FARMINGTON — One of the area’s best-kept secrets may be the 18-hole disc golf course that is open year-round at Troll Valley Campground, 283 Red Schoolhouse Road.
The family-owned business was a cross country ski center first. Requests for mountain biking on the trails started in the mid-1990s, so the family got into that. When a popular campground nearby closed, the Sayward family took on that too.
Patriarch Galen Sayward said he knew nothing about disc golf when his grandson came home from college in Bowling Green, Ohio and suggested they build a course.
“We looked it up. There were a few courses already in Maine. We visited some, researched some more. We ordered baskets, trimmed the ski trails in April and opened for business in August 2010,” Sayward said.
The first few years the course was not open in the winter. There were 30 courses then in Maine.
“It’s one of the best-kept secrets for sports minded people. There was no news coverage,” Sayward said. “Now there are thousands of disc golfers in Maine. In December, Lewiston/Auburn was named the best metro area to play in the entire United States.”
Disc golf is played with the same set of rules as ‘ball’ golf. At Troll Valley, many of the 18 holes are in the woods. Measurements are in feet instead of yards. Discs slightly smaller than a Frisbee are thrown at a basket. Points are scored by getting the disc to go into the basket.
Sayward said discs come in various sizes, colors and weights. The edges are also designed differently for different throws. Some curve to the right and others to the left when thrown. Most players use backhanded throws although some, like Sayward, use a forehand.
“There’s a solid base of players in the area. A doubles league meets each Sunday morning now. They switch to Monday afternoons when daylight lengthens,” Sayward said.
He said players use backpacks or bags to hold a variety of discs during play. Different discs may be used on different holes. Extras are needed in case some are lost or broken during play.
Troll Valley is open daily from dawn to dusk. It costs $7 a day to play. A membership is available. Those players are asked to register each day they play.
“If people can get here and want to play, why not,” Sayward said. “The winter players are quite faithful. There are at least a dozen players every Sunday. We’ve never missed a Sunday when both men and women haven’t played.”
Players are given scorecards with a map of the course. There are three starting locations to chose from.
Sayward said most courses in Maine are pay to play. Elsewhere, courses are built on public land with no fees to play.
There are several disc golf tours planned in Maine this summer. The original tour features 17-18 events. An owner’s tour started three years ago. Troll Valley will participate in both.
“There are 60 to 90 competitors. Some camp. It brings money into the economy yet nobody even knows they are here,” Sayward said.
He said a new tour this year will be for ‘old guys and gals’ which will eliminate about 90 percent of the players.
Sayward said, “At 86, I play in an age group of my own. My son, Mike plays in the 50 and over group.”
He said players consider Troll Valley one of the top courses in the state. Those who voluntarily make statements on a course they’ve played average 4.5, on a scale of 1 to 5, for the Farmington course.
Disc golf has grown into another activity, putting leagues, that is held inside. All monies paid to play are turned into prizes, Sayward said.
“Joe Staples and Isaac Jacobs have started a league at the Farmington Community Center on Mondays. 19 people showed up the first day,” Sayward said.
For more information on Troll Valley Campground or their disc golf course call 207-778-3656.
pharnden@sunmediagroup.net
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