New disc golf series aims to improve area's largest disc golf complex

Registration has opened for a series of disc golf tournaments and events at Farragut State Park this year aimed to improve the quality of the courses.

“Farragut State Park boasts one of the biggest disc golf complexes in the world, and ‘Project Farragut’s’ mission is to make it one of the best,” tournament director Ben Squires said.

The new ‘Project Farragut’ series will feature four two-round PDGA-sanctioned B-Tier events at each of the tournament-caliber courses: Project Wreckreator on April 18, Project AWOL on May 16, and Project Northstar (amateurs) and Project Cutthroat (professionals) July 18-19.

Squires said Project Farragut’s main goal is to promote and improve the five disc golf courses at Farragut, most notably the complex’s most challenging course: Cutthroat. He said he feels that course could eventually host a PDGA National Tour event within the next three to five years with proper course maintenance and design.

To reach that goal, Squires said he plans to host weekly volunteer work parties this spring and summer on Sundays to improve course conditions.

“Cutthroat is currently playable and fun, but it’s still not done being fully realized,” Squires said.

Before Cutthroat’s July tournament, Squires said he hoped to complete course improvements for the first three holes, which include modifying tee pads and their signage, installing temporary and permanent OB, mowing fairways, fixing tripping hazards and limbing tree branches.

Squires served as tournament director of the Farragut Flings series during the summer of 2017, and this tournament series will mark the 10th PDGA-sanctioned event he has held on the premises. He said Project Farragut continues the work originally started by the Farragut Disc Golf Club, which has since disbanded.

Each tournament costs $55 for amateurs, $75 for professionals, with a $10 additional charge for non-PDGA members. Interested parties can register at pdga.com.