NASHUA – Nearly two years after it was approved by the Board of Public Works, the effort to bring a disc golf course to Roby Park continues.

During the June 6 meeting of the Conservation Commission, amaetur disc golfer Richard Smart said the course would consist of 18 tee pads and 18 baskets, each one anchored two feet in the ground by concrete. He also said the disc golf facility at Greeley Park is only a practice facility that was built as an Eagle Scout project in the 1990s. On a larger scope, Smart said disc golf is now surpassing pickleball as the most popular sport in the country.

“This growth is not going to go away,” he said. “We use areas like Roby Park and turn them into havens for outdoor escape. It’s safe, fun, it’s healthy and gets people out of the house.”

He also said disc golf courses are smaller than traditional golf courses. The width of a disc golf fairway is approximately 40 feet while the width of a golf fairway is approximately 195 feet.

The Roby Park course was also designed by professional disc golfer Avery Jenkins. A former World Champion, Jenkins is one of the premier disc golfers in the country with 63 career wins, according to the Professional Disc Golf Association. Therefore, Smart said the city was quite fortunate to have Jenkins’ expertise.

“Having someone like Avery Jenkins design a course for you is like having someone like Jack Nicklaus design a golf course for you,” he said.

Lisa Fauteux, director of the Division of Public Works, said there continues to be significant public support for a disc golf course in Nashua.

“I hadn’t even heard of disc golf until I was handed a petition with over 200 signatures asking for it to be built,” she said, adding that Rotary West would pay for “most of the project.”

Fauteux said there are now more than 60 disc golf courses in New Hampshire, two of which are in Manchester.

Brendan Quigley, senior wetland scientist for Gove Environmental Services, Inc., said a total of 74 trees would be removed as well as 37,630 square feet of brush. Six bridges would also be installed for players to cross through the wetlands.

“There’s no large-scale disturbance associated with this work,” he said, adding that the course will follow the current trail network.

However, Commissioner Carol Sarno raised concerns about discs that land in the wetlands, saying players may simply ignore the bridges.

“I have a lot of concerns about soil compression and vegetation not growing back because folks are following the disc and not those six bridges,” she said.

In response, Karen Bill of Parnell Place, a beginning disc golfer, said players learn very early on to have the utmost respect for the course.

“There’s no boombox-carrying disc golfers out there,” she said. “They treat the wetlands like the holy grail.”

Christina Mckinley of Southgate Drive agreed with Sarno.

“To suggest that they’re not going to walk into the wetlands to retrieve their discs is absurd,” she said.

Laurie Ortolano of Berkeley Street said Roby Park is not the right location for a disc golf course and questioned whether or not players would abide by the rules.

“It’s nice to say the rules are going to be followed, but I just don’t believe that,” she said.

Laurie Colquhoun of Greenwood Drive said putting in a disc golf course is another example of the city taking away open space.

“I’d like to leave something for our grandchildren,” she said. “Save Roby Park for the residents.”

Before the commission can take a vote, Chairwoman Sherry Dutzy said a site visit will be needed as well as the specific locations of the bridges traversing the wetlands.