WHEELING, W.Va. – Oglebay Park Resort invites the community to celebrate the grand opening of its new disc golf course during a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, in conjunction with National Disc Golf Day.
The ribbon cutting will take place at the new disc golf course located near Oglebay’s Par 3 Golf Course. Guests attending the event are encouraged to park in the parking lot outside Route 88 Burgers & Brew for convenient access to the course.
Following the ribbon cutting, attendees are invited to participate in a free disc golf clinic led by course donor and longtime disc golf enthusiast Paul Ashmore. Designed for beginners and anyone interested in learning the game, the clinic will introduce participants to the fundamentals of disc golf, including throwing techniques, equipment and course etiquette. The first 25 participants in the clinic will receive a complimentary Oglebay-branded disc golf disc, while supplies last.
The new course brings one of the nation’s fastest-growing recreational sports to Oglebay, creating a fun, accessible outdoor activity for players of all ages and skill levels. Located in the resort’s Par 3 area, the course features two scenic nine-hole layouts with multiple tee pad and basket placements, allowing guests to play a quick nine holes or combine both layouts for a full 18-hole experience. The course is open daily from dawn until dusk and is available to both resort guests and the public.
The project was made possible through a gift from Paul and Missy Ashmore to the Oglebay Foundation. Additional support from Russell and Christine Dunkin and Derrick and Morgan McKee helped bring the vision to life, demonstrating how community generosity continues to create new opportunities for recreation and enrichment at Oglebay.
“For more than a century, Oglebay has evolved because of the generosity of people who believe in this special place,” said Rod Haley, Executive Vice President of the Wheeling Park Commission. “The addition of disc golf expands the incredible variety of outdoor experiences our guests can enjoy while honoring the spirit of recreation, connection and community that has always defined Oglebay. Whether you’re discovering the sport for the first time or have been playing for years, this course offers another reason to explore everything our park resort has to offer.”
For Ashmore, the course represents the realization of a dream that has been years in the making.
After discovering disc golf while living in Charlotte, North Carolina, Ashmore immersed himself in the sport, volunteering at the United States Disc Golf Championship and Disc Golf World Championship while working alongside industry leaders at Innova Disc Golf. After returning to Wheeling, he envisioned bringing the sport to Oglebay, believing the park’s natural landscape was the perfect setting to introduce more people to the game.
“Oglebay has always been a place where our family creates memories, so having the opportunity to help bring disc golf here is incredibly meaningful,” said Ashmore. “This project combines two things we’re passionate about—this remarkable park and a sport that welcomes everyone. My hope is that families discover disc golf together, experienced players find a new place to play, and this becomes the beginning of something even bigger for our community. I’m incredibly proud to see this vision become a reality.”
The project also reflects the Oglebay Foundation’s commitment to enhancing the park through philanthropic investment.
“This project is a wonderful example of how generosity continues to shape the future of Oglebay,” said Eriks Janelisins, President and CEO of the Oglebay Foundation. “Paul and Missy Ashmore recognized an opportunity to introduce a growing recreational activity to our region, and their generosity transformed that vision into reality. We’re also grateful for the support of the Dunkin family and the McKee family, whose contributions helped make this project possible. Together, these gifts ensure Oglebay continues to evolve while remaining accessible, welcoming and enriching for our entire community.”
Community members of all ages are encouraged to attend the celebration, learn the basics of disc golf from one of the region’s most passionate advocates and be among the first to experience Oglebay’s newest outdoor attraction.
