So I play holes 4 thru 8 as normal. Currently there's some equipment on the fairway for hole 6, so I've been going over the trees as best I can and playing thru that crazy prickly wilderness of snakes and tics. I never saw a snake there myself, but saw a bunny and a tic this morning.

When I finish hole 8, I head back to the tee box and throw to basket #6, across the fairway for #7. I use this same pattern all the way back to hole #3. So it's:

1. Hole 4
2. Hole 5
3. Hole 6
4. Hole 7
5. Hole 8
6. Tee Box 8 + Fairway 7 + Basket 6
7. Tee Box 7 + Fairway 6 + Basket 5
8. Tee Box 6 + Fairway 5 + Basket 4
9. Tee Box 5 + Fairway 4 + Basket 3

According to par on the tee signs, that makes this configuration a Par 38. I made a scorecard for it too, but I never use it. I don't think I ever even printed it.

Anyway yeah, I still play there. I hope they finish the work soon though, and I hope we'll see the course modified/refinished one day. If that's not possible I hope they can maybe relocate it to a different town school or somethin.

Scott Selders · Post by **Scott Selders** » Thu May 01, 2008 5:49 pm

loved that fun course in North Smithfield. Anyone volunteer to help with a re-design for the missing holes etc? Anyone contact Billy Hargreaves to see what can be done?

I saw my snake in the summer. Get Ready.

Mike Dussault · Post by **Mike Dussault** » Thu May 01, 2008 5:55 pm

I had helped Billy design the course and install it originally. I should try to contact him to see if he minds a redesign or if he even cares. He was a senior, and he may not even play. The land is limited, but there is some room for change.

Scott Selders · Post by **Scott Selders** » Thu May 01, 2008 6:01 pm

Big reason why that course rocked-Mike D helped design it.

I'm sure you could create something fun with the available space/re-design.

NS needs some love from NEFA.

Kevin Silvia · Post by **Kevin Silvia** » Thu May 01, 2008 9:37 pm

TM just advised us to initiate contact with the head of the school committee ... that's a great idea, and it would give us info on what their current intentions are. If anyone is feeling especially ambitious about that, I'm not exactly overburdened with spare time.

Kevin Silvia · Post by **Kevin Silvia** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:33 am

This past Fall I talked to the high school principal, Mr. Silva. He explained that there was a plan to put the course back together, and suggested I could touch base with the phys. ed dept.

Last week I finally got an email to Kathy at the school, and this is the full conversation. I would love some feedback, some idea of what to suggest to the school. Perhaps the property isn't really suitable any longer for a course, but they've still got some baskets left.

kevin wrote:Hi Kathy

Kevin Silvia here. Hopefully you remember me, I graduated in 1991 and currently live in town.

Over the past few years I've become a big fan of disc golf, and have been playing at least once per week during that time.

I'm wondering if you have any news for me on the fate of the NS course? I think I played it only once while it was still a full nine holes, because I'd only just discovered the game. But once I caught on, and while there were only five baskets standing, I probably played the high school course at least fifty times. I used to play the course forwards and then backwards to get nine holes out of it.

Anyway, it would be very nice to again have the convenience of playing right in town. It was a pretty nice course!

Any news would be great, thanks.

kathy wrote:Hi Kevin,

I do remember you! I am also happy that you were able to enjoy the Disc Golf course while it was standing. This year we had 4 of the baskets stolen by someone coming on to the property and using what I assume was a hack saw and taking them. I called the police but they were never recovered which was VERY upsetting. We took the others out for the winter and two others have to be put into the ground by the construction company. At this point we have 5 that are portables and will only be out during the school day for physical education classes.

I am not sure what else to do to get it going. I feel terrible that the hard work of a former student ends up being violated and nothing happens as a result. So at this point I don’t know what to tell you.

If you have any suggestions let me know.

Kathy

kevin wrote:Kathy, thanks for the reply ... I appreciate it.

I had no idea the baskets were stolen. Last I knew, there was an article in the Breeze about how there was a plan to put it together again. I assumed those baskets were removed by the school in order to reconfigure the course. What a total bummer.

Tell you what, I'll put the word out to the disc golf community (NEFA.org) about what's happened, maybe some of these guys will have suggestions or ideas.

Thanks again for writing back!

Kevin

kathy wrote:That would be great! We do have 2 that were taken out for the construction and have not been put back in as yet. We are kind of leery of putting them back in. I have no clue on who these amoral people could be. Thanks for your help in the PR department.

Kathy

Any thoughts? Anybody got a buddy who's mysteriously acquired a few nice baskets with the nice yellow tops?

Rob Walker · Post by **Rob Walker** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 4:17 pm

Any news on this place?

Jeff Cooper · Post by **Jeff Cooper** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 9:36 am

Rob Walker wrote:Any news on this place?

Rob, I was down in RI last month and decided to check this place out. I had only read the first few posts in this thread and didn't even look at their dates(which I always do to see if they are current, I wish I had I just would have went to Ninigret instead at least I could have played there). Needless to say this course is no more. When I got there I saw one basket marked 9 with a tee pad in front of it going to a new hole also marked 9. I was totally confused at this point. So after walking around for a few minutes I found a old disc golf map in a broken kiosk laying on the ground. So I decided to try and figure this place out using the map. Well after about 30 minutes of walking around and finding 3 baskets that didn't match up with the map I was begining to get frustrated. I saw a kid at the Basketball court that told me there was a really good course up there about 3 years ago but they took it out after they built a new school(or addition to the current school I don't remember exactly).

Looking at the property now I just can't think there is enough space to build a course around the school. You would be shooting around a football field,basketball court with parking lot and 2 baseball fields, with a little woods behind them. All that remains now is a few mismatched baskets.

~Jeff

NEFA DISCussion

North Smithfield Grand Opening

North Smithfield Grand Opening

Directions to North Smithfield

Mike D Photo in Woonsocket Call

Beware of hole 5

North Smithfield Update

Sad Update on NSHS Course

Re: North Smithfield Grand Opening

Re: North Smithfield Grand Opening