Vermont . There were nine holes scattered around the park following his departure from Bennington , but it was in no way a complete course . At that point , I had played a fair amount of frisbee golf on a course that was set up at one of my family members ’ properties , but I didn ’ t know that there was a budding disc golf scene here in Bennington .”
Tony Malikowski says that after the independently maintained course was dismantled , a local Eagle Scout helped to organize a fundraiser to build tees , signs , and a basket for a nine-hole course . The course was designed by Malikowski , O ’ Neil , and Olin . “ After we built the nine-hole course that we designed , Mike O ’ Neil , Rick Olin and I drafted plans for what would eventually become the current permanent course . We then applied at the town office in Bennington for official approval .”
Davy Flight adds that there have been several subsequent redesign phases since the current 18-hole course was built . “ There have been adjustments to the course since then that were made to account for new features in the park that alter the flow of play , such as the recently-installed dog park . These days , the majority of the holes in the disc golf course are on the periphery of the park . The current layout works very well . It allows us to play unimpeded without getting in the way of any other sports or park features that are enjoyed by other people .”
In the advent of the full course ’ s completion , Discs Over Clubs was then founded in 2018 . Tony Malikowski served as the club ’ s original President , and Mike O ’ Neil served as the original Vice President . After the formation of Discs Over Clubs , Willow Park ’ s disc golf scene began to take off and flourish . Today , the club ’ s membership includes several dozen disc golf players of all levels , who congregate every Thursday afternoon when weather permits from April to October . In the spring of 2021 , the Willow Park disc golf course became the first “ C-tier ” rated stop on the official Disc Golf Vermont ( DGVT ) Tour , cementing its status as a disc golf landmark in Southern Vermont with their inaugural “ South Shire Open ” event .
“ It was really great to see Willow Park become a part of the DGVT tour ,” notes Discs Over Clubs member Jacob “ Brew ” Reed . “ It was a true validation of all of the concerted efforts of everyone who maintains the course , as well as everyone who comes to play and keeps the club running and growing . There are some really great spots all around Vermont for disc golf , such as the course up at Smuggler ’ s Notch . I personally think that the Willow Park course has some great variety in terms of its terrain and structure . There are holes in open fields , holes in the middle of the woods , and some more difficult holes that incorporate hill slopes and narrow rows of trees . The course is definitely approachable for beginners , but it also has more challenging elements that keep things interesting for more experienced players .”
Longtime Bennington-area disc golfer Tony Malikowski echoes that sentiment , adding that the unique layout of several of the course ’ s holes offer complex play scenarios that can stump even the most seasoned players . “ Hole 15 in particular is a truly difficult hole for many reasons . The ground is uneven , so it ’ s nearly impossible to get a sense of perspective . You ’ re also throwing your disc up a hill , and the basket is around a treelined corner that ’ s completely invisible from the tee . To be fair , the hole is in itself a work in progress
in terms of maintenance and clearing out the trees , and many disc golfers in the club have a different hole that they find to be challenging for different reasons . It all comes down to your play style and your preferences .”
In order to maintain the course , several members of Discs Over Clubs put in a considerable amount of time trimming the lawns of the courses with mowers and weed-whackers . They also remove trees and stage small landscaping operations when necessary . Mike O ’ Neil has been maintaining the Willow Park course for years and recalls a humorous exchange with town maintenance workers during the formative phase of the Bennington disc golf course :
“ A little over a decade ago , my daughter worked for the Bennington town clerk when she was in high school and college . A few years into her job , we were still just starting to get the course together , and we were doing all of the maintenance ourselves . One day , she mentioned to one
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