From the Charlotte Observer: The Cornelius PARC Department and Charlotte Disc Golf Club have opened a new 18-hole disc golf course at Bailey Road Park.

Disc golf is one of the country’s fastest-growing sports. In Charlotte, the number of courses is expected to rise from five in 1995 to 20 by the end of 2010, said Mark Huether, director of the Bailey Road Park course.

Huether predicts that in two or three years there may be five or six new courses north of Exit 23.

Part of the reason for this growth is that Charlotte will host the 2012 World Disc Golf Championships, drawing more than 1,500 players from around the world to our area. The Bailey Road Park course will host Junior, Grandmaster and Legends age groups at that event.

Huether explained how the original nine-hole course was redesigned and lengthened. Volunteers worked more than two months to lay out and complete the course.

“When Charlotte won the bid for disc golf championships, we had the need for 10 new courses,” Huether said.

If you’d like to learn more about playing disc golf, you may want to start with the Bailey Glow League.

At 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, players at all skill levels gather to play night disc golf to raise money for target baskets (the targets you throw at).

It’s $5 to play, and you can buy everything else you need at the site. (You might want to bring a flashlight.) They put out LED lights and glow sticks so you can see where you’re throwing. They play Captain’s Choice: As in golf, you play in teams and count the best shot.

Huether said, “If you want to play, just show up at Bailey Park, with any skill level. … We’re really trying to target the novice and beginner player … and trying to grow women’s disc golf in Charlotte.”

Another event for players of all skill levels will be Aug. 15. Starting with registration at 8:30 a.m., Bangin’ Baskets Bailey Hole-in-One Challenge will raise money to help pay for the new course. Entry fee is $25 for a day of disc golf, a pack of two discs and lunch.

“We do have some lofty goals in building courses,” Huether said. There are plans for another course in Cornelius, one in Davidson and additional courses in Mooresville.

As an weekend disc golfer, I never thought I was “good enough” to play with the pros. Last year was the first year I though I should join the PDGA and maximize my membership and try to “grow the game” in the Charlotte region. In my first year playing I ended up with one win and multiple placements in local disc golf tournaments. So how does the PDGA embrace social media sites to build the community?

Use Social Media to Build a Disc Golf Community

What the PDGA needs to do is embrace social media to the max and secure social media profiles that seem to have been brand jacked by local disc golfers. Currently the PDGA has a Facebook fan page that has just over 1,000 members and a Twitter account with under 600 followers. I have more followers then the PDGA combined accounts. This needs to change as Disc Golf is a global sport.

There is a great opportunity here for the PDGA to take advantage of technology that is really made for the fans and followers. Disc Golf is a sport that has a dedicated fan base and needs to tap into that core audience and deliver. Here are a couple ideas:

• Engage the fans on Facebook, Twitter, and Ustream. The PDGA needs to talk with the fans who are posting on their wall. They need to interact with people talking about disc golf on Twitter, and even have pro disc golfers give live lessons on Ustream! It’s time for the PDGA to build a culture where disc golfers and disc golf fans come to the PDGA’s social media accounts when they want to talk or find out more about the sport.
• Create content and promotions that allow the fans to reach out to the pros. For example, have players create personalized videos about various topics (the best shot I ever hit, my favorite disc golf course to play, etc.). Even better, set up disc golf clinics around the U.S. where social media fans who play the game can get a chance to meet and interact with professional disc golfers.

2/7 UPDATE:

We have also continued this discussion on DiscGolfr.us, please leave your comments.

Recently released from the PDGA are the 2010 Disc Golf Tournament Schedules.

This year is shaping up to be another record-breaking season, with new tournament dates, locations along with huge growth in the recreational sport we all love and play. With disc golf course traffic up over 25% in 2009, disc golf is more popular than ever. With it’s ease and short learning cycle, more amateurs are taking the step into the professional ranks, and giving disc golfers a greater sense of  community.

Focusing on tournaments within 100 miles of the self-titled “Disc Golf Capital of the World” – Charlotte, NC:

• Raleigh Winter Jam in Raleigh, NC Sat, Jan 23, 2010
• Albemarle Ice Bowl Albemarle,NC Sat, Feb 6, 2010
• 2010 ITP Atlanta Ice Bowl Atlanta, GA Sun, Feb 7, 2010
• 9th Buckhorn Open New Hill, NC Sat-Sun, Feb 13-14, 2010
• Mooky’s Cup, Not Yours High Point, NC Sat, Feb 27, 2010
• Earlewood Classic Columbia, SC Sat-Sun, Mar 6-7, 2010
• Loriella Challenge Spotsylvania, VA Sun, Mar 7, 2010
• Collegiate Disc Golf Championships (Medal Play) N. Augusta, SC Thu-Sun, Apr 15-18, 2010
• Atlanta Open presented by ReMax Roswell/Cumming, GA Sat-Sun, Apr 17-18, 2010
• Stoney Hill Challenge Newberry, SC Sat-Sun, Apr 17-18, 2010
• Carolina Clash Charlotte, NC Fri-Sun, Apr 23-25, 2010
• Charlotte Amateur Championship Charlotte, NC Sat-Sun, Jun 19-20, 2010
• Oak Hollow Open High Point, NC Sat-Sun, Aug 21-22, 2010
• United States Doubles Championships (Fri & Sun Only) Charlotte/Rock Hill, NC Fri-Sun, Oct 1-3, 2010
• United States Disc Golf Championship Rock Hill, SC Wed-Sat, Oct 6-9, 2010

What disc golf tournaments are you playing in this year?

2009 USDGC – United States Disc Golf Championship

If you cant attend the USDGC this year, they are offering some great services to watch the tournament live from your home/office/mobile. This year the USDGC has setup LIVE internet broadcast. Make sure to Register to Watch Live IPTV Coverage of the USDGC October 7-10 at http://www.todocast.tv/pdga. With the opportunity to watch LIVE online utilizing Dot Technology – A great service allowing you to even see the flight path of the lead group’s throws.

Another feature of the Championship is the Caddy Book.

It’s that time of the year for the 2009 PDGA Disc Golf World Championships  in Kansas City, Missouri. The field of 936 players from 13 countries and 44 US states, made this the largest disc golf world championship in history.

The PDGA metions that you will be able to follow the daily action via scoring updates, feature stories, videos, photo galleries etc. In addition to live scoring the PDGA will also be tweeting live play by play @PGDA.

Follow the 2009 disc golf world championship action at: http://www.pdga.com/worlds2009