New challenges await

FORT WALTON BEACH - The disc golf course at Ferry Park has been a surprise success since it was built in May, and users should find new challenges and hazards for their Frisbees this weekend.
    
Fort Walton Beach's parks and recreation department and volunteers from the business community will expand the disc golf course starting today, doubling the number of holes to 18.
    
"The course is always crowded every day of the week and all hours of the day," said Jeff Peters, parks and recreational director for Fort Walton Beach. "They're out there playing right in the morning into the evening. It's just been a real good addition to our department."
    
Bob's Bicycle and Ace Hardware have purchased the new baskets, which serve as "holes" on the disc golf course, and will help in their installations today.
    
Hodges Bros. Lumber donated the lumber to build a new bridge at the course.
    
Peters said the new holes should be done by the end of the day. However, the bridge likely will not be completed until the end of the week.
    
The land near Ferry Park is a heavily wooded area. The course will use the trees in the area for obstacles in the course, so very little clearing will be required to complete the nine new holes.
    
The first nine were created through funds donated by Embarq. About 85 Embarq employees came to Fort Walton Beach to install them in May.
    
"It's just been amazing the amount of people that have played it and taken the sport in. Families all the way from little kids to grandparents are using it."
    
Disc golf has increased in popularity since the 1960s. The goal is similar to golf: Make it through the entire course with as few throws as possible.