Disc Golf: Participants Play On Despite Rain

Rain Fails To Dampen Disc Golfers’ Enthusiasm

Staff Photo J.T. Wampler David Dodd of Fayetteville makes a birdie putt Saturday on hole 15 at Northshore Disc Golf Course during the ninth annual Northshore Invitational Disc Golf Tournament. The event was hosted by the Fayetteville Disc Golf Association and drew about 100 players from across the region.
Staff Photo J.T. Wampler David Dodd of Fayetteville makes a birdie putt Saturday on hole 15 at Northshore Disc Golf Course during the ninth annual Northshore Invitational Disc Golf Tournament. The event was hosted by the Fayetteville Disc Golf Association and drew about 100 players from across the region.

FAYETTEVILLE -- A rainy Saturday morning and more clouds in the sky didn't deter almost 100 competitors who gathered for the ninth annual Northshore Invitational disc golf tournament at Lake Fayetteville.

"The weather hasn't been great, but we still have about 86 competitors signed up in all the divisions," said Ben Huss, Vice President of the Fayetteville Disc Golf Association. "The weather is just part of it."

Disc Golf Tourmament

Ninth Annual North Shore Invitational

At Lake Fayetteville

Open Men

1st: $541 — Zach Rogers 51/44—95

2nd: $330 — Chris Eads 47/49—96

3rd: $77 — Bill Lyle 48/49—97

4th: $57 — Robert Davis 51/48—99

5th: Zack Asbury 53/49—102

6th: JC Mitchell 51/52—103

7th: Andrew Machinski 53/51—104

8th: Blake Bailey 55/56—111

9th: Byron Vaughn 56/62—118

Open Women

1st: $245 — Andrea Meyers 58/55—113

2nd: Stacey Whitley 69/65—134

Open Grandmasters

1st: $268 — Kyle Norrid 50/19—99

2nd: Darrell Bailey 59/55—114

3rd: Dickie Pool 58/60—118

Open Masters

1st: $273 — Sam Dodd Jr. 51/49—100

2nd: $169 — Heath Whitley 52/49—101

3rd: $68 — German “Tito” Torrijos 56/50—106

4th: $50 — Gregg Bland 56/52—108

5th: Don Cook 55/56—111

6th: Larry Q. 60/53—113

7th: Jason Wiles 56/58—114

8th: Evan McKee 64/60—124

Advanced Masters

1st: Eric Savage 60/51—111

2nd: Vince Voorheis 58/56—114

3rd: Sean Winn 58/59—117

4th: Joe Huss 59/62—121

5th: David Dodd 59/64—123

Advanced

1st: Steven Medeiros 52/52—104 (won trophy in playoff)

1st: Austin Brown 53/51—104

3rd: William Harrison 54/53—107

4th: Nick Gilmore 59/52—111

5th: Mike Chappell 57/57—114

6th: Alex Newby 60/56—116

7th: Justin Williams 62/58—120

8th: Scott Helms 63/58—121

9th: Travis Duncan 72/59—131

Intermediate

1st: Eldon Watkins 55/50—105

2nd: Zach Files 56/55—111

2nd: Dustin May 56/55—111

4th: John McGowan 58/54—112

4th: Jeremy Baker 55/57—112

4th: Donny Vincent 55/57—112

4th: Derek Smittle 57/55—112

8th: Sam Dodd III 61/55—116

8th: Chris Lee 57/59—116

8th: Eric Brewer 59/57—116

8th: Craig Thomas 61/55—116

12th: Mike Hogan 60/57—117

13th: Adam Hackett 61/58—119

14th: Nate Puckett 63/64—127

15th: Lance Buckley 73/61—134

Recreational Women

1st: Taylor Beebe 68/70—138

2nd: Blair Barnes 75/71—146

3rd: Maki Porter 88/80—168

4th: Sara Wray 90/83—173

Recreational

1st: Wade Page 56/53—109

2nd: Kevin Bryant 60/57—117

3rd: Levi Pierson 60/58—118

3rd: David Smith 59/59—118

5th: Corey Birmingham 62/58—120

5th: James Birmingham 64/56—120

7th: Jason Dow 63/58—121

8th: Justin Bailey 63/59—124

9th: Rando 63/60—123

10th: Brian “loppy” Richardson 63/61—124

10th: Eric Wolski 65/59—124

12th: Cat Owens 64/64—128

13th: Jacob Bell 63/67—130

14th: Trey Graves 66/65—131

15th: Clay Doss 64/70—134

16th: Kevin Bailey 71/65—136

17th: Brett Ward 68/70—134

18th: Morgan Cyphers 71/72—143

19th: Kyle Chandler 80/67—147

20th: Matt Taylor 74/82—156

21st: Howard Byford 81/78—159

Disc golfers played 18 holes in the morning, broke for socializing and lunch at nearby Apple Blossom Brewery and then came back for 18 more holes in the afternoon.

"I like to be outside, and I like to be around people," David Dodd of Fayetteville said. "We have a lot of fun, but the competition can be pretty serious, too."

Dodd said he had never played disc golf until his son, Warren, got a disc as a present a few years ago.

"We came out just kind of messing around, and I liked it," said Dodd, who now plays in mini tournaments up to three times a week. "The tournaments are fun, and sometimes we'll just get 3-4 guys and come out and play."

Disc golf is similar in the rules to traditional golf, which disc golfers usually refer to as "ball golf." Competitors try to fly their discs into metal baskets set up around the course in as few shots as possible. A typical hole is about 300 feet long and a par 3.

Discs come in a variety of sizes and weights and each performs uniquely. A "driver" is smaller, heavier and has a sharper edge for longer flight and a "putter" is bigger, lighter and more rounded on the edge to control the disc better on close shots.

"You can play with just one disc and can easily play with two or three," Huss said. "But some guys carry up to 15 or 20 in their bag. Every disc is a little different, and you might want to use a different one based on if its hot or cold or windy or whatever."

The FDGA members, who call themselves the "chain gang," also put in volunteer hours throughout the year to keep the course maintained and are building another course in south Fayetteville at Walker Park. There are more than 100 current members.

Disc golfers frown on the term "Frisbee" now, but Huss says the sports has it roots from the late 1970s, growing out of the popularity of its more recreational relative.

"People started throwing Frisbees at trees and fence posts and making up their own courses in the backyard or the woods or whatever," Huss said. "It's more fun when you have obstacles like tree and bushes or water that make it more challenging."

While discs are a little more specialized and expensive than a Frisbee, starters sets can be found with three discs for less than $20. The highest priced individual discs are usually less than $20.

"One of the great things about disc golf is its very economical," Huss said. "You spend a few bucks to get started, and then you come out and play. There's no cost to play the course; you get some good exercise and a lot of great times with friends."

Sports on 09/08/2014

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