White River Rippers looking to add more players to their Disc Golf league | Sports
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Taupō-Nui-a-Tia Disc Golf Classic attracts 164 competitors
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The Taupō-Nui-a-Tia Disc Golf Classic attracted a bumper field of competitors. Photo / Supplied
The Taupō Disc Golf Club was overwhelmed with the success of a sold-out 2022 Taupo-Nui-a-Tia Disc Golf Classic event, held at Anzac weekend.
Club founder/treasurer Ken Harris says history was written as the event turned out to be the largest disc golf tournament in New Zealand to date, as 164 participants thoroughly enjoyed two of the best disc golf courses in the country.
The first was the world-class Spa Park course, and the second was a temporary bespoke course set up on rented grounds at the Taupō Golf Club.
Prior to the event kicking off, registration and a players’ meeting took place in the Taupō Golf Club’s clubhouse, which was streamed on social media.
“The night included a special pounamu presentation by Taupō Disc Golf’s own Nigel Tipene to Bob Gentil, New Zealand’s only member of the World Disc Golf’s Hall of Fame, a long-time tournament director, and NZ radio personality. It was a special moment of appreciation to a man that has been instrumental in growing the game over several decades in New Zealand,” Ken says.
“This exceptional event was only possible with the generous help of the community. The tournament was directed by Haydn Shore of Disc Shop Disc Golf with direct assistance from Taupō club members Kit Wyatt and Steve Lawson.
“Many other helpful locals made the tournament possible in the weeks leading up to the event, which included a major clean-up of the grounds at Spa Park, the construction of two permanent staircases and the addition of a new and challenging fifth hole. During the weekend, the support of cyclists and dog walkers was much appreciated to allow the event to proceed smoothly.”
Showcasing incredible skills, the tournament saw 12 division winners take home custom-made trophies and a slew of prizes from a long list of sponsors.
“The Open championship went to Queenstown professional Mikey Yu, with our very own Shaun Ashford and Steve Lawson taking home the titles in their divisions (Amateur 40+ and Amateur 50+, respectively). We could not be prouder of them, as well as all the other great club members who played in and contributed to this tournament.”
Just as important are the benefits the tournament brought to the district and businesses.
“The event brought more than 300 visitors to our town from around the country, the majority staying at hotels, campgrounds and holiday homes. This was an incredible boost to our local economy.”
Disc Golf Tournament donates $10K to the Soup Opera in Fairmont | Local News
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FAIRMONT — The nonprofit Soup Opera got a $10,000 boost from the Seth Burton Memorial Disc Golf Club Monday evening at Morris Park.
Most of the money was raised over the year, but part of it was raised at the 18th Annual Ice Bowl disc golf tournament, which was held on February 26 at Morris Park. There were over 40 tournament participants, according to Phillip Burton, co–founder of the memorial disc golf club. Using the motto “No whimps, no whiners,” the tournament is held each year regardless of the weather conditions.
The Ice Bowl is a national disc golf tournament typically held in winter months. Their goal is to raise local awareness of disc golf and funds for local of regional charities based on helping end food insecurity.
Burton and his wife and cofounder Rebecca Burton and club members presented the funds to Soup Opera staff on Monday.
The Seth Burton Memorial Disc Golf Club selected the Soup Opera the year of their first tournament and it stuck. Since then, they have raised an estimated $60,000 to $70,000 for the Soup Opera, Burton said.
“We just have a special place in our heart for the Soup Opera. They’re so grassroots and truly know the people,” Co–founder Rebecca Burton said.
Soup Opera Kitchen Coordinator Misty Tennant said the donation will be used to purchase food to be served and for items in the grocery bags that are sent on the fourth Friday of the month.
Pre COVID–19, the Soup Opera served between 100 and 120 people a day, Tennant said. They re–opened this week and have an average of 45 patrons, but Tennant expects numbers to increase.
“I think it’s awesome that the community steps up. If it wasn’t for the community, the Soup Opera would not be where it’s at today. They support us every year. In February, when this happens, our donations are down because everyone is recuperating from the holidays and what not,” Tennant said.
Heather Bonecutter, board member and disc golf club member, has been playing disc golf for around four years. She said it’s a great way to get exercise and have fun.
“It’s fun to come out, goof off with our friends and throw some plastic for a good cause…Disc golf for me is like free therapy. You just get out there and throw some stuff and then you feel better,” Bonecutter said.
Rebecca Burton agreed and added that getting to interact with people is the best part.
“What’s really fun is that you meet people that you would never meet. I mean, you meet people of all ages and backgrounds. It’s really a nice melting pot,” Burton said.
The Seth Burton Memorial Disc Golf Club has leagues of varying ages and genders, which meet weekly to practice at Morris Park. Anyone interested in participating can visit their Facebook here or just come out to a practice. Bonecutter said they rent out discs to those interested in pursuing the sport.
Donations for the Soup Opera are always welcome, Tennant said. You can donate food, hygiene products and clothing or your time. The Soup Opera is located at 425 Quincy St. It is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekends.
Disc golfers enjoy sport during finale of the Prodigy Star Series | Local News
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When Mike Robbins was introduced to disc golf by a cousin more than two decades ago, “it was love at first sight.”
“You get outside, and you can play for little or no cost,” Robbins said. “We love it.”
Disc golf can be “very zen, when you have a great throw, or when you see someone else with a great throw,” said Chattanooga’s Mark Cole, who began playing in 2003. “Everyone cheers one another on, and we all like to see everyone play well.”
The camaraderie is tremendous, Cole added.
“I’ve traveled all over the East to play and see friends.”
Cole has also passed down his love of disc golf to his son James, an even better disc golfer than himself.
James is “exceptional, world-class,” Robbins said. He’s earned the nickname “Snappy,” because when he throws his discs, “you hear that perfect snap.”
Disc golf is “a low-impact sport,” which is critical for Ringgold’s Josh Henderson now that “I’m in my 40s,” he said. It doesn’t punish his body, and “I’m good at it — better at this than anything else I’ve played.”
Cole, Henderson and Robbins were among approximately 140 disc golfers competing in the pro division of the finale of the Prodigy Star Series, hosted by Prodigy Disc — a Dalton-based manufacturer of disc golf discs and other equipment — Saturday at Edwards Park. The amateur division played Saturday at Westside Park.
Players qualified for the finale by performing well in prior events, said Rome’s Brandon Morgan, whose son Tait was playing at Edwards Park. Tait has been playing since age 8, and “there’s no real limit to how much you can play.”
Though the conditions were cool and cloudy, that didn’t bother competitors, Robbins said.
“This is an all-weather sport — except for lightning — and no rain and no wind (equals) good conditions.”
Robbins plays the disc golf courses at Edwards Park and Westside Park regularly, he said.
“They are both elite courses.”
Cole appreciates the design of the Edwards Park course, as it places a premium on accuracy, rather than distance, he said.
“I’m in my 60s, and I can’t throw it as far as a lot of other (players).”
Henderson also comes to Edwards Park “often,” he said. “It’s one of the best in the area.”
Whitfield County also has a disc golf course at Heritage Point Park in Dalton and a nine-hole course at the Tunnel Hill Golf Club, Brandon Morgan said.
“This is a good part of the world to be in if you like disc golf.”
The festivities concluded with an afternoon concert at the Burr Performing Arts Park in downtown Dalton by The Whole Fam Damily, a Dalton-based band.
Disc Golf Tournament donates $10K to the Soup Opera in Fairmont | Tuesday News
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FAIRMONT — The nonprofit Soup Opera got a $10,000 boost from the Seth Burton Memorial Disc Golf Club Monday evening at Morris Park.
Most of the money was raised over the year, but part of it was raised at the 18th Annual Ice Bowl disc golf tournament, which was held on February 26 at Morris Park. There were over 40 tournament participants, according to Phillip Burton, co–founder of the memorial disc golf club. Using the motto “No whimps, no whiners,” the tournament is held each year regardless of the weather conditions.
The Ice Bowl is a national disc golf tournament typically held in winter months. Their goal is to raise local awareness of disc golf and funds for local of regional charities based on helping end food insecurity.
Burton and his wife and cofounder Rebecca Burton and club members presented the funds to Soup Opera staff on Monday.
The Seth Burton Memorial Disc Golf Club selected the Soup Opera the year of their first tournament and it stuck. Since then, they have raised an estimated $60,000 to $70,000 for the Soup Opera, Burton said.
“We just have a special place in our heart for the Soup Opera. They’re so grassroots and truly know the people,” Co–founder Rebecca Burton said.
Soup Opera Kitchen Coordinator Misty Tennant said the donation will be used to purchase food to be served and for items in the grocery bags that are sent on the fourth Friday of the month.
Pre COVID–19, the Soup Opera served between 100 and 120 people a day, Tennant said. They re–opened this week and have an average of 45 patrons, but Tennant expects numbers to increase.
“I think it’s awesome that the community steps up. If it wasn’t for the community, the Soup Opera would not be where it’s at today. They support us every year. In February, when this happens, our donations are down because everyone is recuperating from the holidays and what not,” Tennant said.
Heather Bonecutter, board member and disc golf club member, has been playing disc golf for around four years. She said it’s a great way to get exercise and have fun.
“It’s fun to come out, goof off with our friends and throw some plastic for a good cause…Disc golf for me is like free therapy. You just get out there and throw some stuff and then you feel better,” Bonecutter said.
Rebecca Burton agreed and added that getting to interact with people is the best part.
“What’s really fun is that you meet people that you would never meet. I mean, you meet people of all ages and backgrounds. It’s really a nice melting pot,” Burton said.
The Seth Burton Memorial Disc Golf Club has leagues of varying ages and genders, which meet weekly to practice at Morris Park. Anyone interested in participating can visit their Facebook here or just come out to a practice. Bonecutter said they rent out discs to those interested in pursuing the sport.
Donations for the Soup Opera are always welcome, Tennant said. You can donate food, hygiene products and clothing or your time. The Soup Opera is located at 425 Quincy St. It is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekends.
Edwards Park, Westside Park to host major disc golf tournament April 16, with concert afterward at Burr Park | Local News
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Dalton-area residents can see some of the best disc golfers in North America compete on Saturday, April 16, at the courses at the Whitfield County Parks and Recreation Department’s Edwards Park and Westside Park.
The tournament is the finale of the Prodigy Star Series, hosted by Prodigy Disc, a Dalton-based manufacturer of disc golf discs and other equipment.
“We have hosted an event each month for the past six months,” said Will Schusterick, co-owner of Prodigy Disc, a former No. 1 disc golf player in the world and three-time winner of the U.S. Open.
“The tournament round will start at 10 a.m.,” he said. “We are more than happy to have anyone come out and watch. There are separate divisions. Westside will have the amateurs, and Edwards will have the pro division.”
Matt Zollitsch, event coordinator for Prodigy Disc, said the series has had more than 700 competitors from the United States and Canada.
“The series has brought sponsors from all over the disc golf world,” he said.
The tournament will conclude at 2 p.m. with a concert at the Burr Performing Arts Park in downtown Dalton by The Whole Fam Damily, a Dalton-based band.
“We’ll have live music, disc golf vendors,” said Schusterick. “It will be a fun atmosphere, and we welcome everyone to come out and take part.”
According to Sports Illustrated, disc golf was one of the few sports that thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic, “likely partially due to its ability to be played outdoors and socially distanced. But it was also the continuation of a growth trend that occurred through the 2010s.”
The magazine reported that the Professional Disc Golf Association now has 150,000 members, “with 70,000 of those retaining active status for tournaments — a figure that’s doubled since 2016.”
The Whitfield County Parks and Recreation Department’s Westside Park Disc Golf Course was voted one of the top four courses in the United States in 2020 by the readers of Connect Magazine. It finished behind Maple Hill Disc Golf in Leicester, Massachusetts; Quaker’s Challenge at Gifford Pinchot State Park, Lewisberry, Pennsylvania; and Blue Ribbon Pines, East Bethel, Minnesota.
“We see people from out of town daily playing these courses,” said Whitfield County Parks and Recreation Department Director Brian Chastain.
In addition to the courses at Edwards Park and Westside Park, which were designed by Schusterick, there is a disc golf course at Heritage Point Park in Dalton and a nine-hole course at the Tunnel Hill Golf Club. There are also two practice baskets on the grassy area next to the train tracks at the old freight depot off Morris Street in Dalton.
Disc Golf Masters coming to Johnson City in August | Sports
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Eyes of the sports world will be turning to Johnson City when the calendar flips.
The PDGA Pro Masters Disc Golf World Championships are set to begin on Aug. 3 and finish up Aug. 7. The action will be split up between Harmon Hills in Fall Branch, Sugar Hollow in Bristol, Va., and Johnson City’s Winged Deer Park.
“This will be an exciting event that brings together the best players over 40 to our area,” tournament director Tim Barr said. “This will certainly be an exciting event for our area and it will show that there are good courses in the area.
“We’ve got three courses rated inside the top 150 in the world by U-Disc, which is an app that is rated by the players. Harmon Hills was rated in the top 50.”
HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT?
“A lot of the credit goes to Gavin Andrews because he got in contact with the people at PDGA and started looking around for what we had to do to host a major,” Barr said. “A few years ago, when we hosted the women’s event, they really liked the way we did it and we were fortunate enough to win a bid again.”
The event was originally scheduled to be in the area last year, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, was rescheduled for 2021.
“With the shutdown, people were looking for a safe way to get outside and socially distance,” Barr said. “Disc golf is perfect and the popularity just took off. With this big event that’s drawing in players from around the world, this will only help the city corral big events in the future.”
A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE
All of the festivities actually begin on July 31 with the Divisional Doubles at Harmon Hills.
“What’s pretty cool is that we have a bunch of players coming that are over 70 and those are the people that got the sport started,” Barr said. “Disc golf started in the 1970s, so it’s pretty cool to have some of those people here. We’ve got plenty of former champions coming and it’s certainly going to be an exciting event.”
There will also be several social events and a players banquet on Aug. 2 at the Millennium Centre ballroom.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
One can imagine that players coming in from all around the country and the globe will certainly add to the local economy.
“When we had the women’s event and that was only for three days, we had 156 players,” Barr said. “And I remember someone saying that it added somewhere between $500,000 to $750,000 to the local economy.
“We’ve got people coming in here for this tournament and staying 10 to 11 days. And with well over 100 more than we had the last time, the economic impact could be much greater.”
Currently, there are more than 250 players registered, but Barr expects that number to increase significantly in the coming days.
“Registration is open until July 31 and there are still some spots available in the B Pool,” he said. “We’re still in need of volunteers, though. You don’t have to have any experience at all to help. There’s a link on the website where you can go to sign up.”
Expanded Taupō-Nui-a-Tia Disc Golf Classic more popular as ever
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The sold out Taupō-Nui-a-Tia Disc Golf Classic is being held at Anzac Weekend. Photo / Getty Images
Taupō Disc Golf’s sold-out Taupō-Nui-a-Tia Disc Golf Classic will include a whole new course this year.
Nui-a-Tia, meaning the “Cloak of Tia”, encompasses the Taupō District as a whole. This represents the growth for the 20th year of this Taupō Disc Golf event and the growth expected in the future.
Because last year’s event sold out so fast, in addition to the permanent, premium disc golf course in Spa Park, the event team has announced they have secured the Taupō Golf Club Tauhara course as a second venue for the event from April 23 to 25.
The Taupō Disc Golf Club enlisted the help of Disc Shop Disc Golf, which has designed a world-class temporary disc golf course to be installed there for the weekend.
Disc golf on a ball golf course is rarely seen in New Zealand so the excitement is ramping up. Organisers will also be using the onsite clubrooms as an event headquarters.
One of the main goals for the event is to be shortlisted for the 2023 NZ Disc Golf Championships, potentially bringing the sport’s top event to the country’s premier event town.
This year, experienced tournament director Haydn Shore, from Disc Shop Disc Golf Events, will formally run the international PDGA sanctioned event. The assistant tournament director for the event will be Taupō Disc Golf Club secretary Ken Harris.
One-hundred-and-sixty players are registered from all across the country for the three-day event. The event caters to players of all abilities and will be attended by professional players right through to keen enthusiasts.
There is also a fun-style curtain raiser on the Thursday of the event, designed for locals who can’t or don’t want to play for the whole weekend.
It is free to spectate at both courses, but spectators must sign in if entering the Taupō Golf Club buildings. The event will be on at both Spa Park and Taupō Golf Club from 8am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday with the finals at both venues on Monday from 8am to 1pm.
Sponsorship Packages are still available for local businesses to become involved. Many local businesses have already jumped on board such as Pak’nSave, AJ Hackett Bungy, More FM, The Source Bulk Foods, Lakeman Brewing, #LoveTaupo.
• More information can be found at the Taupō Disc Golf Club Facebook event page: www.facebook.com/events/926685438035383