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The Farmington Center (TFC) hosted the Third Annual Piedmont Disc Golf Classic (PDGC) Tournament in November at the Davie Disc Golf Course.
With a field of 70 entrants, the tournament drew players from as far away as Dayton, Ohio and Pikesville, NC.
Among the winners was a South Davie Middle School eighth grader named Jack Oldham, who won the Mixed Amateur 2 division. As a youth, he is qualified to play at the Junior tier, but his skill level places him in the adult division.
“This sport is something I love and want to give 100 percent in,” Jack said. “Also, with Davie Disc Golf Course being my home course, it felt great to come out with a win.”
His father, Jason Oldham, said: “Jack’s disc golf skills passed me up a long time ago. To see his joy and passion for the game is something to behold. His mom and I are very proud parents.”
The Oldhams serve on the Davie Disc Golf Club board of directors.
A youth amateur from Cornelius, Holt Whitted, placed second in the Mixed Amateur 1 division. Whitted said: “This is not a beginner course, it’s tight and wooded and definitely challenges your skill level.”
Disc golf continues to explode in a popularity boost resulting from the COVID-19 shutdown of team sports. Membership in the PDGA has doubled since 2016 to more than 150,000 members, not counting recreational players who are not members of a league or official group.
Unlike ball golf, disc golf has low equipment costs and most courses (89%) are free to play. The 20-hole Davie Disc Golf Course at The Farmington Center is one of those free-to-play courses, and offers two holes that are ADA compliant for those with mobility challenges.
An added feature of the Davie Disc Golf course is the Bangin’Chainz disc golf store, open Saturday and Sunday. Located just yards from the first tee, players can shop for new (and used) equipment ranging from discs and backpacks to wheeled carriers.
The Davie Disc Golf Club, chaired by Bryan Haden, includes players of all ages, who participate recreationally most Saturday mornings and compete in league tournaments throughout the Piedmont Triad, many of which are sanctioned by the PDGA.
“We are glad to support a fantastic competitive disc golf course that anyone can play at any time – it is open from dawn to dusk every day of the year,” Haden said.
Allyson Sawtelle, TFC event coordinator and a founder of the course, added: “We couldn’t do it without our Davie Disc Golf Club volunteers, who work many, many hours without pay to maintain the course. As a non-profit, we rely on volunteers to keep our costs low so we can continue keep the course open for free play.”
The Davie Disc Golf Course is at 1723 Farmington Road, Mocksville.
The original grounds of The Farmington Center opened in 1921 as a Davie County school, operating until 1970. In 1971, the county deeded the property to the newly created Farmington Community Association.
Land deeded to FCA in 2006 was developed into the Nature Park, enlarging the complex to 67 acres, the largest recreational center in the county. Governed by an elected board of directors, the center is certified on the National Registry of Historic Places and hosts outdoor recreation sites, social and education programs, along with four venues for event rental.
The Nature Park housing the Davie Disc Golf Course and trails for hiking and biking, a walking circuit, pickleball courts, and playground are open daily, dawn to dusk, at no cost to visitors.
The board continually seeks sustainability and ways to leverage the amenities of the complex for the betterment of the community and the county, Sawtelle said.
Funding partners: Bermuda Run Tourism Development, Davie Community Foundation, Davie Chamber of Commerce, Davie County Recreation & Parks, and Mocksville Tourism Development. Visit www.farmingtoncc.org.