There is a new game in town! Novices and pros alike can now enjoy a round of disc golf for free at the District’s only disc golf course, which opened today on the RFK Campus. The six-hole pop-up course is a project of the nonprofit organization CRYSP DC, which operates The Fields at RFK Campus and advocates for sports and recreation spaces in the District, in collaboration with Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia. Funding was made possible through a generous grant from the Capitol Hill Community Foundation and support from Events DC, including usage of the property and maintenance of the entire RFK Campus.
The temporary course is free to play and open daily from 8 am to dusk. Players of all levels, especially beginners and children, are encouraged to play. The course is located on the large grassy area between Oklahoma Avenue NE and Lot 6, commonly referred to as the “Oklahoma Lawn”.
Participants can borrow discs at the field office located at The Fields at RFK, adjacent to Lot 7, by leaving a photo ID with Fields staff. They can also receive a scorecard, pencil and rules. The office is open 4 pm -10 pm weekdays and 8 am - 8 pm on weekends.
“Our mission is making space to play and we anticipate the course will have broad appeal, not just to frisbee enthusiasts,” said Anne Corbett, executive director of CRYSP DC. “Especially in the current pandemic—we see it as a healthy and fun activity and community builder.”
Disc golf combines the rules of golf with the flight of a frisbee. Players throw a disc from a tee and then throw the disc from where it comes to rest. The hole is completed when the player throws the disc into a “basket”, commonly known as a pole hole. Courses typically consist of nine or 18 holes. The space on the Oklahoma lawn allows for six holes. DC has not previously had a course. No end date has been determined for the course.
The idea for the course was the direct result of a survey of residents about recreational gaps in the District. Topping the chart as one of the most requested amenities was a disc golf course. CRYSP DC and Events DC are exploring other projects identified in the survey, including pickleball for adults, a “sprayground” and parkour course for youth.
“The new disc golf course at the RFK Campus is an innovative use of land and a direct result of listening to feedback from our community,” said Greg O’Dell, president and CEO of Events DC. “Events DC is proud to continue our partnership with CRYSP to bring disc golf to the RFK Campus, creating a new, family-friendly activity and another reason to enjoy the outdoors this summer and beyond. We look forward to more dialogue with the community as we reimagine the future possibilities of the RFK Campus.”
A map and information about the course can be found at cryspdc.org/disc-golf. Players will soon be able to find information and an online scorecard on the UDisc app. Larger groups may reserve the course for organized social and other events. For more information, go to the website address above.
###
About Events DC:
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation's capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District's hospitality and tourism economy that hosts more than 1.7 million visitors and generates more than $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the RFK Stadium-Armory Campus (RFK Campus), including Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Festival Grounds at RFK Campus, The Fields at RFK Campus, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and the Skate Park at RFK Stadium. Stay current on the 190-acre RFK Campus Redevelopment Project at www.RFKFields.com. Events DC also built and serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. Events DC manages Gateway DC, R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center and Entertainment & Sports Arena, all conveniently located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC.
About CRYSP DC:
Through advocacy, community outreach and facility management, CRYSP DC leverages underused property to provide recreation facilities for local residents. CRYSP DC is committed to "making space to play" for youth and adults on Capitol Hill and throughout the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.cryspdc.org.
Media Contacts:
David Connerty-Marin, CRYSP DC
david@cryspdc.org, 207-831-3313
Craig Chester, Events DC
cchester@eventsdc.com, 202-359-2806
