WESTSIDE — Frisbees of every color took to the skies as disc-golf enthusiasts from all over northwest Arkansas gathered at Decatur's Veterans Park for the first annual Decatur-Gravette Disc Golf Tournament on July 30.
The tournament, hosted by the 59 Flyers disc golf club, was the first for the new nine-hole Veterans Park course opened in early June and the Old Town Park course in Gravette.
Twenty-one disc golf players, from novice to professional, participated in this one-day event which was sponsored by MBS, El Bohemio, Gravette C store, Credit Cars, Austin Drug, Teasley's and Discraft. All proceeds benefit the Decatur and Gravette Boys and Girls Clubs. First-, second- and third-place winners received cash awards and merchandise, all donated by the event sponsors.
Disc golf is similar to regular golf in that it uses a tee (starting pad) and a pin (goal). The premise of the game is simple, try to get the disc from the tee to the pin within a set number of shots (par). A par 3 hole, for example, takes three shots to get into the pin. For professionals, this task is easy; for a novice, it may take more shots to get the disc into the pin. Players buy Mulligans (do-overs) to cover a missed throw. Each disc golfer was allowed to use only one per hole.
The tournament began Saturday morning at Veterans Park in Decatur. Under a hot summer morning sun, six flights, each with a specific hole as a starting point teed off with but one goal in mind, to complete the 18 holes, two circuits of the course, with the lowest score.
In spite of the heat, all but one player finished the first round in just under two hours. Then there was a break before moving on to the Gravette course.
Just before the second round, a heavy thunderstorm moved through northwest Arkansas, delaying the start for about 35 minutes. Once the lightning and rain let up, everyone scrambled to their assigned starting points. With a signal from event organizers, the skies were once again filled with discs for round two.
The Gravette course presented more challenges than Veterans Park -- more trees, steep hills and heavy foliage. One hole called the Triple Mando was built in a dry creek bed in a small valley at the base of the park. It takes precise control of the disc to get through the hole and to the goal. From the tee, the golfer must put the disc between two trees and a hanging rope. If the throw should curve, the disc lands in a heavy concentration of vines and small trees. It takes great skill to get through the par 3 hole and it's not for the faint of heart.
Frisbee disc golf is one of the fastest growing sports in northwest Arkansas. There are several nine- and 18-hole courses in area cities. With new players taking up the sport every week, veteran disc golfers are very receptive and willing to help beginners learn the proper techniques to play the game. In fact, the tournaments and game nights are open to anyone who wishes to watch.
The 59 Flyers play at the Old Town Park course in Gravette every other Tuesday and at Veterans Park in Decatur on Thursday. The Decatur Youth Sports program opens the concession stand at Edmiston Ball Park, with proceeds going to the youth sports program. For more information, visit the 59 Flyers on Facebook.
Decatur-Gravette Tournament Results
Professional: 1st place, Levi Whiteagle. - 89; 2nd place, Jose Mendoza - 91; 3rd place, Mike Stout - 103.
Amateur: 1st place, Matt LeGrand - 96; 2nd place, Jacob Lewis - 103; 3rd place, Paul Baker - 105; 4th place, Adam Lewis - 106; 5th place, Kyle Chandler - 121; 6th place, Jason Ficher - 128; 7th place, Colby Floyd - 130 Round 1.
Recreational: 1st place, Bobby Selry - 117; 2nd place, Kyle LeGrand - 128; 3rd place, Bill Senn - 128; 4th place, Phil Philpott - 134; 5th place, Jay McGowan - 137; 6th place, Phil Philpott - 134; 7th place, Jay McGowan - 137; 8th place, Mike Eckels - 113 Round 2 only.
Sports on 08/03/2016