Disc golfers take turns at the first basket of the course. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
What was once a military training ground on Shepley’s Hill in Devens has been transformed into the perfect disc golf course, according to founders John Borelli and Brian McNulty, who opened the course in 2006 after starting to design the layout for the course in the fall of 2005. The moderately hilly and wooded property, leased to the Devens Disc Golf Course by MassDevelopment makes it one of 29 disc golf courses in Massachusetts.
Get an idea of the Devens disc golf experience with our video below.
“It’s a growing sport,” said Luke Adolph, manager of the Devens Disc Golf League on a Wednesday while collecting money from league members for play. “When I started [playing], there were about 12 courses in the state; by the end of the year I bet there will be about 40.”
Inspired by “ball golf,” disc golfers use an array of specialized throwing discs similar—but not identical—to Frisbees to reach metal baskets in as few attempts as possible for the lowest attainable score.
Donnie Philips finishes off a shot.
In the spring of 2006, McNulty and Borelli began the work towards a full 18-hole course. As the final layout for the course was nearing completion, McNulty started working on temporary makeshift baskets for the holes. Upside-down orange Home Depot buckets with holes cut in the tops and mounted on poles served as the first baskets.
Fundraising for the course began with cold calls and door-to-door visits by McNulty. Sponsors could have their names put on a basket with a $300 donation.
“There were different levels of sponsorship, but most people were just happy to be supporting a local sport,” Adolph said.
Word spread about the need for sponsors through the Devens Disc Golf online blog written and updated frequently by Borelli. Sponsorship for the course began as early as November 2005 when the National Flying Disc Association donated $400 for a basket and tee sign. The course’s second sponsor was the Hanscom Federal Credit Union, which also sponsored a basket.
In May 2006, Marshall Street Disc Golf teamed up with Devens Disc Golf to raise money for the course by offering a 5 percent donation back to the course with any purchase when the Devens Disc Golf Course was mentioned. In June, the Borderland Disc Golf Course in Sharon lent Devens Disc Golf four baskets to get started with the only stipulation being that they had to pass on the baskets to the next disc golf course to open in the area.
“It really is a whole disc community,” said Donnie Phillips, Harvard resident and Devens Disc Golf league member.
Competitive league play
The Devens Disc Golf League was formed in the spring of 2008, and it is currently entering its fourth season. The season typically starts during the second week of March and goes until the first week of November. The Devens Disc Golf league meets every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot across the street from the entrance to the course. It costs $5 for each member to play; $3 goes to the payout for the highest score of the day, $1 goes to the ace pot (which is the prize given to the player who hits the selected hole in one shot); and the last $1 to the upkeep of the course.
For an additional $10, players can purchase a disc golf caddy “bag tag,” which is distributed at the end of the night based on the player’s rank in the game. The bag tags are the main fundraiser for the upkeep of the course, said Adolph. First place gets the number one tag, second place gets the number two, and so on.
There are two pools in which players are ranked: the A pool is for more advanced players who typically score higher, and the B pool is for lower-scoring players. Players place themselves in a pool at registration each Wednesday. If players consistently score highly in the B pool, they will be automatically bumped up to the A pool. The tags from the previous game are collected from the players at registration for the current game. Players hook their tags onto their disc caddy bags. Tags are really just for fun and bragging rights, said Adolf.
“Sometimes someone will play one week, get the number one tag and not show up again for a month,” said league member Sam Misuraca before teeing off. “That’s called tag snag.”
The first-, second-, and third-place winners in each of the pools earn four, three, and two points, respectively. The end of the season is capped off with a weekend tournament and a potluck dinner for all the people who have supported the course throughout the entire season. The points from the season are tallied, various awards are given out, and payouts for the top overall scores are awarded.
“We are hoping to get more and more people to come each week, so we created the point system,” said member Bob Burdett.
There are many players in the league who are dedicated and eager not to miss a Wednesday. Players are awarded a single point just for attending Wednesday night league meets. Some come straight from work, register and pay, then go to change out of their work clothes and into their disc golf attire. Even snow doesn’t stop some members from coming out to the course and working on their game.
“When there’s snow on the ground, you just tie a ribbon to the disc. It’s easy to spot,” Phillips said.
All ages and abilities are welcome at the Wednesday night league meetings. Currently, the youngest member is in his late teens and the oldest is 69.
“There are a lot of good people here, everyone is so friendly,” Burdett said.
Just for fun
In addition to League play, the Devens Disc Golf Course is open for non-competitive play as well. The course is free for all to use anytime as long as users have their own discs and keep the course litter-free. The ideal size for a group is about four people because just as in “ball golf,” the tee-off can get cluttered and the more people there are, the more time each person spends waiting and not playing, Phillips said.
Serious disc golfers will tell you that Frisbees and discs are very different. Frisbees are thicker, heavier, and less aerodynamic than discs. Novice disc golfers should focus primarily on keeping the disc flat and steady rather than trying to throw the disc as far as they can. Finding the right grip and working on accurate release are the fundamental elements of technique. Once a disc golfer has developed technique, he or she can work on distance.
“Don’t call them Frisbees,” Adolph said.
Just as in “ball golf,” there are different types of discs used for different kinds of shots. A thicker disc flies shorter distances, but is more accurate for putting purposes. A thin, low-profile disc is light, flies easily, and is generally used for long distances when teeing off.
Before the Devens Course was established, the closest disc golf course was located in Fitchburg.
“I used to have to drive 45 minutes in any direction to get to a course,” Phillips said. “Now that this place is here, it’s revived my game and I can shoot over here whenever I want.”
The Devens course offers a full 18 holes with each hole designed as a par-three. Each tee-off location has a rubber pad designed to make for a smoother tee-off. The entire course is about 4,300 feet long.
“Just getting outside in the nice weather and walking through the woods is the best part,” said Phillips. “The point is to just have fun.”
Get an idea of the Devens disc golf experience with our video:
