Derek Robins

MSc Management Sciences, 1982

It was Frisbee that drew me to Warwick. The University Frisbee Club started in 1976 and must be one of the oldest clubs in Europe. It also had the only Disc Golf course in the country, albeit with wooden posts as targets rather than the basket with chains. The course has long since disappeared as it was incrementally dismembered to make way for new buildings. My love of flying discs never waned. It's many years since I played Ultimate but I'm still in touch with players from my era and subsequent years. I worked at the University from 1987 to 2017 in various roles including implementing two financial systems.

In 1994 I bought 15 acres of land just outside Leamington Spa and planted 1400 trees with the express purpose of creating a disc golf course. In 2001 I went part-time at Warwick in order to devote more time to the course and to travelling the world sometimes as a tourist and often to play disc golf tournaments. As the sport spread around the globe, I kept taking advantage of new opportunities to play in different countries, I'm pretty sure I've played in more countries than anyone else, the tally stands at 35 across Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

In 1996 I founded the British Disc Golf Association and was National Director for ten years. I also coordinated the European Tour and ran the British Open on my course and other UK courses. I won titles in many European countries. In 2004 I had the huge honour to be the first European player to be inducted to the Disc Golf Hall of Fame.

In 2006 I opened my Quarry Park course to the public, and as visitor numbers have grown, I have ploughed the money back into improved facilities and maintenance. In 2017 I quit my job at Warwick to concentrate full time on the course, and have expanded by 5 acres to now offer a 15 hole short course in addition to an 18 hole long course.

I still feel I have many links with University staff, students and alumni: - the Frisbee Club organise a visit every year, as do alumni groups, and of course many past and present staff and students who live in the area. Life is good.