The hamlet of Allentown has nary a traffic light on its Main Street, but Dave Manzo is working hard to give people a reason to stop and visit the small Allegany County community.
Manzo and a team of volunteers recently opened Riley Allen’s Disc Golf Course at 5920 state Route 417, turning a long-abandoned oil field into a recreational attraction.
Manzo is an avid player who was a member of a disc golf club while residing in Philadelphia. A filmmaker and video editor by trade, Manzo purchased the old Town N Country Market in Allentown as his family relocated to the community where his wife, Sarah, grew up.
The acreage surrounding the shuttered general store has been transformed into an 18-hole disc golf course open to the public.
“I thought it was something this area was missing,” said Manzo. “I was shooting a documentary about the town and fell in love with it. I recognized the town needed some activities for the kids. The playground wasn’t really cutting it and older kids were getting into things they shouldn’t. Disc golf is a great activity for kids and adults of all ages. Everyone can enjoy it.”
A view at one of the holes at the new Riley Allen’s Disc Golf Course in Allentown.
What is disc golf?
Disc golf, sometimes called frisbee golf, is a growing sport that shares many similarities with traditional golf. Instead of a club and golf ball, players tee off with a disc and attempt to get it in a basket at the end of each hole in as few throws as possible.
The disc golf course has tee boxes and a par for every hole. The course features out of bounds areas and hazards, just like a traditional golf course. Riley Allen’s Disc Golf is currently a par-3 course designed for beginners and intermediate players.
Most players start with three discs – a driver, a midrange disc and a putter.
“Many disc golfers carry around a side bag. You start collecting discs real fast,” said Manzo. “As you get better you discover discs fly differently. Every disc has a flight number on it that tells you how much it will glide, how far it will go.”
Riley Allen’s Disc Golf Course also has a dedicated store at the new course in Allentown.
What to know about playing Riley Allen’s Disc Golf Course
Riley Allen’s Disc Golf Course celebrated its soft opening at the end of September. A pro shop-style store where players can purchase discs, bags and other products is also now open.
The course is governed by a non-profit board of directors and it is currently free to play, with a donation box set up to help cover costs.
The land needed substantial renovations before it was ready for its debut. Manzo credited excavator operator Dave Stilson and board member Jimmy Robbins for their contributions to the project over the summer.
“It was quite a bit of work to get the land ready,” said Manzo. “We’re still making updates as we go along.”
A rainbow soars over one of the holes at the new Riley Allen’s Disc Golf Course in Allentown.
The course is open sunrise to sunset, and has even hosted a few glow rounds after dark. Players can download the Udisc app to track scores, see a virtual layout of the course, and give feedback.
“In my opinion it’s a more affordable way to go out and have a great time with your friends in nature than ball golf,” said Manzo. “I love ball golf but you’re going to spend $50 to $100, whereas with disc golf you might spend $10 to $15, and most of the time it’s free.”
Manzo is hoping to host a formal grand opening by Memorial Day weekend in 2025.
A volunteer group helped get Riley Allen’s Disc Golf Course ready for players this summer, creating 18 holes on the new course in Allentown.
How disc golf may spur an Allentown revival
Manzo isn’t stopping with the disc golf course. He is looking for partners to help reopen the Allentown general store and add a gas station component in 2025, something the small town with no other shopping option “really needs.”
Manzo sees the disc golf course bringing visitors to the area and catalyzing business growth in the town, which sits between the larger villages of Wellsville and Bolivar.
“People will travel hours and hours to come check out a highly rated and challenging disc golf course,” he said. “It’s a way to get people from out of town to come check out our area. I’d like to create more courses so Allentown is a destination spot.
Dave Manzo, a documentary filmmaker and video editor, has founded Riley Allen’s Disc Golf Course in the hamlet of Allentown in Allegany County.
“It’s a sport that will continue to grow, so it’s a wise investment for this area.”
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Allentown will also be in the spotlight in Manzo’s documentary about the search for a time capsule buried at the abandoned Allentown school. The disc golf course’s namesake, Riley Allen, was a prominent early Allentown resident who helped build the school.
The documentary also touches on Allentown’s past as an oil boom town. The film, titled “Finding Time,” is expected to be released in 2025.
“I want to see this town have a new life,” Manzo said. “I’m trying to do what I can to make that happen.”
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Riley Allen’s Disc Golf Course opens in Allentown, Allegany County
