Dave Enman had no plans to build another disc golf course, as the Orrington layout owned by him and his brother, Ryan, has enjoyed great success over the last eight years.
But recently, an opportunity to expand came up, and Enman decided to take advantage of it.
Earlier this summer, Enman noticed about 40 acres of land for sale off Kelly Road in Orono, and saw it as an opportunity to build a new disc golf course in that town.
“It was just looking for an investment,” said Enman. “I had no plans until that piece of land came on the market.”
Enman, who could not disclose the financial terms, said he’s hoping to build 36 holes on the Orono property, which he hopes to have finished by September 2018.
The property is located right off the Kelly Road exit of Interstate 95.
Enman, whose current course in Orrington has about 30 members this year, has seen an influx in business once it was decided he was going to build a course in Orono.
The Orrington layout has 45 holes.
“People really started showing [up in] increase once we started [building] in Orono,” he said.
Enman said as of now the property is being cleaned and prepared to build the course. Former Brewer High School track coach and longtime track official Dave Jeffrey helps out the brothers whenever he can, Enman said.
“It’s impossible to visualize where all the holes will go without cleaning it up first,” said Enman.
That’s in stark contrast to when the Orrington course was built.
“In Orrington I was able to do 3, 4 holes at a time by just walking through my woods and seeing what needed to be done,” he explained.
Unlike traditional golf, disc golf can be played in all types of weather, so in spite of a rough, rainy spring, Enman said his course was able to draw some decent crowds.
“We couldn’t ask for a worse spring than what we had,” said Enman.
But disc golfers are a hearty bunch, Enman said, and he doesn’t plan on closing his Orrington course until Christmas Eve.
He’s also hoping the new course in Orono will attract a younger crowd of players from the nearby University of Maine.
Most of the players who play at the Orrington location are from towns south of Bangor.
“The game’s growing nationwide,” said Enman.
Enman said work on the Orono property will likely cease at the end of November before resuming next spring.
The Orrington course, located on Tupper Drive, is open daily from 9 a.m. through sunset, and players can play all day for $10.
