The first official ACU disc golf tournament will take place Friday and Saturday, five months after the red-ribbon cutting at the disc golf course next to Smith Adams Hall.

By Jill Dougher

“It’s exciting to have the course up and running,” said Deonna Shake, instructor of exercise science and health.

Shake, who helped raise money to open the course, said she enjoys seeing people reap benefits from the course – which is open not only to intramural teams and social clubs, but also to the Abilene community.

“It’s great to drive by and see people on the course,” Shake said.

Registration for the tournament closed Friday, and about 57 players signed up, both students and faculty and staff. Equipment is not provided, although the exercise science department will have a few discs available to check out. Participants can also purchase discs at the Campus Center.

The tournament will utilize a “shotgun start;” each group will start at a different hole and end at the same hole to avoid bottlenecks. Start times are 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday.

Although players were allowed to sign up in groups, they were not allowed to choose their partners, said Kenli Edwards, intramural director.

“This is a good way to get involved and meet people,” Edwards said. “It’s a scramble, so students might be paired with people they have never met.”

Putting a social club spin on the tournament, Natalie Fleet, Ko Jo Kai pledge and business management major from Abilene, plans to join other Nunus in the competition.

“I’ve played a couple of times, and I’m far from the best disc golfer,” Fleet said. “I’m just excited about playing as a Nunu team.”

The registration deadline has passed, but students are still encouraged to go and support the players and witness friendly competition, Edwards said.

“It will be a nice day to get out and enjoy the new ACU disc golf course,” she said.