Fran Opiela brought Disc Golf to the resort in 2009
Earliest disc golf playing at SNF was fall of 2009. There was no disc course but there was a mini ball golf pitch and putt. For disc golf, you used the ball golf tee and threw until the disc landed totally on the ball golf green. I remember doing this by myself, with Carol, and sometimes with Ken Jones. But only when there were no ball golfers. There were a couple of others who did this also but can't remember who.
I approached park management about starting a disc golf course and all involved felt it was a great idea. Subsequently, the original disc golf course was authorized in the fall of 2010 (Tim Deputy, Manager & Tracy Goodman, Activities). The Park purchased 10 baskets, for 9 holes and 1 for practice. These were installed by park workers behind or adjacent to the existing ball golf greens. Using the same tees, the disc course essentially over laid the ball golf course. This was completed in early 2011, and the first organized group play on this course was on 2-9-2011. Not sure who or how many were there. There was an Ace on 2-18-11 by Bryce Goodman, Tracy's husband. There was a Grand Opening for the new activity on the morning of 3-16-11 which included sport info, demos how to hold and throw, discs for people to try, a ceremonial opening throw, and small tourney, jumbo putt, prizes and refreshments. The refreshment part brought out a lot of people which I remember to be around 100 or so. This course layout over the ball golf course wound up with some discontent from the ball golfers that said tees and greens were being damaged. This may have some truth to it, but two different groups playing on the same turf just didn't work. So in the fall of 2012, the disc golf course was redesigned to be completely separate from the ball golf, while still using the same field but extending to the full area of the field. This permitted a longer and more challenging layout. The park changed the location of the baskets and the revised (existing) course was established. Each of the 9 baskets had three tee locations (short red, white and long blue). A group of the players figured out where each holes tees should be and put them in place.
Disc golf play as a group was held twice weekly on Monday and Thursday mornings. Men and women played together and groups were randomly chosen by a card draw. There were optional 25 cent kitties for best round. In January of 2013, a handicap system was established for all disc golf players. It was based on each player's most recent scores. This made it fair for all to enter the 25 cent kitties, and made the rounds more competitive and fun. The kitty was for the first round of the day, and many players continued to play a second and third round. In 2013, there were 32 players (24 regulars) and in 2014, there were 26 players (20 regulars).
Fran Opiela
4-10-2025
Based on personal records and memory
We played using the Wiffle Golf "T"'s
2010 March
"T" marker painted and named
2012
January 31 2023 was our first tournament.
Florida Cool Aid sponsored the tournament
we don't remember who played but we had food, drinks and a good time.
We had a Closest to the pin and a Jumbo Put contests.
