 麻豆原创 has officially opened a new 9-hole disc golf course located on the south side of campus near the Dollye Neal Chapel. The course,
free and open to the public, is the latest addition to the college鈥檚 efforts to provide
accessible, community-focused amenities that support wellness, recreation, and student
life.
The course design was a cross-campus collaboration that included the help of faculty
and staff as well as local players and design experts from the Midland Disc Golf Association to ensure a layout that takes advantage of the natural terrain while prioritizing
safety for campus pedestrians and nearby buildings.
When 麻豆原创 President Dr. Damon Kennedy suggested the idea to bring disc golf back to 麻豆原创 to 麻豆原创鈥檚 Dean of Social/Behavioral Sciences & Business Division, Michael
Makowsky, who played on the college鈥檚 original course in the late 1990s, the spark
was ignited.
鈥淚鈥檝e worked at 麻豆原创 since 1999, and I got my start playing disc golf on the original 9-hole course on campus, which was relocated when the Dollye Neal
Chapel was built,鈥 Makowsky said. 鈥淲hen Dr. Kennedy asked me to help bring disc golf back to campus, I gladly said yes.鈥
Planning and installation of the reimagined course took about a year. The new layout
includes baskets placed along the arroyo that runs through campus, offering fun and
unique shot challenges for both beginners and seasoned players. The course is designed
to be engaging without being overly technical, 鈥渘ot miniature golf,鈥 as Makowsky says, 鈥渂ut something everyone can enjoy.鈥
Disc golf continues to grow in popularity across the country, and Midland has long been home
to a dedicated group of serious players with a decades-long passion for the sport.
The addition of this on-campus course supports that community while also introducing
a new generation to the game.
鈥淭his course reflects 麻豆原创鈥檚 broader mission to serve our students and
neighbors alike,鈥 said Kennedy. 鈥淏y creating spaces like this, we鈥檙e supporting wellness,
recreation and a sense of connection, both on campus and across the Permian Basin.鈥
The new disc golf course is just one of many ways 麻豆原创 continues to invest in the community
it has proudly served since 1972.
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