Cary resident Noah Holmes maps out his next throw, which is impeded by an inconvenient tree.
On this brisk morning, sunlight streams through tall pines creating patches of light and shadow. The leaves, which pad the path to the first tee, rustle lightly in the breeze. The only other sound is the soft conversational murmur as friends gather and say hello from an acceptable distance. Over their shoulders are bags filled with flying discs, or Frisbees, specially designed to be used for distance, mid-range and short throws.
The vistas are magnificent, the weather is perfect, and no matter what else is going on in the world, these players will enjoy the next few hours of competition and exercise at the brand new Diavolo at New Hope.
Cary resident Carter Liechty tees off while brother Silas waits his turn at Diavolo at New Hope disc golf course.
Opened in October, the 48-acre disc golf course has 22 holes that can be merged and reimagined to create options for players of every skill level, including a championship caliber 18-hole course to host professional tournaments.
The perfect sport for our time
Disc golf is a sport that is coming into its own, making undeniable leaps, both in the skill-level required to be an elite player and in the sheer number of people who play.
Luke Bowers of Siler City attempts to sink his disc on the eighth “hole,” a basket with hanging chains to catch the flying projectile.
While disc golf has seen steady growth over the last decade, the increase since the onset of the pandemic has been dramatic, says Mike Sink, operations and programs supervisor for the Town of Cary’s department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources. Local courses have seen a 144% increase in players.
After a few moments at the course, it’s easy to see why.
Like traditional golf, each hole starts at a tee pad. There, you’ll generally find a sign showing the distance, the par classification (how many shots it should take to get to the basket) and the location of the target, an elevated basket with hanging chains to ‘catch’ the disc. Distances at Diavolo range from 300 to over 800 feet.
Flying discs of different weights and sizes are used when trying for distance or precision.
The first throw should get good distance, while simultaneously creating a good ‘lie’ for the next shot. Wherever the disc lands, is where you throw from, and so on, until you’ve hit the target. The sport lends itself to distance from others, and it can also be played alone.
Unlike traditional golf, disc golf courses are often designed in concert with a natural wooded setting. Diavolo at New Hope sits adjacent to the American Tobacco Trail and retains that majestic beauty throughout the course. Trees were taken down to create thin winding fairways, and underbrush is cleared so stray discs can be found. At any moment you can pause, breathe and feel the absolute peace of nature.
It’s that beauty that keeps Tim Moore coming back. “I love it. I’m 74, and I bring my granddaughter who is 4. We don’t play the whole course, but we play a few holes. It’s a walk in the park, it’s in the shade and it’s free,” he said with a smile.
An investment in community
While the timing of its opening might seem fortuitous, the course is the result of a decade-long dream. A 2012 Community Investment Bond approved the planning of New Hope Disc Golf. The measure was passed, supported and came to fruition in large part because of two enthusiastic players and a little serendipity.
Gary Bossert of Cary retrieves his disc from a pond.
Sink has been a disc golf player since 1995. He knew the course could be a real asset for the community and was able to be an advocate within Cary’s parks and recreation department.
“I was lucky to combine passion and profession in this project,” he said.
The second influencer was Jay Pontier, president of the Capital Area Disc League (originally the Cary Area Disc League).
Greg Lee of Raleigh makes par on hole number 22.
“Jay was instrumental. I’m getting paid to do this, and he’s a volunteer. He was the only person who was out here [at Diavolo] as much as I was,” Sink said.
Sink and Pontier worked side-by-side, scouting locations, designing holes and landscaping to create a welcoming, accessible, pristine, professional level course. Their goal? A course that could be for everyone.
The goal was lofty. The result surpassed it.
Disc golf courses are usually established in wooded areas, with underbrush cleared so errant discs can be recovered.
Beginners could come tomorrow, no reservation or payment required. Bring a Frisbee from home, or pick up some discs at Play it Again Sports. The holes are clearly marked, the path is easy to follow and the red tees, for recreational players, give you attainable goals and clear shots.
Advanced players who have attempted the course know why it was given the name Diavolo (Italian for Devil). Tricky and tough, the blue tees will challenge even the most seasoned disc golfer, including the top-rated professional in the Triangle, Raven Newsom.
Carter Liechty throws his disc between trees. Like traditional golf, disc golf has seen an upsurge in players since the beginning of the pandemic. The sport lends itself to distance from others, and it can also be played alone.
For any visitor, the exquisite marriage between forest and fairway creates Instagram-worthy Signature holes that have visitors reaching for their phones before reaching for their disc.
Diavolo at New Hope is the result of years of dreaming, thousands of volunteer hours and countless ideas scrapped and reimagined. It is one of the gifts of 2020 that will remain a part of the community for decades to come.
Opened in October, the 48-acre Diavolo at New Hope course has 22 holes that can be configured to create options for players of every skill level.
Fast facts about the top rated disc golfer in the Triangle
- Sponsored by MVP Disc Sports, Basket Bashers Disc Golf, Adopt Disc Golf
- Senior at NC State University
- Leading the NC State Disc Golf Team, which is currently ranked No.1 in the country
- The current NC State club team is the highest ranked college team in history.
- Started playing when he was 4 years old
- About Diavolo at New Hope: “Diavolo is going to be the best course in the area. It teaches players how to play smart disc golf. With tight fairways and tough shot shapes, playing aggressive all the time will come back to bite you. It’s truly an amazing place to play for all different skill levels.”
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