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WESTVILLE | Purdue University North Central will debut its first 18-hole disc golf course at the PNC Student Convocation and Welcome Ceremony at 1 p.m. Aug. 20.

This year's Student Convocation and Welcome Ceremony will feature a ribbon cutting for the course and a Support the Cause Tournament for the Van for Steven fund with a $10 entry fee.

This will be one of several student-oriented activities available Aug. 20.

The tournament and ceremony will start directly after a cookout and student convocation. Those interested should sign up immediately to reserve a spot to play in the tournament.

The course will be on the south side of campus starting directly behind the baseball field. The event will feature a putting and distance contest, demos, instruction and course touring. Prizes and giveaways will be included.

The disc golf course was designed by Mike Jenneman, disc golfer, graphic designer and photographer from Carmel, Ind., and Alan Pier, Indiana Disc Golf Hall of Fame member and course designer with more than 20 years of experience, from Peru, Ind.

The PNC course will feature Spiderweb 3 baskets, originally created by Allen Pier and handmade in Peru, Ind. by Darroll Dickerson of Arachnid Disc Golf Targets.

This first tournament will benefit the Van for Steven fund in support of Steven, an 11-year-old, fifth-grade student from Michigan City. His Progressive Spastic Paralysis causes an increased lack of mobility. Despite painful injections and surgery, he largely depends on a wheelchair for mobility.

Steven's mother, a PNC employee, is struggling with transportation for Steven and his electric wheelchair.

Thanks to the new disc golf course, PNC will introduce it and the sport to students and the public. It will be free to play the course. Students may borrow discs with their student ID.

The course will be groomed and maintained year-round.

For information, call (219) 785-5660.

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As a student, Tom Albano always thought the well-manicured lawns surrounding Purdue North Central’s campus were nice. As Panthers athletics and activities coordinator, he imagined the utility of the acreage.

Because of student input, support from the school’s administration and the work of a designer from Carmel, Albano realized one of his goals on Saturday: the opening of the PNC disc golf course.

Held as a grand opening and a charitable event at the Westville campus, the 18-hole venue was christened with a single-round disc golf tournament.

“(Disc golf) is one of the fast-growing sports in the world,” Albano said. “It’s similar to ball golf. Where it’s different is that it’s low-cost. In the economy we have now, college students can buy discs for under $100.”

Thirty players hit the greens, which begin on the sloping lawn near the veterinary clinic and meander past treelines to end near a single willow tree. The game’s targets, also called baskets, substitute for conventional golf’s holes and flags. Competitors sought to toss their discs into the goals using the fewest number of throws.

Mike Jenneman, a graphic artist and course designer based in Carmel, talked with players to get feedback about the grounds. He has toured and contributed to the construction of disc golf venues throughout the state. PNC chancellor James Dworkin had reached out to him regarding the possibility of adding a course at the campus.

“Normally you don’t get this opportunity,” Jenneman said. “Usually there’s a lot of red tape, not enough space or money’s not available. People are not sure what disc golf is.”

The attitude was different at PNC.

“They wanted it top notch,” Jenneman said about the course and plans for its future. “Whatever I suggested, they wanted to do. The goal is to get (artists’) sculptures near each tee pad.”

Last year a few students approached Albano asking that some of the school’s dozens of acres adjacent to the three main campus buildings be opened up for disc golf.

PNC volunteers Sean Casey and Emily Turner transported players and onlookers to and from registration tents pitched near the south parking lot. The two student government members said they had not played the links, but may give it a shot when they’re not in class.

Local disc golf pro Matt Merchese stayed on the leaderboard for much of the inaugural tourney. Reaching into his bag for just the right disc, he described it as a “nice course.”

Perhaps having a lucky day making accurate long-distance throws from the teeing platforms — and with his familiarity with the course a given — Jenneman ended the round with a 9-under par-54, edging out Merchese’s 6-under to win the open division.

Other winners included Troy Carpenter (advanced), James Marten, (intermediate) and Aaron Landrum (novice).

On hand to congratulate the winners was Steven Pflughaupt, Jr., a 12-year-old from Michigan City, for whom the tourney entry fees were collected to benefit. The Renaissance Academy Charter School student had been zipping around the grounds in his power chair, with a PNC plush toy in hand. Afflicted with HSP, a genetic disorder that affects his mobility, Pflughaupt and his guardian, Connie Fidanza, thanked participants and PNC volunteers for their assistance.

Albano said about $700 was raised at the event and would be given to the Michigan City youngster’s family to help with their transportation needs. A PNC graduate, Albano, 25, hopes that with the opening of the disc golf course, the additional recreational opportunity will encourage students to stick around the commuter campus more.

“It’s something for students to do between classes to have fun,” he said.

To use the disc golf course, students and area residents can contact Albano at PNC at 785-5660.