Immediately after being hired, Northwest College biology professor Jay Dickerson spent the next seven years lobbying for a disc golf course on campus. Sunday afternoon the hard work paid off for the Cody resident, as he won the the Student Activity’s inaugural Kick-Off Weekend disc golf tournament at Dee Havig course.

Dickerson won with a 2-over 41, fighting off the wind for a two-stroke win over his nearest competitors. Yet he was more excited by the turnout for the tournament on the course he designed and worked with administrators to have installed than taking first place.

“It was great to bring community players out to join the students,” he said.

The tournament ran smoothly and contestants enjoyed a beautiful day on campus meeting other like-minded players, he said after the awards presentation. He hopes the college will sponsor another tournament next spring. 

While Dickerson was instrumental in getting the course built, he was not part of the group organizing the tournament, allowing him to concentrate on his game.

Sebastian Diaz, a freshman in general studies who also plays on the soccer team, and Jose Gordillo, a freshman in animal sciences, tied for first place in the student division. Diaz was a first-time player but was effective with the roller, according to community player Bill Burnett, who finished in the top five in the community division.

The course starts near the intersection of Sixth and Division streets and winds its way through campus, around the soccer facility and residence halls with holes 9 and 10 near Absaroka Street. Holes 11 and 12 are located near the Frisby Building, giving players the opportunity to see the entire campus.

Dee Havig course is one of several new courses in the area, including a nine-hole course in Thermopolis built in 2019 and a series of courses in Greybull, where an 18-hole course was upgraded last year and where organizers will soon have 45 holes to play. The course at Northwest College was installed in May of 2021.

There are now 40 courses in Wyoming, but Dee Havig Disc Golf Course is the only one in Park County. The college previously had a course, but the sport wasn’t as popular at the time and the baskets were eventually removed.

Disc golf has been growing quickly – especially as people looked for outdoor recreation during the COVID-19 pandemic – with both men and women pro players now vying for millions of dollars in prizes and endorsements deals. It’s a long way from the notoriety of ball golf, but it is slowly catching on. 

A map of the course and score cards, as well as loaner disc sets for students, are available at the Student Activities office.