Crossville’s new nine-hole disc golf course at Roane State Community College honors the legacy of the Hinch family and their contributions to the community.
Crossville/Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce CEO Ethan Hadley said the family helped fund the project. Hadley said the course now open after several years of planning and development.
“Well, Rotary and the Hinch family have been heavily involved in and can be credited with a lot of good that has happened not only in downtown Crossville but in the community at large,” Hadley said. “This disc golf course was made as a result of the Hinch family’s funding of the Rotary Foundation and really just underscores their legacy.”
Hadley said the new facility is located on the front side of the Roane State Community College Crossville campus. Hadley said the course is the second disc golf location in Cumberland County, joining the existing 18-hole course at Meadow Park Lake.
“I think there’s a passion for the sport here that was untapped,” Hadley said. “When we opened the Meadow Park course as our first course in 2021, the response was pronounced and we went from, you know, 100 members on our Facebook page to over 1,200 now in the disc golf club.”
Hadley said the sport has a low cost of entry and appeals to both local residents and travelers using mobile applications to find nearby courses.
“Well, you know, we approached them because it would be of benefit to their students and to the community,” Hadley said. “They have a beautiful well-landscaped front campus there that is perfectly suited for the course that we put in. And the relationship is just strong, it shows, it points to the great partnerships we have here in Cumberland County.”
Hadley said the county currently ranks 15th out of 95 Tennessee counties for tourism, which is largely driven by traditional golf. Hadley said the expansion of disc golf provides an accessible outdoor activity for visitors who are not traditional golfers.
“Yes, we are the golf capital of Tennessee and we are shooting to be the disc golf capital of Tennessee by number of courses and playable holes in the state of Tennessee with the planned expansion at Meadow Park Lake to include another 18-hole course,” Hadley said.
Hadley said the Crossville Disc Golf Club continues to grow and hosts regular activities including doubles rounds on Mondays and tournaments throughout the year.