TWU SPARTANS DISC GOLF PROGRAM
Who is Trinity Western University?
Trinity Western University is a Christian Liberal Arts University located in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. The student population is approximately 4000 spread across campuses in Richmond BC, the main campus in Langley and a variety of smaller campuses in China and India. The main campus in Langley has dorms that house approximately 1200 students. For more information check out www.twu.ca.
The athletic teams are called the Spartans and compete in the Canada West Conference and U SPORTS in Canada. Currently the Spartans have men's and women's teams in soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross-country, track & field and rugby. For more information about the Spartans check out www.gospartans.ca
Why is TWU adding Disc Golf?
Trinity Western University Athletics is always looking for opportunities to provide a high performance sport environment coupled with faith integration. Our holistic approach to well rounded development is called the Complete Champion Approach. For more information on this program check out https://www.completechampionapproach.ca/
The sport of disc golf is going through explosive growth as a competitive sport and mainstream recreational activity and over 1300 of the over 13,000 disc golf courses in the world exist on school and college campuses. We see disc golf as a sport for the future and are pleased to bring disc golf to TWU. We look forward to playing a leading role in establishing the sport in other colleges and universities, and to Canada West and U SPORTS.
Trinity Western University is ideally located to support the growth of disc golf on campus. The Township of Langley presently has two quality 18 hole disc golf courses, Passive Park and Raptors Knoll Disc Golf Park which the online round tracking app, Udisc, ranks amongst the world's best courses at #13 overall. Langley's weather patterns allow disc golfers to train and compete year round, While we are bringing disc golf into TWU Athletics we also see the recreational value of the sport for all students on campus – an outdoor, low cost, enjoyable form of recreation that contributes to physical, mental and social health.
Where will the team play?
The Spartan's disc golf team will compete in regional disc golf events in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon throughout the year leading to the College Disc Golf National Championship in the spring of 2023.
In 2020 and 2021 the event was held in Marion, North Carolina where 126 teams competed across four divisions with The University of Missouri capturing the Open Division I and Women's titles.
TWU will host two events during the season and will be submitting a bid to host a College Disc Golf regional qualifying tournament in early 2023.
Who will the team play?
The team will play in community PDGA sanctioned and unsanctioned events throughout the region and college regional qualifying tournaments. To conclude the season, the objective is to take at least one Open and one Women's team to the College Disc Golf National Championship in 2023. TWU will also be working to promote disc golf programs with other post secondary institutions to build college disc golf in Western Canada.
Where will the team practice?
The Spartan's home course will be Raptors Knoll Disc Golf Park in Langley, B.C. A practice facility will be installed on campus and throughout the season, the team will travel to practice and to compete at other courses throughout the region. The team will also have access to indoor training facilities in the case of inclement weather.
What will be the weekly time commitment required to be on the team?
As a sport within the Athletics Department of the TWU , we are looking for athletes who have a strong desire to excel in their sport. It is expected that team members will practice a minimum of 4 days per week which will include 2 days per week on course and a minimum of two days per week in the practice facility. Athletes can also expect to participate in at least one competition per month.
Will there be scholarships?
Yes, there will be small athletic scholarships that will vary according to the skill of the individual. All athletes will also have access to normal TWU financial aid for academic and in need scholarships.
How many players is TWU recruiting for?
As a first year program, we are aiming to field a minimum of one open team and one women's team for the 2022-2023 season. An open team consists of 4-5 athletes and a women's team 2 - 3 athletes. Additional teams will be considered with demonstrated interest.
What other aspects of the sport will be covered when you are on the TWU Disc Golf team?
Disc Golf athletes at TWU will have access to fitness training programs tailored to their sport and therapy consults from the Spartan Therapy staff.
Disc golf gear like discs, bags, team uniforms and outerwear will either be provided or a sponsor will supply items at a discounted rate.
Who should I contact to learn more about joining the team?
For more information check out the website at www.gospartans.ca or contact Chris Hartmann (chartmanngolf@gmail.com) or Jeff Gamache (Jeff.gamache@twu.ca).
