Opportunity Busts Down A Door

Students Take Charge In New Disc Golf Project

Opportunity+Busts+Down+A+Door

An idea turned to a club; a club turned into a new idea. That idea turned into a plan, and now that plan is becoming a reality. William Gilbert, Algebra 1 teacher, started planning a project around Christmas to build a disc golf course on the high school campus.

One man could never do this alone, though. So Gilbert went to Lehigh Hanson with a proposal. Lehigh Hanson quickly got on board, providing lots of equipment and supplies.

“This project will not cost a dime, thanks to Lehigh Hanson,” Gilbert said.

Most of the building and students are helping out, too.

“The students are in charge of this,” Gilbert said. “I am just a coordinator.” Kanetha Hicks’ classes and David Park’s classes are producing the designing.

“Coach (Kanetha) Hicks’ classes are going to design all of the graphics to go on the course signs and the map of all the courses,” Gilbert said. “Coach Park’s classes will be producing some commercials to advertise the course once construction is almost complete.”

Joey Brooke and Mr. Chambers’ AG FAB and AG Mechanics classes will be doing the forming, leveling and pouring the concrete tee pads. They will also be installing the baskets.

Coach Larry Hicks’ AQR classes are handling design, survey and budgeting.

“They have gotten some guidance and direction from the Decatur Parks and Recreation Department,” Gilbert said. “Hanson has also provided modern surveying equipment and a trainer to teach the students how to use the equipment.”

Senior Tanner Shields is in Coach Larry Hicks’ Advanced Quantitative Reasoning class and is helping with the creative side of the project.

“I’m creating the design of the course to make sure it will be laid out correctly,” Tanner said. “I like it. Student work is being put out there and actually being preformed.”

Senior Garrett Blevins is also in Coach Larry Hicks’ Advanced Quantitative

Reasoning class. His class deals with the construction of the course.

“I’m on the construction side of it all, seeing what needs to go into it in order for it to be built,” Garrett said. “I think it’s very different and very unique. It will be really exciting when it’s finished.”

The course is set to open on May 23. Gilbert said they hope to have the opening tournament at the new course. It will be open to the community during non-school hours. Any student in the disc golf club can check out discs at anytime.