Disc golf course opens at Black Mountain's Owen High

Disc golf course opens at Black Mountain's Owen High

BLACK MOUNTAIN — A new nature trail disc golf course at Owen High School aims to get teens outdoors and active.But it is also designed to be fun.“We made it so the hike was a game,” said Jason Urroz, director of Kids in Parks.Kids in Parks is a partnership between the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. The organization works to get kids outside crazy golf .Using a $5,000 grant from Buncombe County Parks, Greenways and Recreation Services along with volunteer time and in-kind donations, the organization created the nine-hole disc golf course at Owen High.The course includes a series of signs designed to educate players about a natural feature at each tee along the course. Players can read the signs and “kind of connect with nature on and around the course,” Urroz said.Disc golf is similar to traditional golf except instead of a ball, players use a disc or Frisbee. They toss the disc into a basket.The course provides another Kids in Parks “TRACK Trail adventure.” The program allows teens to log into www.kidsinparks.com and register for prizes.Owen High Principal Don Johnson said the high school already has a disc golf club. And even before the official grand opening Wednesday, students were using the course.“We've actually had fairly good participation so far. And there's a buzz around school,” he said.Johnson would like to see a league form with play between the various schools.Enka High already has a course, and another disc golf course is under construction at North Buncombe High, Urroz said.The North Buncombe course should be completed in June Newest Golf News about Hunter Mahan. That project is also being completed with grant money from Buncombe County Parks Greenways and Recreation Services.Meanwhile, Johnson said the course at Owen High will be available for public use on weekend and other times when students are not on campus.