UNC Asheville's Student Government Association (SGA) will dedicate the first six holes of the new campus disc golf course at a ceremony this weekend. UNC Asheville Chancellor and SGA President Courtland Mercer will give brief remarks and then throw out the first disc. The event will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at UNC Asheville's Mullen Park, across from Zeis Hall. It is free and open to the public.

Disc golf is a growing sport and is popular among students on campus. Comparable to traditional 18-hole golf, players toss specially designed Frisbees – or golf "discs" – towards chain baskets attached to poles. Each pole represents a golf "hole," with the objective to get the disc in the basket with the least number of throws.

Mercer said that plans are already underway to finish the remaining 12 holes to complete a full disc golf course on campus.

"Through a coalition of student groups, under the direction of the Student Government Association and the campus Disc Golf Club, students have been working tirelessly to provide a healthy outlet for students on campus, as well as an easily accessible activity for free time between classes," said Mercer.

Senior Peter Carpenter, who serves as the president of the campus Disc Golf Club, agrees.

"This new course will allow the Disc Golf Club to extend our prowess with promising new members, new on-campus practice grounds and better opportunities for the sport at UNC Asheville," Carpenter said.

UNC Asheville's Disc Golf Club has won six inter-collegiate disc golf championship titles. Carpenter says he hopes this new course will help keep up the winning streak.

The course is free and open to the public; it is open during regular campus hours. For more information, call Carpenter at 704/773-0916.