Qualifier to take place on March 1

By Mary Garrison
Tribune-Courier Reporter
mgarrison@tribunecourier.com

DRAFFENVILLE – The Marshall County Parks Department is once again breathing life into the day-to-day routine of county recreation.

At 1 p.m. Saturday in the main pavillion of Mike Miller Park in Draffenville, the parks department will be hosting a free tutorial session to anyone in the community wishing to learn about the fastest-growing nationwide craze in recreation — disc golf.

“Disc golf is essentially just like regular ball golf,” said Parks Department Superintendent Troy Kirkendall. “However, instead of a ball and clubs, you use discs.”

Not exactly like a traditional Frisbee, the discs in question are made differently, each with a specific purpose.

“We have three types available here at the department,” Kirkendall said. “There is a driver, which you would use to tee off from the tee pad just as you would with a driver club; a putter, which is slightly heavier with a thicker rim, and it’s used just as the name implies — to putt at close distance. Then, we have a multi-disc which can be used for several different tosses. For anyone who’s not necessarily an avid player, it’s a good one to start with, because you can use it for any function successfully.”

Each hole on the course is a “par three” that begins with a tee pad and ends at a basket in which, ideally, the disc will land.

And just as in golf, the disc course at Mike Miller Park is an 18-hole excursion, complete with water hazards and opportunities to play through the rough.

“Our signature hole is a 420-foot shot,” Kirkendall said. “Three-fourths of it is over the lake. It’s very challenging.”

Kirkendall recommended the front nine holes for beginners.

“There’s plenty of opportunity there to develop your own technique,” Kirkendall said. “That’s one of the really great things about this sport. There is no wrong way to throw a disc. You can roll it across the ground, draw back and pitch it overhanded or put a different spin on it by switching hands. Any way you can think of to throw a disc is legal. It’s a good way to build up to the more difficult challenges of the back nine.”

The Saturday tutorial will provide beginners with an opening to try the course for themselves, as well. The event is free of charge, and seasoned players will be turning out to explain rules and technique to anyone interested.

“We’re going to break everyone up into smaller groups and send them with a guide to try the course out for themselves,” Kirkendall said. “It’s the perfect chance for people to come out and give it a shot.”

For those who find they enjoy the game and wish to play more, the expense is limited, as well. Kirkendall said players can purchase discs for approximately $10, though prices vary slightly depending upon the style and make of the disc. Beginners sets of all three discs are available for $20, and sets with discs and a tote bag for supplies cost $30.

“There are no green fees or cart rentals or anything of that nature,” Kirkendall said. “The only expense you incur is the cost of the disc. That’s what I like most about this game. It’s so inexpensive. I don’t know of any other sport where you can spend $10 and play as much as you want.”

Kirkendall said there will be many more opportunities to learn the ins and outs of the sport throughout the year in addition to competitive play.

And competition is coming sooner than one might think. At 9 a.m. March 1, the parks department will be hosting a two-round qualifier for those in the area who want the chance to strut their stuff and apply what they’ve learned on the course.

Entry fee is $5, and players will play one beginning round before breaking for lunch and returning to play the final deciding round that afternoon.

“The parks department is going to sponsor the top four players from the qualifier in our first disc-golf tournament the following weekend,” Kirkendall said. “Their entry fee for the tournament will be waived.”

The tournament is a two-day, three round Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) C-Tier competition that will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 8 at Mike Miller Park, and proceeds for the event will go toward the Kentucky Recreational and Parks Service for scholarship purposes.

“The scholarship is set aside for western Kentucky college students going into the parks and recreation field for additional training, classes and certifications they’ll eventually need,” Kirkendall said. “This will give them the opportunity to get some of these before they graduate.

“We’re hoping this will really grow and appeal not only to those local to the area, but further,” Kirkendall said. “We want this to be good for the community both financially and as far as involvement goes. It’s a wonderful chance to get out and try something new, or get to know people who share like interest. We’d like to get some leagues together eventually, but for now, we just want to generate interest. It’s going to be alot of fun.”

For more information on upcoming disc golf events or projects of the parks department, visit www.marshallcountyparks.com.