It’s a sport destined to attract college students, and N.C . State has jumped at the opportunity to have one of the best teams in the country.

Disc golf – the equivalent of golf gone Frisbee – is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Free and easy to learn with a laid-back attitude, the game can be found nearly anywhere in the world, including right here on Centennial Campus.

The team representing the University is currently ranked No. 4 in the country and hopes to improve upon a 14th  place finish at last year’s National Collegiate Disc Golf Championship. The tournament is held in April in North Augusta, S.C ., which borders the site of the famous Masters golf tournament held during the same month.

A junior in PGA Golf Management, Dakota Mincey is one of the few team members who is just as likely to be found on Lonnie Poole Golf Course as he is on State’s disc golf course.

“It’s the same kind of rules and basic strategies, but it’s a lot more laid back than real golf,” Mincey said. “It’s free and it’s a great college sport. It’s almost like just another tailgating game. You’re just throwing a Frisbee in the field except you get 18 holes of it and keep score. It actually goes all the way up to a professional level; all of us here are PDGA members.”

But what exactly is disc golf? Team member David Weaver, a sophomore in commercial recreation and tourism, likened disc golf very closely to actual golf. 

“In golf you have a club and a ball, and you are trying to get the ball in the hole,” Weaver said. “In disc golf you have a Frisbee you are throwing off of a tee pad just like in golf, and you are trying to throw it into a basket with chains that the disc falls into.”

Looking to raise money for the team’s trip to South Carolina, Mincey and the disc golf team will be holding a fundraiser the Saturday before school resumes from spring break. The amateur-only event will be held March 10 at Kentwood Disc Golf Course located just southwest of campus off Gorman Street.

“First and foremost, we want to grow the game a little more,” Mincey said. “We just want to get some people out there even if they just watch, so maybe it will spark their interest a little bit. Obviously we would like to raise enough money to get some jerseys for the team so it will distinguish ourselves from other schools.”

A sport rarely mentioned on any national platform, Weaver said he got into the game like many college kids have – a friend suggested it during high school.

“I started in high school when one of my buddies introduced me to it,” Weaver said.  ”He actually plays disc golf for Alabama now and at the tournament at Tuscaloosa this past weekend we stayed at his place. It’s kind of cool, you get to meet a lot of people.”

The first round of the Saturday fundraiser will begin at 10 a.m . and registration is open to any amateur willing to participate.

Contact Robert Leonard at  Robertleonard01@yahoo.com  with your name, PDGA number (if applicable) and desired division.